Monday, August 30, 2010

Westmoreland County Economic Development Summit

Westmoreland Community Action, Smart Growth Partnership, PNC Bank and the Community Foundation of Westmoreland County have arranged an all-day event for Thursday, September 9. It will be the first Annual Community and Economic Development Summit, held in Latrobe on Fraser Purchase Road at Fred Rogers Center, Saint Vincent College from 8:30 – 4:30.
For a registration fee of $20 per person, participants will receive a catered breakfast and lunch. There'll be a number of prominent keynote speakers and participants will listen and discuss various topics.
Westmoreland Community Action’s CEO Tay Waltenbaugh says the company came up with the idea by working with the economic development of different communities.
“When we saw inconsistencies in communities—some very positive things going on, some that needed to be improved, and some education needed to occur—we thought an economic development summit would make a perfect forum for the exchange of ideas, thoughts and different topics.”
Waltenbaugh says speakers will touch upon a wide array of topics such as eminent domain, improving rural policy, asset mapping, land banking, and the new Pennsylvania Conservative Act. “We think it’s important to share as much information as possible that can help a large portion of our county.”
He says the center can hold up to 265 people, and they plan to fill it to its capacity. Attendees will include mayors, councils, redevelopment authorities, planning departments and individuals from Westmoreland and surrounding counties.
Waltenbaugh says this economic development summit will be beneficial to communities. “I think this is the first of its kind, and it’s a way to educate yourself on how you can help neighborhoods, so I think it’s worthwhile.” He says they plan to continue on with the summit for years to come.
To register, visit westmorelandca.org and click "News and Events."

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