MVA hosts Rapid Readiness event

Political, business and community leaders gathered for a discussion of the region’s future.

Mon Valley leaders got together recently to talk about the future.

The Southwestern Pennsylvania Municipal Project Hub and Mon Valley Alliance hosted the first Mid Mon Valley Rapid Readiness Workshop at the Mon Valley Alliance Business Resource Center in Monongahela.

The event brought together dozens of leaders including municipal staff, elected officials, local nonprofits, businesses and community leaders for a full-day of conversation — specifically to identify investment-ready projects in the region.

The planning team consisted of the Mon Valley Alliance, Mid Mon Valley Transit Authority, National Road PA and the Washington County Authority, which invited a few key communities for this initial meeting.

Representatives from New Eagle, Monongahela, Donora, and North Belle Vernon attended, along with staff from U.S. Rep. Guy Reschenthaler’s office and Washington County Commissioner Nick Sherman’s office.

The workshop also engaged key regional partners, including Keystone Energy Alliance, Southwestern PA Commission, the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, RIDC, Westmoreland County Redevelopment Authority and Land Bank, FHLBank Pittsburgh, WesBanco Bank, and Mobilify Southwestern Pennsylvania, who participated in table discussions and remained available for networking opportunities after the event.

Leaders and other representatives who attended used the SWPA Hub’s Investment Readiness Tool to assess projects and explore strategies to secure funding, providing local stakeholders the opportunities to:

• Map out a pipeline of key infrastructure and economic development projects.

• Identify funding opportunities and strategies for investment readiness.

• Build partnerships with local government officials, technical advisors and funders.

Ken Hillman, chairman of Carroll Township supervisors, was among the local leaders who attended.

“I believe that the Mid Mon Valley Rapid Readiness workshop brought together unique opportunities and perspectives from the varying local leaders, municipal staff, local non-profit organizations and businesses concerning potential economic projects that are at the forefront of Mid-Mon MVA •A5

Submitted Valley rebirth,” Hillman said. “I was truly impressed by the engagement of everyone that attended the workshop. It provided the opportunity, with assistance, to learn what it takes to create successful economic outcomes for the Mid-Mon Valley.”

North Belle Vernon council members Karen and Harry Jones, as well Sam and Sandy Cover and John Gilmore of NBV’s planning commission, attended and left feeling enthusiastic about the future.

“It was a dynamic, interactive and welcome opportunity to share fresh ideas and concerns that each of our small towns and borough’s seem to be facing,” Karen Jones said. “We had the opportunity to network with community and government leaders to gain insight into our Main Street businesses and highlight what is good, but also talk about what challenges we are facing.

“We worked together in breakout sessions to plan for North Belle Vernon borough.”

Karen Jones plans to continue to work with the MVA to develop more opportunities in the borough.

“We plan to work with the MVA to strengthen opportunities for our seniors and the development of the North Belle Vernon Community Bank Park as our starting goal,” she said. “We were so encouraged to hear from other communities and plan for good days ahead working together.”

Her husband and fellow council member, Harry Jones, also left feeling positive.

“It was a much-needed change to meet with other community leaders to see what we have in common and how to come up with solutions to our challenges,” he said. “The more ideas, the better the outcome.”

After the workshop, the Southwestern Pennsylvania Municipal Project Hub will compile materials and insights generated during the event to share with attendees.

Communities will also be invited to use the Hub’s Project Intake Form for continued support and assistance with moving forward.

In the coming weeks and months, targeted follow-ups with community representatives will focus on sharing funding opportunities and outlining actionable next steps identified during the workshop, making sure discussions translate into tangible progress for communities throughout the Valley.

The MVA and SPMPH plan to continue their partnership to bring free technical resources, funding navigation and further opportunities for collaboration to all communities throughout the Mid Mon Valley, CEO Jamie Colecchi said.

“The MVA is proud to host such an event and to connect our community representatives and stakeholders in the Mid Mon Valley with the important resources that are available, while encouraging our planning partners from outside the Mid Mon Valley to further engage within our region,” Colecchi said. “Building the right connections and follow through will help this initial group advance their respective projects toward readiness and funding. We look forward to conducting similar events to introduce other communities and stakeholders to the right connections to move the ball downfield.”

“The success of the Mid Mon Valley Rapid Readiness Workshop reflects the hard work, creativity, and openness to collaboration that our partners and all who attended brought to the table,” added Sarah SanGiovanni, director of community and systems research at the Hub. “The event was a great opportunity to discuss community priorities, opportunities and needs with change-makers from across the region, and we’re excited to connect project teams to no-cost grant writers, engineers, and other technical experts who can drive funding readiness.”

For more information about future initiatives, contact SanGiovanni at sarah@swpahub.org. or Abigail Stark from the Mon Valley Alliance, at astark@monvalleyalliance.org.