News

Save the Dates - Basic Economic Development Course

PEDA, the IEDC-accredited sponsor of the Basic Economic Development Course in PA, invites you to attend the 2025 Course, beginning in September 2025 and concluding in November 2025. The first, second, and last days will be held in person at the Penn Harris Hotel in Camp Hill, PA. Four sessions will be held virtually via Zoom. Participants are required to attend all in person and virtual sessions in order to earn a certificate of completion.

Registration information will be available in June 2025 at www.peda.org.

Standing Call for PEDA Conference Session Proposals

PEDA accepts session proposals for its conferences on a rolling basis. Please submit your proposal(s) for consideration, using the following as a guideline.

1. Explain your proposed session topic, title and overview.
2. Explain what is innovative about your proposed session and topic(s) of focus.
3. Explain your presentation approach / style.
4. Describe what the key takeaways will be for conference attendees.
5. Provide any information you feel will help us better understand what you want to do as a presenter.
6. Provide the name, title and organization of each of the presenters (and the moderator, if applicable) you're recommending for consideration.
7. If applicable, provide any suggestions you may have for enhancing the attendee experience at this and future conferences.

Please submit your proposal via email to jskopp@wannerassoc.com, labeling the subject line "Conference Session Proposal". In your submission, please include your name, title, organization, phone number, email address and mailing address.

Window Opens for Award Nominations

It's been said there is no greater honor than to be recognized by one's peers. The window for submitting 2025 PEDA Membership Award nominations is now open and we've made it easier than ever to showcase successful projects, initiatives and individuals, using the following categories.

• Economic Developer of the Year Award
• Young Professional 'To Watch' Award
• Economic Development Project of the Year Award
• Economic Development Marketing Innovation Award
• Economic Development Program of the Year Award

Showcasing key accomplishments at the statewide level not only benefits those being honored, but also shines a light on the meaningful work being done by our peers in the economic development profession. Please take this opportunity to publicly recognize those who are most deserving.

Visit PEDA's Awards Page to Learn More!

Awardees will be notified as soon as possible in advance of PEDA's 2025 Fall Conference, where recipients will be recognized.

2025 PEDA Membership Award nominations must be submitted electronically to pedastaff@peda.org by COB on August 27, 2025.

Learn more and register at https://www.peda.org/event-6165802.

2025 PEDA Spring Legislative Conference April 28-30, 2025 Hilton Harrisburg | Harrisburg, PA

Registrations continue to be accepted for the 2025 PEDA Spring Legislative Conference, taking place in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania next month. A great lineup is planned, including this year's spring Legislative Panel. The lineup for this session, to be moderated by Alex Rahn, Principal with AxAdvocacy (pictured to right), is being finalized, but is expected to feature panelists who are deeply involved in the day-to-day efforts to support state legislation pertinent to economic development. During development of this session, efforts have been made to secure participants who can speak on current affairs, the state budget and economic development policies under consideration. Register for the conference and the pre-conference session ("Using the Tax Increment Financing Tool in Pennsylvania"). Learn more about the value of sponsorship opportunities. Submit your questions for presenters of the following sessions. Keynote Presentation: How BusinessPA is Bringing New Energy to Business Attraction & Retention Get Some Help! Pennsylvania's Changing Population Submit your Young Professional Sponsorship application. (DEADLINE EXTENDED) Learn about a scheduling change pertaining to 4/28/25 committee meetings. Join the Conversation: @PEDAtweets #PEDAspring25

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

Tuesday Evening Reception

Silver

Young Professionals Sponsorship Provider

Additional Support Provided By

This Project was financed in part by a grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, DCED. visitPA.com is the official tourism website of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Join the Conversation: @PEDAtweets #PEDAspring25

2025 PEDA Spring Legislative Conference April 28-30, 2025 Hilton Harrisburg | Harrisburg, PA

Registrations continue to be accepted for the 2025 PEDA Spring Legislative Conference, taking place in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania next month. A great lineup is planned and we're pleased to announce we've selected our Hot Topic Session. During this session, entitled Tariffs & Customs & Immigration, Oh My! and moderated by Matt Cabrey, Project Director with Pennsylvania Global Business Advisors (pictured to right), panelists will discuss how the emerging federal legislative environment is influencing business operations and opportunities and offer insights to help plan for potential changes that are taking shape nationally and globally. With a focus on tariffs and customs processes – and the impact on supply chain management – as well as business-focused immigration challenges, this session will break through the noise and offer tangible insights for PA-based businesses that want to grow globally, for international companies that want to do business in PA and for economic development teams helping these audiences. Register for the conference. Register for the pre-conference session, "Using the Tax Increment Financing Tool in Pennsylvania". Learn more about the value of sponsorship opportunities. Submit your Young Professional Sponsorship application. (DEADLINE EXTENDED) Learn about a scheduling change pertaining to 4/28/25 committee meetings. Join the Conversation: @PEDAtweets #PEDAspring25

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

Tuesday Evening Reception Sponsor

Silver Sponsor

Young Professionals Sponsorship Provider

Additional Support Provided By

This Project was financed in part by a grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, DCED. visitPA.com is the official tourism website of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Join the Conversation: @PEDAtweets #PEDAspring25

2025 PEDA Spring Legislative Conference April 28-30, 2025 Hilton Harrisburg | Harrisburg, PA

Registrations continue to be accepted for the 2025 PEDA Spring Legislative Conference, taking place in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania next month. A great lineup is planned and we're pleased to announce our keynote panel, How BusinessPA is Bringing New Energy to Business Attraction and Retention. Born from the principles of the Commonwealth's 10-Year Economic Development Strategy, BusinessPA is dedicated to "Getting It Done" for businesses looking to expand and create jobs in Pennsylvania. Moderated by Pennsylvania DCED Secretary Rick Siger (pictured to right), this panel session will provide an overview to BusinessPA and answer your questions about the organization, how it's different and how we can strengthen our partnership. Register and pay for the conference by COB on 3/17/25 to obtain the Early Bird rate. Register for the pre-conference session, entitled "Using the Tax Increment Financing Tool in Pennsylvania". Learn more about the value of sponsorship opportunities. Submit your Young Professional Sponsorship application. (DEADLINE EXTENDED) Learn about a scheduling change pertaining to 4/28/25 committee meetings. Join the Conversation: @PEDAtweets #PEDAspring25

Thank you to our sponsors who have already committed.

SPONSORS

Tuesday Evening Reception

Silver

Young Professionals Sponsorship Provider

Additional Support Provided By

This Project was financed in part by a grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, DCED. visitPA.com is the official tourism website of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Join the Conversation: @PEDAtweets #PEDAspring25

Please be aware of a scheduling adjustment impacting PEDA committee meetings originally scheduled to take place at the Hilton Harrisburg prior to the start of the 2025 PEDA Spring Legislative Conference. Since the issuance of the conference registration brochure and agenda, we’ve made accommodations for PEDA’s Advocacy, EDC and Young Professionals committees to meet jointly on Monday, April 28, 2025 at 12:30 pm in the Pennsylvania State Capitol (Room 60, East Wing). Please contact PEDA staff with any questions or need for clarification.

TPL Community Forest Training Program - Now Live!

Beginning this March, Trust for Public Land is pleased to offer a new Community Forest Training Program, in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service, for eligible communities across the Eastern U.S.  

Please see below for more information about the program’s curriculum and eligibility requirements and see this document for further details! 

Program Overview

Community forests are protected forest lands that contribute to healthy, flourishing communities, and they can be powerful tools for helping to enact local visions as articulated by residents. These unique assets are land-based economic development tools that deliver positive outcomes to the residents, visitors, and businesses located in their service areas, including economic development opportunities through recreation, timber, and tourism; environmental benefits such as watershed protection, habitat conservation, and preserved biodiversity; and more.  

Trust for Public Land's free Community Forest Training Program will inform eligible communities across the U.S. about the benefits and possibilities of community forests; provide training and technical assistance that leverages TPL’s best practices to support successful acquisition, governance, and stewardship; and support the creation of community forests on the ground where available. 

This track will meet monthly over Zoom from March - July 2025. Registration for eligible communities is open now until March 5, 2025. Please click here to register. 

Eligibility

This track is the first of four regional offerings that will be provided to communities across the United States over the next two years. This first cohort is available to communities from New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Florida. 

·         Participants must represent one of the following organizational types: 

·         Local government entity 

·         Land trust 

·         Tribal entity 

·         Participants must be able to attend all five monthly meetings.  

If you have any questions about eligibility, please contact Sophie Neuhaus at sophie.neuhaus@tpl.org.