News

The window for submitting 2017 PEDA Membership Award nominations is now open. 

It's been said that there is no greater honor than to be recognized by one's peers and, each year, our program seeks to recognize Pennsylvania's top economic development professionals, agencies, partners, projects and programs. 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. Decisions on winners are expected to be made in July and awardees will be notified as soon as possible in advance of PEDA's 2017 Fall Conference, where recipients will be recognized.

Download nomination forms here. 2017 PEDA Membership Awards nominations must be submitted electronically to pedastaff@peda.org by Noon on Thursday, August 24, 2017.

The Pennsylvania Economic Development Association (PEDA) announced its FY2017-18 legislative priorities during its 2017 Spring Legislative Conference in Harrisburg this week.

A press release has been issued highlighting the organization's top five priorities.

Click here to read the Governor's proclamation.

Click here to learn more about our 2017 spring legislative conference.

Economic development is a complex balancing act between the macroeconomic policy agenda of the nation and the need to invest resources strategically in institutions and individuals at the local level who are actively pursuing innovation, entrepreneurship and increased production.

This webinar will focus on the concept and practice of creating global partnerships to strengthen innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems; and how those partnerships will increase the prospect of advancing commerce and trade between participating economies and accelerate business opportunities for all stakeholders.

Our ability to solve complex economic development challenges and take advantage of opportunities is enhanced when you build effective networks within and across regions. A region that has invested in building effective networks based on clusters can more quickly match solution seekers with solution providers. Networks are enhanced through connection of, and participation by, diverse groups, institutions of excellence in research and learning, and leaders and role models who invite open participation of individuals and groups from across many disciplines.

Learn more here.

Laura Gitlin is a Senior Managing Director with Baker Tilly Capital, and leads the firm’s East Coast negotiated incentives practice. She has over twenty years of experience providing legal, incentives and location advisory services to private and public sector clients nationwide with a focus on projects in the Tri-State and Mid-Atlantic region. Laura specializes in evaluating, structuring and implementing incentives and financing packages for corporate expansions and relocations, and commercial, residential and mixed-use development projects. Prior to joining Baker Tilly, Laura served as Senior Counsel for over 14 years at Biggins Lacy Shapiro & Company, a location advisory firm, based in Princeton, New Jersey, after specializing in real estate law at Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 

Dan Weaver serves as President and Executive Director of PIOGA effective September 2016.  Prior to serving in this role, Dan led PIOGA's efforts to educate both school students and the public about energy issues for the past five years, including the development of K-12 study course on oil and natural gas that meets Pennsylvania's standards in history, civics and government, economics, and science and technology.  He has represented PIOGA to members of Congress and the state legislature, as well as media sources around the state and nation.

Dan's experience with the Drake Well Museum included 11 years as a Museum Educator and a term as the Manager of the Friends of the Drake Well Museum.  He managed a staff of eight, as well as numerous volunteers that provided tours of the Drake Well and Museum to thousands of visitors each year.  He was also responsible for event planning and fundraising.

Dan was also responsible for the creation the Mobile Energy Education Training Unit (MEET-U). MEET-U is a portable classroom that has traveled over 200,000 miles to provide information about energy to students and the public in Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, and New York. MEET-U has visited 157 schools since its completion in 2010.

Dan is a graduate of the Pennsylvania State University with a B.A. in history.

The winter weather has not slowed down the progress in the Lebanon Rails Business Park in North Lebanon Township, Lebanon County. The Lebanon Valley Economic Development Corporation (LVEDC) is watching the massive building unfold.

In the fall of 2016, a recruitment effort led by LVEDC President Susan Eberly was completed when she enticed the Lebanon Valley Cold Storage and Distribution Center to sign on the dotted line. The Company purchased 22+ acres. They didn't hesitate to start the project and a few days after settlement, they broke ground for their new facility.    

The company is a storage and manufacturing facility for frozen bakery products. They anticipate creating 131 new, full time jobs. The investment into the community and the jobs that will be created will be a great asset for the county. The CareerLink of Lebanon County is assisting with employee recruitment efforts. 

The project was partially funded utilizing the PIDA program and the LVEDC Revolving Loan program. The anticipated completion date for the project is mid-summer.

This March 8th webinar will discuss how local economic development teammates can help you make smart and timely decisions regarding under-utilized or vacant buildings in your community.
 
Webinar Overview: 
Economic Development professionals in small and mid-sized communities are often faced with a situation where various types of properties are “offered” or “assigned” to them for redevelopment; with economic development and community development as the long-term objectives. 
 
In this 60 minute webinar attendees will learn about: 

1. How to leverage and utilize local real estate and technical professionals in the development of a “game-plan” to evaluate the risks and rewards of the property in question.

2. How those local professionals can utilize new market research and technical tools to help you efficiently identify both the realistic reuse opportunities for the building and the market appetite for those uses.

3. Why it is important to develop a well-thought out “exit-strategy” for the project even before you move forward with taking ownership of the building or responsibility for the redevelopment effort.

Perry Heath currently serves as Director of Business Development for R. S. Mowery & Sons, Inc. of Mechanicsburg, where he has been for more than 14 years.  He has more than 35 years of business development, planning, fund development and management experience.  

Mowery provides general construction, construction management and design/build services for major industrial, commercial and institutional projects. Specialties include industrial; warehouse and distribution facilities; private schools and institutions of higher education; senior care communities; medical facilities; auto dealerships; and office complexes. Mowery has provided reliable, high-quality work for local, regional and national clients for over 90 years. For more information about Mowery, visit www.rsmowery.com.  “Mowery … For the Experience.”

A graduate of Carlisle High School with an undergraduate degree from Penn State and a Masters Degree from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, OH, he is also a graduate of the Executive Management Continuing Education Program at the Harvard University Graduate School of Business.  Perry has also been a facilitator for Steven Covey’s “Seven Habits of Highly Effective People”.

In November 2013, he was elected to his third four year term as a member of the Carlisle Borough Council where he has served for four years as President.  He is a past board chair of the former Carlisle Area Health and Wellness Foundation (now Partnership for Better Health) and the Greater Carlisle Area Chamber of Commerce.  He is a member of the advisory board of The Salvation Army in Carlisle, a member of the Carlisle Rotary - Sunrise Club and a member of the Capital Region Advisory Board for BB&T Bank.

Perry enjoys hunting, Penn State football, and has a private pilot license.

PEDA recognizes that ongoing professional development is an essential component of continuous quality improvement. The intent of these scholarships  made available through the generosity of FirstEnergy Corp. and Team Pennsylvania Foundation – is to make conference attendance available to 2 economic development professionals aged 40 or under whose organizational budgets would otherwise prevent them from participating.