Pennsylvania Allies Program:
Training for Local Economic Development Stakeholders
Who Should Participate:
This program is NOT designed for full-time economic development professionals.
Rather, it has been designed for professionals working in roles that actively support economic development organizations and their efforts within PA communities (e.g., board members of economic development organizations, local elected officials, community groups / representatives, chambers of commerce, local government workers and the agencies they represent, etc.). PEDA believes that by providing local economic development stakeholders with an introductory understanding of economic development trends and tools (and their own role in becoming champions within their communities), they will have the background, information and confidence to make informed decisions that can directly – and positively – impact the communities in which they live. With instruction by industry professionals and with the benefit of real-life examples, individuals participating in this program will develop a fundamental understanding of what economic development means, today, and what role(s) they can play in the process.
Program Elements:
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Training: The 2024 version of this program will be presented as 6-part series, delivered via Zoom. Credentials for each Zoom will be provided following the completion of registration.
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Certificate: Participants completing the course will receive a certificate, documenting their achievement. (Participation in all 6 virtual sessions is required to receive the certificate, while participation in the reception is optional.)
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Networking: Beyond the intrinsic value of the program’s sessions, PEDA strongly recognizes the importance of networking. For a fee, registrants of this program will have the opportunity to participate in an evening reception scheduled to take place on Wednesday, October 9, 2024 from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm at the Sheraton Erie Bayfront Hotel (one of the venues at which portions of the 2024 PEDA Fall Conference will take place and registration information for which can be found here.).
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Communication: Participants will receive communications pertinent to economic development.
Program Session Dates*:
Wednesday, August 28, 2024 | 10:00-11:00 am ~ virtual
Economic Development in Your Community
- Steve McKnight | President & CEO | Altoona Blair County Development Corporation
- Theodore Martin | Director, Office of Community Planning | Pennsylvania DCED
Wednesday, September 4, 2024 | 10:00-11:00 am ~ virtual
Public Finance Tools: Grants & Local Programs
- Ryan Emerson | Director of Grants | Pennsylvania DCED
- Tom Seasoltz | Chief Financial Officer | Altoona Blair County Development Corporation
Wednesday, September 11, 2024 | 10:00-11:00 am ~ virtual
The Changing Workforce
- Jesse McCree | CEO | SCPa Works
Wednesday, September 18, 2024 | 10:00-11:00 am ~ virtual
The Economic Impact of Recreational Development
- Nathan Reigner, PhD | Director of Outdoor Recreation | Pennsylvania DCNR
- Silas Chamberlin, PhD | Chief Strategy Officer/ VP of Economic & Community Development | York County Economic Alliance
Wednesday, September 25, 2024 | 10:00-11:00 am ~ virtual
Identifying International Business Opportunities for Local Companies
- David Briel | Deputy Secretary, Office of International Business Development | Pennsylvania DCED
- Jennifer Black | Executive Director, Export Development, Office of International Business Development | Pennsylvania DCED
Wednesday, October 2, 2024 | 10:00-11:00 am ~ virtual
Supporting & Accelerating Innovation & Entrepreneurship in Your Community
- Ryan Glenn | Director of Statewide Initiatives | Ben Franklin Technology Partners
- John Sider | Vice President of Business Development | Ben Franklin Technology Partners
Wednesday, October 9, 2024 | 5:30-7:00 pm ~ live (optional / separate fee)
The live reception will take place at the Sheraton Erie Bayfront Hotel in Erie, PA.
*subject to change
Consent to Use of Photo / Video / Audio:
Registration for, attendance at or participation in the series - or any portion of it - constitutes an agreement by the registrant, attendee or participant to PEDA’s use and distribution (both now and in the future) of the registrant’s, attendee’s or participant’s image and/or likeness and/or voice (as recorded on audio or video) without compensation.
Cancellation / Refund / Substitution Policies:
If the need to cancel your participation in the Zoom sessions should arise, please notify PEDA – in writing, by emailing tlinn@wannerassoc.com – by 4:30 pm on August 19, 2024. Where applicable, if the need to cancel your confirmed participation in the optional reception arises, please notify PEDA – in writing, by emailing tlinn@wannerassoc.com – by that same date and time, noting that no refunds will be provided after that point. Substitutions are permitted.
Recognition of Support:
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.
Consent to Share Information:
Registration for, attendance at or participation in this series constitutes an agreement by the registrant, attendee or participant to allow PEDA to share his/her/their name, title and organization name (a) with session presenters and (b) with entities that have provided financial support for the series (Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, including the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development and other authorized representatives) only insofar as doing so would allow PEDA to demonstrate the impact of the series.
Questions should be directed to Tammy K Linn at tlinn@wannerassoc.com.
Please note capacity for this series is limited.
