PEDA - Pennsylvania Economic Development Association

News

  • 07/30/2015 8:22 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Coleen Terry is the President of ECON partners, inc., a woman-owned economic development firm located in Pennsylvania with offices in Radnor and Harrisburg. Coleen has spent nearly 20 years designing and advancing highly successful implementation strategies for complex development projects. She leads ECON’s work supporting new development as well as repurposing underutilized sites and brownfields. Coleen has worked directly on projects with public and private sector clients throughout the Mid-Atlantic, and has strong experience throughout the Commonwealth’s urban cores. The firm specializes in brownfield redevelopment and adaptive reuse.

    Prior to founding ECON partners, Coleen served as Vice President of a mid-sized economic development firm. She led a service area that delivered over $450 Million of public funding to projects.

    ECON partners, inc.

    ECON partners is an economic development consulting firm that specializes in full spectrum public funding and real estate development services. We are also certified by the Commonwealth as a third-party reviewer with the Office of Budget on behalf of the RACP program. We manag hands-on writing, approval, administration and compliance services for Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) grant projects and other grant, loan and tax credit applications.

    We prepare and facilitate:

    • Public funding strategies – Delivering gap funding and financing for public and private development projects.
    • Public/private partnerships – Structuring public/private partnerships that are necessary to transform underutilized properties into vibrant, income and job producing neighborhood assets.
    • Brownfield and transit-oriented development – Repositioning underutilized properties for successful development, including brownfields, municipal and public safety facilities, transit-oriented real estate, underdeveloped sites and historic structures.
    • Government relations – Engaging public officials as ambassadors for and champions of project-specific economic development efforts.

  • 07/15/2015 9:49 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Robert W. Sweet
    Field Director
    National Development Council 

    A member of NDC’s East Team, Robert Sweet works primarily in the northeastern U.S. providing technical assistance to client communities through analyses of proposed client projects and structuring financing packages to bring them to fruition.

    Currently, he teaches all four courses in NDC’s Economic Development Finance Certification Program: ED101 – Economic Development Finance, ED201 – Business Credit Analysis, ED 202 - Real Estate Finance, and ED 300 – The Art of Deal Structuring, and was selected NDC Trainer of the Year in 2011. He is also an underwriter for NDC’s SBA 7 (a) loan fund program, the Grow America Fund.

    Before joining NDC in 2007, Mr. Sweet served as the Deputy Regional Director for the Southern Tier for the New York State Empire State Development Corporation, and prior to that as the Director of Loan Funds for the Broome County Industrial Development Agency. He is a graduate of SUNY-Binghamton and was retained there as an adjunct lecturer for fourteen years.

    Register today for the September 21 - 23, 2015 NDC Economic Development Credit Analysis training in Harrisburg, PA.


  • 07/08/2015 12:46 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Summer is here and that means it's time for PEDA's annual Regional Member Meetings!

    We have conducted these meetings for several years to discuss the key issues that our members are facing and PEDA's leadership is working on, to maintain open lines of communication, and to solicit your input, feedback, and suggestions.   

    PEDA is a member-driven organization and our effectiveness is tied to our members' efforts.  We welcome and encourage all members to attend one of the Regional Member Meetings to let their voices be heard.  The agenda for these meetings is under development, but is expected to include discussion of the Commonwealth budget, updates on PEDI and committees, and open discussion of state, regional, and local issues.  To submit questions or suggest agenda topics in advance, please click here

    Follow this link to register online to attend.  There is no cost to attend and lunch will be provided.


  • 06/25/2015 10:26 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    To paraphrase Lewis Carroll in Alice in Wonderland, “if you don’t know where you’re going any road will get you there”. Unfortunately, this directionally challenged approach is how economic development often occurs in far too many communities that fail to identify and make strategic choices about their economic future.

    Chester County, Pennsylvania has enjoyed significant economic success over the past few decades, resulting in the County’s typically high ranking on numerous measures of community success.  Significantly, the County recognized that past performance was no guarantee of future success and engaged in a dynamic public-private partnership process that resulted in VISTA 2025, the first formal County economic development strategy.

    With an incredibly diverse economy, where agriculture and high technology are both key contributors, the challenge for Chester County was to identify those specific actions that would keep the County at the forefront when location decisions were made – by businesses and workers.

    In a rapidly changing, and increasingly competitive environment, where the next generation of workers choose to live is emerging as a key factor in where businesses choose to locate. Recognizing the importance of this new dynamic, quality of place emerged as a key component of the County’s focus on economic health and not just economic growth. 

    The guiding philosophy for VISTA 2025 is to maintain a balance between progress and preservation.  This means that both elements – economic progress and preservation of natural and historic resources – are complementary attributes that define Chester County and provide it with a sustainable competitive advantage in terms of attracting and retaining both businesses and a talented workforce.

    While VISTA 2025 contains numerous more traditional economic development action items, the concept of balancing progress and preservation provides a unique perspective that sets it apart from typical strategies.

    For more information on VISTA 2025 visit www.vista2025.com or contact the Chester County Economic Development Council.


  • 06/25/2015 10:20 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Laura Potthoff, Relationship Manager, Cumberland Area Economic Development Corporation

    Laura joined Cumberland Area Economic Development Corporation in October 2014, as the Relationship Manager.   Laura is responsible for managing CAEDC's new and existing relationships with Tourism and Economic Development partners to help generate business opportunities and workforce development in Cumberland County. 

    Laura received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Dickinson College.  Laura comes to us with extensive experience in private higher education, having been an integral part of the Finance team at Dickinson.  Laura has experience in program management, relationship management, event planning, recruitment and retention, and budget analysis.  


  • 06/25/2015 9:00 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    PEDA wishes to recognize the passing of Lifetime Member Grover Stainbrook. Click the link to view his obituary. 

  • 06/19/2015 12:48 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Click here to access the Young Professional Scholarship Request Form for PEDA's fall conference.  This scholarship opportunity is made available through the generosity of FirstEnergy Corp.




  • 06/18/2015 1:50 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    2016 Spring Conference session proposals are being accepted and we encourage you to share your thoughts with us.  Please use the following outline in submitting your proposals to be considered for the April 11-13, 2016 event.

    • Explain your proposed session topic, title, and overview.

    • Explain what is innovative about your proposed session and topic(s) of focus.

    • Explain your presentation approach / style.

    • Describe what the key takeaways will be for conference attendees.

    • Provide any information you feel will help us better understand what you want to do as a presenter.

    • Provide name / title / organization for each of the speakers / presenters you're recommending for consideration.

    In your submission, please include your name, title, organization, phone number, email address, and mailing address and send via email to PEDA at conferences@peda.org, labeling the Subject line "2016 PEDA Spring Recommendations".  Thank you for your assistance.

    Click here to view PEDA's current sponsorship brochure.


    #PEDASpring16

  • 06/08/2015 1:23 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Please click here to review the full notice.

  • 06/05/2015 1:00 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Greetings from your friends in Altoona, Blair County!  

    As a long-time member and Past President of PEDA, I wanted to take this opportunity to thank the PEDA Board of Directors for awarding the upcoming fall conference to Blair County.  We are looking forward to welcoming everyone to Altoona on October 26-28 for an exciting conference filled with outstanding topics and plenty of opportunities to network and catch up with all of your colleagues. 

    Some of the highlights we have planned include:

    • Featured Keynote Speaker Steve Sheetz, Sheetz Family Council Chairman and former President/CEO
    • Educational topics including: Utilizing Eds & Meds in Downtown Redevelopment, 501(c)3 Compliance Issues, Creative Approaches in Brownfield Redevelopment and more
    • A tour of the region to include a ride on the Everett Railroad
    • 2 receptions, including an off-site reception at the Railroaders Memorial Museum complete with entertainment, food and drinks

    We invite you to register now by visiting the conference website.  And don't forget that sponsor and exhibitor opportunities are still available. 

    We enjoyed hosting the gathering of colleagues and economic development professionals back in the Spring of 2004 and we are looking forward to another fun-filled and educational event here in Altoona, Blair County.  We can't wait to see everyone here in October.

    Best Regards,

    Marty

    Martin J. Marasco
    President/CEO
    Altoona-Blair County Development Corp. (ABCD Corp.) 


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