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:

• Training: The 2023 version of this program will be presented as a 4-part series, delivered via Zoom. Credentials for each Zoom will be provided following the completion of registration.
• Certificate: Participants completing the course will receive a certificate, documenting their achievement. (Participation in all 4 virtual sessions is required to receive the certificate, while participation in the reception is optional.)
• 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 Monday, October 16, 2023 from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm at the DoubleTree by Hilton Reading (site of the 2023 PEDA Fall Conference, registration information about which can be found here).
• Communication: Participants will receive communications pertinent to economic development. 

Program Session Dates*:

October 11 | 10:00-11:00 am ~ virtual 

Economic Development in Your Community

• Steve McKnight | President & CEO | Altoona Blair County Development Corporation
• Tree Layton Zuzzio | Executive Policy Specialist | Pennsylvania DCED

October 16 | 5:30-7:00 pm ~ live (optional / separate fee) 

Networking Reception

October 25 | 10:00-11:00 am ~ virtual

Public Finance Tools: Grants and Local Programs

• Ryan Emerson | Director of Grants | Pennsylvania DCED
• Tom Seasoltz | Chief Financial Officer | Altoona Blair County Development Corporation

November 1 | 10:00-11:00 am ~ virtual

The Changing Workforce

• Jesse McCree | CEO | SCPa Works

November 8 | 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

*subject to change

Consent to Use of Photo / Video / Audio:

Registration for, attendance at or participation in the event constitute 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 4:30 pm on October 2, 2023. Where applicable, if the need to cancel your confirmed participation in the optional reception arises, please notify PEDA – in writing – 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 by a grant from the federal Department of the Treasury, under the administration of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, DCED.

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 (Treasury Department and Pennsylvania DCED) 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.