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 2025 version of this program will be presented as a 6-part series, delivered via Zoom. Credentials for each Zoom will be provided following the completion of registration.

• Certificate: Participants completing the program will receive a certificate, documenting their achievement. (Participation in all 6 virtual sessions is required to receive the certificate, while participation in the reception - which requires a separate fee, as outlined in the next bullet - is optional.)

• Networking: Beyond the intrinsic value of the program’s sessions, PEDA strongly recognizes the importance of networking. For a separate fee, registrants of this program will have the opportunity to participate in an evening reception scheduled to take place on Wednesday, October 22, 2025 from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm at the Hilton Scranton & Conference Center (primary venue for the 2025 PEDA Fall Conference, a separate event for which additional information can be found here.)
  

• Communication: Participants will receive communications pertinent to economic development. 

Program Session Dates / Times*:

Wednesday, August 13, 2025 | 10:00-11:00 am ~ virtual 

     Economic Development in Your Community

Wednesday, August 20, 2025 | 10:00-11:00 am ~ virtual 

     Public Finance Tools: Grants & Local Programs

Wednesday, August 27, 2025 | 10:00-11:00 am ~ virtual

     The Changing Workforce

Wednesday, September 3, 2025 | 10:00-11:00 am ~ virtual

     The Economic Impact of Recreational Development

Wednesday, September 10, 2025 | 10:00-11:00 am ~ virtual

     Identifying International Business Opportunities for Local Companies

Wednesday, September 17, 2025 | 10:00-11:00 am ~ virtual

     Supporting & Accelerating Innovation & Entrepreneurship in Your Community 

Wednesday, October 22, 2025 | 5:30-7:00 pm ~ live (optional / separate fee) 

*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 mmurray@wannerassoc.com – by 4:30 pm on July 23, 2025. Where applicable, if the need to cancel your confirmed participation in the optional reception arises, please notify PEDA – in writing, by emailing mmurray@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 Mia Murray at mmurray@wannerassoc.com.

Please note capacity for this series is limited.