The Straight Scoop on Shale

A project of the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania Citizen Education Fund

Indiana County Sustainable Economic Development Summit III

The was event was held on October 4, 2019 at the Rustic Lodge in Indiana. PA. Presented by the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania and The Indiana County Sustainable Economic Development Task Force.

The Indiana County Sustainable Economic Development Summit III is made possible with funding from the Colcom Foundation and The Heinz Endowments to the League of Women Voters of PA Citizen Education Fund. The Task Force Report is supported with funding from the office of the Indiana County Commissioners.

Indiana County Sustainable Economic Development Task Force

Following the success of the first Sustainable Economy Summit in April 2017, the following month the Indiana County Commissioners voted to establish the Indiana County Sustainable Economic Development Task Force. The Task Force engaged in a year-long participatory process engaging local stakeholders, including local business people, members of grass roots organizations, and educators in a research and planning process.

The Task Force groups met over the past year to develop their recommendations for sustainable economic development in Indiana County. The results of this process were presented at Summit III.

OUR VISION:

The Sustainable Economic Development Task Force will promote:

  • A sustainable economy providing cost savings through greater efficiency as well as reduced future environmental and human health related costs
  • Innovation, forward-thinking education, practical training, meaningful employment, and citizen engagement

MISSION STATEMENT:

To identify new opportunities in economic development, citizen education, and job training (workforce development) in the renewable energy sector, agriculture, building construction, and environmental restoration and stewardship. Task Force “Big Ideas” and the Task Force report will be available to view on http://sustainableindianacounty.org

Welcome Messages
 

Hon. Sherene Hess Indiana County Commissioner

Hon. Rodney D. Ruddock, Indiana County Commissioner

 

Hon. Mike Baker
Indiana County Commissioner

View Welcome Video

Presentation and Panel of the Task Force
Molly Sarver, moderator, Indiana County Office of Planning & Development
Task Force Focus Group Panel
Kay Snyder (Sustainable Agriculture),
Nicholas Zimny-Shea, Jonathan Warnock (Renewable Energy), Josh Krug, Vera Bonnet (Sustainable Building Construction), Cindy Rogers, Laurie Lafontaine,
Joe Trimarchi (Environmental Restoration & Stewardship)
Keynote Speaker: Economic Development
Emily Rhodes, AICP, Technical Assistance & Planning Manager, Just Transition Fund
Renewable Energy
Greg Winks & Will Brown, Solbridge Energy Advisors
Rural Broadband
Sascha Meinrath, Ph.D., Palmer Chair in Telecommunications at Penn State University
Sustainable Building Construction & Materials
Matthew Mahoney, Western PA Program Manager, Keystone Energy Efficiency Alliance
Environmental Restoration & Stewardship
Joey James, Senior Strategist, Downstream Strategies Inc.
Sustainable Agriculture
Chloe Drew & Jennica Hopkins, Mother Earth Farm PA

REFLECTION – Discussion with audience, exhibitors, task force
Heather Harr, moderator, League of Women Voters of PA
Cindy Rogers, moderator, Evergreen Conservancy.

Next Steps
Hon. Sherene Hess, Indiana County Commissioner