Overview | ARC Area Development Grant Program | Helpful Links

Overview

The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) was founded in 1965 to help the 13-state Appalachian region reach economic parity with the rest of the nation. Since then, ARC has invested $4.5 billion in approximately 28,000 economic development projects across Appalachia, attracting over $10 billion in matching project funds.

Each year in Pennsylvania, ARC provides funding for numerous projects in the Appalachian Region in a wide range of program areas. The projects funded in the program areas create thousands of new jobs, improve local water and sewer systems, increase school readiness, expand access to health care, assist local communities with strategic planning and provide technical and managerial assistance to emerging businesses.

Local Development Districts (LDDs) — also known as local Council of Governments, Regional Planning and Development Commissions, or Area Development Districts —  are multi-county planning organizations facilitating community-based, regionally driven economic development.

Our organization is the designated Local Development District (LDD) for the region, providing technical assistance and coordinating with the state, specifically the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED), for nine counties in our geographic footprint: Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Washington, and Westmoreland. Lawrence County is part of Northwest Commission’s LDD territory.

Service Maps

If your service area is outside of Pennsylvania, you can find all ARC state programs here.

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ARC Grant Opportunities

All ARC projects have the same goals:

• Building Appalachian Businesses
• Building Appalachia’s Workforce Ecosystem
• Building Appalachia’s Infrastructure
• Building Regional Culture and Tourism
• Building Community Leaders and Capacity

All applications have to meet at least one of these goals, as well as a corresponding PA ARC strategy and objective. The four funding streams detailed below have different deadlines and funding focuses, but ARC is primarily interested in funding activities related to economic development.

Timeline

When applying for an ARC funding opportunity, applicants complete a pre-application (may be called a Letter of Intent, Concept Paper, or pre-application, depending on funding opportunity) and, if invited, a full application. In the pre-application and full application, applicants will need to identify both an ARC goal and strategy as well as a Pennsylvania goal and objective.

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What to consider when applying for funding

ARC awards program grants to state and local agencies and governmental entities, local governing boards, and nonprofit organizations. Indian tribes and higher education institutions are also eligible for ARC program grants. ARC does not award grants to individuals or for-profit entities.

You have two options for funding: a planning or implementation grant. Planning grants fund in the creation of strategies or programs and/or feasibility studies with hopes of pursuing an implementation grant. An implementation grant is for the execution of a project. If you have a project or program idea that could use further exploration – perhaps funding a consultant or market research – a planning grant may be for you. For a project or program that is fully fleshed out, perhaps has match sources and partners identified, and just needs that last bit of funding to make the project a reality, your project may be ready for an implementation grant. More information on eligible activities for planning and implementation can be found in ARC’s project guidelines.

As you’re considering the project or program you’re looking to have funded, you’ll also need to consider match. ARC projects typically require at least 50% match between in-kind donations, cash, state funding, or other federal funding (as approved by DCED/ARC). For FY23, projects taking place in Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Greene, Indiana, Washington, and Westmoreland count(ies) will need at least 50% match. Projects taking place in Butler county require at least 70% match. Projects taking place in Fayette county require 30% match.

For multiple county projects (like many SPC ARC projects are), an average of counties’ required match works for calculating match. Example: a proposed project is taking place in Allegheny, Washington, Beaver, and Butler counties. Allegheny (50%) + Washington (50%) + Beaver (50%) + Butler (70%) = 220 / 4 = 55% match required for this project.

Match is required for both planning and implementation grants.

Talk to SPC about potential options for matching funds.

For construction projects, identifying an RSBA will be required for your pre-application. An RSBA will supervise your construction project and can be a federal agency (USDA, EDA, HUD locally), a state agency (DCED depending on capacity), or county/municipality. After identifying the RSBA that’s willing to supervise your project, you’ll submit an RSBA request letter to the agency and include a letter from said agency confirming their commitment to serve as your project’s RSBA with your pre-application.

SPC can help brainstorm potential RSBAs for your project. RSBA and BFA letter templates available upon request.

Best practice: when considering what project you’d like to have funded, think about what metrics you’ll be providing to ARC and what activities will be funded by ARC vs. which will be funded by your match sources (see breakdown of budget in pre-application link). ARC has set outputs and outcomes for all projects, as defined by their Guide to Performance Measures: ARC’s Performance Measures. Whether your metrics are paired or standalone, you’ll need to include these metrics in both your pre-application and full application.

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Executive Summary Template: Area Development and Local Access Road:

Pre-application Best Practices

• keep to 2-3 pages, 
• use the strategic plans above to identify “Goals and Strategies”, 
• use SPC’s Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP)/Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS), SmartMoves, under “Strategic Rationale”
• use Performance Measures as outlined above

SPC, as SWPA’s Local Development District (LDD), submits Area Development and Local Access Road Executive Summaries to DCED. SPC also submits full applications to DCED on behalf of regional applicants. For more information on how to complete ARC’s Executive Summary, timelines for submission, and all other technical assistance, please reach out to Faith Collins (fcollins@spcregion.org) at SPC.

PLEASE NOTE: SAM REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED FOR ALL ARC APPLICANTS.

Please let us know if you need assistance getting a UEI from SAM.gov.

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ARC Area Development Grant Program

The Area Development Program focuses on education and workforce training programs, highway construction, water and sewer system construction, leadership development programs, small business start-ups and expansions, and development of healthcare resources. Area Development programs also offer a Local Access Road funding opportunity. Please note that Local Access Road projects must use PennDOT as their Registered State Basic Agency.

Total time until funding is disbursed: 6-9 months. ARC is best for programs taking place in the future; ARC does not reimburse funding. All ARC-funded program activities will need to take place after ARC funding has been disbursed.

In addition to a cost estimate and preliminary engineering report, a Basic Federal Agency or Registered State Basic Agency must be identified for the project. A BFA or RSBA will be used to manage construction projects as ARC does not manage their own construction projects. An RSBA or BFA request letter template, examples of cost estimates, and information on how to put together preliminary engineering reports are available upon request from Faith Collins (fcollins@spcregion.org) at SPC

Documentation required for full applications:

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Other Grants Available Through ARC

ARC offers other grant opportunities throughout the year: INSPIRE and POWER are typically open in February or March each year.

For more information on POWER, INSPIRE, and ARISE, please reach out to Faith Collins (fcollins@spcregion.org), or visit ARC’s website. You can also sign up for ARC’s newsletter.

Calendar

Pleaser check back. Grant due dates will be added as they are announced.

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Helpful Links

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Community Capacity Program

Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC) provides technical assistance for potential grant applicants interested in applying for funding opportunities through the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), as well other opportunities related to economic development.

Join SPC’s Public Participation Panels for a virtual update on developing the draft Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). The draft TIP is the implementation mechanism for SmartMoves for a Changing Region, the region’s official transportation and development plan. Hear about the progress of major transportation projects, submit questions to SPC and PennDOT, and give your ideas and feedback for the draft TIP. 

SPC’s Public Participation Panels encourage you to attend a virtual public meeting to learn more about the draft documents. Meetings will be open house in format. There will be opportunities to view maps, hear from representatives from SPC, PennDOT, transit operators, and planning departments, and submit comments and questions.

Virtual meeting dates and times are listed below:

• PennDOT District 10 (Butler, Armstrong, & Indiana counties):
  Wednesday, November 17th at 6pm
• PennDOT District 11 (City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny, Beaver, & Lawrence counties):
  Thursday, November 4th at 6pm
• PennDOT District 12 (Greene, Fayette, Washington, & Westmoreland counties):
  Tuesday, November 16th at 6pm

Meetings will be streamed through our SPC Facebook page here:

https://www.facebook.com/spcregion

Everyone experienced the effects of climate change in some way this summer, Peter Boger said Monday afternoon.

“Whether that was smoke from the fires, or the flooding or with extreme heat,” said Boger, assistant director for outreach and engagement with Penn State Sustainability. “And we know these are going to be issues that continue to affect us here in Pennsylvania and worldwide, and yet at the same time, and this is an exciting moment of opportunity.

“There’s more money coming from the federal government around climate than ever before, and we’re seeing a lot more action at the federal, state and local levels.”

More than 150 people tuned in Monday afternoon for the first webinar of Commonwealth Sustainability Week, focused on efforts from state-level leadership to curb climate change. In its third year, and hosted by the state’s GreenGov Council and Penn State Sustainability, the weeklong event features daily, free webinars focused on climate change and sustainability efforts statewide.

“Hopefully, you see the theme — that we’re trying to raise awareness on climate and, really, our sustainability week is geared around climate actions and planning,” said Mark Hand, director of the GreenGov Council.

The webinar, “2023 Commonwealth Sustainability Week Kickoff — Sustainability Leadership,” included Cindy Adams Dunn, secretary of the Department of Conservation & Natural Resources, and Reggie McNeil, secretary of the Department of General Services. Richard Negrin, who heads the Department of Environmental Protection, was also scheduled to speak, but didn’t make the webinar. Hand said he was “tied up in another meeting.”

All serve as co-chairs for the council.

‘Cooling down the streets is critical’

The hour-long event was structured like a panel. Officials explained how their departments work to address climate change and sustainability issues before answering questions. The first question asked the panelists to share near-term climate actions that can be accomplished across the state, as well as their biggest concerns.

“Every parking lot, every rooftop I see, I feel like should have solar on it,” Dunn said. “ … So getting solar everywhere it can be, and overcoming the barriers to that policy-wise, legislatively and it costs-wise, but the investment certainly [would] be worth it in the long run.”

She also mentioned efforts to add more trees, especially in cities, where “tree cover is essential.”

“If you can get shade on streets and houses, it makes a tremendous difference in urban heat and that can save lives,” she said. “Urban heat is a killer in the summertime. So, getting our urban and suburban areas forest-covered is critical to reduce energy bills, but also to save lives and create cover

“After summer like we had, and it’s only going one direction from here right now — cooling down the streets is critical.”

Audience members were also able to submit their own questions. One asked what other state departments are working towards sustainability goals.

Closing trail gaps around the state is a major focus for other departments, including PennDOT, Dunn said. Philadelphia’s Schuylkill River Trail was built through grants, as well as funding from PennDOT and private funding, she said.

Bike commuters can use the trail “as opposed to sitting on the Schuylkill Expressway in traffic and belching exhaust.”

“In the Allentown area as well,” she continued. “There’s a link trail that’s aiming to really provide active transportation. Again, DCNR with our grants on trails has been a key partner there, as have the other agencies.”

The Link Trail connects multi-use trails across the Valley for year-round outdoor recreation and transportation.

“Getting vehicles off the road [and] getting people on trails to connect, even local errands,” she said. I was just in Hellertown a couple of years ago, when we completed a trail there, and people were using their bikes to go to the store.”

Another question dealt with severe weather events, asking if the secretaries see an opportunity to rebuild any damage using more sustainable techniques.

“If we rebuild or renovate anything, we are going to use the most energy-efficient equipment, the most green materials that are out there.”
Reggie McNeil, secretary of the state Department of General Services
“If we rebuild or renovate anything, we are going to use the most energy-efficient equipment, the most green materials that are out there,” McNeil said.

Only a handful of the more than a dozen questions submitted by the audience were answered, but Hand encouraged participants to register for future webinars throughout the week.

The schedule of webinars this week includes:

• Preparing for a Changing Climate: Building a Resilient Pennsylvania
• Join the Movement – PA Climate Network Participation & Training Opportunities
• Building the Workforce of Tomorrow
• Fostering Resilient Communities – Local Climate Action and Planning

A Lehigh Valley official is scheduled to speak as a panelist during Friday’s webinar, “Fostering Resilient Communities.”

Becky A. Bradley, executive director of the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission, is scheduled to discuss “how climate planning leads to more resilient communities.”

Other speakers include Michael Walsh, deputy secretary of the state’s Department of Conservation & Natural Resources; Lindsay A. Byron, an environmental group manager in the energy programs office of the state Department of Environmental Protection; and Cathy Tulley, environmental programs manager of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission.

“The session provides an opportunity to hear what state and local government planners are working on to address climate change and how we can get involved with local planning and developing local climate priorities.”

“We’ll have a great set of presenters representing a combination of state and local governments to discuss local climate action and planning,” Hand said. “The session provides an opportunity to hear what state and local government planners are working on to address climate change and how we can get involved with local planning and developing local climate priorities.”

Earlier this year, the LVPC announced the receipt of a $1 million infusion of federal funds earmarked to create two separate climate action plans over the next four years.

Officials must create a Priority Climate Action Plan, focused on industrial decarbonization, as well as a Comprehensive Climate Action Plan. The former is due March 1, while the latter is expected to be adopted in August 2025, officials said during a recent meeting of the commission’s Environmental Committee.

Register for any of this week’s webinars here. They will also be recorded and posted on the GreenGov Council’s website.

View the full article at lehighvalleynews.com

SPC’s Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Team is implementing a comprehensive “bicycle level of comfort”, analysis on our region’s road network. This level of comfort, or LOC analysis aids cyclists in finding comfortable and enjoyable routes as we continue promoting bike travel in the region.

View the video to learn more and view the current Level of Comfort map here.

Rob Brandegee picked up and moved to Pittsburgh’s Strip District to enjoy its convenience and bustling city living atmosphere.

For the growing population of Strip District residents like him, it’s not uncommon to take a walk and run into friends and acquaintances.

“It’s very sociable, and it really has a neighborhood vibe,” said Brandegee.

Brandegee relocated from Highland Park to the Strip in 2021. Part of the appeal was how easy it is to reach South Side-based Little Earth Productions, the company he co-founded that manufactures licensed apparel and accessories, like the Terrible Towel, for professional and college teams. He loves the mix of Strip District residents ranging from young professionals to middle-aged and older.

On Smallman, the iconic Produce Terminal – a string of connected warehouses that opened up a portion of the docks to independent retailers, bakers and craftspeople – has been transformed into The Terminal, a bright, glossy shopping center. Vibrantly painted steps lead to businesses like Aslin Beer Company, Mayweather Boxing & Fitness and Posman’s Books, just a few blocks from long-time fixtures like Salem’s Market & Grill, Robert Wholey & Co. Fish Market and Pennsylvania Macaroni Co.

Several food and entertainment spots within the Terminal are expected to open this spring and summer, including the music venue City Winery, Novo Asian Food Hall, and Puttshack, as well as office space for the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission and the Richard King Mellon Foundation.

Mohamed Yassin likes to visit the Strip District once or twice a week. For the doctor specializing in infectious diseases at nearby UPMC Mercy in Uptown, dropping by the neighborhood is easy.

“I think it’s the heart of Pittsburgh,” the Fox Chapel resident said. “Even just walking around, it makes you feel like part of Pittsburgh. My wife and I will go to Pennsylvania Macaroni Co. to get olives and cheeses. We will stop by the bakery and get some nice bread. Then we take the car up to Mount Washington to see the view. So this place really means a lot to me.”

Dan Adamski, senior managing director of JLL Pittsburgh, noted that commercial construction “is almost completely halted.”

Adamski said the Strip District has a “wow factor” that attracts highly sought-after talent who can live, bike and walk and visit new restaurants and brew pubs.

“That’s what companies in the post-covid world are seeking,” Adamski said. “If you have an office, it can’t be the old, beige cube farm. It’s a confluence of a bunch of attractive factors that, if you’re a company looking for a space, you look at the Strip District.”

Read the full article at triblive.com

Brackenridge Councilman Dino Lopreiato said a new half-mile walking trail through the borough will do more than create recreational opportunities.

“It will showcase some of the nicest river views in Western Pennsylvania,” he said.

“People will be able to walk or ride a bike, and, hopefully, it will encourage residents to get out and enjoy our beautiful park.”

Work kicked off this week on the trail segment, which is part of the larger, 33-mile Three Rivers Heritage Trail operated by the nonprofit Friends of the Riverfront.

The $445,000 project is nearly seven years in the making.

Stretching from Mile Lock Lane to Morgan Street, it will link other pending trail sections in Harrison and Tarentum.

When completed, it will be part of the path from Erie to Pittsburgh.

Construction will be paid for by three grants: $100,000 from the Allegheny County Community Infrastructure and Tourism Fund; $60,400 from the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources; and close to $285,000 from the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission.

Crews have begun marking and digging the portion of the walkway that will be built along First Avenue on the grassy side of the guiderail.

Work is expected to take about two weeks.

An asphalt trail will be complemented by a split-rail fence for added safety, and native plants will be added.

A second phase of work will create a designated path through Brackenridge Memorial Park.

Both sections of the trail are expected to be completed this year.

Courtney Mahronich Vita, director of trail development for Friends of the Riverfront, said that while the trail is relatively short, it carries a mighty role.

“Building out the Three Rivers Heritage Trail Network in Allegheny County is challenging, but every foot and half-mile addition makes a difference in closing the gaps,” she said.

“Friends is excited to see this trail segment become a reality.”

Work in Brackenridge will someday link with other planned trails, stretching the path onward to Freeport in one direction and Millvale in the other.

Borough officials said they favor the idea of urging walkers and bikers to use the trail and not the road.

Lopreiato said he believes the trail will draw a wider audience to town.

“I look forward to walkers and riders traveling through town and discovering it,” he said.

View the full article at triblive.com

Members of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC), met on Tuesday at the new Butler County Community College in Ford City to collect public input for their long-range transportation plan.

The plan they are updating, according to an SPC press release, called SmartMoves for a Changing Region, was adopted in June 2019 and included more than $35 billion in regional transportation priorities for the next 25 years.

Caitlin O’Connor, SPC media point of contact, wrote in the release that the SPC is the area’s designated metropolitan planning organization and works closely with the 10 counties in Southwestern Pennsylvania, including Armstrong County.

The agency also works closely with PennDOT on road improvement projects.

Ryan Gordon, manager, transportation program development for the SPC, presented a PowerPoint presentation about the plan during the meeting.

He said SmartMoves for a Changing Region includes a regional vision of a world-class, safe and well maintained, integrated transportation system that provides mobility for all, enables resilient communities and supports a globally competitive economy.

To achieve this vision, the long-range plan includes a list of projects currently within fiscal capacity and projects beyond the fiscal capacity, he said.

Mr. Gordon said the Regional Vision includes three major categories, including: transit projects, such as a West Busway Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) extension to Pittsburgh International Airport and an East Busway extension to the east suburbs and the Mon Valley, among other projects.

The Regional Vision also includes an active transportation category, or funds for walking/biking trails and filling in gaps between trails, he said.

The active transportation category includes extending the Three Rivers Heritage Trail to Freeport; and connecting the Westmoreland Heritage Trail to the Great Allegheny Passage, the bike trail that runs through Homestead, among other projects.

The third category is roadways, that is, highway improvement projects such as the modernization of U.S. Route 30.

The Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP), lasts 25 years, and is updated every four years.

When projects are moved from the LRTP to the short-term, two-year TIF (Transportation Improvement Program), it means those projects will soon be started, or are, in the case of the Margaret Road intersection, already underway.

Other Armstrong County projects moved to the 2021 or 2023 TIF list include preservation work on the Judge J. Frank Graff Bridge; rehabilitation of the 1/112th Infantry Bridge and Graff Ramp; Armstrong State Route 28 group bridge rehabilitations; and safety improvements to the Goheenville Dip.

According to Mr. Gordon’s PowerPoint presentation, Armstrong County projects in the current TIP include the Poverty Hill Bridge, work on the State Route 85-State Route 2001 intersection, U.S. Route 422 concrete preservation, Rural Valley Bridge #4, Brick Church Bridge #2, and the Pyra Road Bridge.

He said the projects will also be evaluated from an “environmental justice” perspective, which helps ensure projects do not negatively impact minority communities.

Enhanced broadband is also important and a needed improvement, Mr. Gordon said.

After the meeting, Harold Swan, a planning and programming manager for PennDOT, said improvements on State Route 28 north of Kittanning will likely include turning lanes and other work to make the road safer.

Darin Alviano of the Armstrong County Planning and Development office said the county is concerned with projects to the north, east, and in all parts of the county, not just in Kittanning.

Jeremy Dias of state Sen. Joe Pittman’s office submitted the following statement about the meeting between SPC staff members, local officials and PennDOT representatives:

“Sen. Pittman is always pleased to advocate and work to secure funding that addresses critical infrastructure needs within the 41st Senatorial district,” he wrote. “We are grateful for the partnerships that exist with PennDOT, SPC and Armstrong County and for their efforts to help advance transportation projects within the region.”

Public input

If a member of the public wasn’t able to attend the meeting, but still wants to provide their perspective on the transportation plans and issues, SPC members invited them to submit their comments before June 9.

Citizens can submit their comments either by email at comments@spcregion.org, by submitting an online form by fax at 412-391-9160; or by mailing comments to the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission’s address at P.O. Box 101429, Pittsburgh, PA, 15237.

An SPC spokeswoman said SPC staff people respond to every comment.

View the full article at leadertimes.com

Pittsburgh officials are close to finalizing the design for the Charles Anderson Bridge, which carries Boulevard of the Allies over Schenley Park, and connects Oakland to Squirrel Hill; construction is slated to begin in 2024. While that’s two years ahead of schedule, city officials and community members alike acknowledged at a meeting Wednesday night it still feels like a long time off.

Work on a plan for the Charles Anderson began in 2019.

The span is historic, which complicates things; Pittsburgh is receiving state and federal money, which adds additional burdens; and it runs over a park, which has its own quirks. Zachary Workman is the project lead for the Department of Mobility and Infrastructure, and he explained rehabilitating the Charles Anderson means working through the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, which can be quite a lengthy process.

“There’s a lot of considerations that go into making sure the project is really considering all those who are impacted, both the neighborhoods and the environment around it,” he said.

Still, the city was able to shift the anticipated 2026 construction date, which led to a question of whether there was any room to expedite it further.

The limiting factor is usually federal funding, said Kim Lucas, who leads the Department of Mobility and Infrastructure. But in the last few years, Pittsburgh has “received more federal funding for our bridge projects than probably ever in the history of the city,” Lucas said.

“That funding is usually budgeted out to future years, and if you need to move it up, there are tradeoffs.”

Working with the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (the regional planning organization), PennDOT, and the Federal Highway Administration, Pittsburgh was able to make tradeoffs, but the implication was there aren’t more to be made. Lucas also noted physical realities, such as rehabilitating old steel, limit speed.

Though the city’s design for the bridge is constrained by its historic designation, officials say they will be able to add a bike lane, while also keeping both sidewalks.

While the bridge has been closed to cars since this winter, it remained open to pedestrians and cyclists. Once construction starts, those users will also be detoured to other routes.

Another meeting with an updated design is expected later in the summer, and construction is expected to conclude in 2025.

In addition to talking about the Charles Anderson Bridge, city officials also provided a brief update on other affected bridges: the Panther Hollow Overpass and the Swinburne Bridge. Work on the former will begin during the work on Charles Anderson, and the latter will begin after (Swinburne currently serves as a detour for the Charles Anderson).

Stakeholders from Oakland, Squirrel Hill, and Greenfield voiced numerous concerns about communication around and plans for Swinburne, and repeatedly asked city officials to reopen comments on the project and to commit to more meetings. They agreed to both of those requests.

View the full article at wesa.fm

From May 15-21, Individuals that Track their Commute Can Enter to Win Big Prizes.

Today, the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC), the region’s metropolitan planning organization, kicked off a one-week long Commuter Challenge—an effort to encourage local residents to take sustainable modes of transportation like carpooling, vanpooling, and biking.

The Commuter Challenge is an initiative of Commute Info, a ride sharing program that offers multiple solutions for individuals or businesses looking to travel in a more green, sustainable way.

“This fun, friendly competition is a way that everyone can take action,” said Anthony Hickton, Manager of the Transportation Demand Management program at Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission. “Very often, people want to help make our environment and transportation methods cleaner and more sustainable, but they don’t know how to do it on an individual level. Our Commuter Challenge incentives people to try taking public transit, vanpooling, carpooling, biking, or walking when getting to and from places.”

Individuals can participate in the challenge by tracking their eco-friendly commutes online at www.commuteinfo.org. Once individuals enter their commutes, they will be automatically entered into a drawing to win one of several prizes, including gift certificates ranging in value from $25 to $400 to places like Giant Eagle, Dick’s Sporting Goods, and the Carnegie Science Center. The grand prize is a $400 gift certificate to a local bike shop.

Each trip that individuals enter during this challenge week will count as one entry. Winner(s) will be notified via the email(s) associated with their CommuteInfo account and must respond within five business days to claim their prize. If winners do not reply within the required timeframe another winner will be selected.

Read Release

Armstrong County Commissioner Chairman John Strate, Commissioner Vice Chairman Anthony Shea and Commissioner Secretary Pat Fabian participated in a joint visit consisting of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC) and Allegheny Conference in front of national leaders to advocate for economic development within the region.

The two-day trip started with a PA Business Leadership event at the White House.

The PA contingent of business and elected leaders met with various senior administration economic advisors to include Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves.

The group focused on the development of regional infrastructure ranging from roads, bridges, water, sewage and internet access.

The deputy secretary related robust infrastructure is key for the country to remain competitive on the world stage.

The deputy secretary fielded numerous questions and concerns ranging from the viability of EV waste trucks to emergent technologies for expanding broadband access in support of telemedicine.

On the second day of the visit, the delegation met with various legislative leaders at the Capital Building.

The day started with a breakfast event with Stefani Pashman/Allegheny Conference CEO, Pat Fabian/SPC Board Chairman, Rich Fitzgerald/SPC CEO, U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, and Phil Murphy/Senior Advisor to National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) as featured speakers. Key topics discussed were how to attract and expand business outside of existing pockets within the region, and how to showcase the advantages the Western Pennsylvania region has to offer to site selectors.

The delegation then met with various lawmakers at their Congressional offices at the Capital. Commissioners Strate, Shea and Fabian joined several of these office calls to include U.S. Representatives Guy Reschenthaler (R-14th), Chris Deluzio (D-17th) and GT Thompson (R-15th). In the meeting with Rep. Deluzio, Commissioner Strate expressed concerns about the lack of EMS resources in and around the northern part of Armstrong County. Commissioner Strate talked of how several of the Dayton volunteer fireman have picked up EMS skills at their own expense. In the same meeting, Commissioner Shea talked about the growth of the areas trails; he also talked about the ARDC public private partnership for the county’s locks and dams and that both the trails and locks are important to the area’s tourism growth.

Representative Glenn “G.T.” Thompson, who chairs the House Agricultural Committee, discussed the upcoming farm bill. Rep. Thompson related he looked at generating agriculture legislation through a science and technology lens. Commissioner Fabian advocated for the Allegheny River getting additional resources regarding updated lock infrastructure similar to other regions, as well as expanded service. Commissioner Shea related remote lock technologies may offer a long-term solution to open up Armstrong County locks and dams to recreational boaters. A question was asked about dredging the river, the Congressman advised this issue is being looked at closely. Commissioner Shea talked of the need to complete the bike trail flyover in Allegheny Township, Westmoreland County, which is needed to connect the Freeport to Butler Trail and Armstrong Trails into one 126-mile contiguous trail from Butler to Brookville, along with the Leechburg connector. The ultimate goal for the region is to fully complete the 270-mile Erie to Pittsburgh Trail which will have an estimated one million bikers passing through Armstrong County annually.

The various meetings over the two days event allowed the commissioners to network with a plethora of business and government leaders. The commissioners were able to garner follow-up meetings with broadband providers and identify potential grant source leads. The next public Armstrong County Commissioner meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 3 at 9 a.m. in the Commissioner Conference Room at the Courthouse Annex in Kittanning.

View the full article at leadertimes.com.