Last update 3/23/2007
SGPWC MISSION
As a nonprofit entity, the Smart Growth Partnership's mission is to work with the county's cities, townships and boroughs to address the challenges associated with economic growth and revitalization. Through education and technical assistance, improve the quality of growth through cooperative land use strategies in Westmoreland County, its 7 cities, 36 boroughs, 21 townships and 1 municipality. Our efforts enable communities to meet the challenges associated with growth and revitalization.
SGPWC VISION
Through the efforts of the SGPWC, smart growth principles and practices have been instilled into the governance and development of Westmoreland County. The SGPWC is recognized by the community resource for land use education and technical assistance.
HOW SGPWC WAS FORMED
The SGPWC originated from the City of Greensburg's Bicentennial Celebration in 1999. The slogan for that yearlong event was "What a Past - What a Future". This phrase prompted the then-President of the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg (UPG), Dr. Frank Cassell, to convene an assembly of community leaders at the campus to identify major community problems that needed to be addressed. Sprawl and related issues seemed to be the group's greatest concern.
Concurrently, then-Senator Allen Kukovich and his staff were developing a proposal for a public-private partnership to help address the issues of community planning in the region.
In the fall of 1999, a meeting of these community leaders was convened at the campus of the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg to discuss the direction of growth in Westmoreland County. An idea was presented and accepted to establish a local private non-profit organization that would work in partnership with communities and other organizations to promote effective comprehensive planning. During the following year, a number of meetings were held as the idea was refined and fashioned into a working partnership.
The core group became known as the Advisory Board. This group oversees the financial dealings of the Partnership and works with the Executive Director to set policy direction. The Advisory Board meets on a quarterly basis. For more information about the Advisory Board members, please see their Profiles
At the close of 2000, the Katherine Mabis McKenna Foundation, John A. Robertshaw, Jr. and Allegheny Power committed funding to support the SGPWC. These, along with the Mary Jennings Hillman Foundation that began its support of Smart Growth in July of 2001, committed nearly $300,000 to start up the SGPWC.
The University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg, where the SGPWC is housed, plays a key role by providing office space, telephones, mailing services and work-study students for support. The Executive Director of the SGPWC is a university employee and all purchase and expenditures made by the SGPWC are made through the UPG accounting systems. Moreover, the SGPWC funding is kept under the auspices of University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg Foundation, taking advantage of its IRS 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status.
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