Alexander J. Graziani, AICP, is the executive director of Smart Growth Partnership, a community development group that deals with growth and quality of life issues. Founded in 2001, the organization is a part of  the Penn State Cooperative Extension of Westmoreland County.

            A certified planning professional, Graziani served for two years as senior planner with Benatec Associates in Greensburg and was the director of the Clearfield County Planning Department for five years.  In Clearfield, he helped advance community planning for a rural central Pennsylvania county the size of Rhode Island.  His role at SGPWC is to work with business leaders, developers, educators, business leaders, and state, county and local officials to develop planning principles that encourage economic growth without community deterioration.

As a part of the Penn State Cooperative Extension, the SGP is unique in Pennsylvania. By providing educational opportunities and technical assistance, the SGP seeks to work with all Westmoreland County municipalities to develop sound growth strategies. In 2006, the Westmoreland Conservation District gave the Smart Growth Partnership their sustainable community partner award.

The group involves business leaders, conservation agencies, developers and others with local and state planners in crafting the most intelligent long-term land use plan to benefit the entire community.

Major initiatives of the SGP (www.smartgrowthpa.org) completed or underway include:

• US Route 30 Master Plan www.route30plan.com(current)
• Westmoreland County Comprehensive Plan (adopted 2004)
• Conservation by design sketch plan services (current)
• Irwin Project (Ongoing, Comprehensive Plan Adopted in January 2007)
• Hempfield, Greensburg, South Greensburg and Southwest Greensburg Multi-Municipal Comprehensive Plan (adopted 2005)
• Smart Growth Visualization project in Unity and Ligonier Townships (2005)
• Latrobe Downtown Visioning (2006)
• Scottdale Town Center Revitalization effort (current)
• Mount Pleasant Downtown Visioning (2007)
• Westmoreland County Open Space and Greenways Plan (current)

Since joining the SGP in June of 2001, Alex has helped numerous communities begin to address community planning.  He has become a leader in the smart growth movement and was selected United States EPA in January of 2002 to attend the two week National Smart Growth Leadership training at the University of Maryland, in Silver Springs Maryland. Mr. Graziani is currently serving his second two-year term as Vice-President for the Pennsylvania Planning Association, having served PPA one term as Treasurer. 

In 2004, Governor Rendell appointed him to serve a four-year term on the reactivated Pennsylvania State Planning Board.  The State Senate confirmed his appointment in June of 2004 and the Governor elevated him to the position of Vice Chairman in October 2005. Mr. Graziani serves as the Vice President of the Board of Directors for the Greensburg Hempfield Area Library and on the Community Board of First National Bank.

            Graziani is a native of western Pennsylvania having been born in New Castle. He received a BA from Westminster College, Pennsylvania and his Masters of Public Policy and Management from the University of Pittsburgh. He lives in Greensburg with his wife Eva and five children Andrew, Seth, Philip, Carissa and Paul.

Alexander J. Graziani, AICP
Executive Director

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, Westminster College, 1992

Masters of Public Policy and Management, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, 2005

PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS

American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) July 1, 2000, Certificate Number 015586.

Certified Instructor for the Pennsylvania Municipal Training Partnership and certified by the Pennsylvania Municipal Planning Education Institute:

Certified instructor for the Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs, Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors and the Local Government Academy

Certified as a "Project Planner" by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (PA-DCED) 1999.

Professional Societies

American Planning Association, 1992 - Present

Pennsylvania Planning Association, Currently serving in second term as Vice President, 2004 - Present

Pennsylvania Planning Association, served one term as Treasurer, 2001- 2003

Urban Land Institute, 2001- Present

Congress for New Urbanism, 2001 - Present

EXPERIENCE

Pennsylvania State University, Smart Growth Partnership, Executive Director, 2001 – Present (www.smartgrowthpa.org) 

·         Oversaw the successful formation and initiation of the Smart Growth Partnership

·         Helped raise over $1,500,000 necessary to fund the Smart Growth Partnership and to hire three additional professional staff.

·         Westmoreland County Comprehensive Plan Adopted December 2004.  Assisted in influencing the county to initiate its first comprehensive plan. 

·         Assisted Westmoreland County municipalities in securing over $500,000 to complete local comprehensive plans and over $1.0 million to complete other studies and projects.

·         Planned and organized five Smart Growth Summits featuring nationally known speakers and attracting over 100 people at each event.

·         Completed the Smart Growth Visualization project modeling alternative development scenarios for Unity and Ligonier Townships.

·         Established a partnership arrangement with the Penn State Cooperative Extension Service to hire a shared Community Development Extension Agent.

·         Led the effort to conduct a Route 30 Master Plan to act as a blueprint for Westmoreland County’s growth corridor. (www.route30plan.com)

BENATEC ASSOCIATES Senior Planner, 1999 - 2001

·         Conemaugh-Loyalhanna-Saltsburg Growth and Revitalization Plan, Pennsylvania.  Planner in Charge of this multi-municipal Comprehensive Plan sponsored by the Indiana County Office of Economic Development.  A Pennsylvania State Planning Assistance Grant (SPAG) and a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funded the project.

·         Mon/Fayette Expressway (Uniontown to Brownsville), Fayette and Washington Counties, Pennsylvania.  Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) preparation for the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission.  Conducted community leader interviews to assess their desires for the project.

CLEARFIELD COUNTY Planning Director, 1994 - 1999

·         Developed the first countywide Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance, which was passed unanimously by the Clearfield County Board of Commissioners.

GRANEY, GROSSMAN, RAY AND ASSOCIATES Community Planner, 1992 – 1994

PUBLICATIONS

Ensuring Environmental Health in Postindustrial Cities, the published report of the proceedings at a one-day conference of the same name in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania March 20, 2003.

Make Continental One Priority One, a study presented to Federal and State officials promoting the need for and benefits of making U.S. Route 219 a multi-lane limited access international trade and travel corridor (March, 1997).

Houtzdale Area Large-Scale Facility Impact Study, a study detailing the impact of a new state prison on the area (November 1995).

CONTINUING EDUCATION

The Complete Management Course for Planning Directors with Paul C Zucker FAICP. Sept. 11-12 2006

The Andrés Duany Smart Code three-day development workshop, September 11-13 2003.

National Smart Growth Leadership Program, University of Maryland, 2002

PennDOT Bureau of design "Context Sensitive Solutions" training, October 16-18, 2002.

Growing Greener: Putting Conservation into Local Codes Practitioners Training, June 2001.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

The Pennsylvania State Planning Board 4-year term 2004 through 2008. Appointed by the Governor to serve as Vice Chair of the Board in 2005

Associate Director, Westmoreland County Conservation District (2001 - Present)

Greensburg-Hempfield Library Board of Directors (2005-Present) Elected Vice Chair 2007

First National Bank Community Bank Board (2005 – Present)

Westmoreland County Public Participation Panel (Transportation Planning), Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (2003 - present)

PATH (Partners Advocating Total Health) Latrobe Area Hospital (2004 - present)

Habitat for Humanity, Clearfield County (1995 - 1998), Westmoreland County (2002)

Active member at the Greensburg Alliance Church, Sunday school teacher, youth ministry, men’s Bible study leader

Greensburg Salem School District Tax Study Panel (2006)