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| The Smart Growth Partnership of Westmoreland County
is a community-based private non-profit located at the Penn State Extension.
We believe that the land we use today is being borrowed from our
children and our children's children. Therefore we are guided by the principle that
communities need to make good long-term decisions about where, when and how they
should grow. We seek to encourage growth that improves the quality of life for our
current residents and businesses, but will also insure vibrant, high quality growth
for future generations in Westmoreland County. |
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IS YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD READY FOR ITS CLOSE UP?
The W estmoreland E conomic D evelopment I nitiative for G rowth ( WEDIG ) encourages you to enter our first ever photo contest -- “ This is what WE DIG... ” The contest is open to EVERYONE. > More
Transformation, Innovation, Reinvention: Creating Tomorrow's Economy Today
By envisioning a better community, you can transform it. Through innovation , you can reinvent it. By building on existing strengths, you will revitalize it. Against a backdrop of heightened risk awareness and uncertainty, economic development practitioners must help transform their regions into locations where policies and programs mitigate risk and add certainty to the business climate. > More
Latest "Ideas for Intergenerational Living" Newsletter
Latest "Ideas for Intergenerational Living" Newsletter From the Editor December 19, 2012 This issue of the Ideas for Intergenerational Living newsletter is the first with our new format. > More
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“This is what WE DIG...” Photo Contest Celebrates Region’s Beauty and Amenities
Westmoreland Economic Development Initiative for Growth will award an iPad for contributed photos that capture the essence of northern Westmoreland County. > More
Seeking Volunteer Table Facilitators for New Stanton Community Conversation
The Smart Growth Partnership of Westmoreland County invites you to participate in a Community Conversation to be held on June 28, 2013, at the New Stanton Fire Hall. Community developers, planners, and others skilled in group dynamics are welcome to volunteer as table facitators for the event. > More
Upcoming PSU Shale Programs
Penn State Extension Upcoming June Shale Programs Seismic Testing, Pipeline Agreements and Shale Gas Development Updates - Where is Industry Headed? Wednesday, June 19, 2013 Indiana County Extension Office 827 Water Street, Indiana, PA 15701 7:00 to 8:30 PM. > More
2013 Penn State Natural Gas Utilization Conference
Mark your calendar for the 2013 Penn State Natural Gas Utilization Conference September 10-11, 2013 Conference topics include: %B7 Trends and globalization of the shale gas resource %B7 The role of natural gas in power generation %B7 The manufacturing r > More
Future Story Community Visioning Project
Future Story Community Visioning Project A blog -- http://futurestorycollaborative.wordpress.com/ -- has been set up to continue the collaboration begun at the Future Story: Community Visioning Project at WCCC New Kensington Education Center on April 19th. > More
Students create new visions for region's future at Economic Exchange Day
By Chris Ulicne Bulletin Staff Writer Area high school students on Wednesday worked with local and regional officials to come up with plans to improve the quality of life and the economy in their communities during Latrobe Area Chamber of Commerce’s Economic Exchange Day, hosted this year by Derry Area High School (DAHS). > More
Economic Exchange Day
John Turack & Leanne Griffith (Penn State Extension & Smart Growth Partnership) wish to extend a sincere THANK YOU to all who made our May 1 ECONOMIC EXCHANGE DAY a great educational experience for Greater Latrobe & Derry Area HS students, including: Julie Donovan (Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau), Jeff Landy (Mt. > More
Group mapping vision for future of New Kensington, Arnold, Lower Burrell area
By R.A. Monti More than 70 local leaders, business professionals and citizens met Friday afternoon to discuss the future of the New Kensington, Arnold and Lower Burrell area. The meeting, which was held at the Westmoreland Community College New Kensington campus, was held in hopes of spurring ideas to revive the area, according to Scott McMannis, who is with the Circles Initiative. > More
Entrepreneurial Webinar
Session 2- Creating an Entrepreneurial Community of this webinar series will take place on April 25, 2013 between noon and 1 pm. The webinar will focus on how entrepreneurial development fits into broader community and economic development efforts. > More
The Line-- a documentary by Linda Midgett
From Emmy Award-winning producer Linda Midgett, The Line is a groundbreaking documentary chronicling the new face of poverty in America. As Sojourners CEO Jim Wallis puts it, "more and more of our friends are in poverty -- in the pews, in our workplaces -- through no fault of their own, and they are slipping below the poverty level." In the Chicago suburbs, a single dad was laid off fro > More
Community action group puts poverty in Alle-Kiski Valley in spotlight
By Liz Hayes A local community action group this month is asking Arnold, Lower Burrell and New Kensington residents to take a hard look at poverty and develop a plan to eliminate it in their cities. > More
Improving Connectivity and System Function through Local Planning
PennDOT’s new handbook on Improving Connectivity and System Function through Local Planning provides guidence to municipalities on how to enhance vehicular, bicycle, and pedestrian connectivity. > More
Work on Pittsburgh mixed-use project could start in July
The Allegheny County Sports & Exhibition Authority board in Pennsylvania plans to begin development of roads and utilities at the 28-acre site of the former Civic Arena in Pittsburgh as part of a $40 million mixed-use project being proposed by the Pittsburgh Penguins. > More
"...visionary plans, urban design goals and architectural aspirations."
"As land use planning changes, ’zoning’ is no longer appropriate," stated a recent Washington Post article that has been re-published in the planning trade journal Planetizen. > More
Is it Time to Ditch Zoning?
As mixed-use development increasingly supersedes single-use development, Roger K. Lewis argues that we should retire the word "zoning" and its outdated "characterization of how we plan and shape growth." Although we still need land-use regulation, says Lewis, "zoning increasingly has become a conceptually inappropriate term." In an era in which elements typically regulated by zoning such as parkin > More
Expert: Health care too expensive, not effective
Expert: Health care too expensive, not effective By Kari Andren Published: Wednesday, February 20, 2013, 12:01 a.m. While the new federal health care law is not perfect, America’s current health care system is too expensive and not effective enough, a national health care expert said on Tuesday during a town hall meeting at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg. > More
Land-use webinar offered by Penn State Extension on Feburary 20
UNIVERSITY PARK -- A Web-based seminar focusing on limitations in municipal land-use authority will be offered by Penn State Extension at noon and 7 p.m. Feb. 20. "How Pre-emption of Zoning and Other Local Controls Impacts Planning" will provide participants with an appreciation of how state laws can impact local land use. > More
Planning Matters
"A hundred years after we are gone and forgotten those who never heard of us will be living with the results of our action" - Oliver Wendell Holmes, former US Supreme Court Justice This quote from a non-planner struck me as I was listening to Union County Planning Director Shawn McLaughlin speak at a recent Penn State Extension Land Use Decision-making webinar. > More
Update from the Office of Sustainable Housing and Communities
HUD Launches Groundbreaking Rental Assistance Demonstration Program! To stem the loss of critically needed public and other forms of subsidized housing, HUD recently launched its Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) , the Obama Administration’s groundbreaking strategy to preserve tens of thousands of public and HUD-assisted housing units. In the near te > More
A how-to on throwing your hat into the ring
Would-be candidates for local offices get pointers on running. by David Mekeel Reading Eagle For Gary Hadden, it was a new world. He’s never held political office, but said he’s been thinking about running for his local board of supervisors. > More
Decisions, decisions
Posted: January 25, 2013 Every group has to make them, but too often we put off those pesky decisions. We talk in circles, get bogged down in details, repeat ourselves - all to avoid the moment of truth when we finally decide what to do. > More
USDA Highlights 2012 Investments to Build Stronger Rural Communities
USDA Highlights 2012 Investments to Build Stronger Rural Communities Rural Development helps to invest more than $862 million to strengthen rural Pennsylvania WASHINGTON , January 23, 2013 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently issued a report highlighting USDA Rural Development&rsqu > More
Monthly webinar series on land-use issues to start Jan. 16
Thursday, January 3, 2013 Balancing farmland preservation with the need for future housing development is among the issues facing land-use planners. UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- A new series of Web-based seminars offered by Penn State Extension will cover issues related to land use. > More
Smart Growth offers resources to Westmoreland Communities
Smart Growth offers resources to Westmoreland communities Marilyn Forbes for the Daily Courier -- John Turack, Smart Growth Partnership interim executive director, asks for ideas or problems that could be addressed. > More
Looking Back, Living Today, and Leaning Forward
January 10, 2013 By John Turack "When planning for a year, plant corn. When planning for a decade, plant trees. When planning for life, train and educate people." -- Chinese proverb. > More
Lincoln Avenue Project Plans Displayed for Review at the 2013 City of Latrobe Strategic Visioning Summit
Posted on July 13, 2012 by Chris Townley This was a group project for the Spring 2012 semester Planning Design II course at the Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Deemed the "Lincoln Ave Studio", the goal of the class was to create a proposal to provide ideas for the redevelopment of the Lincoln Avenue corridor in Latrobe, PA. > More
Trees grace gateway to Latrobe
By Joe Napsha Published: Tuesday, December 18, 2012, 8:45 p.m. Updated: Friday, December 21, 2012 --> For the past six years, Cheryl Koloshinsky of Latrobe has mowed or used trimmers on a narrow strip of grass in front of her sidewalk, making sure she does not step into the path of Lloyd Avenue traffic. > More
Large crowd previews plans for bridge in Derry
By Jeff Himler Published: Friday, January 11, 2013, 12:01 a.m. Updated: Friday, January 11, 2013 --> PennDOT intends to keep two-way traffic flowing along the Route 217 railroad bridge in Derry during construction of a new bridge, tentatively set to begin in 2015. > More
Preliminary design for Route 217 bridge revealed
By Marie McCandless Latrobe Bulletin News Editor January 10, 2013 Pennsylvania Department of Transportation officials and engineers Wednesday presented a preliminary design for the Route 217 bridge replacement in Derry Borough. > More
Excela near deal for center in Unity
By Joe Napsha Published: Thursday, January 10, 2013, 12:01 a.m. Updated: Thursday, January 10, 2013 Excela Health is close to a deal to acquire a 29-acre parcel off Route 30 in Unity Township, where the hospital system plans to build a three-story outpatient medical center between the Wal-Mart and Kmart stores, an official said Wednesday. > More
ICMA Center for Sustainable Communities
ICMA Center for Sustainable Communities ICMA’s Center for Sustainable Communities provides knowledge resources and technical assistance on leading practices at the intersection of sustainability and local government management Sustainable Communities fellows tour the State House in Annapolis, MD with ICMA member Bob Agee New and Free! Asset-Based Economic Development and Building Susta > More
Happy Holidays & 2013 Local Government Academy Program Announcements
Happy Holidays & 2013 Local Government Academy Program Announcements: In This Issue Contemplating Governing CTAC CORE Series Free Roundtable in January Feasibility Study for ALCOSAN Communities Sustainable Community Essentials Certification New Webinars & Blog Posts ALOM Banner Community Program Advocates for Good Government To view the full newsletter click here: http://campaign.r20.const > More
Residential Construction Trends in America's Metropolitan Regions
Residential Construction Trends in America’s Metropolitan Regions EPA’s Smart Growth Program released a new report today examining residential construction trends in America’s metropolitan regions. > More
Beyond Density: The Art and Science of Walkable Neighborhoods
Beyond Density: The Art and Science of Walkable Neighborhoods Anthony Flint / Dec 14 2012 For Release Friday, December 14, 2012 Citiwire.net The business of place-making - part science, part art - has had a long evolution, but American cities have never needed good urban design more urgently than at this moment. > More
Blairsville Diamond wins award
The Indiana Gazette & > More
Community Power
Where does Power lie in your community? Are there different power centers depending on the issue? by Liesel Dreisbach Senior Extension Educator, Ag Entrepreneurship/Economic and Community Development Team -- Power in my community has for many years been found among the families of two churches who also make up most of the staff of the volunteer fire company. They also filled mos > More
Why Plan? Who Should Plan?
In this month’s blog entry John Turack ponders the importance of plans, planning processes, and who is best suited or equipped to plan. -- When I started my community development educator career with Penn State Extension over five years ago, I was hired to assist a partnered program known as the Smart Growth Partnership of Westmoreland County , a non-profit corporation whose mi > More
Asset-Based Economic Development and Building Sustainable Rural Communities, Part 2: Natural Resources and Amenities
The second in a series of briefing papers on asset-based economic development and building sustainable rural communities, this document examines natural and working landscapes. > More
Time to Run for Office
By Judy Chambers "Now that the elections are over, are you ready for the next round? No joke: 2013 is a municipal election year in Pennsylvania. You’ll be voting for township supervisors, borough and city council members, school district directors, and other local offices. The primary isn’t until May, and the general election won’t happen until next November, s > More
Community Champions -- Where Would Our Communities Be Without Them?
Community Champions -- Where Would Our Communities Be Without Them? Posted: October 25, 2012 There are a lot of research documents, case studies, and resources out there for communities to draw from, if they intend to become more vibrant. > More
Smart Growth Partnership Impact, Background, Needs and Officer Statements
Impact Statement The Smart Growth Partnership (SGP) has excelled as a convener of stakeholders and resources, and as a community advisor providing education and technical assistance to organizations such as WEDIG, DARCee, PEC, LHCC, LHCLI, SPC, VIP/FLAG, Trafford CDC, CommuteINFO Advisory Committee, and in municipalities such as Murrysville, Rostraver, Irwin, Trafford, Jeannette, an > More
Call Renewed for Pennsylvania Turnpike, Arnold Palmer Airport Link
By Joe Napsha TribLIVE News Westmoreland County economic development officials Tuesday made yet another pitch for constructing an expressway that will connect the Arnold Palmer Regional Airport at Route 30 near Latrobe with the Pennsylvania Turnpike, via Route 981. > More
Are you a Citizen of your Community?
By John Turack I’ve been focusing in my last few blog entries on communities and land-use decisions. Today, I ask you to consider further the role of the citizen within communities. > More
How to Increase the Numbers Engaged in Civic and Political Issues in Our Communities
How to Increase the Numbers Engaged in Civic and Political Issues in Our Communities Posted: September 10, 2012 Liesel Dreisbach , S enior Extension Educator Research shows that youths whose parents volunteer and who participate in family discussions about politics engage in more civic and political activities as adults than those whose families do not volunteer or discuss politics. > More
Land Use Decisions and Youth -- Reflections from Ag Progress Days 2012
Penn State Extension Economic and Community Development Educator and Blogger John Turack summarizes his thoughts on working at the 4-H Youth Building. The Extension Economic and Community Development Team presented "My Community: What’s the Plan?" at this year’s event. > More
What Does Good Planning Look Like?
One of my professors up at State College is fond of asking the question -- "What does good planning look like?" Read More http://extension.psu.edu/ecd/news/2012/what-does-good-planning-look-like > More
Exploring the idea of Community
Last week John Turack explored the meaning of community development. This week Liesel Dreisbach, Senior Extension Educator with Penn State Extension’s Ag Entrepreneurship/Economic and Community Development Team takes a look at an even more fundamental idea, that of community. > More
Community Development -- Thinking about definitions
Westmoreland County based Penn State Extension Economic and Community Development Educator John Turack sparks a discussion about the definition of community development. Mr. Turack also serves as the Interim Director of the Smart Growth Partnership of Westmoreland County. > More
Power of 32 Highlights of Recent Milestones
Power of 32 engaged thousands of citizens in Community Conversations to develop a vision for the region. From this input, Issue Teams were formed to address ideas for change in six key categories: Economy, Education, Environment, Government, People & Community, and Transportation & Infrastructure. > More
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