Breaking Down Barriers:
Regional Broadband & Connectivity Summit
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Over 200 industry experts, non-profits, stakeholders, as well as local, state, and federal government officials attended our Regional Broadband & Connectivity Summit that took place last month in Cranberry Township.
The goal of the summit was to educate Southwestern Pennsylvania leaders and decision-makers from both the public and private sectors about the current state of connectivity, funding opportunities, legislative priorities, and access to high-speed broadband internet. Additionally, attendees had the opportunity to attend five sessions and hear from a variety of panelists.
"The summit was a public demonstration of how our region works collaboratively to tackle major issues,” said Vincent Valdes, Executive Director of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission. "Equity and affordability are major challenges when it comes to accessing and implementing high-speed broadband internet, but our region’s leaders are working diligently together to breakdown those barriers.”
The COVID-19 pandemic illuminated for society what we already knew—every individual and institution—should and must have access to high-speed broadband internet in order to attend school, work, and engage in daily activities. That is why back in 2019, our organization identified broadband connectivity as a high priority for our region’s long-range plan. As part of that long-range plan, we worked with a coalition of stakeholders to create the Regional Connectivity Roadmap, which identifies and guides the deployment of high-speed connectivity programs and projects throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania.
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Sneak Preview: A Busy Spring Ahead!
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Moving Offices
Later this spring, we will move into our new office located in the Strip District.
We will be on the first floor of The Terminal, which first opened in 1929 as the Pennsylvania Railroad Fruit Auction & Sales Building. It served the tri-state area as a produce distribution hub.
We so proud to become a tenant of the Strip District, one of our region's most vibrant and historic neighborhoods!
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Engaging with the Public
Throughout May and June, we will host Public Participation Panel meetings throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania. As the designated Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), our organization is responsible for transportation planning activities in our ten-county region.
These meetings are required by the federal government and provide the general public with an opportunity to share their perspectives with us about Southwestern Pennsylvania's Long Range Transportation Plan. Stay plugged into our social media pages and website for the dates and locations of these upcoming meetings.
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Celebrate Trails Day
Hosted on the fourth Saturday of April, Celebrate Trails Day is an annual spring celebration of America’s trails.
Started by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy in 2013, the celebration encourages people across the country to get outside and enjoy the nation’s exceptional trails.
Our organization will celebrate Trails Day by hosting our first Yellow GOAT staff bike club ride of the year. Our team will ride on the Three Rivers Heritage Trail on April 22, which is also Earth Day!
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Supporting Our Local Business Community
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Strengthening the Economic Visibility of Local Food Companies
Last year, our International Trade Export Assistance program collaborated with the Small Business Development Center (University of Pittsburgh) on a project called the Local Initiative of Food Exports (LIFE).
This project provided development support and business guidance to four of our region's food companies, as they sought to export their products internationally. One way to generate awareness about their food products is to attend the Fancy Food Show in New York—one of the nation's most widely attended trade shows.
The four local companies we worked with, Jenny Lee Bakery, Mancini Bread, Sito Dressing, and Smiley Cookies/Eat’n Park attended the trade show and exhibited their products. Because they received overwhelmingly positive feedback, the LIFE project was proposed to Pennsylvania's Department of Community & Economic Development's Partnership for Regional Economic Performance (PREP), and was recently selected to obtain additional funding!
Our International Trade Export Assistance staff members are currently implementing the LIFE project, and they are working to select four new local food companies and help them prepare for the Fancy Food Show this June. To learn more about this project, contact Rena Liu-Belshe, our Manager of International Trade Export Assistance at [email protected].
COVID-19 Recovery Loan Program
Our COVID-19 Recovery Loan program continues to have a positive impact in our region's small business community. As the COVID-19 vaccine became widely available, and our business community re-opened its doors, we heard from several small business owners about supply chain delays and workforce shortages that resulted from the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Our Commercial Lending team reworked their COVID-19 Recovery Loan fund to assist small businesses that are experiencing these challenges. If you know of a small business in need of working capital to pay for staff salaries, inventory, rent, mortgage, or utility expenses, or if you need financing for a building, land, machinery, or an equipment purchase, please contact Steve Meredith, our Manager of Commercial Lending, at [email protected] to learn more.
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Fostering Transportation Partnerships |
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Our CommuteInfo program works with transportation management associations, transportation providers, businesses and non-profit service organizations throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania to help them understand the best route for commutes.
Recently, our team worked with Bettis Atomic Power Laboratory in West Mifflin to create two vanpools through a new program that would alleviate parking congestion on its campus.
As part of this partnership, we created a landing page specifically for Bettis, and had over 150 of their employees register through our CommuteInfo website.
Our team is still in the beginning phase of the launch, but we anticipate the formation of more vanpools from this site in the near future. To learn more about this program, contact Caleb Knudsen at [email protected].
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A dear friend and long-time partner of our organization, Ruth Byrd-Smith, passed away earlier this month. Ruth served as the Director of Allegheny County's Minority, Women and Disadvantaged Business (MWDBE) program for more than 15 years.
Ruth and her team were instrumental in assisting our MWDBE small business clients.
We regularly work with MWDBE clients as they obtain the necessary certifications to pursue government contracts that are set aside for MWDBE small businesses.
We will miss Ruth's kindness, positivity, and passion to make a difference in the lives of others. Our thoughts and heartfelt sympathies are with Ruth's family, friends, and colleagues.
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ICYMI: News We Are Paying Attention To |
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WESA-FM: Pittsburgh's Charles Anderson Bridge to remain closed … but repairs are in the fast lane
WPXI-TV: VIDEO: Our Region’s Business: Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald Provides an Update on SWPA's Economic Growth
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Welcoming Two New Staff Members
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As Director of Public Relations and Communications Initiatives,
Caitlin O'Connor will oversee our organization's external and internal communications.
Prior to coming to SPC, she worked as a Director at Ceisler Media & Issue Advocacy, a Legislative Correspondent on Capitol Hill and Community Liaison for former Congressman Tim Murphy, and a Field Representative for the late Senator Arlen Specter. Caitlin graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor's degree in Journalism from The George Washington University, and a master's degree in Public Relations and Corporate Communications from Georgetown University.
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As Director of Strategic Initiatives and Policy, DJ Ryan will work with local, state, and federal officials to advance our organization's long-term policy goals. Prior to coming to SPC, he worked as District Director for former Congressman Conor Lamb, Deputy Campaign Manager/Operations Director for the Conor Lamb for Senate campaign, Executive Director of the Allegheny County Democratic Committee, and Legislative Assistant to State Rep. Bill Kortz. DJ has a bachelor’s degree in Political Communication from Penn State University. He can be reached at [email protected].
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This e-newsletter is provided as a service to all SPC members.
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