Mon Valley Alliance director addresses chamber of commerce
Darnell Graham
Mon Valley Alliance CEO Chris Whitlatch was the featured speaker at the recent Greater Rostraver Chamber of Commence luncheon held at Willow Room, in Rostraver Township.
Darnell Graham
Darnell Graham Joe Grata (right), Belle Vernon school board member, directs a question to Whitlatch during the recent Greater Rostraver Chamber luncheon held at the Willow Room in Rostraver Township. Also pictured seated on the left is James Protin, Mon Valley Regional president.
Donald Trump made a visit to Monessen this summer during the campaign.
Mon Valley Alliance Executive Director Chris Whitlatch said Tuesday he welcomes Trump back to the valley, adding he expects him to uphold “the spirit of the promises” he made during the presidential campaign.
“I hope (Trump) and his advisors come back,” Whitlatch told The Herald Standard after a midday talk Tuesday. “We have the infrastructure, we have the people. We have the spirit that created this valley. We need to invest in the valley and hopefully not just one industry, but many industries will come back.”
Whitlatch made his comments during and after his address before the Greater Rostraver Chamber of Commerce in the Willow Room in Rostraver Township.
Asked during the meeting how he thought the valley might be impacted under the Trump Administration, “a lot of that is too be determined,” Whitlatch said.
“I have always viewed these issues our communities are facing are bipartisan issues,” Whitlatch said.
Whitlatch said the Alliance is launching four new funding initiatives — a community development fund, a workforce development fund, a start-up incubator fund — utilizing money from a previous revolving loan fund — and an historic preservation fund.
Whitlatch said the trades will play an important role with the development of the shell crackerplant in Beaver County. He said that facility will create 2,000 construction jobs and 600 permanent skilled laborer positions within the next five years.
The Mon Valley Alliance was formed this spring from the merger of the Mon Valley Progress Council and the Middle Monongahela Industrial Development Association.
Whitlatch said the Alliance is taking a more community approach, leaning on the economic development strength of MIDA and workforce development of the progress council.
The Alliance will focus short to mid-term projects, Whitlatch said.
“Though we will continue to be an ardent voice for completion of the Mon/Fayette Expressway and development of the industrial parks, I will need to hear from you in the future on how the Mon Valley Alliance can help,” Whitlatch said.
To spur economic development, the Alliance will promote regional enterprise zones and work with the state to administer tax credits, grant programs and private foundations.
The alliance is facilitating multi-municipal planning among the communities in the Charleroi Area School District, looking at public spaces, and advocating on the state and county levels to help advance development projects.
He also noted that the Alliance has applied for a Local Share Account grant to raze the former Charleroi football stadium and Atlas Building and convert the space into a community park.
“We believe that will create a gateway to the community,” Whitlatch said. “Studies have shown that riverfront access helps communities grow.”
Whitlatch said he has been meeting with communities leaders to learn how the Alliance can help them.
“This is how you can help me by telling me what your needs are for your businesses,” Whitlatch said.
“Anytime you have needs — those are the things I need hear so I can support your businesses.”
While Belle Vernon Area School Board President Joe Grata noted that the Alliance agenda outlined by Whitlatch lacked an education component, the director said his next step is to reach out to public schools districts as well as California University of Pennsylvania, Westmoreland County Community College and Washington and Jefferson College to form partnerships.