Fay-Penn thanks supporters for help in economic develpment
Fay-Penn Economic Development Council said farewell to two of its ardent supporters at its recent quarterly board meeting.
The economic development group presented Fayette County Commissioner Vincent Vicites with a plaque thanking him for his support over the past 16 years. Vicites did not win reelection in the last contest for commissioner and said he will be joining the private sector in January.
“The commissioners had to approve some of our loan applications and they completed a needed reassessment and rezoning, among other things, that helped our role in developing the local economy,” said Michael Krajovic, Fay-Penn president.
“Fay-Penn is a wonderful organization. When I became a commissioner I visited other counties to see how they did economic development. I saw that to succeed, it had to be a public-private partnership. I knew that was the right way to do it,” Vicites said. “Thanks. To Fay-Penn, we are a player in economic development in Pennsylvania,” he added.
Dr. Ronald Sheba, who, since his retirement as Laurel Highlands School District superintendent has served as Fay-Penn education and workforce development manager, is also leaving that post.
“I am re-retiring to spend more time with my family,” Sheba said.
However, he issued a challenge to Fay-Penn members to personally support Fay-Penn’s continued role in developing a work force to suit the needs of local employers. Fay-Penn officials have consistently said jobs are available but not the workers with the skill sets needed to fill them.
“Fay-Penn has taken a stand in education and believes that education and economic development are linked. Fay-Penn may have been misunderstood at the beginning of this. People thought Fay-Penn was trying to tell our school boards what they should do. But Fay-Penn represents the businesses of the county that are telling us what their employment needs are.”
Sheba alluded to one of Fay-Penn’s projects to build a new career/technical school, which would need financial support from taxpayers of all the county’s school districts.
“I am very passionate about technical education,” Sheba said, adding that he once served as the director of a vocational technical school.
“We have to invigorate our promotion for technical education. We are proud of the students who are enrolled in these programs,” Sheba said. To back his statement, Sheba presented a check for $500 to establish a scholarship fund for technical education students to go on to secondary school and challenged Fay-Penn board members to also donate.
The board approved matching the first $2,500 donated to the scholarship funds, which the Community Foundation of Fayette County will administer.
Fay-Penn also approved a loan resolution for $953,800 from the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Agency (PIDA) that will be used to construct two 10,000-square-foot commercial buildings at the Fayette Business Park near Smithfield. Total project is estimated to cost $2.4 million.
Bob Junk, Fay-Penn local economy manager, said a $91,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture grant will help support six farmers’ markets in 2012 and possibly a seventh, as yet to be announced.
The markets will be located in Uniontown, Brownsville, Masontown, Scottdale, Connellsville and Ohiopyle.
“Three years ago, we had no active farmer’s market. It has been an uphill battle but we have a good base now,” Junk said.
Fayette Young Professionals also are getting Fay-Penn support. The group plans to hold one event each month and board members were asked to tell any of their younger workers about the organization. The group also will concentrate on volunteering, professional development and social gatherings.
A CEO roundtable is scheduled for January and a business mixer in March.
Dana Kendrick, Fay-Penn economic development specialist, reported the staff has handled 119 inquiries from businesses since the first of the year. She said 46 inquiries were for financing information; 50 were for site selection or leases; eight small businesses received technical assistance and 43 were referred to partner agencies. The staff also wrote proposals for 22 projects.
Three-year term directors also were named.
They are Dr. Francis Achampong, chancellor at Penn State Fayette, the Eberly Campus; George Franks of Masontown Trophy; Dan Gearing of Specialty Conduit; James Gnagey of Gnagey Gas and Oil; John Hart of Gallatin Fuels; William Jackson of Jackson Farms; Larry Kiefer of Scottdale Bank and Trust Co.; Bryan Kiesel, Connellsville Chamber of Commerce; Terri Grabiak Knupp, FirstEnergy; Vicki Marietta, Backyard Gardens; Donald Miller, Donald Miller Roofing; Mike Mullin, Parkvale Bank; Fred Wright, Ohiopyle Prints; and Ed Yankovich, United Mine Workers of America.
Pat McCulloch of Computer Trends LLC and Clara Pascoe of the Community Foundation of Fayette County were appointed to fill board vacancies.
Fay-Penn’s next quarterly board meeting is scheduled for March 23, 2012.