2022 Comprehensive Plan Annual Report

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

CORE OBJECTIVE 1: ALIGN WORKFORCE, EDUCATION, EMPLOYERS, AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Strategies 1.1 - 1.6

Core objective 2: Discover westmoreland

Strategies 2.1 - 2.5

Core objective 3: reposition our towns

Strategies 3.1 - 3.5

core objective 4: connect with parks and nature

Strategies 4.1 - 4.4

core objective 5: build healthy and whole communities

Strategies 5.1 - 5.7

core objective 6: plug into the new economy

Strategies 6.1 - 6.4

core objective 7: create transportation choices

Strategies 7.1 - 7.7

Conclusion

Published June 2023

Westmoreland County commissioners

Realizing the goals of the county’s comprehensive plan wouldn’t be possible without the commitment, leadership, and persistent work of the Westmoreland County Board of Commissioners. Thank you Commissioners for your help in seeing Reimagining Our Westmoreland’s goals through and for going above and beyond for Westmoreland County residents, businesses, and organizations.

Gina Cerilli Thrasher, Secretary Sean Kertes, Chairman Douglas Chew, Vice-Chairman

2022 was another busy year for Westmoreland County, marking the fourth year implementing the county’s comprehensive plan, Reimagining Our Westmoreland. From allocating $10.4 million dollars of federal funds to address blight to kicking-off an initiative to advance the county’s broadband infrastructure and taking steps to develop more opportunities for workforce development and training, the past year was one for the books.

Thanks to the leadership of the Westmoreland County Board of Commissioners and the commitment of our nearly 20 partner organizations, we are making progress on the plan’s goal to attract, develop, and retain a diverse and stable workforce that will sustain a healthy economy. In the last year, our staff and partners have made progress on nearly all 38 strategies outlined in the plan. This wouldn’t be possible without the hard work of the many local leaders, businesses, organizations, municipalities, and others who support the plan.

This report seeks to provide a brief summary of our collective work to implement the plan’s goals and to reflect and uphold the plan’s principles of accountability, partnership, action, creativity, communication, and performance monitoring. Thank you for taking the time to recognize our partners making a difference in Westmoreland County, and for celebrating these recent accomplishments.

Jason Rigone, Director Westmoreland County Department of Planning and Development

Reimagining Our Westmoreland GOAL:

Attract, develop, and retain a diverse and stable workforce that will sustain a healthy economy

Strategy Champions

Throughout this report, we highlight the Strategy Champions or organizations most relevant for strategy implementation. These organizations have identified themselves as Reimagining Our Westmoreland strategic partners and have taken the lead on, or are involved with, actions within a given strategy.

Thank you to our Strategy Champions for taking on this important work and for committing your time, energy, and resources to help make the vision of Reimagining Our Westmoreland a reality.

When looking at components of population change estimates from the last four years, although deaths are still outpacing births, net migration - or people moving into the county - is headed in a positive direction. Overall, from 2018 to 2022, the county saw an estimated increase of .42% or roughly 1,457 people.

Nursing students

Source: Providence of British Columbia, flickr.com

CORE OBJECTIVE 1: ALIGN WORKFORCE, EDUCATION, EMPLOYERS, AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IS A TOP FOCUS FOR LOCAL LEADERS

Advancing workforce development and training opportunities for county residents continues to be a top priority for local officials. Identified as a goal in the county’s comprehensive plan, Reimagining Our Westmoreland, aligning workforce, education, employers, and entrepreneurship will help the county retain workers and attract new ones to better sustain a healthy economy. In 2022, several steps were taken to expand workforce development opportunities and employment connections for students, recent graduates, and individuals looking to be retrained.

With a focus on removing barriers to those who are under and unemployed or are in employment transition, the Laurel Highlands Workforce & Opportunity Center (LHWOC) opened in Hempfield Township to provide high-quality medical assistant training for those looking to start a rewarding career in healthcare. Modeled after the Pittsburgh-based Bidwell Training Center, the nonprofit organization tailors its programs to meet the needs of local employers to help ensure graduates of LHWOC’s programs are job-ready.

Interested adults who have their high school diploma or GED that apply to LHWOC and pass the basic math and literacy assessments are accepted into the program and given a one-time full scholarship. The seven-month-long program aims to provide students with the skills and knowledge needed to pursue a hands-on career in the healthcare industry. Thanks to LHWOC’s industry connections, like Excela Health (now Independence Health System), those that want a job when they graduate can have one.

In addition to full scholarships, the center offers life and career services to students such as fully subsidized child care, transportation assistance, financial literacy and more. By offering wraparound services, students at LHWOC get a leg up to succeed not only in the program, but in life. To learn more about the LHWOC and its no-cost medical assistant training program, visit https://lhwoc.org/.

Giving students a leg up is also on the minds of Westmoreland County Commissioners. In 2022 Commissioners Sean Kertes, Doug Chew, and Gina Cerilli Thrasher allocated $949,000 of American Rescue Plan Act funds to create the Westmoreland Workforce Development Plan to invest in the future of local students. Coordinated through the Economic Growth Connection of Westmoreland (EGCW), a private nonprofit economic development corporation that fosters economic growth and development, the plan will allocate funds to local school districts to help increase career guidance and internship opportunities for students with area employers.

Although there’s no magic bullet or easy solution to address the county’s workforce shortage, the Westmoreland Workforce Development Plan offers a productive approach to try. “The goal of the plan is to realign education and workforce needs,” said Jim Smith, President and CEO of EGCW. “We can’t stop the ‘brain drain’ or population decline in our region if education remains the same.”

Targeting three areas of focus, the plan outlines building potential career paths for students with classroom work; helping students land internships with local companies; and administering leadership training for school administrators. According to Smith, the plan stems from the efforts of the Westmoreland County Forum for Workforce Development, and is the culmination of work that has been going on at the school district and university levels, with local leaders and businesses, for the past several years.

“This plan is going to empower kids, giving them the career exploration tools they haven’t had access to in the past – we think this is going to be something transformational,” said Smith. He continued “The plan allows kids to get out there and have different experiences. The pathways will lead students through their course of study in an interactive way to show them what’s available regionally so they know what to expect when they graduate.”

As school districts participate in the plan, students can be better prepared for their future careers while companies get connected with local talent. To follow the progress of the Westmoreland Workforce Development Plan, check out the EGCW at https://egcw.org/.

Strategy Updates

Strategy 1.1

Champion Skilled Labor

• Franklin Regional’s FRobotics team received a $10,000 grant from the FR Panther Foundation to purchase new robotic equipment

• The Laurel Highlands Workforce and Opportunity Center, an adult training center offering free education to students, opened in Hempfield

• A $63 million federal ARPA grant will help fund robotics and AI training opportunities in rural and coal-impacted communities within the region

• Thanks to a partnership between Arconic Foundation, ABC Create, and the Digital Foundry, students can learn about STEM careers for free at The Corner in New Kensington through the BELONG in STEM program

Strategy 1.2

Leverage Local talent

• TSA Processing opened its sixth processing location inside the former Hyde Park Foundry in Hyde Park Borough, creating around 100 new jobs

• Westmoreland County Commissioners allocated $949,000 to create the Westmoreland Workforce Development Plan, coordinated by the EGCW, to promote career guidance and coordinate internships

• Hempfield-based General Carbide recruited high school students at local career fairs offering contracts to recent grads on the spot

• Carlow University, in partnership with WCCC and Westmoreland County Chamber of Commerce, plans to offer students a direct and smooth path to earn a bachelor degree through a dual enrollment program

Strategy 1.3

assist small businesses

• Saint Vincent College’s SBDC assisted 426 clients with no-fee business consulting, educational programming, and useful information which resulted in $3,275,080 in capital acquisition for clients in 2022

• The City of Jeannette utilized CDBG funds to provide $5,000 grants to 22 small businesses, helping offset impacts caused by COVID-19

• Experienced business leaders, who serve as mentors through Westmoreland SCORE, continue to help budding entrepreneurs succeed

• The Corner’s Opportunity Accelerator program helped small business owners start and run successful businesses in the Alle-Kiski

Strategy 1.4

Advance entrepreneurialism

• Franklin Regional Panther Foundation acquired more than $40,000 in innovation grants for Franklin Regional HS to purchase robotics equipment, podcast equipment, install raised garden beds, and more

• Saint Vincent College’s SBDC helped 18 Westmoreland County entrepreneurs launch their own small business

• The Corner hosted several free programs and events for aspiring or current entrepreneurs and small business owners to discuss ideas, needs, and learn how to create a business plan

Strategy 1.5

Connect with tech

• A $40,000 grant from the PA Dept. of Labor & Industry helped introduce STEM concepts to kids through kits made available at local libraries

• Hempfield Area SD announced plans to partner with Smart Futures to assist students in planning for a career path using online portfolios

Strategy 1.6

provide development-ready sites

• Developer Al. Neyer started construction on an industrial building and warehouse at Westmoreland Technology Park II in Hempfield Township

• Westmoreland Technology Park I was the sixth county industrial park to reach full capacity with the addition of Roechling Industrial Mt. Pleasant

• Thanks to a portion of $14 million in funding from PA’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program allocated for Westmoreland, pad-ready sites will be developed at the Westmoreland Distribution Park North and Hempfield Office Park

• A $6.3 million agreement was approved to develop nearly 79 acres of the Westmoreland Distribution Park North in East Huntingdon

• Thanks to a $1 million state grant, the RIDC Westmoreland Innovation Center will receive infrastructure improvements, making it ready for new tenants

Strategy Champions

Economic Growth Connection

Penn State New Kensington

Saint Vincent College SBDC

Westmoreland County IDC Workforce Forum

STEM education

Source: Adam Winger, unsplash.com

Saint Vincent College

Source: Westmoreland County Planning

Westmoreland Technology Park II

Source: Westmoreland County Industrial Development Corporation

CORE OBJECTIVE 2: DISCOVER WESTMORELAND

WESTMORELAND COUNTY COMMUNITIES GATHER ON

As it gets warmer and the ground starts to thaw, everyone looks forward to gathering outdoors again. Thanks to locally recurring events like the Greensburg Night Market, Fridays on Fifth, and the Ligonier Country Market, residents and businesses have places to come together and showcase great food and crafts, and have a good time. These get-togethers not only help bring new people into the community but help support local businesses. This past year marked huge strides for outdoor markets and events, helping to cultivate arts and entertainment and support farm-direct sales and agrotourism across Westmoreland County. As they gain momentum and grow in size, several communities have seen new events pop-up to meet demand.

The Greensburg Night Market wrapped its fourth season, expanding the outdoor market in downtown Greensburg from half a block, to four blocks in 2022. A seasonally recurring market, the event attracts thousands each month, boasting over a 100 vendors offering food, drinks, crafts, and music. The market has been so popular that it not only expanded in size, but also added more dates to its schedule. For the first time ever, the market also moved inside to provide an indoor market event at Live! Casino in Hempfield Township this past winter. The 2023 season will continue to support makers from across the county, and give people from around the area a reason to come and visit Greensburg.

Located in the northern part of the county, the City of New Kensington hosts a different type of recurring event in their downtown with Fridays on Fifth. Created in 2021, Fridays on Fifth feature food trucks along Fifth Avenue in downtown New Kensington. The spirit of the event is to provide a sense of community and bring more patrons to the area to help support the growing number of businesses that exist in New Kensington’s business district. In addition to food trucks, bands play music at Voodoo Brewery’s outdoor courtyard and local businesses are encouraged to stay open later for shoppers. The monthly event is headed into its third season in 2023 and occurs on the fourth Friday of the month.

“Fridays on Fifth have been great on several fronts,” said Tom Guzzo, Mayor of New Kensington. “First, it provides an opportunity for people who live in New Kensington to come downtown, see what all the excitement is about, have some fun, and shop at all the new businesses. Second it is bringing in people from all over the area which is great for our new businesses,” said Guzzo.

He continued, “We’re pulling in thousands of people and they’re getting a chance to see our revitalization in progress. Overall, this event has been phenomenal for our downtown and our city as a whole.”

Also located in the northern part of the county, Vandergrift Borough hosted its first season of Gathering on Grant, a monthly community festival in 2022. Sponsored by the Vandergrift Business Association, the event’s goal is similar to other local markets and events – to draw people into the borough’s downtown, create a sense of community, and support new and existing businesses. The event, which features music, food trucks, arts & crafts vendors, and games occurs on the third Thursday of the month, May through September.

When it comes to regularly occurring outdoor markets in Westmoreland County, there’s one that has been around the block. Located in Ligonier Township, the Ligonier Country Market has been in operation in some form since 1976. A staple seasonal market in the region, it features around 130 vendors every Saturday morning, May through November. From fresh flowers to produce, baked goods and meats, coffee, soap, and even crafts, the market often has live music for all and educational programming for children. According to an online survey conducted by the American Farmland Trust and the Farmers Market Coalition, the Ligonier County Market was voted best farmers market in Pennsylvania for 2022.

Whether it be brand new or well-seasoned, it’s clear that locally recurring events and outdoor markets have become valuable community centerpieces in Westmoreland County. From the Greensburg Night Market to Gathering on Grant, these are only a few examples of events that are helping to cultivate arts and entertainment; build connections; boost community pride and identity; and draw people in to support local businesses. With increasingly more events available, communities are creating a vibrant mosaic of events that showcase the uniqueness of Westmoreland County and help to strengthen the local economy.

Greensburg Night Market

Source: Westmoreland County Planning

Strategy Updates

Strategy 2.1

Create & promote a county brand

• Westmoreland County Commissioners announced $1.3 million, generated through a portion of the county’s 5% hotel tax, will pay for marketing efforts, park upgrades, and promotion of county assets and events

• The Forbes Trail Chapter of Trout Unlimited, in partnership with GO Laurel Highlands (GO LH), rolled out marketing of the Laurel Highlands Trout Trail as a way to promote and attract anglers to the area

• GO LH rolled out a micro pour tour called Red, White & Brews

• PBS series “Start Up”, which highlights small businesses across the US, featured New Kensington and its efforts to revitalize its downtown

• GO LH awarded $550,000 in grants, generated from the county’s 5% hotel tax, to 44 local organizations to help promote tourism

Strategy 2.2

Cultivate arts & entertainment

• Greensburg’s Night Market expanded to stretch four city blocks along South Pennsylvania Ave, featuring more than 100 local vendors

• Music in the Streets in Irwin and Delmont Daze in Delmont provided an opportunity for people to enjoy music, food, and celebrate town pride

• Fridays on Fifth returned to downtown New Kensington showcasing new and existing businesses and vendors along Fifth Ave monthly

• An art mural showcasing Export Borough’s history is planned for a location facing the Westmoreland Heritage Trail in Export

• The Westmoreland Cultural Trust, Westmoreland Museum, and Seton Hill University hosted the Greensburg Arts Walk event, which showcased local art, music, and activities throughout downtown Greensburg

• The Great American Banana Split Celebration and the Westmoreland Arts & Heritage Festival returned featuring entertainment, food, and vendors

• Janel Young, an artist in residence at the Westmoreland Museum of American Art, connected with students to create a public mural project at the Laurel Highlands Workforce and Opportunity Center

• The New Kensington Downtown Partnership and the New Kensington Arts Center announced plans to complete an art project in an alley in downtown New Kensington

• The Westmoreland reported that 44% of museum visitation from the past year was compromised of out-of-county visitors, demonstrating the museum’s significance as a cultural destination

Strategy 2.3

welcome everyone

• The Westmoreland continued to engage and support black and marginalized artists, promote equity in the arts, and share compelling and meaningful cultural experiences through its Artist-in-Residency Program

• The Welcoming Westmoreland initiative, lead by WCA, hosted regular outreach events throughout the county, providing an opportunity for residents to connect and learn about community resources. The initiative also trained volunteers participating in an ambassador program to help welcome and orient newcomers to the county

• Greensburg hosted a second annual “College Connect” event to help connect college students with businesses & services available in the city

• Pitt-Greensburg, along with the Westmoreland Diversity Coalition, hosted the third annual “Growth Through Knowledge and Understanding” event – a series with speakers to shed light on the ways different people have been marginalized

Strategy 2.4

Grow Local

• Unity-based Pleasant Lane Farms was awarded first and second place ribbons at the 2022 PA Farm Show, thanks to cheeses produced at their farm

• The Ligonier Country Market was named the best farmers market in the state, according to the 2022 America’s Farmers Market Celebration

• The roughly 1,099 farms that make up 144,278 acres in Westmoreland County continue to contribute to the $66,320,000 estimated market value of products sold

Strategy 2.5

Develop recreational destinations •

Strategy Champions

GO Laurel Highlands

The Westmoreland Museum of American Art

Westmoreland Community Action

Westmoreland County Chamber of Commerce

Westmoreland Cultural Trust

Westmoreland County Planning

Artist Gavin Benjamin's 'Break Down and Let It All Out' exhibition Source: The Westmoreland Museum of American Art

Mural, New Kensington Source: Westmoreland County Planning

Artist Janel Young's mural project at the LHWOC Source: The Westmoreland Museum of American Art

CORE OBJECTIVE 3: REPOSITION OUR TOWNS

REVITALIZING HISTORIC VANDERGRIFT – NEW BUSINESSES OPEN, OLMSTED COMMONS PARK PLANNED

When the father of landscape architecture in the US, Frederick Law Olmsted, planned Vandergrift in 1895, he envisioned a place where people could stroll down the gently curved, tree-lined streets, gather in the nature infused downtown, and browse local shops. Olmsted would be pleased to know that residents and visitors may still be found walking, gathering, and shopping in this historic model industry town today, thanks to recent revitalization efforts.

Identified as a goal in Reimagining Our Westmoreland, repositioning and investing in our towns is critical to their success and endurance into the future. By taking steps to ensure that our towns are attractive places for commerce, entertainment, living, and much more, we can be sure they not only continue as centers of civic life, but as hubs of tax generation needed to support our local communities. When it comes to Vandergrift’s rejuvenation, the support and guidance from local organizations like the Vandergrift Improvement Program and Vandergrift Business Association are making a difference.

Founded in 2004, the Vandergrift Improvement Program (VIP) is a Main Street Program dedicated to the protection, preservation, and restoration of the central business corridor and residential areas of the borough. Made up of a board of business-minded residents and local business owners, the nonprofit focuses on the organization, economic restructuring, promotion, design, and sustainability of the business district and beyond.

According to Marilee Kessler, VIP board member, realtor, and Vandergrift resident, the VIP has expanded its reach beyond the business district into the neighborhoods. “The VIP acts as a pivotal point for people who want to help make quality of life improvements to the community”, she said. “We recently received a grant to install decorative V-shaped installations on parking meters in town. They’re very pretty and also an homage to the steel industry”, said Kessler. From business recruitment and retention to main street and neighborhood improvements and special events, the VIP is helping strengthen Vandergrift.

Supporting local businesses is also a focus of the Vandergrift Business Association (VBA). With a mission to unify businesses to work towards a common goal of economic revitalization, the VBA works to assist local businesses through promotion, image building campaigns, advancing “Shop Local”, and special projects and events.

Composed of volunteers from the community, the VBA is known for organizing events like Gathering on Grant, which runs May through September on every third Thursday, where people can find food trucks, vendors, and music along Grant Avenue downtown.

Several business have set up shop in Vandergrift recently, contributing to the borough’s revitalization. Grant Ave Coffee Co. is one business that opened in 2022, filling in a formerly vacant storefront. Offering high quality coffee and tea, the coffee shop provides a gathering space for people to feel welcome and at home. When asked what it means to be a part of the revitalization of Vandergrift, co-owner Virginia Lindsay said, “It means a lot, it’s such an interesting place. When you meet people here, you can tell that they are invested in and proud of their town…and people here are big supporters of local business.”

New businesses aren’t the only thing contributing to the renewal of Vandergrift. Thanks to a partnership between the borough and the Westmoreland County Land Bank, a half-acre park called Olmsted Commons is planned for Washington Avenue downtown. Located near the historic Casino Theatre, the park will feature curved walkways, a gazebo, benches, rain gardens, and a permeable patio.

According to Marilee Kessler, who also serves on borough council and the committee overseeing the park project, the response from the public has been positive. The proposed site was recently home to several blighted structures that have since been demolished, so the park is a welcome addition to the borough’s downtown. Kessler shared that a larger version of the stylized V-shaped installations, that can be found on top of the parking meters in town, will be placed in a prominent location at Olmsted Commons.

The park project will be funded by a $151,000 grant from the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, along with in-kind services match from the borough. Olmsted Commons’ design and name is a nod to the borough’s original architect. Plans for the park are currently being finalized with construction planned to begin summer 2023.

“Vandergrift is a walkable, cohesive community that was well-designed from the beginning. We have a lot of good resources like the theater, library, and local businesses”, said Kessler. Once complete, Olmsted Commons will be an additional asset for residents and visitors.

Banner in Vandergrift Borough

Source: Westmoreland County Planning

Strategy Updates

Strategy 3.1

Invest in downtowns

• Knead Community Cafe announced plans to complete a facade renovation project at its Fifth Ave, Banquet on Barnes location, utilizing a $30,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Westmoreland County

• After demolishing two blighted structures in downtown Scottdale, the RACW announced its search for a developer to redevelop the site

• Sobel’s Obscure Brewery, a local craft brewery, officially opened its taproom in the formerly vacant Gillespie Building in downtown Jeannette

• A Pittsburgh-based developer announced plans to make upgrades to the former Big Kmart and Hyde Park Plaza in Allegheny Township to position it for new tenants

• Greensburg conducted a parking study utilizing drones to help the city make decisions about parking needs downtown. The city also conducted a retail market analysis to determine additional opportunities for retail and restaurant space downtown

• Businesses such as Grant Ave Coffee Co. and Honey & Heart Candle & Craft Co. opened in downtown Vandergrift

Strategy 3.2

provide housing options

• Hempfield Township announced plans to bring 76 new homes, including patio homes, to the northern area of the township, near Hannastown Golf Club

• Penn Township approved plans for Blackthorne Estates, which will add 77 townhouses to the golf course community

• Progress was made on the $16 million senior housing project, Morning Sun Senior Lofts, in East Vandergrift Borough. The project will redevelop the former East Vandergrift Elementary School

Strategy 3.3

cultivate a restaurant industry

• Penn Township officials approved a resolution that will permanently allow food trucks at Harrison City Export Road

• The City of Arnold began hosting monthly food truck events beginning in June through October, featuring over thirteen local food trucks and vendors

• Greensburg Community Development Corporation’s Greensburg Restaurant Week continued to support local restaurants, bars, and eateries, featuring specials and merchandise giveaways

• Events such as Restaurant Ramble & Spring Fling and Fridays on Fifth help promote and support downtown restaurants and businesses in New Kensington

Strategy 3.4

utilize

planning best practices

• New Kensington announced plans to adopt new design guidelines and overlay districts to help regulate its development and revitalization

• Hempfield Township began work on their comprehensive plan update. The plan will include recommendations to improve the Route 30 corridor as well as a master plan for Hempfield Park. The township also announced plans to transition some of its services like business licenses and address verifications online

• North Huntingdon announced plans to update its comprehensive plan, with guidance from Pittsburgh-based consultant Environmental Planning & Design

• Greensburg adopted its new comprehensive plan, Shape Greensburg, to help guide future growth and development. The city also moved its permitting and development processes online, making it easier for residents and developers to navigate

Strategy 3.5

Direct density

• Local officials in East Vandergrift continue to pursue the $13 million revitalization project to redevelop the former East Vandergrift Elementary School into affordable senior lofts

• Hempfield Township approved the rezoning of the former Cherry Creek Golf Course site to make way for a housing development that will include a mix of single-family and duplex units

Strategy Champion

Westmoreland County Planning

Source: Westmoreland County Planning

Townhouses

Source: Simi Iluyomade, unsplash.com

Restaurant food

Source: Tim Toomey, unsplash.com

Hyde Park Plaza to be redeveloped, Allegheny Township

CORE OBJECTIVE 4: CONNECT WITH PARKS AND NATURE

NATURAL LANDSCAPES ACROSS WESTMORELAND TAKE SHAPE

When it comes to parks, open space, trails, and the like, it seems like recreational spaces are one of those amenities that people can never get enough of. Not only do they provide safe places for people to get active and connect with each other and nature, they are also critical spaces to help protect native plants and animals, reduce air and water pollution, and keep our communities cool, among other benefits. As natural land is one of the most abundant land uses contributing to the character and setting of Westmoreland County, preserving and protecting these assets is essential to improving and sustaining a high quality of life. As such, preserving and protecting natural assets is a goal outlined in the county’s comprehensive plan, Reimagining Our Westmoreland

Helping implement this goal throughout Westmoreland County, one organization – the Westmoreland Land Trust (WLT) – is making a big impact. Formed in 2007 in response to resident interest in preserving and retaining Westmoreland’s rural character, the WLT’s mission is to conserve and steward land in the county for ecological, cultural, and recreational value for the public’s benefit. Recently, the WLT acquired two new historical properties that are planned for preservation and passive recreation, benefitting several local communities.

Thanks to funding from the Colcom Foundation, Allegheny Foundation, and other supporters, the WLT acquired a scenic 96-acre farm in Hempfield Township in 2021. Located just three miles north of downtown Greensburg, the property known as the Schwarz Farm, is well-situated in central Westmoreland County with easy access both from Greensburg and the PA Turnpike. Once a dairy farm, the property’s previous owners, the Schwarz family, established a foundation in hopes that it could one day be redeveloped into an art and nature park.

After a series of steering committee and community input meetings and extensive analysis and discussion, the WLT worked with LaQuatra Bonci Associates to create a phased development plan for the property. Through five phases, the plan lays out steps for how the former farm will be conserved and transformed into a nature and art park. Complete with planted meadows of native grasses and wildflowers, and featuring sculptures and other outdoor works of art, the park will provide residents and visitors with low-impact enjoyment of the natural property.

“The forthcoming nature and art park will be known as Carl A. Schwarz Memorial Park, and features a hilltop overlooking mountain ridges to the east which will be perfect for photography and painting,” said Betsy Aiken, Executive Director of the Westmoreland Land Trust.

Local leaders anticipate that the park will have considerable value for tourism and economic development and will provide high-quality open space for families from Jeannette, Greensburg, Hempfield Township, and other nearby communities. Once established, the park also has the potential to serve as a base for adult and children's educational programming to celebrate nature and art through events, classes or workshops, exhibits, and other programming. The WLT expects that the property will be open for visits and exploration later in 2023.

Schwarz Farm isn’t the only significant property the WLT is planning on conserving and transforming into a passive recreation site. In 2023 the WLT acquired 250 acres of property previously known as the St. Xavier Academy and Convent. Recently purchased from the Sisters of Mercy with the help of a $1.1 million grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the site is located off of Route 30 in central Unity Township.

While the Academy and Convent were demolished after a devastating fire, Bellbrook, a building used as a retreat center is now the only structure on the property. The WLT plans to establish new trails, utilize existing ones, and add interpretive materials for people to view and learn as they explore. While there is no planned use for Bellbrook yet, the rest of the site is intended to be open to the public for exploration.

Whether you call Westmoreland County home or you simply work or visit here, the county’s natural lands – its parks, open spaces, or trails –are prominent features that contribute positively to our quality of life. Thanks to local organizations like the Westmoreland Land Trust that continue to invest in, restore, and conserve valuable natural spaces, residents and visitors alike have access to high-quality protected natural lands in our own backyards. To follow along with the conservation and transformation efforts of WLT properties, visit https://westmoreland-landtrust.org/.

Schwarz barn by Paula Martino

Source: Barbara Jones

Strategy Updates

Strategy 4.1

Enhance Trail Systems

• PA DCNR awarded Westmoreland County $303,988 to update and extend the Five Star Trail

• Ligonier Township received $21,000 from PA DCNR to update a study for the development of 4 miles of trail linking Ligonier Borough to destinations within the township

• Allegheny County officials announced plans to conduct a feasibility study to connect the Westmoreland Heritage Trail to the Great Allegheny Passage by way of the Turtle Creek Valley

• PA DCNR awarded $710,000 to Armstrong Trails to design the renovation of the old railroad bridge over the Kiski River, after acquiring the 14mile Kiski Junction Railroad line with a $3.5 million grant. The acquisition will connect to the Erie to Pittsburgh Trail, linking 140 miles of trails

• Progress was made on plans to complete the 4-mile “middle gap” portion of the Westmoreland Heritage Trail

Strategy 4.2

make parks welcoming & accessible

• Unity Township received $248,000 in grants from PA DCNR to rehabilitate the Unity Township Park playground and Pleasant Unity Playground

• Smithton received $70,000 from PA DCNR to create a pedestrian walkway, parking area, and stormwater management measures at Smithton Borough Park

• Scottdale Borough received a $36,100 PA DCNR grant to install new equipment and ADA equipment at the Pittsburgh Street Playground

• The City of Latrobe announced plans to reestablish a dek hockey rink at Legion Keener Park

• Hempfield Township announced plans to create a new park, featuring a splash pad and fitness & nature areas, located on 43 acres of property purchased from Excela Health

• The City of Lower Burrell began developing a comprehensive parks, recreation, and open space plan, utilizing a $20,000 grant from PA DCNR

Strategy 4.3

Preserve Open space & protect natural assets

• PA DCNR awarded $1.1 million to the Westmoreland Land Trust to acquire 250 acres in Unity Township, which will be preserved as open space with passive recreational opportunities

• Western Pennsylvania Conservancy added nearly 300 acres of land in Cook Township to its protected land in the Ligonier Valley, thanks to a conservation easement

• Westmoreland Pollinator Partners rolled out passports for the Pollinator Palooza Tour, which featured 21 pollinator-friendly gardens

• WLT gathered feedback from the public to inform the transformation of a former farm in Hempfield Township into a nature and art park

• An observation deck was constructed at the Westmoreland Conservancy’s Morosini Reserve in Murrysville, which will help give visitors a 360-degree view of the surrounding meadow

Strategy 4.4

improve & sustain water resources

• Westmoreland Conservation District (WCD) completed PA DEP Growing Greener grants totalling $306,000 in Derry, Manor, and Irwin boroughs, implementing stormwater management and erosion control measures. WCD also worked with four communities to implement conservation practices using $279,906 in funding from the Dirt, Gravel, and Low-Volume Road Program

• Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County announced a $1.8 million reforestation plan around Beaver Run Reservoir

• A $233,000 grant was awarded to the Loyalhanna Watershed Association for improvements to Mill Creek in Ligonier and Four Mile Run in Cook Township

• $245 million in federal funds are planned to be used for abandoned mine reclamation across PA through the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Program

• Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, in partnership with the US Forest Service and the PA Fish and Boat Commission, reintroduced freshwater mussels to the Kiski River. Their survival and growth indicate improved water quality

Strategy Champions

Westmoreland County Bureau of Parks & Recreation

Westmoreland Conservation District

Westmoreland County Planning

St. Xavier Woods, Unity Township

Source: Betsy Aiken, Westmoreland Land Trust

Wynn and Clara Tredway Trail, Allegheny Township Source: Allegheny Township

Stormwater infiltration parking lot project, Manor Borough Source: Westmoreland Conservation District

CORE OBJECTIVE 5: BUILD HEALTHY AND WHOLE COMMUNITIES

WESTMORELAND COUNTY TAKES THE FIGHT TO BLIGHT

Over the last year, several steps were taken at the local and county levels to focus energy and resources on remediating, preventing, and redeveloping blighted properties. This recent work supports efforts to build healthy and whole communities throughout Westmoreland County. Outlined as a goal in the county’s comprehensive plan, Reimagining Our Westmoreland, building healthy and whole communities means we can improve quality of life, retain existing residents, and attract new ones.

Westmoreland County’s communities are not alone in the fight against blight as it exists in virtually every community. Many factors lead to conditions of blight including a lack of stringent property code enforcement programs, deferred and deficient maintenance from property owners, absent property owners, foreclosures, and even loss of population. The issue of blight is further exacerbated by our aging population, who may not have the means or ability to take regular care of properties or who have passed on, leaving maintenance responsibilities on loved ones.

Regardless of the cause of blight, its effects are damaging to communities. Blighted properties can cause a community’s tax base to decrease, push current and future residents away, drive taxes up for remaining residents, interfere with growth and development, increase crime, and negatively affect health outcomes. Since blight is an ongoing and recurring problem, effects can compound over time, making it a difficult challenge to address with just one solution.

So, what can be done about blight? There are a number of tools, steps, and resources that communities can utilize. From a more disciplined approach to code enforcement to employing vacant property registrations, pursuing land bank or community acquisition of properties, and home or rental repair and rehabilitation programs, a variety of different tools can be used to tackle blighted properties. Although much of the authority to address blight falls on a local municipality, communities do not need to work at it alone. Partnerships with different levels of government, local businesses, organizations, and stakeholders can ensure a comprehensive and successful approach.

One way Westmoreland County’s communities are getting a jump on addressing blight is through a partnership with the Westmoreland County Redevelopment Authority (RACW). In 2022, the Westmoreland County Board of Commissioners announced plans to utilize $10.4 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to remove blighted structures in the seven communities of Arnold, Greensburg, Jeannette, Monessen, New Kensington, Penn Borough, and Vandergrift Borough. Coordinated through the RACW, the goal of this program is to identify as many as 500 blighted properties and utilize grant funds for their demolition or rehabilitation.

Through the ARPA-funded program, the RACW works directly with communities to identify blighted properties, relying on the community’s local expertise and intel to provide information and guidance and expedite demolitions or rehabilitations. According to Brian Lawrence, Executive Director of the RACW, $753,000 of ARPA funds have been spent on 51 projects that are either complete or are actively being worked on. Another 60 properties are to be targeted in the next six months.

Thanks to a partnership with the Community Foundation of Westmoreland County, the RACW received additional funding to hire a consultant to help communities plan for what happens after the blighted structures are removed. “Since markets are different from community to community, scenarios for how properties can be redeveloped after blight is removed varies. Our hope is that by working with a consultant, they can provide a framework to give to communities to help them rethink and redesign these properties after the blight is gone,” said Lawrence.

In addition to providing funds and guidance directly to communities, the RACW has hosted several local events – like the Annual Blight Remediation Summit – to share intel and resources on eliminating blight. The events provide an opportunity for local government officials, code enforcement staff, developers, realtors, and many others to learn new tools, information, and share resources on how best to address blight within our communities. “There’s a real hunger for understanding these things and we’re glad to be offering these events in our own backyard,” said Lawrence.

The fight against blight doesn't stop here, as progress was made at the local level to tackle this countywide problem. From increasing quality-of-life violations to utilizing community-based code enforcement, and implementing a blight mitigation plan, communities such as Jeannette, Lower Burrell, Latrobe, Greensburg, and Arnold have taken a more serious approach to blight.

As local leaders take steps to ensure that our towns and neighborhoods are vibrant and free of blight, Westmoreland County’s communities are becoming more healthy and whole.

Abandoned house

Source: AJ Wallace, unsplash.com

Strategy Updates

Strategy 5.1

Eliminate blight

• Westmoreland County Commissioners announced plans to utilize $10.4 million in ARPA funds to remove blighted structures in several communities, with leadership from the RACW

• Jeannette announced plans to increase the fee for their quality-of-life violations to better cover costs and follow-up on issues

• Lower Burrell created a vacant property ordinance, requiring owners of vacant properties to register with the city and adhere to codes

• Latrobe, in partnership with the RACW, developed a blight mitigation plan. The city has since adopted a rental registration program

• LCRP received a $150,000 donation from Latrobe-based Robindale Energy Services to kickstart addressing residential blight

• New Kensington and Arnold joined the Westmoreland County Land Bank to help address blight within their communities

• The RACW and Land Bank completed 44 countywide demolition projects, 4 DEMOFUND projects, and started work on 18 ARPA projects to remove blight throughout the county

Strategy 5.2

invest in beautification

• The City of Latrobe revealed a new interpretive sign downtown featuring a timeline of the city’s history and influential people

• Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, along with local volunteers, planted trees at several parks in downtown New Kensington

• Communities like Unity Township and Vandergrift Borough hosted communitywide spring cleanups to beautify their neighborhoods

Strategy 5.3

go green

• Greensburg received a $70,461 recycling development and implementation grant from PA to help with recycling and leaf collection programs

• Westmoreland County officials launched a pilot program to install an EV charging station at Twin Lakes Park

• WCAA announced plans to consider installing EV charging stations at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport

• West Leechburg Borough installed 32 solar panels its municipal building to offset electric use at the borough’s garage and pump station

Strategy 5.4

bolster age-friendly communities & services

• Irwin Borough and North Huntingdon Township approved plans for the $11 million 50-unit apartment project, Grand View Senior Residences

• Allegheny Health Network announced plans to move an Express Care clinic to downtown New Kensington to conveniently serve patients

• New Kensington partnered with Oasis Grocery Direct to help address the city’s food desert downtown.

• The RACW installed 32 chair lifts and ramps in homes through its Accessible Housing Program

Strategy 5.5

get healthy

• Westmoreland County hosted its first Human Services Fair to promote more than 70 local agencies and private vendors with programs

• Westmoreland County announced plans to consolidate a number of government human services programs into one unified department to help administer programs and better serve residents

Strategy 5.6

address fragmentation

• West Leechburg Borough and Allegheny Township utilized a study prepared by DCED to consider merging municipalities and school districts

• The Alle-Kiski Intergovernmental Council grew its membership from 7 to 8 municipalities working to undertake joint intergovernmental projects

• Westmoreland County Planning worked with the 15 communities of the Central Planning District to align county strategies with local priorities

Strategy 5.7

create a design “playbook” •

Strategy Champions

Excela Health (Independence Health System)

Redevelopment Authority of Westmoreland County

Westmoreland County Land Bank

Westmoreland County Planning

Unveiling of a new interpretive sign, Latrobe

Source: Latrobe Community Revitalization Program

EV charging stations

Source: Open Grid Scheduler, flickr.com

Groceries

Source: Maria Lin Kim, unsplash.com

CORE OBJECTIVE 6: PLUG INTO THE NEW ECONOMY

WESTMORELAND COUNTY CONNECTS COMMUNITIES

Broadband internet access is essential to participate in everyday life and society. From young to old, and everyone in between, the internet is used to access services, connect people, shop, and stream music and TV. It is also used for many more vital services such as telemedicine and remote or distance learning or working from home. But access to the internet means more than just having it available, it means having access to internet at sufficient speeds to have multiple users, at a cost that is affordable, as well as having a device that adequately allows you to complete necessary tasks, and having the knowledge to use the internet safely.

Outlined as a goal in the county’s comprehensive plan, Reimagining Our Westmoreland, developing broadband capacity is critical to ensure Westmoreland County residents and businesses have the infrastructure needed to stay connected in life and society. To help make sure that all residents and businesses within the county have reliable and affordable high-speed internet, Westmoreland County leaders kicked-off the Westmoreland Broadband program in 2022.

“This endeavor, to bring reliable internet to those in need, will act as an economic growth opportunity for the entire county,” said Sean Kertes, Chairman of the Westmoreland County Board of Commissioners. “It has the ability to not only keep existing companies, but entice new ones to move in. This effort also has the potential to retain residents and attract new ones,” said Kertes.

Lead by the Westmoreland County Commissioners and Westmoreland County Planning with guidance from the Westmoreland Broadband Taskforce, a taskforce composed of local stakeholders and community leaders, the program set out to identify unserved locations to start deploying infrastructure to communities in need. During the program’s first year, data was gathered to identify unserved areas. Areas identified without access or with internet speeds of less than 25 megabits per second (Mbps) download and 3 Mbps upload were deemed unserved.

Throughout the data collection phase, feedback was gathered from the Westmoreland Broadband Taskforce, field crews were sent out to do visual inspections of broadband infrastructure, and a media campaign pushed the Westmoreland County internet survey to over 2,500 respondents. Data gathered from the survey and the field work was compiled in a Data Collection & Feasibility Study which established the following goals for Westmoreland County:

1. Digital Equity – Improve digital literacy and digital equity for all.

2. Health & Safety – Improve safety and health outcomes for vulnerable residents.

3. Growth – Invest in broadband to incentivize economic development.

4. Workforce – Invest in workforce development to benefit from expanded broadband access.

5. Municipal Support – Support municipal leadership and services.

“One very important goal to us is to make sure that our residents have access to telemedicine,” said Doug Chew, Vice-Chairman of the Westmoreland County Board of Commissioners. “Not only do residents need adequate service, but health care offices do as well. Integrating telemedicine benefits all of our residents including the elderly, busy parents and adults, and children,” said Chew.

With the completion of the Data Collection & Feasibility Study, the next step is to start building broadband infrastructure to and within the communities most in need. Over 3,500 locations were identified as being in need. To kick-off implementation, four Early Action projects were prioritized for new, reliable service, based off of an evaluation of fieldwork and survey responses which determined a high need for service.

Early Action projects are planned for quick implementation in areas located in Derry, Ligonier, and Fairfield townships. Through a request for proposal (RFP) process, county leaders plan to select internet service providers (ISPs) to advance the Early Action projects. Construction is estimated to begin by the end of 2023, with new service starting early next year. The projects will be funded by a portion of the county’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) budget.

“These Early Action projects will be immensely beneficial in allowing children and other residents who haven’t been able to participate in online learning to have the option to engage,” said Gina Cerilli Thrasher, Secretary of the Westmoreland County Board of Commissioners.

The plan to expand broadband internet doesn't stop here. Although the Early Action projects will help expand infrastructure to the areas identified as having the highest need, many other unserved and underserved areas exist. Westmoreland County leaders are already planning next steps to connect the rest of the county by the end of 2026, with plans to partner with ISPs and apply for additional grant funding. To follow the progress of this program, please visit https://westmorelandbroadband.org/ and view the interactive map.

Family using a tablet computer

Source: Alexander Dummer, unsplash.com

Strategy Updates

Strategy 6.1

Develop Broadband Capacity

• Pittsburgh-based nonprofit Meta Mesh Wireless Communities (now Community Internet Solutions) announced plans to expand its pilot program in New Kensington, connecting more people to the internet for free

• Westmoreland County committed a portion of its ARPA funding ($659,170) to broadband and contracted with Michael Baker International to conduct fieldwork to identify existing broadband infrastructure and service needs countywide and develop a Data Collection & Feasibility Study

• As a part of the Westmoreland Broadband program, Westmoreland County submitted information to challenge data published by the FCC, to help improve broadband access

• A federal program was announced which will provide a $30 monthly subsidy for high-speed internet access to families who meet income eligibility requirements

Strategy 6.2

integrate new technologies

• NO UPDATE

Strategy 6.3

invest in industry 4.0

• The Digital Foundry, a workforce training and education facility, opened in downtown New Kensington. The facility will provide technology demonstrations for small to mid-sized manufacturing companies along with networking and speaker events. Since the facility’s opening, the Foundry has hosted several camps, workforce training programs, demonstrations, and events focused on STEM, manufacturing, and technology

• The Digital Foundry in New Kensington was designated as a Smart Manufacturing Innovation Center, one of only seven in the nation, by the US Department of Energy

Strategy 6.4

embrace hemp

• NO UPDATE

Strategy Champions

Economic Growth Connection

Greenforge Inc.

Penn State New Kensington

Westmoreland County Planning

Westmoreland Broadband Connectivity Opportunity Areas map Source: Westmoreland County Planning

Family using the internet Source: Anilsharma26, pixabay.com

The Digital Foundry at New Kensington groundbreaking event Source: Rebecca Dietrich

CORE OBJECTIVE 7: CREATE TRANSPORTATION CHOICES

SELF-DRIVING VEHICLE TESTING FACILITY PLANNED FOR WESTMORELAND COUNTY

Over the last twenty years, significant advancements have been made in the connected and autonomous vehicle sector. What once seemed like a science fiction dream, autonomous vehicles have become very much a part of reality today. From advanced driver assistance systems to fully-automated driving systems, this technology has the potential to improve safety, increase mobility, and enhance efficiency and convenience. These advances in technology also lend themselves to creating more transportation choices for people, which is a goal outlined in the county’s comprehensive plan, Reimagining Our Westmoreland

Thanks to a public-private partnership, this technology is set to be explored close to home in Westmoreland County, bringing with it the possibility of attracting new companies, jobs, residents, and the power to advance our region.

In 2022, Pennsylvania Safety Transportation and Research Track (PennSTART), a $20 million facility designed for the testing, research, and demonstration of self-driving vehicles, was announced to be built at the Regional Industrial Development Corporation (RIDC) site in East Huntingdon Township. The project is being made possible, thanks to a partnership between RIDC, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC). The firstof-its-kind facility in Pennsylvania will feature a 3-mile test track and other facilities for companies that build and test self-driving vehicles to lease and use.

In the future, automated vehicles will influence how people are connected to places, how transportation systems are upgraded, and how land use decisions are made. Making sure that these advancements are safe, reliable, and help improve our communities is of the utmost importance. According to Yassmin Gramian, Secretary at PennDOT, the PennSTART facility will provide innovative technologies for testing and education. “As highway safety and transportation technologies advance, our teams, first responders, students, and researchers should also be learning about these tools,” said Gramian.

The goal of PennSTART is to address safety training and research needs in six key areas including traffic incident management (TIM); tolling and intelligent transportation systems (ITS) technology; work zones; commercial vehicles; transit vehicles; and connected and autonomous vehicles.

The facility, which is expected to be completed as early as 2024, will help support and advance transportation technology companies, research and education institutions, and emergency responders. The types of technologies that could be tested for safety, operations, and training purposes at the facility include:

• TIM training;

• Testing and hands-on training for new ITS, tolling, and signal equipment;

• Safe, simulated training for higher-speed and mobile work-zone operations;

• Safety certification training opportunities;

• Simulated environments for temporary traffic control device testing and evaluation;

• Smart truck-parking applications and other opportunities for commercial vehicle technology partnerships; and

• Controlled environments to test various AVs and other emerging technologies for transit buses, infrastructure equipment, and other applications.

The new facility also has the potential to build off of an already established autonomous technology sector that exists within the region. Thanks to the work of Pittsburgh-based companies like Locomation, Aurora, and Argo AI (now Ford’s Lattitude AI), Southwestern Pennsylvania has a number of talented leaders working at the forefront of autonomous vehicle technology.

“Our region already has a thriving cluster of autonomous technology companies and is one of the national leaders in the development of driverless vehicles,” said Donald F. Smith, Jr., President of RIDC. “Southwestern Pennsylvania has a long history of successful public-private partnerships to advance our region, and we are gratified to be able to partner with PennDOT and the Turnpike Commission to develop this project as a regional asset that will continue to attract companies, jobs, and investment,” said Smith.

According to Jason Rigone, Executive Director of the Westmoreland County Industrial Development Corporation, the addition of the PennSTART facility can drive momentum in the region and foster economic, technological, and employment opportunities for Westmoreland County. “We look forward to seeing the positive economic impacts of this project and applaud the public-private partnership that made PennSTART possible. The Westmoreland County community only stands to benefit from the research and technology of this facility,” said Rigone.

Rendering of the PennSTART test track high speed area Source: Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Disclaimer: This image is not intended to serve as an indication of any affiliation between or endorsement of the Commonwealth and Westmoreland County Planning

Strategy Updates

Strategy 7.1

enhance transit, increase ridership, & promote transit oriented development

• Westmoreland Transit Authority’s ridership increased by 33%, continuing to rebound since 2020

Strategy 7.2

create mobility plans

• PennSTART, an autonomous testing and research facility, was announced to be built at the RIDC site in East Huntingdon, thanks to a partnership from PennDOT and the PTC

• Progress was made on the Laurel Valley Transportation Improvement Project along Route 981 in Mount Pleasant Township. The project will improve safety and traffic flow

• PennDOT started construction on the $121 million I-70 and Route 51 interchange project in Rostraver Township which will improve traffic flow and safety

• Progress was made on the Route 119 reconstruction project in Youngwood which features chicanes, wider sidewalks, bump-outs, and a shift in parking lanes to calm traffic

• PennDOT completed a $2.5 million project upgrading traffic signals on three miles of Route 30 in Hempfield, improving traffic flow, congestion, and addressing air quality

Strategy 7.3

increase walkability & biking options

• Delmont officials started work on an active transportation plan, thanks to a $20,000 grant from the PA Department of Health’s WalkWorks program and PA DCNR

• PennDOT announced plans to rehabilitate the Route 136 bridge that crosses the Youghiogheny river in West Newton. The project will maintain the historic significance of the metal truss bridge and include pedestrian and handicap accessible improvements

Strategy 7.4

increase flight options

• The Arnold Palmer Regional Airport announced plans to complete a $23 million terminal expansion project, which will double the size of its terminal and may help attract another airline. Preliminary designs for the expansion include more space for passengers and additional security checkpoints

• Apron strengthening work was completed at the Arnold Palmer Regional Airport which will help accommodate a third passenger boarding bridge planned for the terminal expansion project

• More than $2.5 million in federal funds were announced to be used to help pay for infrastructure improvements at the Arnold Palmer Regional Airport and navigate uncertainty caused by the possible purchase of Spirit Airlines by JetBlue

Strategy 7.5

improve passenger rail service

• Funding from the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill will help expand passenger rail service from Pittsburgh to Harrisburg, adding an additional round trip on Amtrak’s Pennsylvanian line daily

Strategy 7.6

augment ridesharing options

• Pennsylvania leaders made progress on a Senate Bill that, if passed, would permit cities like Greensburg and New Kensington to legalize and regulate e-scooters through pilot programs, similar to Pittsburgh’s e-scooter program

Strategy 7.7

focus on freight

• Federal investment and construction continued at the Charleroi Locks & Dam, which supports the region’s freight network

Strategy Champions

Westmoreland County Airport Authority

Westmoreland County Transit Authority

Westmoreland County Planning

Westmoreland Transit bus, Latrobe

Source: Westmoreland County Planning

Spirit Airlines Airbus

Source: Aero Icarus, flickr.com

Amtrak passenger train

Source: 70154, pixabay.com

conclusion

2022 was a productive year and we are excited about the progress that our partners and staff have made in helping implement Reimagining Our Westmoreland’s goal to attract, develop, and retain a diverse and stable workforce that will sustain a healthy economy. Thank you to all of the local leaders, businesses, organizations, municipalities, and other supporters of the plan – your hard work and commitment are making a difference.

This report only details some of the efforts happening across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors in Westmoreland County to implement the plan. Thank you for reflecting on and celebrating the work being done to remake our Westmoreland.

If you would like to learn more about assisting in our efforts, please contact us at wcplanning@co.westmoreland.pa.us. If you or your organization are already working to implement aspects of the plan, we want to hear about it, please go to https://www. co.westmoreland.pa.us/654/Comprehensive-Plan to complete the implementation survey.

There is still a lot of work to do and we look forward to a rewarding 2023!

Greensburg skyline

Source: GO Laurel Highlands