New County Hire Would Improve Economic Development
County Commissioners Pat Fabian, Jason Renshaw and George Skamai addressed many community concerns during last night’s town hall meeting in Leechburg - from mapping and 9-1-1, to blighted properties and economic development.
by Jonathan Weaver
Much of last night’s town hall meeting in Leechburg with county commissioners focused on economic development.
Commissioners Pat Fabian, Jason Renshaw and George Skamai identified Step One to possible growth during a brainstorming retreat with the Industrial Development Council.
“It’s a catch-22. I know (the three commissioners) all ran (for office) on economic development, and we’re all committed to that,” Fabian said. “We’ve spent an awful amount of time working with Mike Coonley, the executive director of economic development, (but) what we soon realized is, we don’t have anyone in Armstrong County working on economic development.
“Mike Coonley’s done a great job –that’s what he’s been directed to do – but he more-or-less has been a property manager. But, we don’t have anyone to infiltrate our communities for community development and economic development.”
Commissioners hoped to fill that void with a new hire for a new job – Executive Director of Community and Economic Development -, but their top choice changed
County Commissioner Chair Pat Fabian discusses economic development during last night’s town hall meeting in Leechburg.
their mind at the last minute.
“We felt as a Board in discussing this that we were missing that piece, to have a professional infiltrating these communities with us and to work on comprehensive development, funding sources and grant writing,” Fabian said. “It’s a tall task to get a big manufacturer or a big company in Armstrong County, but if we can get our communities back into parks and rec, stuff for the kids to do, if we can get them looking safe and looking clean, I think people are going to come here, regardless of what the taxes look like. I truly believe that.”
Commissioner Skamai added the new position would be an investment – a lesson he learned following a three-day National Association of Counties (NACO) seminar in Charleston, West Virginia.
“It takes a grassroots effort – it’s a lot of foot work,” Skamai said. “And, I think that was why we thought having a point person would help us not only continue our responsibilities but help market.”
“We’re not going to cut our way out of this. Cutting spending is good, but we’re not going to cut our way out of this. And we have to deal with the reality of an aging population and a declining population.
Later in the meeting, commissioners revealed there has not been a comprehensive economic development plan in 25 years.
Among the 30 residents – including elected officials at the County and municipal levels – present at the town hall was Leechburg Borough Councilman Christian Vaccaro – who would like to have help obtaining grants for community infrastructure. He approved of the new position.
“To have a resource like that at the County level to identify grants and be in conversation with (council members), I think that would be an excellent resource for us,” Vaccaro said.
Commissioner Jason Renshaw answers a question posed by Kiski Township Resident Regina Liermann during last night’s town hall meeting in Leechburg.
After hours working with Butler and Indiana County officials, commissioners also decided to take a trip to Harrisburg with State Senator Don White to discuss economic development.
“There’s a lot of bark here,” Fabian said. “We’ve started to build strong relationships with our representatives at the state and federal level.
“No is not an answer here,” Renshaw added. “I don’t care if it’s a trucking company or if they bring two employees – we need to bring something in here.”
Local News | jweaver September 23, 2016
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By jorn jensen, September 23, 2016 @ 9:08 AM
Pat, taxes definitely will keep them away from here. If you don’t believe that, you’re truly fooling yourself.
The county has 600 employees - the largest employer in the county - and now we’re going to grow it by one. None of the 600 can be reappointed to this new position? None qualified? What about Mike Coonley? That is already the title of his job.
You commissioners say that we need a director of economic development. Mike Coonley’s title is that, but that is not the job he’s doing? He’s doing “but he more or less has been property manager.” Whose fault is that? So, you’re looking for a person to manage economic development when you have, on staff, an economic development manager?
Those two paragraphs, “It’s a catch 22 and Mike Coonley’s done - are about the two dumbest statements paragraphs that I’ve read in a long time. And, yes, I don’t read Just sayno’s stuff. Statements like “We’ve spent an awful amount of time working with Mike Coonley” - was it really that awful? That unbearable? What a poor choice of words! “Mike Coonley, the executive director of economic development, (but) what we soon realized is. we don’t have anyone in Armstrong County working on economic development.” Ahhh, what about the executive director of economic development Mike Coonley? Should he be doing that instead of being a properties manager? What is the need to add more people to county government?
Pat - you need to go to the big city to learn some big city speak.
God help us.
By jorn jensen, September 23, 2016 @ 10:22 AM
Permit me to clarify Pat Fabian’s statements in paragraphs 3 and 4, above (in the text of the article).
After meeting with Executive Director of Economic Development Mike Coonley, at length, we commissioners came to the realization that we need to add to staff in county government. We need to hire an Executive Director of Economic Development.
Is that pretty close? Geez!