Progress Is...
A Mission and Objectives to Guide Future Actions
A mission statement approved by our sponsors guides the Progress Council. The mission statement reflects a focus on efforts to improve highway access and other efforts to promote economic development. The Progress Council's sponsors meet in January of each year to set objectives for the new year. The objectives provided below were approved at the January 12 annual business meeting. They represent both a continued focus on long standing efforts and a focus on new directions to improve local economic conditions.
Mission Statement
To enhance the economic, social and employment climate of the Mid Mon Valley through the involvement of business leaders in:
- Advocacy of transportation facilities and community infrastructure to support communityand economic development;
- Positioning and marketing of the Mid Mon Valley as a center for industry and commerce;
- Supporting existing businesses in the Mid Mon Valley;
- Support and coordination of those community projects involving activities with a regional influence;
- Promotion and enchancement of the quality of life in the Mid Mon Valley.
Objectives for 2008
Issue area one -
Mon Valley/Fayette Expressway and Southern Beltway
Strategic actions
- Continue staff coordination support for the Expressway Partnership Initiative
- Refine the 2% solution initiative as a framework for additional funding including:
- Secure active support of the Allegheny Conference
- Secure leadership position of Allegheny County Executive Onorato
- Support and participate in meetings of regional legislative delegation
- Conduct Harrisburg bus trip
- Initiate meetings with federal congressional delegation
Issue area two -
Regional Initiatives
Strategic actions
Smart Government
- Seek engagement of GSPIA at Pitt to support effort
- Seek funding to support consultant firm
- Use consultant/GSPIA resources to conduct case-example research on effectiveness and efficiency on regional governmental service models
- Use consultant/GSPIA resources to complete research on a referendum strategy for a regional service delivery model and development of a referendum strategy
- Add issues drugs abuse under this area (New action for 2008)
Economic development
- Utilize consultant services to complete Mon Valley Regional Enterprise Strategic Plan and seek certification of plan
- Secure designation local enterprise zones and strategies under the Mid Mon Valley Regional Enterprise Zone (MVREZ)
- Explore linkage of MVREZ to a potential Mid Mon Valley regional DCED Main Street and Elm Street programs
Technical education
- Continue to provide staff support services to the Mon Valley Community Education Council including securing additional education partners
- Work with MVCEC and MVCTC on opening and marketing of the MVCEC/MVCTC Mon Valley Tech Access site
- Work with Representative Daley’s office and the MVCEC board on the development of a Technical College program with Westmoreland County Community College
Drug abuse (New area for 2008)
- Consider retention of facilitator and program advisor
- Send out survey to area firms on dug abuse issues
- Conduct a series of governmental and business leader meetings on this issue facilitated by the consultant
Issue area three -
Business support
Strategic actions
- Respond in a timely fashion to requests for technical and financing requests of businesses
- Complete at least one application for IDAP financing
- Continue to seek to resolve issues pertaining to development of lot #7 at Rostraver Airpark Industrial Park
- Work with Solar Power Industries on the development of lot #5 at Rostraver Airpark (New action for 2008)
- Continue to manage the Donora industrial building and provide timely assistance to the firm occupying the building
- Finalize transfer of Airpark Industrial Road to Rostraver Township
Issue area four -
Administrative efficiency and sustainability
Strategic actions
- Engage the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors in an “Add Just One” campaign to secure additional sponsors and consider this as a condition of continued membership on the executive committee or board. (New action for 2008)
- Complete MVREZ designation as part of securing project revenue base
- Continue to explore unique funding sources consistent with the mission and objectives
- Appoint a cost efficiency committee to review costs (New area for 2008)
- Establish a three-member committee with the executive director to explore issues of consolidation and/or merger and to promote closer working relationships with other organizations (New action for 2008)
- Appointment of an Executive Committee/ Board of Directors committee to review bylaws and sponsorship to consider non-business sponsors and non-business representation on the board and executive committee (New action for 2008)*
Issue area five –
Promoting pride in the Mid Mon Valley
(New issue area for 2008)
Strategic actions
- Incorporate pride theme into all actions and communications
- Develop dinner video that highlights pride theme and business
435 Donner Avenue | Suite 410 | Monessen, PA 15062 | 724-684-3381 | Fax: 724-684-5113