Newsletters

Mon Valley Progress Council

MVPC Progress Update
Vol. 45 No. 11-12; November/December 2009

Progress is …

A Smart Government Initiative panel discussion on regional policing held with the Tri-County Boroughs Association was well received by local officials --- and funding announced for the Phase II of the initiative // A regional cluster analysis to be under taken through the Regional Enterprise Zone Program will focus on increasing local business-to-business sales // Pre-registration sought for planned workforce readiness course sponsored through the Work Readiness Initiative // The Progress Council promotes full count census initiative.

PROGRESS HIGHLIGHTS

A Smart Government Initiative panel discussion on regional policing held with the Tri-County Boroughs Association - A November 19 joint meeting with the Tri-County Boroughs Association on regional policing was well received by local officials. Panel members included regional policing options ranging from local efforts to a program in the Farrell, PA area. State Representative Peter J. Daley also announced that he was successful in securing a $200,000 grant which will support completion of phase II of the project.

A regional cluster analysis will focus on increasing local business-to-business sales – A Mid Mon Valley Regional Enterprise Zone Program project will focus on identifying current and potential local markets in the Mid Mon Valley and identification of prospective business-to-business sales opportunities. A January meeting of the Enterprise Zone Steering Committee will include focus on the cluster analysis project including the consultant selection process.

Pre-registrations sought for planned workforce readiness course sponsored through the Work Readiness Initiative – Pre-registrations are being sought for a five-week, thirty-hour course to promote job readiness. The course is targeted to begin in early 2010. A registration form is included in this newsletter. The joint effort with the Mon Valley Career and Technology Center is intended to improve skills in math, technical reading and work ethic.

The Progress Council promotes full-count census initiative – The Progress Council has joined with the US Census Bureau to promote a full count in the decennial census. A full count is crucial to ensure that the Mid Mon Valley receives its fair share of federal funding for everything from human services to funding for road improvements. Please see the enclosed flyer at the end of the newsletter for more information.

The Progress Council approves annual objectives, a slate of officers and new members of the board of directors at the January 8 Annual Business Meeting – The Progress Council annual business meeting focused on standard items including setting a course of actions in 2010, approval of the annual budget and appointment of new board members.

Smart Government Initiative panel discussion on regional policing held with the Tri-County Boroughs Association

A November 19 joint meeting with the Tri-County Boroughs Association was well received by local officials. More than eighty representatives of local area governments and all three Washington County Commissioners attended the dinner meeting and discussion.

A panel with representatives from regional policing programs, ranging from local programs to programs in Farrell, PA, spoke about the successes they have found through working together. Panel members often cited improvements in the effectiveness and professionalism of police forces. It was clear that communities involved in the regional police forces were able to overcome obstacles including parochialism to develop their regional programs.

The idea for the panel discussion came from meetings of local officials involved in the Smart Government Initiative. Based on the positive discussion, the next meeting of the Smart Government Initiative will include discussions to develop one or more models for regional police forces that could serve the Mid Mon Valley.

Regional policing programs represented on the November 19 panel discussion included: Southwest Regional Police Department based in Belle Vernon; a local regional force comprised of Roscoe, Elco, Stockdale and Allenport (RESA); Northern Regional Police Department in northern Allegheny County, and Southwest Mercer County Regional Police Force based in Farrell. Bill Gamble, Police Testing/Police Personnel Management Consultant was also on the panel He provided an overview of the issues involved in forming regional police forces. Bill served as the coordinator of the Department of Community and Economic Development regional policing efforts. He is widely recognized as a leader in the field of regional policing.

...and funding secured to support Phase II of the Smart Government Initiative

State Representative Peter J. Daley also announced that he was successful in securing a $200,000 grant which will support completion of Phase II of the project. Phase II will include the development of optional model ways for more regionally based delivery of municipal services and working with local officials on the implementation of the selected option.

The two-year project is being undertaken with the University of Pittsburgh’s Graduate School of Public and International Affairs Innovation Clinic and the consultant firm of PA Futures.

Regional cluster analysis will focus on increasing local business-to-business sales

One of the goals of the Mid Mon Valley Regional Enterprise Zone is to support and assist businesses located in enterprise zone target areas of the nine Mid Mon Valley communities included in the local enterprise zone program. A cluster analysis project is one strategy to meet this goal.

The cluster analysis will focus on identifying current and potential markets in the Mid Mon Valley and identification of prospective business-to-business sales opportunities. A January meeting of the Enterprise Zone Steering Committee will include discussion of the cluster analysis project and the consultant selection process. “This will be an exciting project that will focus on ways to serve local firms,” said Enterprise Zone Coordinator Joe Kirk.

A consultant is expected to be on board in early 2010. The consultant will be reaching out to local firms to discuss ways to increase local buying of goods and services.

Participating communities in the regional enterprise zone include: Brownsville, Belle Vernon, California, Charleroi, Donora, Monongahela, Monessen, North Charleroi, and Speers.

Pre-registrations sought for planned workforce readiness course sponsored

Pre-registrations are being sought for a five-week, thirty-hour course to promote job readiness. The course is targeted to begin in early 2010. A pre-registration form can be downloaded here in PDF format.

The joint effort of the Progress Council Work Readiness Initiative and the Mon Valley Career and Technology Center is intended to improve skills in math, technical reading and work ethic.

The Workforce Readiness Initiative course will be a five-week, thirty-hour program focusing on three core areas:

It is essential to have a pre-registration commitment of at least seven (7) students to commence with the program. Registration will be $100 per student. The goal is to have a program underway in spring 2010.

“This course is in direct response to issues identified by area firms regarding math, technical reading skills and issues regarding work ethic that have developed in recent years,” said Progress Council president John Easoz. “The joint effort with the Mon Valley Career and Technology Center will provide a cost-effective program to address these issues,” he added.

Progress Council approves annual objectives, a slate of officers and new members of the board of directors at January 8 annual business meeting

The Progress Council’s annual business meeting focused on standard items including setting a course of actions in 2010, approval of the annual budget and appointment of new board members.

Strategic Actions, 2010

Issue area one - Mon Valley/Fayette Expressway and Southern Beltway
Strategic actions
Issue area two - Regional Initiatives
Strategic actions
Issue area three - Business support
Strategic actions
Issue area four - Administrative efficiency and sustainability
Strategic actions

(New areas for 2010)

Executive Committee and Board members

Executive Committee
Board of Directors
Class of 2010 - Expires December 31, 2012
Class of 2009 - Expires December 31, 2011

(New members of the Executive Committee or board of directors)

The Progress Council promotes full-count census initiative

Census 2010
The Mon Valley Progress Council
435 Donner Avenue  |  Suite 410  |  Monessen, PA 15062  |  724-684-3381  |  Fax: 724-684-5113