Have Questions About Our Summits?
Summit VII - Sustainability Makes Cent$
Featured Speaker
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Gina Langley, Associate Director for Development, Pasa Sustainable Agriculture
Understanding Sustainability
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Carnegie Climate and Rural Systems Partnership leads a group engagement activity to build a local perspective and practice that makes sense for all of us.
Built-in Sustainability
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Sustainability practices and technologies create economic opportunities, build workforces, deliver on equity, and reduce environmental harms.
Keynote Address
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Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources
Environmental Challenges into Economic Opportunities
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How these organizations develop sustainable communities by fostering economic opportunity, and enhancing the local environment.
Community-base, Small Town Revitalization
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Our small towns are worth investing in for continued growth and prosperity.
Growing Strong Through Food Systems
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How food systems present opportunities for new business models that make fresh local fruits and vegetables available for all our community members.
Summit VII - Sustainability Makes Cent$ Program
Summit VI
Solar Leasing In Indiana County
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This presentation will discuss large-scale/ utility-scale solar development in PA. Topics will include a general overview of what is currently
happening in the large-scale solar landscape and why it is happening. Siting and zoning considerations will also be discussed, along with
common concerns. The presentation will end with guidance on what to consider if approached by a solar developer with a lease.
Indiana County Broadband Deployment Initiative
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The Indiana County Board of Commissioners and the Office of Planning & Development has secured funding to expand Broadband
Internet services in underserved and unserved regions of Indiana County. Joined by guest speakers from Salsgiver, Inc. and REA/ITX,
Stauffer will provide project updates on Broadband expansion and other economic development projects in Indiana County.
Outdoor Recreation Economy
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Smochek covers an overview of DCNR’s Community Conservation Partnership Program (C2P2), a source of recreation and conservation
related state grant funding for municipal and non-profit applicants. Smith presents on “First Waves,” a first-of-its-kind program that
inspires conservation of local waterways and mentorship for at-risk youth. Herrington shares examples of successful Outdoor Recreation
attractions in Indiana County and their economic impacts. Nymick offers a fresh perspective on Homer City’s downtown and a glimpse
at the Borough’s future
Air Liquide RNG Plant In Center Twp., PA
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In collaboration with local government leaders, the Indiana County Development Corporation is pleased to welcome Air Liquide Advanced
Technologies U.S. LLC to the 119 Business Park – Lot 2, located in Center Township, Indiana County, PA for the development of a
renewable natural gas (RNG) production plant. Learn more about this project and its anticipated impact on our local economy.
The Electric Vehicle Revolution: Incentives, Advantages, And Global Trends
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The presentation covers incentives for adopting Electric Vehicles (EVs), the advantages of EV adoption, and the growth and trends of EV
adoption worldwide.
Uplifting People, Place, & Projects: Economic, Workforce & Community Revitalization
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Long-term, historic investments in the country’s infrastructure, competitiveness, and people are being made to boost rural and small town
economic and social resilience. Hear how Indiana County is benefiting now and is seeking opportunities for future generations.
Summit V
On Saturday, October 8th, 2022 the Indiana County Sustainable Economic Development Task Force held its annual Summit. Experts and local leaders shared how our small communities are making big changes to create a sustainable economy.
Broadband in Indiana County
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The Indiana County Board of Commissioners and the Office of Planning & Development has secured funding to expand Broadband Internet services in select regions of Indiana County. Byron Stauffer, Executive Director Indiana County Office of Planning & Development, will provide project updates on Broadband expansion and other economic development projects in Indiana County.
Indiana County Office of Planning & Development: https://icopd.org/
Commercial Development Financing Through C-PACE
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Speakers Brian Hillard, Government Relations of the Sustainable Energy Fund, and Elaine Evosevic-Lozada, Manager of Special Projects & Finance at Allegheny County Economic Development, introduce the C-PACE (Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy) program.
Enabled by Pennsylvania Act 30, C-PACE enables partnerships between County governments and financial institutions to provide low-cost, long-term financing to commercial property owners for energy efficient equipment, renewable energy, and water conservation projects.
The Sustainable Energy Fund on C-PACE: https://thesef.org/our-programs/c-pace/
Indiana County Solar Co-Op
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Henry McKay, Pennsylvania Program Director at Solar United Neighbors (SUN), announces the roll out of the third Indiana County Solar Co-Op. McKay shares that the Co-Op now includes installations for solar panels, batteries, and Electric Vehicle Chargers!
Indiana County Solar Co-Op: https://www.solarunitedneighbors.org/co-https://www.solarunitedneighbors.org/co-ops/pennsylvania/indiana-county-2022-solar-and-ev-charger-co-op/
Water Restoration Projects in Homer City, McIntyre, and Tanoma
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Local water restorations advocates Adriene Smochek (Board of Directors of Evergreen Conservancy), Cindy Rogers (President of Evergreen Conservancy); Shaun Busler, Biologist and GIS Professional from BioMost, Inc.; Robert Nymick, Manager of the Central Indiana County Water Authority, and Borough Manager of Homer City.
Evergreen Conservancy: https://evergreenconservancy.org/
BioMost, Inc.: https://www.biomost.com/
Homer City: http://www.homercity.com/
Local Food Forest & Community Garden
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Marie Thomas-Olson from the Indiana Community Garden and Chevy Chase Food Forest shares the benefits of food forests and how community members can offer their support.
Indiana County Community Garden: https://www.indianacommunitygarden.org/
Chevy Chase Food Forest: https://chevychasecenter.org/chevy-chase-food-forest/
Sustainability Efforts at IUP
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Dr. Jerry Pickering, retired Professor of Biology shares updates on the Confluence Park Project.
Dr. Brian Okey, Professor of Geography, talks about the environmental fieldwork happening in the surrounding community.
BA Herrington, MFA, Professor of Woodworking in the Department of Art and Design and Director of The Wood Center at IUP, shares information on the Wood Center at IUP's Harvest-to-Use initiative.
Dr. Joe Townsend, Professor of Biology, shares his experiences researching sustainability issues in international settings.
Allegheny Arboretum: https://www.iup.edu/arboretum/index.html
Confluence Discovery Park 2030 Master Plan: https://www.iup.edu/arboretum/files/iup-cdp_masterplan_spreads.pdf
IUP Department of Geography: https://www.iup.edu/geoplanning/index.html
Woodworking at Indiana University of Pennsylvania: https://www.iup.edu/art/undergrad/studio/woodworking.html
IUP Department of Biology: https://www.iup.edu/biology/index.html
Summit IV Webinar Series
Public Art and Creative Sustainability,
Aired March 2, 2021
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Ramiro Davaro-Comas, creator and director of a unique traveling artist residency program, Dripped On The Road, will be presenting a talk about the programs October 2020 residency in Indiana, PA. The talk will touch on the history of the residency program, its October 2020 project in Indiana, PA that brought 14 new murals to town, and the Creative Sustainability initiative they launched to curb emissions and environmental waste, while continuing to create public art. The talk will also feature video segments from their upcoming documentary, in which community members and artists are interviewed about their process and impact on the Indiana community.
Dripped On The Road is a traveling artist residency program dedicated to fostering a unique creative environment for its resident artists while enhancing the visual atmosphere of communities through public art.
This one of a kind program invites selected artists to:
- Travel a predetermined route around the U.S.
- Create public murals in a diverse array of cities and communities.
- Camp at national & state parks to create small works on paper.
- Collaborate with a variety of arts/community organizations on workshops, talks, and panels.
- Create Sustainably by using environmentally conscious materials and planting trees for every project completed.
Dripped On The Road is a traveling artist residency program dedicated to fostering a unique creative environment for its resident artists while enhancing the visual atmosphere of communities through public art.
This one of a kind program invites selected artists to:
- Travel a predetermined route around the U.S.
- Create public murals in a diverse array of cities and communities.
- Camp at national & state parks to create small works on paper.
- Collaborate with a variety of arts/community organizations on workshops, talks, and panels.
- Create Sustainably by using environmentally conscious materials and planting trees for every project completed.
Keystone State wildlife In a Changing Climate and What We Can Do About It, Aired March 4, 2021
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Pennsylvania is home to a surprising amount of biodiversity, including 22 salamander species and over 400 bird species. Human-caused climate change is happening in Pennsylvania and impacting the state’s plants and animals. We’ll discuss some of the benefits of biodiversity, impacts of climate change on migratory birds of PA, and ways individuals and communities can take action to support birds and biodiversity and to reduce climate change.
This session will be presented by four team members from the Carnegie Museum of Natural History and University of Pittsburgh’s Climate and Rural Systems Partnership, who are funded by the National Science Foundation Award #1906774 and #1906368.
This session will be presented by four team members from the Carnegie Museum of Natural History and University of Pittsburgh’s Climate and Rural Systems Partnership, who are funded by the National Science Foundation Award #1906774 and #1906368.
Family Forest Carbon Program: Making an Income from Private Woodlots, Aired March 5, 2021
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As the Conservation Forester for The Nature Conservancy, Kevin Yoder promotes sustainable forest management throughout Pennsylvania. His career has revolved around the integration of wildlife management and forestry, with an emphasis on sustainably managing privately-owned forestland. Kevin is interested helping landowners manage their land sustainably and developing tools and programs that help fund conservation on private lands.
Did you know that forests play a critical role in helping mitigate climate change? Trees take carbon dioxide from the air, store part of the carbon in the wood, and release oxygen. Landowners can manage their forests to store more carbon while also improving wildlife habitat and growing more timber. Landowners can also enroll in programs that pay them to implement certain practices that improve forest carbon storage. Kevin Yoder, Conservation Forester with The Nature Conservancy, will present on forest carbon management and opportunities for landowners to get paid for sustainable forest management.
One of the programs being launched in Pennsylvania is the Family Forest Carbon Program (FFCP). The FFCP is a new way to unleash globally significant climate change mitigation through America’s family forests. The American Forest Foundation (AFF) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) are working with leading U.S. businesses, state and federal agencies, other non-profits, and America’s 21 million family forest owners to capture and store more carbon to meet climate goals.
The FFCP represents an opportunity to engage rural landowners with new types of incentives, benefitting family forest owners by helping offset the cost of the needed forest management practices and offer opportunity for income. The program is designed to remove one of the most significant barriers for family forest owners—the high cost of forest of management activities, while also providing technical assistance and professional guidance to landowners on the best options for their forests.
The FFCP incentivizes specific forest management practices which have been scientifically demonstrated to enhance carbon sequestration. Through the program, private landowners will work with professional foresters to implement one or more practices that align with the landowner’s management goals. The practices are consistent with sustainable forestry, provide more suitable wildlife habitat, and support long-term production of forest products.
The FFCP is a partnership between The Nature Conservancy and American Forest Foundation.
Did you know that forests play a critical role in helping mitigate climate change? Trees take carbon dioxide from the air, store part of the carbon in the wood, and release oxygen. Landowners can manage their forests to store more carbon while also improving wildlife habitat and growing more timber. Landowners can also enroll in programs that pay them to implement certain practices that improve forest carbon storage. Kevin Yoder, Conservation Forester with The Nature Conservancy, will present on forest carbon management and opportunities for landowners to get paid for sustainable forest management.
One of the programs being launched in Pennsylvania is the Family Forest Carbon Program (FFCP). The FFCP is a new way to unleash globally significant climate change mitigation through America’s family forests. The American Forest Foundation (AFF) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) are working with leading U.S. businesses, state and federal agencies, other non-profits, and America’s 21 million family forest owners to capture and store more carbon to meet climate goals.
The FFCP represents an opportunity to engage rural landowners with new types of incentives, benefitting family forest owners by helping offset the cost of the needed forest management practices and offer opportunity for income. The program is designed to remove one of the most significant barriers for family forest owners—the high cost of forest of management activities, while also providing technical assistance and professional guidance to landowners on the best options for their forests.
The FFCP incentivizes specific forest management practices which have been scientifically demonstrated to enhance carbon sequestration. Through the program, private landowners will work with professional foresters to implement one or more practices that align with the landowner’s management goals. The practices are consistent with sustainable forestry, provide more suitable wildlife habitat, and support long-term production of forest products.
The FFCP is a partnership between The Nature Conservancy and American Forest Foundation.
Renewable Natural Gas With Biodigesters, Aired March 8, 2021
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Join Ed Johnstonbaugh from Penn State Extension for an informative presentation on Biodigesters. Learn more about what they are, how they work, and how they measure-up as a renewable energy source.
PENN STATE EXTENSION
Website: https://extension.psu.edu/
Energy Policy: Creating Opportunities for PA Residents, Aired March 11, 2021
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SPEAKERS:
Henry McKay, Pennsylvania Program Director at Solar United Neighbors (SUN)
Mark Szybist, Climate & Clean Energy Program Senior Attorney at Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc.
Ed Johnstonbaugh, Education Program Associate at Penn State Extension
Robert Routh, Public Policy and Regulatory Counsel at Clean Air Council
ORGANIZATION LINKS
Solar United Neighbors (SUN)
https://www.solarunitedneighbors.org/
Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc.
https://www.nrdc.org/
Penn State Extension
https://extension.psu.edu/
Clean Air Council
https://cleanair.org/
A Panel on Solar Panels, Aired March 12, 2021
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What it is like to be powered by solar in Indiana County? Join our panelists and find out! We’ve gathered solar panel owners from across the county to share their experiences and answer your questions.
INDIANA COUNTY SOLAR CO-OP
Website: https://coops.solarunitedneighbors.org/coops/indiana-county-solar-co-op/
Supporting Sustainable Food Chains and Soil Health, Aired March 15, 2021
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Simple choices can have far reaching impacts. Have you ever thought about what it takes for food to arrive on the shelf at the market? Have you ever wanted to know where your food dollar is going? Agriculture and food are paramount to our lives beyond what we actually put into our mouths. Join Curtis Swiantek from the Indiana County Conservation District for a session on how the choice of where you buy your food can greatly affect your community and the environment. Walk away from this session with an idea of how you can build the local economy while persevering our resources.
INDIANA COUNTY CONSERVATION DISTRICT
Website: https://www.iccdpa.org/
Incentivizing Conservation and Climate Solutions on Rented Farmland, Aired March 17, 2021
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Conservation on farms can provide water quality, carbon sequestration, and other benefits at a large scale. Practices that build soil health benefit farmers directly by reducing costs and increasing crop resilience to weather extremes. Over one-third of cropland in Indiana County is rented. Lease terms can incentivize (or dis-incentivize) renters from implementing conservation practices. This session is for landowners to learn more about how they can play a role in promoting conservation and climate change mitigation on their rented ground.
CARNEGIE MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
Website: https://carnegiemnh.org/educator/crsp-2/
Community Action, Inc’s Weatherization Assistance Program, Aired March 26, 2021
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Do-It-yourself energy saving tips and an overview of Community Action, Inc.’s Weatherization Assistance Program. Presentation will include participant eligibility, scope of program services, and desired outcomes.
COMMUNITY ACTION, INC.
Website: https://www.jccap.org/
Resources Page: https://www.jccap.org/Links
Shifts in the Energy Industry: Impacts on Our Workforce, Aired March 31, 2021
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Panelists from The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Pennsylvania Coal Alliance, and Pennsylvania Consultant for Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2) will explore the effects energy policy, consumer demand, and technology have on our local and regional workforce. A brief presentation by each panelist will conclude with a question and answer session with the public.
SPEAKERS
Shawn Steffee, International Brotherhood of Boilermakers Local 154
Website: https://boilermakerslocal154.com/
Aric Baker, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 459
Website: http://www.ibew459.org/
Rachel Gleason, Pennsylvania Coal Alliance
Website: https://www.betterwithcoal.com/
Sharon Pillar, Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2)
Website: https://e2.org/
Coalfield Development: Courage, Creativity, Community, Aired April 8, 2021
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Since 2010, Coalfield Development has been the catalyst of true transformations for people in Appalachia by creating over 250 new jobs, training over 1,200 people, leveraging more than $20 million in new investment to the region, and revitalizing over 200,000 square feet of formerly dilapidated property. They believe in developing the potential of places and people as they experience challenging moments of economic transition by unlocking people’s creative power to transform perceived problems into opportunities in the communities we call home.
COALFIELD DEVELOPMENT
Website: https://coalfield-development.org/
Summit III
Reinventing Rural America
Join us to hear our expert speakers on sustainable practices in economic development, agriculture, renewable energy, building construction, environmental restoration, and rural broadband.
WHEN: Friday October 4, 2019
WHERE: at the Rustic Lodge in Indiana PA
TIME: 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
DETAILS: Breakfast/Registration at 8:30 a.m. Includes lunch.
Free and open to the public; attend any or all of the presentations.
The final report of the Task Force was presented at Summit II, on September 28, 2018. This year’s Summit celebrates the efforts of the Task Force and its community to pursue the opportunities and recommendations outlined in the report. A panel of group leaders will share their successes and plans for future action. Guest speakers will highlight opportunities for promoting economic and workforce development, and citizen education, within each of the issue areas.
Summit III Guest Speakers
Chloe Drew & Jennica Hopkins
Mother Earth Farm, PA
Chloe Drew & Jennica Hopkins are twin sisters who own and operate Mother Earth Farm PA. As farmers and owners, Chloe and Jennica focus on growing their produce using sustainable practices including no-till, on-farm inputs and locally sourced manure and food waste to enrich the soil.
Joey James
Senior Strategist, Downstream Strategies Inc.
As the technical expert for the Reclaiming Appalachia Coalition, Mr. James has helped communities throughout West Virginia, Virginia, Kentucky, and Ohio develop project plans, quantify impacts of potential projects, and secure implementation funding for transformational land reuse projects.
Matthew Alan Mahoney
Western PA Program Manager, KEEA
Matthew Alan Mahoney was born and raised in Bairdford, Pennsylvania, a small coal townorth of Pittsburgh. In 2018, Matt began working with the Keystone Energy Efficiency Alliance (KEEA), a nonprofit committed to advancing the energy efficiency industry.
Sascha Meinrath, Ph.D.
Palmer Chair in Telecommunications at Penn State University
Meinrath’s research focuses on broadband connectivity, distributed communications, Digital Feudalism, Digital Craftsmanship, telecommunications and spectrum policy, cybersecurity and privacy, and the impacts of disruptive technology, and is a testament to his lifelong commitment to promoting social and economic justice.
Emily Rhodes, AICP
Technical Assistance & Planning Manager, Just Transition Fund
Emily provides technical assistance and community planning support at the Just Transition Fund. With a background in urban planning, Emily’s work has focused on resilience and land use planning throughout the Midwest.
Greg Winks & Will Brown
Solbridge Energy Advisors
Greg Winks and Will Brown founded Solbridge Energy Advisors to make the process of going solar more straightforward and user-friendly, while creating opportunities for greater innovation and cost competition among service providers.
Summit III Presentations
Opening Presentation
Molly Sarver: Indiana County Sustainable Economic Development Task Force
Molly Sarver: Indiana County Sustainable Economic Development Task Force
Keynote: Economic Development
Emily Rhodes, AICP: Economic Development in US Coal Communities in Transition
Emily Rhodes, AICP: Economic Development in US Coal Communities in Transition
Renewable Energy
Greg Winks & Will Brown: The Future is Renewable: Policy, Practices, and Potential for Solar in PA
Greg Winks & Will Brown: The Future is Renewable: Policy, Practices, and Potential for Solar in PA
Luncheon Speaker: Rural Broadband
Sascha Meinrath, Ph.D.: Mapping US Broadband Connectivity: Results and Implications of Documenting Pennsylvania’s Digital Divides
Sascha Meinrath, Ph.D.: Mapping US Broadband Connectivity: Results and Implications of Documenting Pennsylvania’s Digital Divides
Sustainable Building Construction
Matthew Alan Mahoney: Pennsylvania’s Energy Efficiency Economy
Matthew Alan Mahoney: Pennsylvania’s Energy Efficiency Economy
Environmental Restoration & Stewardship
Joey James: Making Assets of Liabilities: Innovative Land Re-Use in Central Appalachia
Joey James: Making Assets of Liabilities: Innovative Land Re-Use in Central Appalachia
Sustainable Agriculture
Chloe Drew & Jennica Hopkins: Cultivating Community, Compost and the Small Scale Farm
Chloe Drew & Jennica Hopkins: Cultivating Community, Compost and the Small Scale Farm
Summit II
WHEN: Friday September 28, 2018
WHERE: at the Rustic Lodge in Indiana PA
TIME: 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
DETAILS: Breakfast/Registration at 8:30 a.m. Includes lunch.
Free and open to the public.
Family supporting jobs. Healthy and thriving communities. Rural economic vitality that gives all its citizens a chance to prosper.
These are aims of the Indiana County Sustainable Economic Development Task Force.
The Indiana County Commissioners established the Task Force in May 2017, following a successful inaugural Sustainable Economy Summit. The Task Force was charged with identifying new opportunities for economic development, citizen education, and job training/workforce development within four issue areas:
• the renewable energy sector
• innovative agriculture
• sustainable building construction, renovation, and restoration
• wise use of the County’s natural resources
Over the past year, the Task Force has developed a set of recommendations to help guide the County’s progress as a sustainable community. Its final report will be presented at Summit II, on September 28, 2018 at Rustic Lodge, 2199 Oakland Avenue, Indiana, PA. A panel of group leaders will provide background on the process, as well as the recommendations of each group.
Keynote speaker Scott J. Sheely, Special Assistant for Workforce Development for the PA Department of Agriculture, will be joined by other expert speakers. They will highlight opportunities for promoting citizen education, and workforce and economic development within each of the issue areas.
The Task Force steering committee is comprised of representatives from:
• Indiana County Office of Planning & Development
• League of Women Voters of Indiana County and Pennsylvania
• Center for Community Growth
• The Evergreen Conservancy
• IUP Sustainability Studies Program
• Indiana Borough
• Indiana County Conservation District
• Indiana County Technology Center
• Indiana County Center for Economic Operations, a consortium of:
• Indiana County Commissioners
• Indiana County Chamber of Commerce
• Indiana County Development Corporation
• Indiana County Tourist Bureau
• Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Summit II Program
2018 Report
Summit II Presentations
Henry McKay Solar United Neighbors Presentation
Andy McAllister - Land and Water Restoration and Stewardship Presentation
Erica Cochran Hameen Sustainable Building Construction Presentation
Scott Sheeley Sustainable Agriculture Presentation
Zaheen Hussain Sustainabillity
