Erie, PA (October 10, 2024) – During its annual fall conference, held this year (primarily) at the
Bayfront Convention Center, the Pennsylvania Economic Development Association (PEDA)
honored a number of recipients for their demonstration of outstanding accomplishments in
economic development.
On behalf of the PEDA Awards Committee, Executive Director Joshua Skopp congratulated
recipients of 2024 PEDA Membership Awards, thanking them for shining a bright light on the
meaningful work being done by economic development professionals across the Commonwealth.
Developer of the Year Award – Michelle Bisbing, Pocono Mountains Economic
Development Corporation
Supporters say one would be hard pressed to name someone who has had more of an
impact on economic development projects in her community in recent years than Michelle
Bisbing. With projects with which she has been involved having resulted in over $119M of
economic impact and the creation of approximately 1,500 jobs, over the years, Bisbing’s
impact is unquestioned. Bisbing is being recognized for the significant role she plays in
economic development across multiple sectors throughout – and beyond – Monroe County.
Learn more at www.pmedc.com/about-us/pmedc-staff.
• Marketing Innovation Award – Greater Reading Chamber Alliance (The Talent
Attraction Initiative)
Meet Greater Reading is an economic and workforce development program that ties
together the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance’s (GRCA’s) business and talent growth,
retention and attraction work to showcase what is next and best in Berks County, PA.
Connecting employers with new, prospective Greater Reading residents got easier with the
September 2023 launch of the GRCA’s Meet Greater Reading talent attraction initiative,
designed to connect prospective residents and job seekers with local companies.
To address local companies’ number one pain point, talent attraction, GRCA worked with
RoleCall, a national talent attraction consulting agency, to build out this program that utilized
messaging through social media, a (regional) paid digital campaign, a regularly updated website
and a monthly e-newsletter featuring people who live and work in Berks, community assets,
industries, data and relevant news. Individuals who interacted with the digital ads – which
targeted boomerangs, recent college graduates, those open to relocation and those working in
priority industries – were given an opportunity to provide key information (i.e., desired industry,
personal interests, resume, etc.) for entry into a Candidate Marketplace platform that is
accessible to local employers, who can use the tool to identify candidates for job opportunities.
Further, to keep prospective candidates engaged and learning about the Greater Reading area
– which continues to attract new residents with its low cost of living, outdoor amenities, safety
rankings and great schools – they received regular emails with curated information relevant to
their industry and interests. Learn more at www.greaterreading.org
• Project of the Year Award – New Kensington Advanced Manufacturing Park
In 2023, Regional Industrial Development Corporation of Southwestern Pennsylvania
(RIDC) – in partnership with the Westmoreland County Industrial Development Corporation
(WCIDC) – acquired a million square foot former Alcoa campus and began the work of
building out a new 175,000 square foot facility at the New Kensington Advanced
Manufacturing Park. One of the most significant business attraction, job creation and
economic development events for the region in recent years, this location by Re:Build
Manufacturing will result in the creation of 300 high-quality manufacturing jobs (in addition
to the generation of 150 jobs throughout the project across various construction trades).
Prior to this project, the facility was in serious disrepair and, in its entirety, would require
$31M in renovations. Funding secured includes grants or loans from the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania, Westmoreland County and Richard King Mellon Foundation, as well as equity
investments from RIDC and WCIDC. With the first phase of the renovation completed and
Re:Build having begun operations in the space, two new significant lease signings have also
been announced which, together, account for a combined 260,000 square feet (in addition
to the 175,000 square foot Re:Build facility).
The Re:Build experience is beginning to show how one major employer can anchor an entire
business ecosystem. Anchor companies attract global talent and can help grow the local
population and talent pool. And it builds on the positive moves the Cities of New Kensington and
Arnold have made in recent years to revitalize the downtown area. Learn more at www.ridc.org
• Young Professional to Watch Award – Jordan Fuller, Erie Regional Chamber &
Growth Partnership
Jordan Fuller, Director of Entrepreneurship with the Erie Regional Chamber and Growth
Partnership, is the recipient of this year’s award. Nominated by his organization and
endorsed by stakeholders from his region, he was recognized as an exceptional member of
his community who has played a key role in successful economic development initiatives,
advocated for the economic development profession and exhibited leadership qualities that
have distinguished him as a future leader within the industry in the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania. Learn more at www.eriepa.com/chamber-team.
About Pennsylvania Economic Development Association
PEDA’s mission is to promote sound economic development policies, provide leading-edge
economic development education and nurture an effective statewide economic development
network to foster the economic growth of the Commonwealth.
PEDA’s membership is comprised of county and regional economic developers, state government
economic development employees, workforce development professionals, utility and
transportation executives, industrial development authority directors, industrial and technology
incubator operators, chamber of commerce executives, municipal directors of community and
economic development, engineering and construction executives, economic development finance
professionals, commercial and industrial developers, and local, county and state elected officials.
For further information, visit www.peda.org.
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