During our research in Fayette County, specifically in Connellsville and Uniontown, we spoke with local residents, community leaders, and business owners to learn about their perspectives on particular assets in their town. The community is surprisingly open about all topics and were incredibly inviting during our visits. It was extremely apparent that there is a huge amount of pride among the local community, which was reflected by each individual we spoke to. We learned of the beautiful bike trail that runs through Fayette County, local art features, and many small businesses. More engagement with the local community could reveal further assets that we did not discover within our initial semester.

Our initial ideas for economic growth in Fayette County were to expand the asset map created by the first cohort of research students to include Uniontown as well as add additional assets we found during our trips to Connellsville. We wanted to convert the map in different programs to increase engagement and accessibility. We also wanted to increase resources online, as we were not able to find much during our initial research.

During the semester, we created a total of three deliverables. First we created a series of maps including an ARCGIS asset map containing properties in Connellsville and Uniontown. We converted the map into a GoogleMap and StoryMap as these programs may be more engaging or familiar to certain users. We also added layers on the GoogleMap detailing vacant properties in the area, to inspire future development in relation to the assets in the area. Second, we created a Celebrate Uniontown Proposal in order to suggest online engagement tactics used by other towns in the area. In this proposal, we demonstrate potential internship opportunities to engage with local high school students. This is particularly my favorite deliverable, and one that I would like to implement immediately, as it inspires local students to work on projects that benefit their own communities as well as fosters valuable educational opportunities. Lastly, we comprised a list of grant opportunities for local businesses to be able to take advantage of all economic opportunities in the area.

I absolutely loved being a part of the Appalachian Teaching Project. This course allowed me to engage with a local community in a way that no other class has offered. I felt as if I was able to make a difference for each of the individuals that I interviewed, and I hope I can continue to make an impact that withstands the test of time.