Overview
On October 3rd, 2024, our cohort embarked on a 3-day journey to Fayette County with the aim of gaining a deeper understanding of the area and its unique needs. We visited three major towns: Connellsville, Uniontown, and Brownsville. This trip was an incredible experience for both me and our cohort. The people we encountered were not only passionate and caring but also remarkably open to all our ideas.
As part of the business group, our primary objective was to gauge the community’s interest in various educational programs that could be implemented at the Education and Entrepreneurship Center in Connellsville. Over the past few weeks, our group diligently crafted a survey that included some of our initial ideas along with demographic questions to better understand the community’s preferences and needs. This survey included ideas such as: Business to Business Mentorship Program (Connecting Existing Business Owners to Start-Ups), Crash Course: How To Start a Business, Crash Course: How to Expand Y our Business,Crash Course: How to Market Y our Business, Around the World Cooking Class, and Fundamentals of Leadership/Management.
To ensure we reached a broad audience, we also designed a flyer for the survey. These flyers were posted on community boards and distributed to local businesses, who kindly agreed to help us collect valuable data from the residents. This collaborative effort is instrumental in gathering insights that will help our group determine what type of program our cohort should produce.
Site Visit – Curtis Pharmacy
On the morning of October 4th, we made our way into Connellsville to meet with Ryan Rohrbacher, the manager of one of the three branches of Curtis Pharmacy. Ryan was a crucial person to speak with regarding the broader issue of “brain drain” and the promotion of economic development, which the Appalachia Collegiate Research Initiative (ACRI) aims to address. His background is particularly relevant to our mission: he grew up in a suburb of Pittsburgh, attended Duquesne University, and secured his post-graduate job with this regional pharmaceutical chain. His professional journey exemplifies the kind of career path we hope to encourage in Fayette County.
During our conversation, Ryan shared that his decision to move to Fayette County was driven by the job opportunity available to him. This insight led us to a deeper discussion about employment, a significant aspect of economic development. Ryan expressed his appreciation for many of our ideas for the Education and Entrepreneurship Center’s programming. However, he highlighted a major challenge he faces: a hiring problem. Despite the availability of many lower level and middle level jobs, there are fewer and fewer residents to fill these positions, and he struggles to connect with those seeking employment. Additionally, he emphasized the point that he was not alone in his hiring struggles and that many other businesses in the community would echo his point.
Ryan’s openness about his hiring difficulties prompted us to delve further into the topic. He mentioned that he is willing to employ anyone interested, whether they are college students, high school students, or others in the community. This inclusive approach took us by surprise and sparked a series of discussions within our group about how we could help bridge the gap between employers and potential employees. The main idea that emerged from this meeting is the collaboration between local high schools and business to create some kind of job fair along with looking at some kind of longer-term program like a local job board.
Our meeting with Ryan was enlightening and underscored the importance of addressing employment issues to foster economic growth. It also reinforced the need for targeted educational programs that can equip residents with the skills needed for available jobs. This experience has inspired us to think creatively about solutions that can connect job seekers with employers, ultimately contributing to the economic vitality of Fayette County.
Tour and Community Lunch-In
After our insightful meeting with Ryan at Curtis Pharmacy, we spent some time distributing flyers in the area to gain more insight on the community. Our next destination was downtown Connellsville, where we embarked on a comprehensive tour of the new Education and Entrepreneurship Center, Blackbox Theater, and the Connellsville Canteen. This center is a significant initiative aimed at fostering entrepreneurship and education as key drivers of local economic growth.
The tour of the Education and Entrepreneurship Center given by Fayette County Cultural Trust Leaders, Michael and Dan, was truly inspiring. The space has multiple rooms dedicated to different areas of interest. Even though some of the rooms are still under construction, it was impressive to see how much work they have put into crafting a space for innovation and the arts to thrive. The different programs that Michael, Dan, and the rest of the Fayette County Cultural Trust have in the works for this space is very exciting and was interesting to hear about how it will nurture local talent and stimulate economic development.
Following the tour, we attended a community lunch at the Connellsville Canteen. This gathering was a wonderful opportunity to engage with local residents and leaders in a more informal setting. During the lunch, we had the privilege of speaking with the County Commissioners. This conversation was particularly insightful as it allowed us to gain a deeper understanding of the county’s development efforts from a government perspective.
The County Commissioner shared valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities facing Fayette County. One crucial issue he raised was the county’s plan for economic growth, particularly in Connellsville. The county is working on developing market action teams, groups that will focus on analyzing market trends, identifying business opportunities, and implementing strategies to capitalize on these opportunities. The goal is to attract new businesses to Fayette County while helping existing businesses remain competitive. The key sectors identified for growth include energy, agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, and healthcare. Additionally, housing and education have been designated as support sectors that will play a vital role in this broader development strategy. This plan represents a structured approach to promoting growth in the county and highlights just how much the Fayette County residents care about their home.
The conversation at lunch also touched on several other important topics, including the housing shortage in Fayette County. The County Commissioner acknowledged that, while there is a need for jobs, there is also a need for housing to accommodate the workers who would fill those jobs. This housing shortage represents a significant barrier to economic growth. Without adequate housing, it will be difficult for the county to attract and retain the workforce needed to support new industries. We also discussed the challenges of securing funding, particularly through grants. The county’s grant writers are overwhelmed with the volume of work, and the complexity of the grant application process adds to the difficulty of securing the necessary resources for development.
Lastly, we learned about a new partnership between the Fayette County Cultural Trust and Seton Hill University. Seton Hill offers programming in the small business development field that aligns closely with the initiatives our cohort aims to implement. Realizing the potential overlaps, we knew we needed to delve deeper into the specifics of Seton Hill’s programs given this new information.
Final Thoughts and Action Items
Overall, our visit to Connellsville was a pivotal experience. It provided us with a clearer vision of how we can contribute to the community’s growth and development. The support and feedback we received have motivated us to continue working diligently towards our goals, ensuring that we keep the community’s needs in the forefront of our minds while crafting our programing. The interactions we had with Michael and Dan, our meeting with Ryan at Curtis Pharmacy, and the discussions with the County Commissioners, highlighted the collective effort already given to address the challenges of brain drain and economic stagnation in Fayette County and helped our cohort determine how we can contribute our fair share.
After finishing up our site visits and collecting our thoughts, the business group came up with a few different ideas to think about and pursue in the coming weeks. In addition to these ideas, we will also be diligently researching the programming offered at the Education and Entrepreneurship Center by Seton Hill to ensure that we do not create duplicate programming.
Programing for the Education and Entrepreneurship Center
- Social Media Marketing and Brand Management Crash Course
- Professional Development Workshops (Resume, Networking, Microsoft Office)
Long-Term Programs
- Bringing Speakers to the Black Box Theater from the University of Pittsburgh
- Gaging Interest and Planning a High School Job Fair
- Creating a local Job Board
- Internships and Fellowship Creation for High School Students
These few days were not only productive but also deeply rewarding. Being able to visit all three major hubs of Fayette County, Connellsville, Union Town, and Brownsville, helped me get a sense of place for the region that we are hoping to help. Their dedication and selflessness to contribute to the community truly reinforces the importance of community engagement and collaboration in driving local development.
More Later!