Sitting atop an archaic coal empire, Fayette County enjoyed vast economic and social prosperity during the early 1900s. Over time, coke ovens went cold while the mines exhausted their final reserves. The affluent industries that once dominated the area’s economy quickly turned Fayette County into another post-industrial fall from grace, a pattern that has become alarmingly common throughout modern Appalachia. Despite outside efforts to stimulate economic movement, the main challenge faced within redevelopment plans is consistency. Consistent commitments to the county, consistent support, and consistent preservation of established resources continuously fail the region. Economic instability is a multilayered crisis in which most complications do not easily overlap, meaning there is little hope of finding a silver bullet. The region can restore past economic successes only with a continuous, long-term plan that deploys assistance from multiple actors across multiple sectors.

During our site visit to Fayette County recently, there was a distinct lifestyle shift as we drove further out of the inner city of Pittsburgh. Homes and structures seemed to age at a much faster rate in the areas that were sparsely populated. As the population dwindles and the average age rises, more businesses and families look for individual success elsewhere. Being a native of the area, I have been accustomed to this sight my entire life. However, having spent the last months in a city where there are routine community development projects, this sight was a noticeable contrast. Fayette County seemed like the place where homes were built for a temporary duration– if they did not already become uninhabited, it was only a matter of time before the prophecy held. Though, to properly form a conclusion about the declining economy of the region, I believe that further conversation should be had with real community members who have lived in the area for the majority of their lives. Nobody understands an area’s assets better than natives to the land.

“Economic instability is a multilayered crisis in which most complications do not easily overlap, meaning there is little hope of finding a silver bullet.”

As I began to look at my hometown from a different angle, critical thoughts were soon replaced by new positive assets in the area. For housing, we stayed in a small campus named the Touchstone Center for Crafts in Farmington. Immediately, the first asset I noticed in the region was the beautiful scenery that coincided with our daily life; it felt like we were staying at a dedicated nature retreat in the forest. Especially since our trip in early fall, I found myself wanting to spend most of my time outside to enjoy the autumnal weather. The nature of Fayette County has always drawn me back to my hometown as I’ve been away. The rest of my cohort felt similarly on this trip– enjoying the calm fall weather during a bonfire on our first night and then spending the next day reading and completing work at the pavilion. Unlike anywhere else in the world, Appalachia’s deep woodland forestry continues to flourish at rapid rates without any human intervention. During my time spent in Costa Rica this past summer, I’ve come to realize the importance that ecotourism has for certain economies. Guided hikes, government-funded conservation efforts, and river eco-tours would be equitable ventures to both boost the economy and support sustainability in the area. I believe that Fayette County has potential for becoming an environmental hotspot for both hikers and naturalists alike.

Another substantial asset my cohort has noticed throughout our trip was the strong sense of solidarity within much of the community. Holding such influential history in such a small geographic area, Fayette County has thousands of stories to tell. At the Connellsville Canteen, we learned about John Woodruff, the first African American to win gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, along with many other important figures throughout history. Woodruff’s memory is memorialized in the Olympic Oak, his tree sapling, gained from winning gold, that was planted in the athletic field at Connellsville High School. This is only one of the many historical monuments that are almost hidden in plain sight. Despite living in this area my entire life, I never realized how special our history truly is. This trip made me believe that there are so many more reasons to be proud of where I grew up.

Historical assets are greatly valued by many citizens of Fayette County. During our site visit to Penn State Fayette’s Coal and Coke Heritage Museum, I believe that it acts as a perfect representation of the entire area as it stands today. Upon recent news of Penn State Fayette’s campus being one of the seven Penn State regional campuses to shut down, many citizens were angry, confused, and ultimately heartbroken. As one of the only institutions for higher education in Fayette County, future generations will now be forced to move away to achieve their educational and occupational goals. Another concern of many citizens was the future of the artifacts held in the museum. The concern was not only placed on the physical donations, but on the stories that every item held. Every single item in the collection holds the story of a miner’s family– many of whom do not have any remaining relatives alive. Both the museum archivist and locals believe that this museum is important to keep both history and the lives of Fayette County families alive. The community holds great regionalist pride in sharing these stories with outsiders and passing down the memory to the newer generation. Working alongside such a delicate community, our team must ensure that these vital cultural assets are never forgotten.

In Craig Brown’s “Ethics in Project Management”, Brown emphasizes how foundational principles like having personal connections to the community and stakeholders and maintaining transparency are crucial to developing effective relationships throughout your business project. During our respective research projects, it will be important to internalize these values to balance academic timelines with the community’s needs. Brown’s principles offer an ethical compass to ensure that project planning will respect local stakeholders while genuinely supporting regional economic vitality (Brown, 2009). Ultimately, by grounding our research in ethical principles, our work can move beyond pure observation and into a genuine collaboration with the community. It is important for research to not only honor Fayette County’s economic growth, but also the growth of the community members to further bolster the standard of living in the area.

Looking ahead, I believe that focusing on building up the strong assets will be crucial to fostering the economic development of the county. While there are obvious disadvantages, such as a declining population and lack of new business growth, targeted initiatives can effectively stimulate the growth of businesses that already exist in the area. Moving forward, our next steps will involve working directly with our local business partners through in-depth interviews and developing actionable strategies for sustainable economic growth. By maintaining these collaborations as we prepare our findings for the upcoming ACRI symposium in Washington, D.C., we can ensure our work meaningfully contributes to Fayette County’s untapped potential.