Going to the Washington D.C. conference hosted by the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) to present our project alongside thirteen other schools from across Appalachia was a remarkable experience, both personally and academically. The event brought together students united by a shared commitment to improving the economic and social well-being of the Appalachian region. For me,…

The presentation our team delivered in mid-November was an insightful and truly rewarding experience that significantly deepened our understanding of Uniontown’s evolving needs and aspirations. Reflecting on this event, the most meaningful takeaway was the genuine engagement and curiosity displayed by the audience throughout our session. Their thoughtful questions allowed each of us to elaborate…

The first weekend of October was spent understanding and being immersed in the culture of Fayette County. Besides gaining a deeper understanding of client expectations, it was great be out in woods and back to my happy place, nature. Being able to understand how nature and natural resources had developed the county, specifically Uniontown was fascinating. Our first stop was spend time at the Penn State Fayette County Campus learning about the region’s history on mining, company town life, the transition to unions and what a day in the life of a miner and his family was. We then headed to the Connellsville Canteen, which is a really awesome place. for a lunch with local people important to the community Being the train hobbyist that I am, I enjoyed seeing the model train layout. It was incredible seeing that and learning about the time and dedication it took to create the layout. While at the lunch, I spoke with a local official which helped gain insights into the economic pulls and pushes of the constituents and how to manage balance for them. On this trip we also met with key client leaders to understand their goals on a deeper level and identify key areas and items to focus on while getting a visual assessment of Uniontown. Our group left that meeting with resources and new ideas on how to approach research and data collection for our client. Our group, while in Uniontown, decided to survey the downtown area to understand its assets and features and to find those places of community engagement to use those as a driving force for economic development and community engagement. On out site visit we identified community focal points, such as the library, diners, and local services shops – hair salons, coffee shops, etc. To understand more about Uniontown I think understanding not just where, but how community members interact with the community and why would be another key aspect in helping improve the economic development of Uniontown.

Hello, My name is Finnian Sieg and I am a part of the business team for Pitt’s ACRI team this semester. I am majoring in finance with a minor in economics. A fun fact about me is I am the Finance Lead for our university’s FSAE team. This past June, we were awarded sixth place…