Steve McKnight is part of a new generation of young professionals bringing fresh energy to the world of economic and community development. In this first installment of a new series, we follow him as he bikes around Blair County, forging connections and spreading the word about the region he loves.
The community in this Northwestern PA city is rallying together, pushing through the tough transition from assembly line to high tech, from divestment to development, and from frustration to hope.
In 2011, this city of more than 87,000 people and 28 parks had no active rec centers and zero playgrounds. But that was all about to change with the genesis of the Reading Recreation Commission, an organization that has flourished thanks to creative funding solutions, a whole lot of elbow grease, and one inspiring leader.
Hazelwood Green, a new mixed-use, environmentally sustainable development, is rising on 178 acres along the Monongahela River where steel was once manufactured.
A global network for the startup community has a new home in Philadelphia. Housed in the under-construction 3675 Market Street, Venture Café at Quorum will offer a slate of programming and a raft of connections for local innovators.
With a new name and a new goal, this longstanding Philadelphia institution is continuing its mission to promote sustainable design and construction, while spearheading an ambitious effort to foster a greener city by cutting energy, water use and emissions in half.
Seven bids to be home to Amazon's new headquarters came from the Commonwealth. From major cities like Philadelphia to job-hungry regions like Northeastern PA, economic development professionals made their pitches as to why they have the ideal location for one of the world's most dynamic companies. Who will triumph in the race for thousands of jobs and billions in investment?
When downsizing threatened the Letterkenny Army Depot, an essential institution in Franklin County, the community rallied. Determined not to lose a major employer without a fight, local economic development and county government officials sprang into action, making moves that are still paying dividends 20 years later.
The inaugural PA Urban Parks & Recreation Exchange, held in Allentown, spotlighted how Pennsylvania cities large and small can improve their communities through thoughtful design and increased access to parks and playgrounds.
Often the greenest new homes are also the most expensive. GreenBuild, a partnership between Penn State and the State College Community Land Trust, is looking to solve that problem with a net-zero energy duplex that will be affordable both to purchase and to live in.