Laura Williams, President and CEO, Team Pennsylvania Foundation accepts the award for excellence in economic development from David Black, President, Pennsylvania Economic Development Association at the organization's fall meeting in Hershey.
Laura Williams, President and CEO, Team Pennsylvania Foundation accepts the award for excellence in economic development from David Black, President, Pennsylvania Economic Development Association at the organization’s fall meeting in Hershey.

Team Pennsylvania Foundation was recognized with a President’s Award for excellence in economic development at the fall conference of the Pennsylvania Economic Development Association (PEDA).

The award was given to the Foundation in recognition of its work to advance economic prosperity as a non-partisan partner of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and regional economic development organizations. Williams accepted the award, which was presented at the organization’s annual awards luncheon program, on behalf of Foundation board co-chairs Gov. Tom Corbett and John Moran.

“Team Pennsylvania is a collaborative, non-partisan organization dedicated to perpetuating economic prosperity for all Pennsylvanians,” Laura Williams, President and CEO, Team PA, said. “We are pleased to partner with PEDA to foster the overall economic health of the commonwealth.”

Team PA is a non-partisan, charitable, non-profit created in 1997 to bridge the gap between government and the private sector to allow both sides to partner for the betterment of the commonwealth.

Other President Award winners were Bub Manning, Principal, The Quandel Group, Harrisburg, and the Dauphin County Commissioners.  The President’s Award is given to a person or persons in recognition of commitment and vision to economic growth, quality of life and job retention and creation in the state.

Other award recipients were:

Developer of the Year: Charles “Chuck” Leonard of Pocono Mountains Economic Development Corporation was honored for individual achievements and contributions to the economic development profession for nearly 35 years.

Small Agency of the Year: Titusville Redevelopment Authority was recognized for its economic development services for such programs as the Grand Valley Manufacturing (GVM) project, the Titusville Opportunity Park industrial Incubator, and the Trail Town Master Plan.

Large Agency of the Year: Penn-Northwest Economic Development Corporation, Mercer County, has created several programs focused on new industry recruitment, a local business calling initiative, local entrepreneurship and workforce development, marketing and membership, and business administration.

Partner of the Year: CSX Corporation was honored for its organizational achievements in bringing a new intermodal facility to the Pittsburgh region, which resulted in the creation of an environmentally friendly rail corridor connecting the Mid-Atlantic and the Midwest.

Program of the Year: ShaleNet, through its oil and natural gas network, has developed an industry-led and widely known uniform training, certification, and degree program. The program, focused on meeting a variety of immediate industry needs, has already resulted in the training of over 3,000 people and the employment of more than 1,650.

Project of the Year: The eCenter@LindenPoint in Hermitage, Mercer County, was recognized for its commitment to promoting innovation and entrepreneurship by providing a supportive environment, including infrastructure, education, training, mentorship, and a network of service providers.

The Pennsylvania Economic Development Association (PEDA) is the statewide association of local, state, corporate and non-profit economic development professionals.  PEDA’s mission is to promote sound economic development policies, provide leading-edge economic development education and nurture an effective statewide economic development network to foster the economic health of the commonwealth.

For more information on these award recipients, contact Joshua Skopp, Executive Director, PEDA at 717.441.6047.