Westmoreland County Planning

10/21/2026

Attention Westmoreland County Residents! 📣

Make your voice heard! What should the future of Southwestern Pennsylvania look like? Built to Thrive is the region’s Long-Range Plan that will help guide key decisions shaping our local communities for years to come. Join the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission at an upcoming public meeting to learn more and share your top priorities!

Event Details:
🗓 When: Thursday, Dec 3, 2026 from 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
📍 Where: Conservation Center, 218 Donohoe Rd, Greensburg, PA 15601

If you can't make it to the in person meeting, be sure to take the survey here: https://engage-mbakerintl.com/spc

10/07/2026

🚀 The future of Southwestern Pennsylvania is being shaped right now—and we need your voice!

The public survey for SPC’s next Long Range Plan, Built To Thrive: The Long Range Plan for Southwestern Pennsylvania, is officially LIVE!

This plan will define our region’s shared vision across transportation, economic development, infrastructure, and key priorities through 2055 and beyond. To make sure it reflects the needs of our entire community, we need to hear from as many people as possible.

Who should take it? If you live or work in Southwestern Pennsylvania, this survey is for you—regardless of your age, background, or profession. Every perspective counts.

Help us build a region that thrives for generations to come:
👇 Take the survey here: https://engage-mbakerintl.com/spc

Please consider taking a few minutes to complete it and sharing it with your network, colleagues, and neighbors!

The Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC) wants your help to guide the way our region invests funds now and in the future.

10/05/2026

We love our local waterways - especially in the fall! 🍂 🛶

❗ Attention local governments, community groups, and watershed organizations: don't miss your chance to apply for grant funding from the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy (WPC) to improve or develop canoe access sites on rivers and streams!

In addition to grant funding WPC provides technical assistance for design, permitting, construction, outreach, and long-term sustainability. Applications for the Canoe Access Development Fund must be postmarked by November 13th and selections will be made in December.

More information can be found online: https://waterlandlife.org/watershed-conservation/canoe-access-development-fund-cadf/

08/13/2026

🔆Funding Spotlight: Elm Street Designation, part of the Main Street Matters Program, focuses on encouraging projects to include adjacent neighborhoods into community downtown or commercial district revitalization efforts. Benefits of this program may include better connections between commercial and downtown areas to nearby neighborhoods, prioritized consideration for funding, training and technical assistance, and tax credit opportunities.

While applications for a designation can be submitted on a rolling basis, for communities looking to apply for competitive funding without a Main Street Designation, the application window is open through August 31st.

Interested in applying? Communities can reach out to DCED representative Johnna Pro ([email protected]) to discuss requirements and interest. With notice to move forward, applicants can contact the program resource account ([email protected]) for application instructions. The DCED will then make final decisions on designations.

Please see the link below for more information on this program.
https://dced.pa.gov/programs/main-street-matters/

08/12/2026

🔆Funding Spotlight: USDA is now accepting applications for the Rural Development Community Facilities Direct Loan & Grant Program. This program provides offers low-interest direct loans, grants (or combination of both) to help develop essential community facilities and infrastructure. Applications are accepted year-round.

Who can apply?
Eligible applicants include public bodies and community-based non-profit corporations in rural areas (cities, townships, villages, etc.) with 20,000 or fewer residents.

What can funding be used for?
Funds can be used to purchase, construct, and/or improve essential community facilities, purchase equipment, and pay related project expenses. Examples include:
• Healthcare: clinics, hospitals, nursing homes or assisted living facilities
• Public Facilities: town halls or street improvements
• Community Support Services: community centers, childcare centers, etc.
• Public Safety: fire or police stations, public works equipment, and vehicles
• Educational Services: libraries, museums, or private schools
• Utility Services: distance learning equipment or telemedicine
• Local Food Systems: community gardens, food pantries, community kitchens, etc.

To get started, interested applicants should reach out to the county’s designated loan specialist, Ron Moore at [email protected] to discuss your specific project.

See the link below for more program information.
https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/community-facilities/community-facilities-direct-loan-grant-program

08/12/2026

🔆Funding Spotlight: The Main Streets Designation, part of the Main Street Matters Program, provides grant funding and support to help communities revitalize downtown and commercial districts. Benefits of this program may include funding for operational support, priority consideration for DCED programs, technical assistance and training for local community leaders, networking opportunities, and Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP) and Neighborhood Assistance Program Enterprise Zone Tax Credit (NAP/EZP).

While applications for a designation can be submitted on a rolling basis, for communities looking to apply for competitive funding without a Main Street Designation, the application window is open through August 31st.

Interested in applying? Communities can reach out to DCED representative Johnna Pro ([email protected]) to discuss requirements and interest. With notice to move forward, applicants can contact the program resource account ([email protected]) for application instructions. The DCED will then make final decisions on designations.

Please see the link below for more information on this program.
https://dced.pa.gov/programs/main-street-matters/

07/31/2026

Don't miss your chance to provide input on an important reuse initiative in the Alle-Kiski! Community members are invited to attend an open house to learn more about the Penn State (Re)New Kensington campus project - an effort focused on shaping a shared vision for the future of the campus.

📍📅 The public open house will be held on Tuesday, August 11, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the Auditorium at the Penn State New Kensington campus, located at 3550 7th Street Road, New Kensington, PA 15068.

At the open house, attendees will be able to learn more about the project, review preliminary findings, and provide feedback on future possibilities for the site.

Community members who are unable to attend can still provide feedback through the project’s online survey (linked below) that will be open until August 14.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NewKenCampus

07/27/2026

Please join us in welcoming Hailey McClain, MPA as our newest addition to the Planning Division team, serving in the role of Planner I! 🎉

Hailey is most recently a graduate from the University of Pittsburgh (GSPIA) with a Master of Public Administration and concentrations in Urban Affairs & Planning. She also holds a Bachelors of Arts in Political Science and Public Policy from Thiel College.

Welcome aboard Hailey! We can't wait to see what you'll accomplish in Westmoreland County!

07/09/2026

Don't miss your chance to shape the future of the Penn State New Kensington campus—take the quick survey today or join the next pop-up event on Friday, July 24th at New Kensington's Fridays on Fifth!

https://lnkd.in/gbtUYaMx

🗓️ A Public Invitation to Help Reimagine PSNK Campus!
The Penn State (Re)New Kensington Campus initiative is officially underway, and local input is essential to guiding this vision.

This collaborative effort aims to build a vision to transform the PSNK campus into a vibrant asset that reflects local priorities, supports economic development, and creates new opportunities for the entire region.

There are two ways to get involved right now:
1️⃣ Take the Community Survey: Open from June 23 through August 6 to capture local priorities for the campus.
👉 https://lnkd.in/gbtUYaMx

2️⃣ Attend the Pop-Up Event: An opportunity to speak with the project team in person.
👉 New Kensington’s Fridays on Fifth – June 26 and July 24 from 5 to 9 p.m. along Fifth Avenue between Ninth and 11th Streets. Find the pop-up stations located at either end: inside Voodoo Brewing and at the Digital Foundry

Every piece of feedback will directly impact regional planning. Tap the link below or use the QR code below to take the 5-minute survey!

06/24/2026

Please join us in celebrating Joshua Spano on his 2nd year work anniversary! 🎉

Josh’s leadership and dedication over the past two years have helped shaped our projects, programs, and team for the better. In his time with the Planning Division, Josh has overseen the adoption of the county’s new Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance, lead the third Planning District process in the southwestern area of the county, and helped secure a $3.7 million Safe Streets and Roads for All grant to help improve safety and modernize infrastructure & technology along high-traffic corridors throughout the county.

Thank you for your contributions to Westmoreland County, Josh. We can’t wait to see what you achieve in the years ahead! ✨