We’re thrilled to share the latest chapter in our journey of community empowerment: The Center for Community Growth has just launched our new website!
This dynamic platform is your gateway to our mission, events, and resources. Discover upcoming initiatives and find out how you can get involved with just a few clicks.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to our community for your unwavering support. Together, let’s continue to foster growth and connection!
Explore our new website now:
Join us for What’s Next 2018 – The annual meeting of the The Center for Community Growth, Indiana PA, Each year we bring together members to help determine the organization’s direction for the next year.
Our mission continues to be to support individuals and organizations in advocating for social justice. This year was a big one for us – two Center built projects have a life of their own, and are creating real policy change in Indiana County. A third significantly reduces barriers to healthy, local produce for low-income residents of Indiana County. 
Your petition let to the creation of the Indiana County Sustainabe Economy Task Force – a government led body tasked with diversifying our region’s industry, and to identify and pursue opportunities in the expanding renuable energy field.
No kidding, that was your petition, right here in the middle of coal country.
Also, have you been to the Food Co-op of Indiana PA on Philly street – right in the middle of freaking town!?! It’s real, and this organization built the movement to give it power.
Lastly, your donations and long term support helped launch the Indiana County Farmers’ Market program, where customers on food assistance double their buying power at the Farmers’ Market.
What’s Next in 2018 is an opportunity for new leadership to focus the direction of the Center for Community Growth, an organization that has built progressive power in Indiana County.
We are recruiting board members to take us in to 2018. Please join us.
Gerald Smith
Co-Director, Center for Community Growth
It’s here! Join us as we lauch the second half of the 2017 Film Series with an in-progress screening of Thunderdome, USA – a groundbreaking documentary on the region that helped Donald Trump win Pennsylvania and the presidency.
Footage includes interviews and events in and around Indiana County, between 2012 and 2016. Check the trailer, you may be in it! 
Yes, you heard that right, we’ll be at IRMC Park, in downtown Indiana. This will be our first outdoor film, and the first film ever at IRMC Park.
So bring a lawn chair, and join a new tradition!
Special thanks to Soundbar Productions for making this possible. It’s dedicated community members like Sean Howard who move Indiana community forward!
After a wildly successful Sustainability Summit organized largely by Indiana County Office of Planning and Development, and the League of Women Voters last month, the County Commissioners have responded to our requests for an institutional commitment to a new economy by establishing a Sustainability Task Force.
Why a task force? Jobs! Here’s how Commissioner Sherene Hess laid it out:
“A clean energy revolution is taking place across America, underscored by the steady expansion of the U.S. renewable energy sector,” Hess said. “The clean energy industry generates hundreds of billions in economic activity, and is expected to continue to grow. … There is tremendous economic opportunity for the counties that invent, manufacture and export clean energy technologies. Renewable energy and sustainable agriculture can play an important role in rural economic development.”
We’re so excited that Commissioner Hess is following through on her pledge to put real resources to building a new energy economy. Center member, Tina Purdue lays out what the Task Force will do:
…the task force will identify and promote sustainable economic initiatives that diversify the county’s economic base by attracting businesses and jobs in the renewable energy sector; that reduce costs for government, agriculture, business and private individuals; and that protect and restore the county’s natural resources.
Perdue said that to achieve those goals, the organizers are recommending that the task force develop an action plan with short- and long-term goals in three categories — economic development, education and job training. The goals may include investigating ways to bring jobs in the renewable energy field into the county; identifying the needs of potential employers in the renewable energy field in order to expand or relocate in the county; identifying and supporting green energy entrepreneurs; planning educational programs to build awareness of sustainable energy opportunities for employment; identifying sustainable practices that will work in the county to contain costs and improve the management of natural resources; educating stakeholders in agriculture, business and government about sustainable practices that will cut costs; identifying current job training at local facilities that promote green technology jobs; and proposing partnerships with local educational institutions to train or retrain people for jobs in the renewable energy sector.
Read all about it here! Great work!!
The 2017 Thrive Sustainability Summit sent out invitations to county and local electeds across Western PA. If you think local government should be investing in building a climate change resilient economy, why don’t you call up your local elected official and remind them of the opportunity. Here’s a public list of contacts, call them today.
A flier is above and there’s more information on in this great article from the Indiana Gazette!
Sustainable energy event to be held
The Center for Community Growth -- Indiana County, PA 
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