Appalachia Forward

Introduction and Welcome

• Amista Lipot, Director, External Relations, Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service, Ohio University
  and Executive Director, Mayors’ Partnership for Progress.
• Dr. Paul F. Gasparro, President, Belmont Community College

Remarks from Special Guests

• Lydia Mihalik, Director, Ohio Department of Development
• Gayle Manchin, Federal Co-Chair, Appalachian Regional Commission
• Brian Anderson, Executive Director, IWG

Federal Agency Panel

Moderator: Briggs White, Deputy Executive Director, IWG

• US Department of Agriculture: Jonathan McCracken, State Director for Ohio
• Environmental  Protection Agency: Jon Grosshans, Senior Advisor, EPA Office of Policy
• Economic Development Administration: Ellen Heinz – Economic Development Representative - Ohio

Interagency Working Group Roundtable “Speed Networking” for Communities

Visit with the various Agencies from the Interagency Working Group on Coal and Power Plant Communities & Economic Revitalization (IWG) during a speed network roundtable including:

• Appalachian Regional Commission
• Belmont County
• Department of Agriculture - tentative
• Department of Commerce, National Telecommunications and Information Administration
• Department of Energy
• Department of Interior - tentative
• Department of Health and Human Services - tentative
• Department of Labor - tentative
• Department of Transportation
• Economic Development Administration
• Environmental Protection Agency
• IWG

Lunch Break / Networking

• Craig Buerstatte, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Regional Affairs, U.S. Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce

Appalachian Community Grant Program, Lessons Learned – Round I Implementation

Getting ready for 2023 submissions, lessons learned to date

• At Work in Appalachia: Steve Patterson, City of Athens Mayor
• Outdoor Recreation Council of Appalachia (ORCA): Jessie Powers, Executive Director
• Survivor Advocacy Outreach Program and New Leaf Justice Enterprises: Jennifer Siefert, Executive Director
• Utica Shale Academy: William Watson, Superintendent

GIS Collaborative Announcement

• Matt Trainer,  Senior GIS Project Manager, Voinovich School

Local Development Districts – Resources waiting for you!

Moderator: John Carey, Director, Governor’s Office of Appalachia

• Ohio Valley Regional Development Commission: John Hemmings, Executive Director
• Ohio Mid-Eastern Governments Association: Jeannette Wierzbicki, Executive Director
• Eastgate Regional Council of Governments: Kathy Zook, ARC Program Manager
• Buckeye Hills Regional Council: Chasity Schmelzenbach, Executive Director