Jul 13, 2014 2 min read

Greene County needs to establish a new hybrid public/private body to advance and diversify economic growth.

Currently, our economy is centered on the energy industry and its related services. We have the Greene County Industrial Development Authority to promote and attract other traditional and technological industries. What I am proposing would in no way compete with or detract from these strategies. In fact, studies show diversification into these other industries would not only protect us from being overly dependent upon the fate of a single industry, but would also support and strengthen our existing ones.

If we were to view education, the arts and recreation as economic stimuli, rather than ancillary lifestyle benefits, we could coordinate and focus these entities toward improving both the aesthetic and fiscal environments of Greene County. This process will require creating and empowering a group to both coordinate existing agencies and develop new opportunities for growth. I know there will be those who say more government is not the answer and such an agency would be redundant.

As to the first objection, that is why this proposed hybrid body would be composed of elected officials, heads of relevant government agencies, educators, business and community leaders and would be effective. Public/private alliances are a growing trend around the country. Most of the recent success stories in education have been joint ventures among institutions in higher education, traditional public schools, vocational schools and the private sector.

The second objection, that it would be redundant, misses the point. While we do have agencies that attempt to advance these areas within Greene County, they are isolated and often understaffed or underfunded. Moreover, many of their advances, while laudatory, are not part of a larger economic strategy that is geared toward creating sustainable wealth in the form of human and business capital.

An agency that is charged with advancing and coordinating opportunities in education, the arts and recreation countywide would create an environment that would both train and help retain our young people. It would also attract companies, because the result would be a community that is attractive to them and their employees.

Even as many embrace and celebrate the success of the energy industry, we must acknowledge the benefits of diversification while improving our workforce. As Pittsburgh has proven, diversifying an economy can only strengthen and improve a community.

Bret Moore

Waynesburg