Appalachia Forward

9:00 a.m.   

Registration and Networking

9:30 a.m. 

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

9:40 a.m. 

Remarks from Special Guests

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

10:00 a.m.  

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

10:45 p.m. 

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

12:00 p.m. 

Lunch Break / Networking

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

12:45 p.m.  

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

2:00 p.m. 

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

3:00 p.m.  

Closing and Key Takeaways

3:00 – 4:00 p.m.   

Networking