Promoting Commerce

This morning, I attended the annual "Legislative Breakfast Forum" of the Pittsburgh Airport Area Chamber of Commerce (PAACC). The speakers included elected representatives from the federal and state levels, as well as officials from Allegheny County and Washington County. Some of the topics raised included:

-- Reforms being considered by Congress that may make health insurance more affordable for small-business owners and those who are self-employed;

-- Marketing efforts of the PAACC, the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission and the Tri-County Airport Partnership to promote the Pittsburgh region as a good place to locate major corporations and medium-sized and small businesses;

-- The designation of the Parkway West / Rt. 279 / Rt. 60 as Interstate 376;

-- Better working relationships and shared services between local municipalities; and

-- Ways for both non-profit agencies and for-profit businesses to work with the Allegheny County Department of Human Services.

If I am elected to the State House on November 7, I would seek to be an active partner on these and other issues that would strengthen our economy. I recognize that, if elected, helping to make our region a good place for job creation must be one of my top priorities.

One of the new venues for job creation in the 46th District is the Starpointe commercial/industrial development outside of Burgettstown. If elected, I would push hard for speedy completion of the infrastructure (notably sewers) needed to make the development a permanent reality.

Barbara Miller has an article in today's O-R about the construction of a "flex building" at Starpointe.