- Keynote: Douglas Farr, AIA, author of Sustainable Urbanism and founding principal of Farr Associates, an architecture and planning firm regarded as one of the most sustainable design practices in the country. Having a mission to create sustainable human environments, Farr Associates' unique niche is in applying the principles of LEED at the scale of the neighborhood.
 

- Update by James Ritzman, Deputy Secretary for Planning, PennDOT, on the Federal Stimulus Package and PennDOT Smart Transportation Initiative

- First public engagement session for the 30-county, four-state Regional Visioning Project being led by Allen Kukovich, Executive Director.  The Regional Visioning Project is a two-year process to provide an opportunity for every resident to participate in creating a shared vision for the region's best future.

- Panel review of sustainable community initiatives around the region featuring:
Lindsay Baxter, Sustainability Coordinator, City of Pittsburgh

Jason Dailey, Director of Public Works, Cranberry Township

Mark Alan Hughes, Director of Sustainability, City of Philadelphia
Murray Rust, President, Co-owner, Montgomery & Rust, Inc.
Jesse Jon Salensky, Vandergrift Improvement Program
Nathan Wildfire, Sustainable Policy Coordinator, East Liberty Development, Inc.

-  Workshops tracking new "Essentials of Sustainable Communities" resources (14 topics from which to choose via conference registration)

- Distribution of the SWPA Sustainable Community Rapid Assessment worksheet

- Reception featuring table displays by lead organizations per the 14 Essentials of Sustainable Communities

Today's difficult times are placing extraordinary strains on our region's communities. Rising costs of all types are putting a tight squeeze on municipalities and residents. Expectations and needs are also increasing. The policy and practice of sustainable development offers solutions. Come learn how your community, municipality, or county can put sustainability to work to save taxpayer dollars and avoid costs, meet needs equitably, conserve resources, and attract investment. Sustainability is central to professional management of local government and a collective imperative for Southwestern Pennsylvania's competitiveness and quality of life. Learn how to accelerate your community's success on environmental stewardship, social equity, economic development as well as fiscal viability and organizational capacity to learn, innovate and adapt.

   BREAKOUT SESSIONS
   Land Use and Community Design
   3:00 - 4:00 pm & 4:15 - 5:15 pm
   Anne-Marie Lubenau, Civic Design Center of Pittsburgh
   Ray Reaves, Reaves & Associates

   Local Economies and Main Street Revitalization
   3:00 - 4:00 pm
   Mike Krajovic and Bob Junk, Fay-Penn Economic Development Council
   4:15 - 5:15 pm
   Ron Painter, Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board
   Georgia Petropoulos, Oakland Business Improvement District

   Water and Stormwater Management
   3:00 - 4:00 pm & 4:15 - 5:15 pm
   Tyler Gourley, University of Pittsburgh - Institute of Politics
   John Schombert, 3 Rivers Wet Weather Demonstration Program

   Energy Conservation and Green Building
   3:00 - 4:00 pm & 4:15 - 5:15 pm
   Diane Bossart, Green Building Alliance
   Greg Wozniak, G.A. Wozniak and Associates

   Governance
   3:00 - 4:00 pm & 4:15 - 5:15 pm
   Susan Hockenberry and Anita Lengvarsky, Local Government Academy

   Healthy Communities
   3:00 - 4:00 pm
   James Stark, Fayette Community Action Agency

   Waste Management and Recycling
   3:00 - 4:00 pm
   David Mazza and Ryan Walsh, Pennsylvania Resources Council

   Environmentally Sensitive, Civic and Historic Places
   4:15 - 5:15 pm
   Eric Jester, Young Preservationists Association
   Roy Kraynyk, Allegheny Land Trust

   Expanding Housing Choice and Addressing Blight
   4:15 - 5:15 pm
   Irene McLaughlin, J.D., Attorney & Mediator
   Laura Greenburg, Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania