Region needs a healthy and vibrant Thiel to attract and retain regional investment

By Rod E. Wilt ’86

As the Executive Director of PennNorthwest Development Corporation, Mercer County’s lead economic development agency, I can attest to the fact that a healthy and vibrant Thiel College is an epicenter for economic activity and innovation, and a hub for diversity, equity and inclusion in the region. Developing a comprehensive economic development strategy for Mercer County, Pa. involves knotting together five strategic goals and initiatives to move the county and its communities forward.

These stated goals are:

1) Support Local Business and Industry Development;

2) Foster Workforce Development Strategies;

3) Recruit New Business and Industries;

4) Develop a Strong Membershipdriven Organization, and;

5) Expand the Reach of the Mercer County Beyond the Region.

Thiel’s strategic plan—“Thiel 2026: Launching the Leaders the World Needs Now!”—and current programming includes elements that relate to each of the five stated goals. We share a common commitment to making Mercer County, Pa. a great place to live, learn, work and play!

Thiel is an outstanding resource for our business community as it stands ready to supply new waves of students each year who participate in internships, student teaching, focus

County Population Trend

groups, marketing and management guidance and potential career-builders who have chosen to work in Mercer County once they have completed their education. These students push our local industries to move forward by connecting them with new ideas, innovation, industry best practices, improved corporate culture, and in some cases, broader gender and racial diversity in the company’s workforce.

Having a strong, private, liberal arts college that offers a wide array of undergraduate and graduate programs is a tremendous resource for new industry recruitment with Mercer County. Thiel has found a way to create a curriculum that is educating students to meet the current and future demand for new leaders in the fields of healthcare, education, manufacturing, finance and public service. Business and industry must avail themselves of new “homegrown” talent, and recruit those students from outside the region who attended Thiel, doing so will enable the county to reverse the decades-long trend of devastating population loss. In the decade since 2010 alone, Mercer County’s population dropped 5 percent, from

Thiel College President Susan Traverso, Ph.D. has taken a leadership role in Penn-Northwest as a member of our Board of Directors. Her strong voice and her ability to articulate Thiel’s Strategic Plan and its place within our comprehensive economic development strategy, has helped us grow our organization’s membership at a rapid pace. In short, Mercer County’s success in re-birthing our local economy is directly tied to Thiel’s ability to enroll and educate the future leaders of our communities.

As we look to the future, we must consider additional ways that Thiel College and Penn-Northwest can expand our reach beyond Mercer County, and create more opportunities for people to see everything we have to offer. Rural communities are growing in many areas across the country, and the Greenville area can join them. quality of life for our students, faculty, The future is bright! Let’s move forward together!

Wilt is Vice Chair of the Thiel College Board of Trustees. He was awarded the Louis and Barbara Thiel Award at this year’s Founders’ Day celebration for his contributions to both the region and his alma mater. He is also the executive director of the Penn-Northwest Development Corp.