A LEGACY OF LEADERSHIP
The Forward Lawrence 120th Annual Dinner
Presented by Huntington Bank and UPMC Jameson/UPMC Horizon
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The last time John Kiriakou stood on the Scottish Rite Cathedral stage, he was a New Castle High School graduate. On November 5, he returned to that stage as the keynote speaker for Forward Lawrence’s 120th Annual Dinner.
The evening drew one of the largest crowds in Chamber history. Business and community leaders filled the Main Dining Room and Crystal Ballroom for cocktails, a plated dinner by Medure’s Catering, and a massive display of Lawrence County history presented by Jeff Bales, Jr., creator of Lawrence County Memoirs. Then they joined the public upstairs in the auditorium for Kiriakou’s keynote.
Kiriakou, a former CIA counterterrorism officer, author and Class of 1982 New Castle High School graduate, spoke to a crowd of more than 1,000, including business and government leaders and high school and college students. He described his early CIA career, when he became Saddam Hussein’s classified biographer just months before the invasion of Kuwait, and his decision in 2007 to publicly expose the agency’s use of waterboarding, which led to 23 months in federal prison.
His message: we can choose to live under the Constitution and the rule of law, or by the law of the jungle. He also had encouragement for the young people in the audience, saying, “Gen Z has a higher sense of right and wrong than past generations.” He closed to a standing ovation.
Special thanks to our sponsors, vendors, and volunteers, including the many Westminster College students who ushered, scanned tickets, and kept the evening running so smoothly, and to everyone who helped make the night possible.
| If you attended the dinner, you received an autographed copy of John's book, "Doing Time Like a Spy". You can find his other titles on Amazon by following this link. | |
Find Books by Jeff Bales, Jr., Lawrence County Memoirs by following this link or email Jeff directly at jjbales@inbox.com.
Website: www.lcmemoirs.com/
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New Castle Named a New Opportunity Zone
Parts of New Castle will be part of the federal Opportunity Zone 2.0 program, U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly announced this week. The new designation takes effect January 1, 2027 and runs through the end of 2036.
According to the New Castle News, the zone covers most of downtown and parts of the West Side, including West Washington Street and the Route 224/422 corridor. Opportunity Zones give investors federal tax incentives to put private capital into designated communities, with added benefits in rural areas. Kelly said the program “puts private dollars, not taxpayer dollars, to work in our communities.”
The city’s top development priority is the former Shenango China site at 301 Glass St., which it acquired earlier this year and hopes to sell to a developer for new industrial use. Sealed bids are due by 3 p.m. Dec. 17 at City Hall. The city also plans to market other vacant and ready-to-develop properties to investors.
New Castle has seen results from the program before. The News reports that earlier Opportunity Zone designations helped bring Snapbox Self-Storage on Grove Street and the new LG Lofts apartments, which open this month.
To learn more, visit or the Citywide Development Corporation of New Castle, or contact Forward Lawrence at (724) 658-1488.
Sources:
| | Lawrence County Travel Club is Headed to Portugal | | |
Let's Go To Sunny Portugal
November 2–11, 2027 · 10 days
Travel with your Lawrence County neighbors through Lisbon, the Alentejo, the Algarve and the Portuguese Riviera. Highlights include historic Belém, an overnight in Évora (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), a family-owned cork factory, the walled village of Óbidos, a seaside stop in Cascais, a traditional petiscos lunch and a local gin distillery tasting.
The trip includes 13 meals and is rated moderate in activity level.
View the full itinerary
Questions or ready to book? Contact Lyndsey Overby at (724) 636-0496 or travel@lawrencecounty.com.
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Creative District Survey
What’s right about our community? Help us put it on the map.
Visit Lawrence County is assisting the Hoyt Arts Center in an effort to establish a Creative District in downtown New Castle through a new PA Creative Industries initiative, and your perspective can help shape it.
The proposed district would stretch from the Hoyt to the New Castle Playhouse, connecting creative businesses, cultural organizations, artists, and local traditions along the way.
We’re starting with the strengths already here. What places bring us together? Whose talents deserve more attention? What stories, events, businesses, or traditions make this community special?
Artists and creative businesses: tell us about yourselves! Painters, potters, tattoo artists, comic book shops, videographers, graphic designers, and other creatives all belong in this conversation.
Take our five-minute survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScKGivBtTh97ozFpgq8LLqd_SD_7ffmCUXVD5o5lGDs0KC9DQ/viewform?usp=header
There are no wrong answers. Share what you love, what you notice, and what you hope more people will discover. Then pass the survey along!
| | | FISHER PHILLIPS RECOGNIZES LOCAL HEROS | | |
High 5 a Hero: Lunch for Scott Township and Surrounding First Responders
The first responders who serve the Laurel School District sat down to a one-of-a-kind firehouse-themed lunch created by Weber Catering at the Scott Township Fire Hall thanks to our friends at Fisher Phillips. But keep reading, because this was no ordinary day at the fire station.
This lunch fell on Scott Township’s Fire Safety Day, when more than 30 local firefighters, police officers, EMS crews and other first responders volunteer a full day to teach fire safety to the youngest students in the Laurel School District.
Rusty Kanary started the program 22 years ago, when his daughter was in kindergarten, and he’s been bringing the kindergarten class to the fire station ever since. The kids rotate through stations: using a real fire hose to knock a ball off a road cone and a toy dog off the roof of a mini house, crawling through an obstacle course, and sitting in on a fire safety lesson taught by Rusty. Every kind of emergency vehicle is open for them to climb inside. The kids were fed lunch at the fire station and they even got to meet Smokey the Bear.
They do all of this for good reason: If these kids ever need their help, familiarizing the kids with the trucks and the people in uniform means it won’t be as scary. Fire Chief Mike Rodgers explained how just a few years ago, a local family experienced a house fire and their elementary aged child helped the whole family escape the home and get to the designated safe spot - the child had recently attended this fire safety day and, not only shared with their family what was learned, but implemented it perfectly during the emergency!
After the program, the Laurel students surprised the first responders with a donation - money they raised by collecting pennies in jars for weeks, along with donations from school staff.
What stood out most of all was how much it felt like family. For many it literally is. Many of our local heros get their brothers, sisters, spouses and children involved, and before you know it, they're part of the team.
So it felt so good to thank them properly. Weber Catering outdid themselves! They served a firehouse spread including chili, smoked meats and cheeses (labeled: the only kind of smoke we’re happy to see), buffalo chicken dip, and even cupcakes with icing made to look like flames. Huge THANK YOU to Fisher Phillips for sponsoring this High 5 a Hero Lunch on this very special day for so many of those that we count on. And Thank You for showing these heros how much they’re appreciated.
Want to recognize your favorite Lawrence County First Responders through the High 5 a Hero Program?
Contact Lyndsey Overby, IOM, MPR at overy@lawrencecounty.com
| | | | Leadership Lawrence County Explores Conflict Resolution and Local Nonprofits | | |
How much do you know about the nonprofits in Lawrence County?
One of the benefits of Leadership Lawrence County is getting to know the people and organizations in our local community. Participants visit places they may never have been, learn about services they may not have known existed, and meet people outside their usual circles. These experiences give them a better understanding of Lawrence County and make them more valuable leaders.
This month’s stops:
- Lawrence County Historical Society hosted the day. Dr. Michael Aleprete of Westminster College led a session on conflict resolution, and the class toured the Greer Mansion, decorated for the holidays. The Shenango China holiday plate exhibit is open through December 22.
- United Way of Lawrence County and LCARC: Gayle Young and Oren Kern spoke over lunch from Pizza Joe’s.
- The Hoyt Center for the Arts: Kim Koller-Jones led a tour of the historic period house.
- Lawrence County Community Action Partnership: the food pantry and the Exploration and Innovation Station, with its hydroponic greenhouse.
Thank you to everyone who hosted, spoke, drove and fed the class, and to NCATA for transportation.
And Click Here for more information on the Historical Society's Christmas Plate Exhibit
The Leadership Lawrence County Class also voted on their officers:
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President: Nic Ouimet, Applus+Keystone
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Treasurer: Danielle Young-Frye, Ellwood Quality Steels
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Secretary: Rachel Fortwangler, People In Need
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Social Media Chair: Samantha Richardson, City of New Castle
Stay tuned as the class will be announcing their class project very soon!
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SECOND CHANCE WORKERS
Did you know Pennsylvania prisons offer nationally accredited vocational certifications to help people prepare for work after release? That was one takeaway from Forward Lawrence’s Hiring Second Chance Workers workshop, where speakers shared programs that help employers fill jobs:
- PA Department of Corrections: inmates can earn vocational certifications, and Community Reentry Parole Agents connect employers with job-ready candidates.
- Jail to Jobs (Lawrence County District Attorney’s Office): screens and places Lawrence County residents with past convictions, with drug testing and follow-up after hiring.
- City Rescue Mission Job Readiness Program: prepares men for steady work through classes, mentoring and accountability.
- PA CareerLink Lawrence County: job placement services, including support for veterans.
- Lawrence Mercer Manufacturers Coalition: brings manufacturers, schools and workforce partners together to build and keep a skilled local workforce.
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What's Next for Lawrence County?
Crossroads Lawrence County Comprehensive Plan
Lawrence County is updating its Comprehensive Plan for the first time since 2016 through Crossroads Lawrence. The plan will serve as a roadmap for the county’s future, helping guide decisions related to economic development, housing, transportation, infrastructure, community resources, and quality of life.
A lot has changed in Lawrence County over the past decade, making community input an important part of planning for what comes next.
Residents, businesses, and community stakeholders are encouraged to take the Crossroads Lawrence County survey and share their priorities for the future of Lawrence County.
Visit CrossroadsLawrence.com to learn more about the project and take the survey.
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Submit a Policy Issue
Flag a state, county, or local issue affecting your business. The government affairs committee reviews submissions quarterly.
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Slovenefest Celebrates 43 Years and Featured on PBS
Lawrence County recently took center stage on PBS Western Reserve as the long-running Slovenefest in SNPJ was featured in an episode of The World According to Polka, which aired October 30, 2026.
Celebrating its 43rd year, Slovenefest welcomed approximately 4,000 attendees in 2026, with visitors traveling from Canada, California, Florida, Cleveland, throughout Pennsylvania, and even Slovenia to celebrate their shared heritage and love of traditional music.
Hosted at the SNPJ Recreation Center, the three-day festival brings together generations of families through live polka music, talented bands, traditional Slovenian food, local crafters, and cultural activities. Maurice Sinan, Region 1 VP for SNPJ shared "the festival is really about the music, great bands, crafters, and food that keep people coming back year after year."
The national PBS feature shines a spotlight on one of Lawrence County’s unique cultural attractions and its ability to draw visitors from across the country and beyond.
Mark your calendars! The 44th Annual Slovenefest will return July 9–11, 2027, at the SNPJ Recreation Center. Next year’s festivities will feature live entertainment throughout the weekend, including performances by the Garrett Tatano Band, the Chardon Polka Band, the Bob Kravos Band, Klancnik & Friends, and the Wrangler Band, among others. Visitors can also enjoy a crafters bazaar, food trucks, Slovenian cultural presentations, children’s activities, wine tasting, and a Saturday evening fireworks display.
Watch the PBS feature: The World According to Polka: Slovenefest
Learn more about the 2027 festival: Slovenefest Official Website
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YMCA Opens Chambers Family Child Development Center
The Lawrence County YMCA has unveiled the Chambers Family Child Development Center, a major upgrade to its downtown childcare, funded by a six-figure gift from the families of Jim, David and Robert Chambers in honor of their parents, Bob and Patti. The center features new classrooms, upgraded security and technology, sensory-friendly spaces, and areas for creative play and STEM learning.
Bob Chambers, a longtime local auto dealer and former Y board president, gave more than $1 million to the Y during his lifetime. His favorite question for its leaders was always, “What are you doing for kids?”
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GNC Community Federal Credit Union Marks 90 Years
GNC Community Federal Credit Union is marking 90 years of serving Lawrence County in 2026.
Founded in 1936 by employees of the Johnson Bronze Company in New Castle, the credit union began with meetings held inside the plant. When Johnson Bronze closed, its members and leadership worked to keep the credit union operating, eventually transitioning to a community charter and becoming Greater New Castle Community Federal Credit Union.
In March 1994, the credit union relocated to 201 S. Jefferson Street in New Castle, where its main office remains today.
Now serving more than 11,000 members, GNC Community Federal Credit Union operates two New Castle locations, including its branch at 2907 Wilmington Road. The credit union offers checking and savings accounts, loans, and other financial services to eligible Lawrence County residents and businesses.
Forward Lawrence congratulates GNC Community Federal Credit Union on 90 years of service and its longstanding commitment to Lawrence County.
Learn more at www.gncfcu.com.
| | 35 Years of Support: Pennsylvania American Water Marks Milestone for Customer Assistance Program | | |
This fall, Pennsylvania American Water marks the 35th anniversary of its low-income assistance program – H2O Help to Others. Since launching in 1991 as the first water utility assistance program of its kind, the program has grown to support tens of thousands of customers through grants, bill discounts, debt forgiveness, and water-saving resources.
"Affordable access to water is essential for every family and household we serve," said Pennsylvania American Water President Justin Ladner. "For 35 years, H2O Help to Others has been a critical part of our commitment to customers, helping connect those facing financial challenges with meaningful support that can make a real difference in their lives."
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| | | UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS | |
New Castle Regional Ballet's Presents its Milestone 40th Annual Production of the Nutcracker Ballet
A holiday tradition! Tickets will be available soon for the New Castle Regional Ballet's Nutcracker. Save the date, Sunday December 6th, 2026. Advertising and sponsorships are available now.
Email: ncrballet@gmail.com
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POST YOUR JOB OPENINGS
Free job postings included with all levels of membership
Log into the Member Portal to add or update your available positions.
Need assistance with the portal?
Contact Mary Perry, Creative Director
perry@lawrencecounty.com
(724) 761-1736
| | GRANT AND FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES | |
Grant & Funding Opportunities
Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program
Due Nov. 13, 2026
$25,000–$1,000,000 from the Institute of Museum and Library Services for projects that train and build the library and archives workforce.
Strategies to Support Children Exposed to Violence
Grants.gov due Nov. 16; full application due in JustGrants Nov. 23, 2026
U.S. Department of Justice funding of up to $815,000 per award. Local governments, school districts, colleges and nonprofits can apply. No match required.
Samsung Solve for Tomorrow
Due Nov. 23, 2026
A STEM competition for public middle and high school students in grades 6–12. Teachers apply for their class. Schools can win up to $50,000 in technology and resources.
Unconventional Gas Well Fund Grant
Due Nov. 30, 2026, at 4 p.m.
For volunteer and career fire, EMS and rescue companies in counties where gas well drilling is permitted, or in counties that border them and respond to related emergencies. Covers certification, equipment and training.
Statewide Waterway Access Grant
Due Dec. 1, 2026
The Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers is offering grants of up to $30,000 to create or improve access points for non-motorized boating on rivers, streams and waterways.
Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator
Due Dec. 31, 2026
Grants from the PA Council on the Arts for creative for-profit microbusinesses in Pennsylvania:
- Growth Grant: up to $4,000
- Impact Grant: up to $17,000
Volunteer Fire Assistance Grants for Fighting Wildfires
Open Sept. 28, 2026 – Jan. 7, 2027
For fire companies serving rural areas or communities under 10,000 people. Grants support wildfire suppression equipment, protective gear, radios, dry hydrants, prevention and training. Equipment and gear purchases get priority. Most fire companies must wait five years between awards, though those that received $7,500 or less may qualify once more.
Small Business Advantage Grant
Open until March 19, 2027, or until funds run out
DEP reimbursement grants of $7,500 to $12,000 for energy efficiency and pollution prevention projects at Pennsylvania businesses with 100 or fewer employees. First come, first served.
Manufacturing PA Training-to-Career Grant Program
Rolling, no fixed deadline
Helps manufacturers train their workforce and build career-awareness pipelines. Technical and trade schools, community colleges, school districts and nonprofits such as workforce boards and economic development groups can apply.
Pennsylvania First Program
Rolling
PA DCED’s flagship grant, loan and loan-guarantee program for job creation and private investment projects. Businesses, municipalities and development authorities can apply. Projects must create or keep jobs and include a private match.
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Let's End With A Little Lawrence County History
Greenwood Cemetery is the oldest cemetery in Lawrence County, PA with burials dating back to 1802. It’s also where you’ll find the graves of two of New Castle’s best-known families: the Hoyts and the Crawfords.
The Crawfords were one of the city’s pioneering families, and brothers Alexander and George Crawford sold part of their land to help expand Greenwood. Banker Lewis Stiles Hoyt married Anna Crawford, and their son Alexander went by his middle name: Crawford.
Their children, May Emma and Alex Crawford Hoyt, built the two North Hill mansions that are now the Hoyt Arts Center. May Emma also helped establish the May Emma Hoyt Foundation, which still supports Lawrence County today.
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