Bartolotta, Stefano urge collaboration at symposium

They addressed the ongoing budget impasse and several other topics at Friday’s economic symposium.

Two state senators representing parts of the Mon Valley took the stage Friday during a moderated panel at the third annual Mid-Mon Valley Economic Symposium to offer updates on legislation, local projects and state-level challenges tied to regional growth.

The panel featured Sen. Camera Bartolotta, R-Carroll Township, whose district includes portions of Washington, Greene and Beaver counties, and Sen. Pat Stefano, R-Bullskin Township, who represents Fayette, Somerset and part of Westmoreland County. Sen. Kim Ward, R-Hempfield Township,

was scheduled to appear, but was unable to attend due to ongoing work related to the state budget.

The conversation was moderated by John Timney, senior director of Economic Development for the Allegheny Conference on Community Development.

Collaboration starts local

When it comes to unlocking economic growth in the Mon Valley, both senators say the most successful efforts start at the local level — and well before a crisis hits.

“Collaboration is what we’re meant to do,” Bartolotta said. “If a business or developer is looking to expand or relocate, I always tell them — come to us first.”

Bartolotta described how she personally joins developers in early- stage meetings with state agencies like DEP and PennDOT to flag red tape before it stalls a project. “Even if nothing’s on paper yet, we sit down and talk through the plan. It’s about being proactive instead of waiting until there’s a problem,” she said.

She also emphasized the importance of supporting municipal leaders and emergency personnel, pointing to new legislation she backed that recognizes post-traumatic stress injury in first responders and extends workers’ compensation coverage to address mental health challenges.

Stefano echoed the need for consistent contact with municipal officials, whom he called the “front lines” of community development. He said his office acts as a “concierge” to help new businesses navigate the layers of state government.

“Once the ribbon’s cut, the real work starts,” Stefano said. “We want to make sure we’re there the next day when they hit their first obstacle.”

Asked how the state can align more effectively with regional goals, both senators pointed to on-the-ground partnerships that have made a measurable impact. Bartolotta highlighted a successful water system overhaul in East Dunkard Township — a collaboration between local officials and Pennsylvania American Water that replaced a failing system and eliminated chronic outages.

“They had a $17 million deficit before this change,” she said. “Now they have reliable service, and it didn’t just happen — it was through teamwork.”

Stefano also pointed to Brownsville as a powerful example of what happens when public and private forces work together. From tax credit support to infrastructure grants, Stefano said the town went from stalled demolition to active redevelopment — thanks in part to the momentum created by local high school students who raised funds to build a downtown stage and event center.

“That student-led effort was the spark,” she said. “It brought in other partners, drew attention and helped turn things around.”

Clearing the way for growth

From outdated regulations to workforce gaps, both senators said Pennsylvania needs to get out of its own way if it wants to compete for new investment.

Permitting delays and red tape were a recurring theme. Bartolotta, who has introduced legislation to streamline and pre-approve permit bundles at strategic sites, said long wait times are driving developers elsewhere.

“No one with capital to invest is going to wait 18 or 24 months for approval,” she said. “We can’t afford to lose this race to other states.”

Stefano agreed, pointing to Pennsylvania’s regulatory layers as a major barrier to both industrial and residential development.

“We’ve created a system that analyzes everything to death,” he said. “We need to simplify it without sacrificing quality.”

That issue is particularly urgent when it comes to housing. Stefano noted that even when companies are ready to grow, they’re often stuck because there’s nowhere for new workers to live.

“The demand is there, but developers won’t take the risk with the regulatory climate we’ve got,” he said.

Both lawmakers also stressed the importance of creating a predictable, business-friendly environment — especially for small manufacturers and startups. Stefano cited the gradual reduction of the state’s Corporate Net Income Tax and expansion of net operating loss deductions as critical steps. Bartolotta added that too often, Pennsylvania’s policies shift midstream, leaving businesses guessing.

“Predictability is key,” she said. “We can’t expect growth when everything changes halfway through.”

Finally, the senators turned their attention to workforce development. Bartolotta outlined efforts to better connect state labor data with schools and employers, while Stefano promoted the Broad PA Scholarship Program, which helps train students for in-demand jobs and keeps them working in Pennsylvania.

“There are family-sustaining careers out there,” Stefano said. “We just have to make sure we’re training people to fill them.”

Budget, compromise and what comes next

Both senators addressed the ongoing state budget impasse, offering cautious optimism but underscoring the stakes.

“No one’s going to walk away completely happy — that’s how compromise works,” Stefano said. “But we have to get something done that’s fiscally responsible and doesn’t raise taxes.”

Bartolotta agreed, calling for restraint in spending and urgency in getting a deal across the finish line.

“You can’t budget your home or your business by saying, ‘We’ll figure out the money later.’ The state can’t either,” she said.

As the panel wrapped, both lawmakers encouraged attendees to stay involved — and to treat legislators as resources, not obstacles.

“Tell us what you need,” Bartolotta said. “We’ll bring the knowledge to you.”

“Reach out early and often,” Stefano added. “We can’t fix what we don’t hear about.”

The panel closed with a reminder that while policy often moves slowly, the people doing the work — in government, in business, and in communities — are what drive progress.

“I’m very, very hopeful,” Bartolotta said. “We are going to see billions of dollars of investment come to Pennsylvania — but government has to get out of the way so that growth can happen. We can have another renaissance here.”

Stefano echoed the sentiment while emphasizing the need for practical outcomes.

“We’re here to open doors — and we want to keep Pennsylvania climbing in the right direction.”