Pennsylvanians who live in Environmental Justice areas are disproportionately exposed to climate hazards and, at the same time, have limited access to tools to adapt to climate change impacts and transition to cleaner energy. As part of an effort to implement equitable climate action strategy, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) partnered with Fourth Economy to develop the Energy Funding and Assistance Finder to help communities and organizations identify resources for energy projects. This innovative tool aims to reduce pollution, lower bills, and encourage ..read more

Here's a look at some recent noteworthy news and updates from our work and our clients. Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Energy Funding and Assistance Finder Pennsylvania Outdoor Economy Growth Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership & The Allegheny Conference Downtown Strategies Chamber of Progress Autonomous Vehicle Report Red River North Dakota Housing Strategy Energy Funding and Assistance Finder We partnered with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to develop the Energy Funding and Assistance Finder to assist communities and organiza ..read more

In honor of Women’s History Month, Fourth Economy is celebrating the women who have uplifted and inspired members of our team. We hope you enjoy learning about the amazing women who have encouraged and instilled confidence in us, modeled leadership and strong character, and supported our personal goals and professional growth. Anne J. Swager - Submitted by Maya Haptas Anne is the former Executive Director of the American Institute of Architects Pittsburgh Chapter, she hired me 23 years ago and had a huge impact on the trajectory of my career.  Anne supported both my professional developm ..read more

Image from David Berding/Getty, published in ,the Atlantic. If you’ve been following college basketball lately, even casually, it’s impossible to ignore the increasing lure of the women’s teams as exemplified by Iowa and their star player, Caitlin Clark. A recent article from the ,,New York Times found that tickets to Clark’s games at the University of Iowa were almost 200 percent more expensive than they were last year, enticing spectators to travel hundreds of miles to watch her play. Nearly 10 million people tuned in to see her play in the NCAA championship game last year, settin ..read more

Waffiyyah Murray is a nationally recognized expert in transportation equity with a background in nonprofit leadership and youth development. As the program manager for ,,,Indego, Philadelphia’s bike share program, Waffiyyah works to address barriers to the use of bike share in low income communities and communities of color, and increase equitable access in bike share systems nationally. She is also the Vice President of the North American Bikeshare and Scootershare Association (NABSA) Board of Directors and chairs their DEIB committee.  What got you interested in the world of micromobil ..read more

,,North American Bikeshare and Scootershare Association (NABSA) is a nonprofit organization committed to providing resources, education, and advocacy for the shared micromobility industry. By fostering collaboration among public, private, and nonprofit sectors within the industry, NABSA facilitates spaces for growth and aims to promote a more equitable and sustainable transportation ecosystem. Micromobility refers to transportation using lightweight vehicles such as bicycles or scooters, typically referring to those that are rented through a bike share, stationless scooter share, or othe ..read more

Members of the Fourth Economy team brainstorm pros and cons of remote work. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Fourth Economy has transitioned to a fully remote team. This has led to benefits, such as increased flexibility for staff members and having expanded geographic diversity with employees located in cities across the country. At the same time, remote work has presented challenges for collaborating and connecting, because those things need to be done differently than in an in-person environment. To help address this, Fourth Economy has committed to holding all-staff retreats a few times a yea ..read more

This Black History Month we are celebrating the work of our clients who have created standout programs that support, uplift, and highlight the great work of Black-owned businesses and entrepreneurs in their communities.  At Fourth Economy, we center equity as a core tenant around which to approach community planning, economic analysis, public engagement, and strategy development for a stronger and more inclusive future. We believe human-centered economies are at the heart of resilient communities where all people feel that they belong and have opportunities to thrive. This has led us to c ..read more

Image courtesy of Melissa McAlpine via ,discoveratlanta.com.  This past August marked the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. While the 1963 event may be best remembered for Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, organizers of the march elevated economic concerns alongside those of ending segregation and demanding equal protection under the law. Calling to resolve the crisis of the “twin evils of racism and economic deprivation,” organizers published a list of 10 demands – half of which were directly related to economic development: decent housing, adequat ..read more

,,Kristopher Smith is the Community Development Program Officer at LISC Jacksonville and brings nearly 20 years of experience in community engagement and development, grantmaking and capacity building to the organization. As part of his role with LISC Jacksonville, Kristopher supports the economic mobility of Jacksonville residents through the ,,Family Wealth Creation Program. The Family Wealth Creation Program helps “transfer generational wealth by assisting with financial and estate planning, probate, clearing titles, and consolidating property ownership.” The Family Wealth Creation Program ..read more