Shawn McLaughlin is Union County's Planning and Economic Development Director.  Shawn will discuss our agricultural economy, challenges and opportunities facing our area. Learn how economic development, jobs and government planning intersect in the agricultural arena.

Agriculture is a major driver of the Union County economy. In addition to crops and animals raised on farms, the industry includes forestry and forest products, as well as ag support services, ag product processing and food manufacturing. Increasingly diverse and alternate agricultural industrial processes like concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFO), and solar farms are changing the economy and how our area “looks.” Farming represents the backbone of Pennsylvania's heritage but new agricultural processing and other ag businesses challenge the bucolic ag life many of us interpret as “our traditional way of life.” 

Shawn McLaughlin is a certified planner with over 25 years of experience advising county and local governments on land use, parks and recreation, transportation, natural resource conservation, water resources, and community and economic development matters. His career has been centered on helping rural communities deal effectively with change through collaborative partnerships and multi-municipal solutions that promote sustainability. 

The program will begin on Tuesday, March 15, 2022, at 12 o’clock noon. The Zoom meeting room will open at 11:30 a.m. The program will be followed by optional small group discussion immediately after the formal presentation. The registration deadline is Sunday, March 13.  

The Forum is open to members and the general public. League membership is not required to participate in these programs and all are welcome. All participants MUST register in advance. Instructions and unique links will be sent to pre-registrants. To initiate registration, send an email with your name and event topic/date to LWVLAForum [at] gmail.com. 

The meeting will be recorded and promptly posted the League website.