STROUDSBURG – The Pocono Mountains Economic Development Corporation (PMEDC) held its annual meeting on November 20 at the Monroe County Career and Technical Institute, in their new conference center, a project which PMEDC assisted in bringing to fruition. The event was well attended, with over 60 local leaders in attendance.
During his remarks Gary Olson, PMEDC Board Chairman, stated “I think there are two main things to look at to gauge the success of Monroe County’s economy. One is Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and the other is the number of jobs. From last year to this year, we saw growth in both of those measures and that shows economic development strategies are working.” Mr. Olson mentioned the completion of the PMEDC Strategic Plan and pointed to some highlights in the 2025 Annual Report as outcomes of the plan.
Dr. Dennis Virga gave an overview of MCTI’s programs and thanked PMEDC for its facilitation of multiple sources of funding for the recently opened addition. He noted that the school still has a long waiting list and shared the school’s excellent track record with those attending. He also noted that all of the food served and the banquet set up was prepared by students in the school’s hospitality program and the centerpieces were prepared by the horticulture program.
PMEDC’s President, Michelle Bisbing, presented the organization’s new website and an overview of the impact the organization’s efforts have for Monroe County. The 2025 Annual Report is available on the new website at www.pmedc.com/our-impact.
“The past year we have seen many successful projects completed along with ongoing challenges, but our mission remains the same: balance economic development and quality of life while creating job opportunities for our citizens and attracting new investment to the community,” Bisbing added. “We look forward to continued success in 2026.”
More information can be obtained by visiting PMEDC’s website, www.pmedc.com, or by calling the PMEDC office at (570) 839-1992.
