Fayette, Greene commissioners to lead Southwestern Pa. Commission
Courtesy of Vince Vicites
For the next two years, two county commissioners from the area will lead a regional commission for transportation and economic development.
Members of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission elected Fayette County Commissioner Vince Vicites as chairman and Greene County Commissioner Betsy McClure as vice-chair for 2026 and 2027. The leadership team also includes Bobbi Dunlap of Armstrong County, who was voted secretary-treasurer.
Vicites, who serves as vice chair of the Fayette County commissioners, has already spent four years working in leadership for the SPC, serving previously as secretary-treasurer and vice chair.
Of his new role, Vicites said, “I think I can help make a difference to help Fayette County and the region.”
The commission serves as the U.S. Department of Transportation’s designated metropolitan planning organization for the 10-county region and the city of Pittsburgh, responsible for oversight, planning and programming of nearly $40 billion in transportation funds through 2050.
In its role as the region’s local development district and economic development district, SPC also helps the counties obtain funding and technical support for economic and workplace development.
As chairman, Vicites said, he will run the bimonthly meetings and communicate frequently with the staff at the SPC as they do their planning work.
“Hopefully I can preserve and build on our transportation infrastructure as funding becomes available, and also try to get additional funding for the region through discretionary funds that may be out there for transportation and infrastructure, and hopefully we can build a better business climate to attract businesses to the region,” he said.
Vicites plans to maintain and build on the region’s transportation infrastructure, bring new federal and state investment into the region, and make sure the region is prepared to welcome new businesses, including markets such as robotics and artificial intelligence that Vicites said are trending upward in the state.
Over the past two years, Vicites said, leadership has been proactive about traveling to Washington, D.C., and to Harrisburg to lobby national and state figures for investments that will help the region.
“I always keep Fayette County front and center, moving forward the region and helping Fayette County,” he said.
Vicites said he will advocate for the bridge and road projects in the county’s transportation improvement plan, which is updated every two years. In recent years, the county has been able to obtain funding for projects like the Sheepskin Trail.
McClure previously served a two-year term as secretary-treasurer of SPC. She has served as a Greene County commissioner for the past six years.
In a release, McClure said she is honored to be chosen and looks forward to working closely with fellow officers and members to advance the SPC’s mission.
“SPC plays a vital role in collaboration, responsible governance, and regional progress. In this role, I am committed to supporting strong leadership, thoughtful decision-making, and open communication, while ensuring that the voices of our communities remain at the center of our work,” she said. “I am grateful for the opportunity to serve, and I look forward to contributing my experience, dedication, and teamwork to help move SPC forward.”
With both he and McClure leading the board, the southwest corner of the state is well represented, Vicites said.
While there’s no additional pay and a lot more work involved, Vicites sees it as a way to use his leadership abilities to lend a hand in the region
“There was a lot of funding coming from the state and federal government … from the infrastructure act that was passed three years ago, and I saw an opportunity to really maximize the efforts to help fund the region more and also to help Fayette County get more funds,” he said.