An Interview with Jessica Trimble

Jessica Trimble, MPA is the Statewide Planner in the Governor’s Center for Local Government Services at the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. In this role, Jessica works on state level plans which impact local government decisions for land use, economic development, disaster recovery, water quality, transportation, recreation, and more. She also serves as the facilitator for the State Planning Board and the leader of the Recovery Support Function network for Community Planning and Capacity Building on the State Long Term Recovery Task Force.

Prior to joining the Governor’s Center for Local Government Services, Jessica worked in Community Development Block Grant administration and in affordable housing consultation. Her educational background includes a BA in Political Science from Loyola University Maryland, a Master of Public Administration and a professional certification in GIS from Penn State. Jessica is also a scholar of the Rural-Urban Leadership Program (RULE XVIII) through Penn State Extension.

Jessica currently lives in Susquehanna Township (Dauphin County) with her fiancé, Michael Passiment, and their two cats, Skittles and The Kraken. She enjoys cooking, reading, and overthinking minute details (normal planner behavior, right?).

Jessica shared her thoughts on economic development and her favorite place in Pennsylvania with us:

Thoughts on Economic Development in Planning…
“Great community planning must include an economic development component. But economic development alone is not the sole determinant of revitalization. In fact, economic development is most effective after all other elements of planning have been addressed. The evidence of this is the revolving door of hopeful, hardworking proprietors and store fronts in our Pennsylvania small towns. So many communities are grappling with the loss of population, aging infrastructure, and a sense of abandonment. And while new coffee shops, infill housing, and distribution centers may be signs of life, they do not solve all underlying problems. It is our job as planners to help make economic development possible. We do this by listening to the experiences of residents, new and old, to renew character and restore pride of ownership. We need to identify our natural and cultural assets and pledge to embrace and enhance them. We can speak honestly about our vulnerabilities. We should invite neighboring communities to the table to find out what values and goals we share. We must work to help people envision a better future. And then, we plan for economic development.”

What’s Your Favorite Place in Pennsylvania?
“In my job (in normal times), I spend a lot of time on the road visiting PA’s communities. I have a habit of falling in love with every single town I visit. Usually within the first hour of arrival, I’ve picked out what house I want to buy and I’ve daydreamed an entire future there. With that said, one of my absolute favorites so far is Brownsville Borough, Fayette County. The view of the Monongahela from the crest of town is simply unbeatable at sunset.”