Slippery Rock University's economic development initiatives can be organized into four broad categories:

• Collaboration with Business and Industry, Corporate Alliances, Business Accelerators and/or Entrepreneurial Activities
• Collaboration with Non-Profit Groups
• Collaboration with Other Educational Institutions
• Regional Economic Development and Collaboration with Government

Below are some sample programs that demonstrate the university's commitment to positively impacting the Western Pennsylvania economy and its communities.

Wind 101 Workshop 

The Robert A. Macoskey Center for Sustainable Systems Education and Research presented a workshop on small-scale wind development opportunities to regional homeowners and businesses.  Participants learned the basics of making "green" electricity from wind power including the mechanics of wind turbine equipment.

Customized Job Training (CJT) Program

The Division of Lifelong Learning is an approved Local Education Agent (LEA) for the Department of Community & Economic Development.  The CJT Program includes conducting a needs analysis for a requesting company, converting that needs analysis into a three year training plan, preparing a request for training funds that is submitted to the Commonwealth, delivering training services based upon the training plan, and acting as the contracted fiscal agent.  

The Center for Accomplished Teaching

The Center for Accomplished Teaching at Slippery Rock University is a collaborative network of professionals, local Universities and P-16 partners that is based upon the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards core propositions.  The program's purpose is to induct pre-service and novice teachers into the profession in an exemplary manner, to raise the professionalism and effectiveness of the region's teachers and to refresh and invigorate the members of this teaching force throughout their careers. 

Slippery Rock Creek Reclamation Project 

Dean M. DeNicola (Professor, Department of Biology) and Michael G. Stapleton (Assistant Professor, Department of Geography, Geology and the Environment) along with Slippery Rock students and the Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition are examining the chemical and biological recovery of Slippery Rock Creek from acid mine drainage.

Advisory Councils, Board Memberships and Chambers of Commerce

The Division of Lifelong Learning is an active participant on the Lawrence County CareerLink Employers Advisory Council and also represents the SRU President on the Penn-Northwest Development Corporation Board of Directors.  These agencies are responsible for most of the economic development programs and initiatives in Lawrence and Mercer counties.  In addition, the division is an active member of seven local chambers of commerce.