Peltz, Rick

Richard J. Peltz joined the Appalachian Regional Commission as Alternate Federal Co-Chair on December 23, 2002. Peltz was nominated by President George W. Bush on September 4th 2002 and confirmed by the United States Senate on November 18th 2002.

With Appalachian Regional Commission Federal Co-Chair Anne B. Pope, Peltz represents the Federal Government’s interest in the management and operation of the Appalachian Regional Commission.

Created in 1965, the Appalachian Regional Commission is a unique federal/state partnership covering a thirteen state predominately rural area from New York to Mississippi. The Commission’s mission is to create opportunities for self-sustaining economic development and an improved quality of life for the people of Appalachia. Its annual budget exceeds $500 million.

Prior to serving at the Appalachian Regional Commission, Rick Peltz was the Deputy Secretary for Local and Area Development at the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. In this capacity, Peltz oversaw an annual budget in excess of $1 billion and was responsible for the Bureaus of Public Transportation and Municipal Services. The Bureau of Public Transportation expends over $900 million annually supporting mass transit, other public transportation services, and local municipalities. The Bureau of Municipal Services is responsible for distributing approximately $245 million annually in liquid fuels allocations to municipalities and provides technical support to local governments.

Before joining the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Peltz served as U.S. Congressman Bill Clinger's (R. PA-5th) District Administrator. Peltz played a key role in economic development efforts in northwestern and northcentral Pennsylvania. He was instrumental in leveraging over $1 billion in public and private funds for area development projects which included major plant construction efforts, a federal correctional institution, industrial parks, multi-tenant complexes, industrial incubators, roadway construction, railroad creation and preservation, revolving loan funds, bike trails and water and sewer projects.

Rick Peltz brings with him a wide array of interests and experiences including having been an Intelligence Analyst in the U.S. State Department, a forest fire fighter with the U.S. Forest Service, a certified SCUBA diver and a past National Ski Patroller.

Born in St. Mary’s and raised in Emporium and Warren, Pennsylvania. Rick Peltz graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1978 from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where he received a BA in political science. Rick, his wife, Connie, and their three children, Karen, Greg and Mary reside in Hampden Township, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania.

<< Back to Conference Page