McCandless is bringing home the gold.
More specifically, that is a gold certification with the Sustainable Pennsylvania program.
Sustainable Pennsylvania, managed by the Pennsylvania Municipal League and partnered with Sustainable Pittsburgh, is designed for municipalities working to save money, conserve resources and serve vibrant communities, according to an announcement from town officials.
“The municipality has a long history of commitment to saving taxpayer dollars, using resources efficiently and applying best practices in municipal operations and community development. We are pleased to be recognized and be part of this statewide community of good governance,” McCandless Manager John Schwend said.
Schwend also acknowledged the hard work of the town’s Environmental Advisory Committee in obtaining the distinction.
Recognition is given to municipalities that are implementing the policies and practices of sustainability to advance community and regional prosperity.
“The EAC is proud to deliver on this remarkable goal and distinguished honor to the residents of McCandless. This could not have been be accomplished without the full support of the township manager and McCandless Town Council,” said Jeff Petro, EAC president.
This is a repeat win for the town, which also was certified gold in 2019. A designation is valid for three years, with McCandless successfully getting recertified this year.
McCandless showed progress in areas such as community design and land use, energy efficiency, health and wellness, intergovernmental cooperation, recycling and waste reduction, fiscal controls, and internal management and operations.
Specific examples that led to the gold designation include scoring high in the Waste and Materials Management category because of a strong recycling program and ratio of waste to recycling, along with glass recycling and proactive communication on the practice to residents, according to Petro.
The Energy category also was a high scorer for the town, which conducted a professional energy audit and implemented some of its recommendations.
The EAC also has partnered with Penn State for energy benchmarking to complete a communitywide greenhouse gas inventory and to deliver a local climate action plan, Petro said.
Top marks also were earned in Governance and Community Engagement.
“This is where the municipality establishes and supports the Environmental Advisory Committee. Because they are fully in support of the annual roadside cleanup, this event has grown to be the single largest annual volunteer event in McCandless, with over 130 people participating in 2025. A municipal staff member is assigned to the EAC team and also is on the Bird Town PA committee,” Petro said.
The municipality also is an active participant in the Council of Governments, he said.
McCandless scored highest in Municipal Operations, with its budgeting, policies, parks support and public communication, such as its McMail online newsletter.
Other local communities with a gold certification are Marshall and Pine townships.
Bradford Woods, Fox Chapel and Shaler have silver certifications.
Ross has a platinum certification, according to the Sustainable Pennsylvania website.
The certification program encourages a municipality to work toward creating a positive and regenerative relationship with the environment. Sustainable PA brings statewide and national recognition to the municipality as sustainability is embedded in operational policy, everyday practices and the community, according to sustainablepa.org.
Through the certification process, McCandless can document its strong points and identify ways it can improve.
“This challenge can also become an opportunity to engage the community in a conversation about the three pillars of sustainability: economic, social equity and environmental needs,” Petro said.
McCandless has led the way to applying sustainability to both its operations and management as well as within the community, according to John Brenner, executive director of the Pennsylvania Municipal League.
“Sustainability requires a foundational approach that simultaneously integrates social equity, environmental stewardship and economic development in decision-making,” said Joylette Portlock, executive director of Sustainable Pittsburgh.
The gold certification comes at a notable time for the town as it celebrates its 175th anniversary this year.
“McCandless is a community interested in preserving nature, greenspace and responsible community design and land use. These gold standards are both a celebration of McCandless’s rich history and a plan for a successful future. Being awarded this certification is an affirmation that McCandless will be moving into a healthier next 175 years,” said Abby Lucostic, the town’s recreation director.
The Pennsylvania Municipal League is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization established in 1900 as an advocate for Pennsylvania’s third-class cities. Sustainable Pittsburgh is committed to building the knowledge, perspective and ability needed to create a better tomorrow for our region.
Details about McCandless’ certification performance on various topics can be found at sustainablepa.org.