Harrisburg Regional News Winter, 2014

HARRISBURG REGIONAL NEWS WINTER 2014 EDITION

/ GOVERNMENT / ADVOCACY

INSIDE 2 4 7 8

CHAMBER & CREDC

COVER FEATURE Eric Papenfuse, Harrisburg’s New Mayor LEGISLATIVE FOCUS Looking Ahead: The Chamber & CREDC’s 2014 Legislative Priorities COMMITTEE SPOTLIGHT Focus: Government Relations Committee

During the Recession Small Business – We Support You!

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E V E N T S •

WELCOME From the Desk of David Black

BUSINESS MATTERS 9-10 SMALL Small Businesses Get Creative

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UPCOMING

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEWS CREDC’s Role in the City of Harrisburg’s Recovery Plan

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FEBRUARY..

6 2014 HARRISBURG REGIONAL ECONOMIC FORECAST

Sheraton Harrisburg/Hershey 20 BUSINESS AFTER HOURS MIXER Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, P.C. 20 MAKING IT HAPPEN! HOW TO MAXIMIZE GOOGLE+

Harrisburg University of Science & Technology MARCH..

18 LEGISLATORS’ FORUM II – PA SENATE Hilton Harrisburg 20 BUSINESS AFTER HOURS MIXER Keystone Technical Institute APRIL..

16 2014 ANNUAL DINNER Hershey Lodge 24 NEW MEMBER LUNCHEON Chamber & CREDC Office

REGIONAL SPOTLIGHT Discover Winter in Harrisburg CATALYST AWARDS Celebrating Our Region’s Catalysts MAKING STRIDES Members in the News

Save-the-Date!

2014 HARRISBURG REGIONAL ECONOMIC FORECAST FEBRUARY 6, 2014 7:30 a.m.

Sheraton Harrisburg/Hershey

BECOME A CHAMBER & CREDC MEMBER TODAY! If you are interested in membership with the Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC, please call us at 717.232.4099 or visit us at www.HarrisburgRegionalChamber.org.

FOLLOW US ON

Building Your Business...and Our Region www.facebook.com/harrisburgregionalchamber @hrccredc

Chamber & CREDC members, check your emails regularly for changes or additions to the above. For more information or to register for these and other events, contact us at 717-232-4099 or visit

www.linkedin.com/company/harrisburg-regional-chamber-&-credc

www.HarrisburgRegionalChamber.org.

HARRISBURG REGIONAL NEWS / WINTER 2014

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WELCOME

FROM THE DESK OF DAVID BLACK PRESIDENT & CEO, HARRISBURG REGIONAL CHAMBER & CREDC

ONE-HUNDRED YEARS IS A LONG TIME. It’s longer than most of us will live, so it’s more than a life time. One-hundred years ago we were at theaters watching silent movies with Charlie Chaplin as the little tramp. Harrisburg was a logistics hub and the industrial age was upon us. Harsco was in the pipe shaping business. Milton Hershey had started business in Derry Township, and Bethlehem Steel would soon take over the rail mill in Steelton. Harrisburg already had a Board of Trade that was established in 1883, but by 1914 had decided to adopt a new, commonly used name, Chamber of Commerce, which was synonymous with their involvement in founding the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

One-hundred years later, Chambers of Commerce are still around serving the business community. The Harrisburg Regional Chamber merged with the Capital Region Economic Development Corporation (CREDC) in the mid-1990s and one-hundred years later continues to serve the region as the only U.S. Chamber of Commerce Accredited Chamber in the region, with the U.S. Chamber’s top 5-Star Rating. We are not sure what the vision of our founders and forefathers was, and although much has changed over one-hundred years, our advocacy and vision for businesses and the region has not.

Hispanic Chamber and the Gay and Lesbian Chamber.

We know that not only is diversity and inclusion the right thing to do, but it is good for business as well.

Mike Solomon brought us a Chamber newsletter from 1958 he found in his father’s papers. The lead story was about the opening of the new interstate highway from Baltimore to Harrisburg and how the Harrisburg and Baltimore Chambers had worked together to connect these two cities and the positive image on commerce in both communities. I think the old timers would have appreciated our work on the Transportation Bill. They knew the value of our location and the value

The Harrisburg Regional Chamber merged with the Capital Region Economic Development Corporation (CREDC) in the mid-1990s and one-hundred years later continues to serve the region as the only U.S. Chamber of Commerce Accredited Chamber in the region...

In celebrating one-hundred years as a Chamber of Commerce and thirty years for CREDC, we stand at a special place in time. The hundreds of millions of debt that has plagued this city for years is gone; we have a new mayor and a new opportunity to make our city great once again. It is a different time than it was one-hundred years ago; for one thing all those photos of past chairs around our conference room boast women over the last thirty years, reflecting women business leaders taking their rightful place in our community. We have a commitment to diversity and inclusion. We have affiliations with the African American Chamber, the

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of good infrastructure with rail, early roads and bridges crossing the Susquehanna. Transportation infrastructure and advocacy have always been part of the DNA of this organization.

On the CREDC side, I have to believe our founders would have been proud of many of our projects. For example, the financing of another Appalachian Brewing Company (ABC) project...who doesn’t love a project involving beer? We also worked on a site a few years back that was a very active industrial site, as we worked with Dura-Bond Pipe to bring the old Bethlehem Pipe Mill back to life and provided support to the Hershey

A PUBLICATION OF THE HARRISBURG REGIONAL CHAMBER & CREDC

HARRISBURG REGIONAL NEWS P U B L I S H E D Q U A R T E R LY

Company in building their new, state-of-theart manufacturing plant. Ever wonder what state-of-the-art will look like one-hundred years from now? Imagine if one of our founders toured the new Hershey plant today.

One can only imagine.

Imagine a place where the companies of the future can come to life. A place where great minds can get help to accelerate high-tech and bio-tech company growth. No need to imagine those places. Through the work of the Chamber & CREDC we have them in place today. The TechCelerator @ Murata Business Center in Carlisle and the Hershey Center for Applied Research are here for the future. It is the Chamber & CREDC’s commitment to keeping our region on the front end of business opportunity and new industry growth.

I haven’t found anything articulating the mission of the organization one-hundred years ago and while we use the words catalyst and quality of life today, I am sure there were similar themes. One-hundred years later, we salute those who lead this region before us.

Thank you for your vision to start this organization, thanks to all who have been a part of it over the years, those who serve today and those who will serve in the future.

Distributed by

Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC 3211 N. Front Street, Suite 201, Harrisburg, PA 17110-1342 717-232-4099 Fax: 717-232-5184 www.HarrisburgRegionalChamber.org Christine Brindle, Editor, Harrisburg Regional News 717-213-5048 / cbrindle@hbgrc.org David E. Black, President & CEO Glenn “Bub” Manning, Chair of the Board, Chamber Jim Nulton, Chair of the Board, CREDC

The mission of the Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC is to be a catalyst for policy change, for job creation and for business growth in Cumberland, Dauphin and Perry Counties that enhances the quality of life in our region. ______________________________________________________________________________

For advertising opportunities in Harrisburg Regional News, contact Frankie Clayton, Sales Manager 717-213-5043 frankie.clayton@atlantic4us.com ______________________________________________________________________________

Produced & Published by

Atlantic Communications Group, Inc. 800-832-3747 Fax: 800-599-6420 www.atlantic4us.com / www.KnowThisPlace.com Proud to be a member of the Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC Hayden M. Wilbur, CEO Gretchen Lindberg, Art Director Stephan Vegoe, Writer/Photographer Frankie Clayton, Advertising Sales ©2014 Atlantic Communications Group, Inc. and Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC, all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any format or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photo copying, recording or otherwise, without written permission from the publisher. The information in this publication has been gathered and carefully compiled to ensure maximum accuracy. However, because completeness cannot be guaranteed, Harrisburg Chamber & CREDC and Atlantic Communications Group, Inc. cannot accept responsibility for omissions and errors.

ISSN 1530-4051 / Winter 2014 / Volume 19 / Issue 60

Scan with your tablet or smartphone to visit www.HarrisburgRegionalChamber.org

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COVER FEATURE

Eric Papenfuse HARRISBURG’S NEW MAYOR by: Stephan Vegoe, Writer/Photographer, Atlantic Communications Group, Inc.

tion. “Archer City is the story of trying to revitalize a town,” he said. “We’re looking to take Larry’s model and bring it to Pennsylvania.”

In 1988, Larry McMurtry moved his collection of used books into vacant buildings in Archer City, about 140 miles northwest of Dallas, to try to help revitalize the economy of this prairie town of 1,800 residents. Now 77, McMurtry, the country’s highest-profile book dealer, decided to whittle his enterprise down to one building, which will remain open with an

at Messiah College, so we headed to Harrisburg to find a house we could afford. Even though some of the real estate people we talked to told us we did not want to live in Harrisburg, we told them we had no intention of living anywhere else.”

“We’re city people. We have always lived in cities and we thrive on the vibrant life and culture of a diverse urban area, so there was never an option for us but to live here in the capital city,” Eric Papenfuse said.

Not getting much help from real estate professionals, Papenfuse and Lawrence drove and walked through Harrisburg’s neighborhoods seeking for For Sale signs, eventually finding a large Victorian house on Front Street in Harrisburg’s Shipoke neighborhood, along

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We’re city people. We have always lived in cities and we thrive on the vibrant life and culture of a diverse urban area, so there was never an option for us but to live here in the capital city.

A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, along with about 150 other book buyers, Eric Papenfuse and Catherine Lawrence, the owners of Midtown Scholar Bookstore in Harrisburg, endured the brutal, 110-degree heat of a north Texas August weekend. They had travelled to famed Texas author Larry McMurtry’s hometown of Archer City to try to buy part of McMurtry’s legendary collection of used books – during the weekend McMurtry called The Last Book Sale.

New York Times reporter John Williams met Papenfuse and Lawrence at the event and included them in his story on how Larry McMurtry was disposing of two-thirds of the 450,000 books in his collection, housed in four buildings on Main Street in the northwest Texas town of Archer City, where The Last Picture Show was filmed. Mr. Papenfuse called Mr. McMurtry an inspira4

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inventory of about 150,000 books. He said he expected the single store to be maintained by his heirs.

Now, eighteen months later, Eric Papenfuse has recently been sworn in as the mayor of Pennsylvania’s capital city.

We sat down with the then mayor-elect at his retail bookstore the week before Thanksgiving to hear about how he and his wife came to Harrisburg and how they created, in less than a decade, one of the largest and most successful used book selling operations in North America. We also wanted to know how they helped create the thriving neighborhood now known as Midtown, which is anchored

by Harrisburg’s popular Broad Street Market, the exciting Midtown campus of HACC, and his bookstore.

Harrisburg’s new mayor explained, “In 1999, Catherine and I had completed advanced degrees at Yale University and Catherine was the first to land a teaching job

the Susquehanna River. “That’s how we met Dan Miller (Harrisburg’s most recent Controller and a former member of the City Council and also a mayoral candidate in the 2013 election). Dan was outside his house sweeping his sidewalk when we walked by and saw the For Sale sign on the house next to his. That’s the house we bought.”

“Harrisburg was a grand adventure for us.

We were young, both under thirty, without children (now they have three) and we loved the river, the capital city, and the architecture of this amazing river town. Even though we saw the flood marks on the walls of our first home in Shipoke, we knew this three-story, 1873 Victorian townhouse was just right for us.”

Papenfuse and Lawrence rented a moving truck and drove themselves to Harrisburg in the summer of 1999, arriving on a hot summer day and unloaded their belongings, including many boxes of the books they had

A PUBLICATION OF THE HARRISBURG REGIONAL CHAMBER & CREDC

acquired as undergraduate and graduate students at Harvard (Lawrence) and at Yale (Lawrence and Papenfuse).

Eric explained that he and Catherine had met in a graduate American History class at Yale and started talking books. “When I learned she owned more books than I did, I knew we had a match,” Eric said.

Papenfuse explained that during their time together in New Haven, Connecticut, they often travelled on weekends to used book stores in out-of-the-way New England villages where they found an abundance of used book stores.

“By the time we moved to Harrisburg,” Papenfuse said, “we owned a lot of books, which I carried to the empty third floor of our new home, but becoming used book dealers was not then on our horizon. That summer of 1999, I needed to find a job and I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do.”

Shortly after moving into their Shipoke home, Eric landed a teaching job at Central Dauphin East and Linglestown Junior High Schools. “They could not find a Latin teacher and, based on my years of study, I received emergency teaching certification that fall and commuted between the two schools as their Latin teacher for a year.”

As he mentioned, Harrisburg’s new mayor and his wife had always been book people, and they quickly discovered that the Harrisburg region was a wasteland in terms of book stores. Back then,” he said, “I don’t think there were any large-box retail bookstores on either shore.”

“Catherine and I came from a culture where people gathered at coffee shops and book stores. That kind of third space provides a place for people to go, to listen to music, to drink coffee, to congregate. What we discov-

ON THE COVER ered that fall and winter of 1999-2000 was that there was no place in Harrisburg for people to come together. We also quickly discovered that the political culture was preposterous – people were told who to vote for. That was completely different from where we had come from, and we also learned the Susquehanna effectively separated east and west.”

So, sensing a need and having the time and energy, Eric Papenfuse and his wife decided to go into the used book business, starting on the third floor of their home on Front Street.

“Remember,” Eric explained, “the year 2000 was a long time ago in terms of Internet sales. Used books were being sold on eBay, but Amazon was just starting to sell used books. When we started our home-based business, we became one of Amazon’s first (and ultimately one of the largest academicfocused) used book sellers.”

Papenfuse quickly discovered that central Pennsylvania was a treasure trove for a used book seller. “There are lots of libraries and they are always selling excess books, and, since this was the home of Book-of-the-Month Club, many people had lots of books they wanted to sell. We started buying large quantities of books and carried them to the third floor where we added them to our database

The winter edition of HRN spotlights government and advocacy, featuring an up close and personal interview with Harrisburg's new Mayor, Eric Papenfuse, a peek at the Chamber & CREDC's 2014 legislative priorities and plans, as well as a round of applause for the 2013 Catalyst Award Winners…plus much more!

and then resold them on the Internet, through eBay and Amazon.”

“It did not take very long before the third floor was filled with our inventory of books and shipping books from our home became a challenge, especially since we were often shipping as many as 100 books a day, so we decided to find a location in the city of Harrisburg where we could open a retail store.

We wanted to find a place that could meet the need we had identified here in Harrisburg – for a Town Hall – and to expand our growing business beyond our home.”

Thanks to a great real estate professional, the late Raymond Thorn, Papenfuse found just the right building in the uptown (now called Midtown) neighborhood and renovatpage 6 >

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COVER FEATURE Continued from page 5

ed a former post office that when he found it, the DEP was using to store rock samples.

“About the only viable business in that neighborhood was the Midtown Cinema and I give them a lot of credit for the vision they had for the area.”

As part of the renovation of that original retail store, Papenfuse hired local artist Steve Fieser to create a mural for the exterior of his new Midtown Scholar Bookstore. Papenfuse happily explained, “From the day that mural went up on the side of our building, graffiti stopped throughout the neighborhood, and never returned.” That original mural now is prominently displayed inside the Midtown Scholar’s new store at 1302 North Third Street.

Shortly after they moved into their first store (HACC’s Midtown Campus and St@rtup Harrisburg now occupy that site), Adrian Felton looked in the window and asked, “What are you doing?” Then he asked for a job, becoming Midtown Scholar Bookstore’s first employee. Adrian’s still at the bookstore, as are the other two original employees who were hired shortly after Adrian.

In 2005, Midtown Scholar Bookstore acquired a large warehouse at 3401 North Sixth Street and moved its Internet sales and book purchasing operations to that space. By 2006, it became obvious to Eric and Catherine that they needed a larger retail space. By 2008, there was no doubt they needed to move. “Even with the economy collapsing around us, our business’ growth made it necessary for us to find a new building.”

“One day I walked into Chip Fissel’s antiques store on North Third Street and asked him if he might be interested in selling his building to me. Chip laughed and said, “Look what I have here, a real estate listing agreement.” Chip Fissel had not yet signed the

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agreement to list his property for sale, so he and I negotiated a price and Catherine and I bought his building (eventually also buying the adjoining buildings on both sides).”

“Chip Fissel’s building,” Papenfuse explained, “was one of the few buildings in Harrisburg that could physically accommodate what we wanted to do. We needed a building that could house at least 100,000 books and also have plenty of space for a coffee shop and a stage. The building also needed a place where we could prominently mount our historic Bell; the symbol of the Town Hall we hoped to create.”

After a year of renovation, including hanging their historic bell high above the main floor, (It rang loud and often the night Eric Papenfuse was elected Mayor on November 5th) the Midtown Scholar Bookstore opened in 2009. Harrisburg’s The Patriot-News has recently called the bookstore “Harrisburg’s de-facto Town Hall.”

Since it opened just four years ago, Eric Papenfuse’s and Catherine Lawrence’s dream of creating a Third Space, a town hall, has become reality. “The public space we created right here in the center of our bookstore, with a stage and a specialty coffee shop, is now where things happen in Harrisburg; we sponsor everything from gubernatorial and mayoral candidate debates to poetry readings and children’s programs.”

Indeed, the initial forums and conversations about Harrisburg’s fiscal and financial crisis took place on Midtown Scholar’s stage, and throughout the coffee shop, surrounded by 200,000 books. Eric Papenfuse commented, “As people remember, I was one of the loudest voices calling for change, right here in my own bookstore.” He also said, “I think you can safely say that prior to the opening of our bookstore here in Midtown, Harrisburg did not have a unified, engaged citizenry. Now we do. We set the stage, so to speak, through what we have done here at Midtown Scholar Bookstore, for transforming how people think about politics and activism in our city.”

Today, the bookstore and the used book buying and selling business owned by Eric Papenfuse and Catherine Lawrence employs about 80 men and women from all over the

Harrisburg region. Their varied operations include the large, multi-building retail store on North Third Street and the Internet sales and warehouse operation at 3401 North Sixth Street. The warehouse contains more than two million books; the bookstore displays about 200,000 books. Midtown Scholar Bookstore is one of the country’s largest used book buyers and sellers and the physical bookstore has become one of Harrisburg’s premier destinations.

“Come here on a Saturday or Sunday and you’ll find people who have driven for many hours to browse through our inventory.” As Papenfuse put it, “ You can find any book you want online, but you can't find the fine stuff it didn't occur to you to look for. That’s the glory of a high quality, well-stocked used book store.”

After they spend a few hours browsing and drinking coffee, those out-of-town customers, who have often stayed overnight and eaten in Harrisburg’s restaurants and shopped at the Broad Street Market, leave with a car filled with “treasures” and a new respect for Harrisburg.

As for his plans as Harrisburg’s new mayor, Eric Papenfuse said, “There is a palpable sense of optimism here in Harrisburg.

The recovery plan gives us a second chance to get things right, but recovery will require everybody to be engaged, both regular citizens and our business community, especially the Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC. Now, thanks to the recovery plan, we have a window of opportunity in which to work together for the good of the capital city and the region.”

A PUBLICATION OF THE HARRISBURG REGIONAL CHAMBER & CREDC

LEGISLATIVE FOCUS

LOOKING AHEAD: THE CHAMBER & CREDC’S 2014 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES by: Larissa Bailey, Government Relations Manager, Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR AGO at the beginning of the 2013 Legislative Session, Governor Corbett indicated his three main legislative priorities would include multi-modal Transportation Funding, State Pension Reform, and State Store Privatization. After a contentious year of debate on all three issues, the General Assembly approved a plan to fund the state’s transportation and infrastructure systems. Proposals to reform the state pension system and to privatize liquor sales have yet to be agreed upon. We will continue to follow these issues over the course of 2014.

In regards to transportation funding, the Chamber & CREDC would like to thank the following local legislators who proved to be real champions on this issue: Senators Pat Vance, Jake Corman, Mike Folmer, and John Gordner, as well as Representatives Sheryl Delozier, Glen Grell, Sue Helm, David Hickernell, Mark Keller, Patty Kim, Ron Marsico, and John Payne. If it weren’t for you, this legislative priority would not have been accomplished. This year, the Chamber & CREDC will continue to monitor and advocate for the proper implementation of the transportation funds.

The Chamber & CREDC also remains a part of the Coalition for

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Sustainable Communities, an organization committed to helping Pennsylvania's rural, suburban, and urban communities address growing economic and financial challenges. The Coalition is currently focusing its work on matters regarding municipal pension reform and Act 111 (binding arbitration) reform.

Here in Harrisburg, the Chamber & CREDC will work with new Mayor Eric Papenfuse as he works alongside Harrisburg City Council and Receiver Lynch, continuing to guide the City through its recovery process.

On the federal level, we will continue to watch Washington and hope that compromise can be achieved on economic and regulatory issues, as well as on a balanced budget.

Each of these hot-topic items are a legislative priority for the Chamber & CREDC. We will be monitoring these issues closely, and will advocate on behalf of our businesses. For a complete list of the Chamber & CREDC’s legislative priorities, please visit the Advocacy/Legislation page under the “Discover the Chamber” tab on our website, www.HarrisburgRegionalChamber.org today!

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COMMITTEE SPOTLIGHT

FOCUS:

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS COMMITTEE by: Larissa Bailey, Government Relations Manager, Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC THE GOVERNMENT RELATIONS COMMITTEE is a politically interested and active group of businesspeople who care about what is happening in local, state, and federal government. On the first Thursday of each month, the committee meets to hear and learn about hot-topic legislative issues, as well as makes recommendations to the Chamber’s Board of Directors regarding positions on legislative issues affecting the business community.

“The Chamber & CREDC’s Government Relations Committee continues to offer an extremely valuable resource to our chamber members by providing a forum for the exchange of ideas and information on legislative and regulatory matters that have a direct impact on the region’s business community,” states Sheilah Borne of Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and co-chair of the committee. “The insights of our diverse

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committee membership, from local elected officials to small business owners, to representatives of some of the region’s largest employers, provide rich and thoughtful discussions that help inform the Chamber & CREDC’s position on issues of critical importance to our membership.”

This past fall, the committee had the opportunity to hear from a variety of government leaders. Mayor-Elect Eric Papenfuse shared his vision for the City of Harrisburg in September, while Secretary Beverly Mackereth of the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare discussed Governor Corbett’s Healthy PA plan in October. The committee welcomed State Representative Glen Grell to present his plan to reform the state pension system and David Bollinger of FEMA to address the changes made to the National Flood Insurance Plan in November

and December, respectively. The committee will kick off 2014 by having Bryan Kendro of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation provide an overview of the recently passed transportation funding bill.

The Government Relations Committee also oversees four subcommittees, including Environmental & Energy, Health, Tax, and Transportation. These groups operate similarly to the Government Relations Committee while focusing on topic-specific issues.

Committee and subcommittee opportunities are available to all Chamber & CREDC members.

If you are interested in joining the Government Relations Committee or one of its subcommittees, contact Larissa Bailey by calling (717) 232-4099 or emailing lbailey@hbgrc.org today!

A PUBLICATION OF THE HARRISBURG REGIONAL CHAMBER & CREDC

SMALL BUSINESS MATTERS

SMALL BUSINESSES

GET CREATIVE DURING THE RECESSION by: Melissa McLaughlin, Director of Business Finance, Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC

The Grand Opening of St@rtup Harrisburg on May 8th, 2013.

AS THE ECONOMIC RECESSION UNFOLDED from 2007 to 2009, all banks found themselves bracing for major changes to accommodate new regulations put in place to remedy the causes of the collapse. Banks were required to re-examine credit underwriting practices, increase capital positions and provide higher loan loss reserves. In turn, these actions pinched small businesses’ access to credit when they needed it most.

Entrepreneurial activities were being stifled at a time when many people found themselves out of work and needing to turn to self-employment to sustain their families. In the face of these challenges, many creative techniques for launching a business idea took form.

Pop up businesses are an emergence originally executed by artists as a way to display their work or showcase their talents. Today pop up businesses take many forms such as cafés and retail shops focused on local and hand-made products. They tend to locate in unused or underutilized spaces which provide lower lease rates and may be part of a community redevelopment effort. They are not intended to be permanent and have become a less expensive way to test the marketability and demand for products within a community. This tactic can decrease start-up capital requirements on an untried idea. Stash Vintage Boutique, now a permanent business located on North Street in Harrisburg got its start using pop up shops held throughout the year.

Co-work space is not just a way to rent a conference room or share a desk. Users of co-working space report that it provides a refuge from the isolation of being self-employed. The physical attributes provided by a co-working facility include access to desks, phones, conference rooms, printers, and coffee. Businesses may recognize a cost savings from sharing the cost of such overhead, but they also benefit from the opportunity to share entrepreneurial experiences and provide support to one another, which is missed by those working alone. Harrisburg welcomed its first co-working space, St@rtup Harrisburg, earlier this year to the mid-town area.

Incubators provide support for startup businesses. One such traditional incubator is the TechCelerator operated by the Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC at the Murata Business Center in Carlisle, PA. Traditional incubators provide a social and professional support system for tenants and lower startup costs by sharing typical

HARRISBURG REGIONAL NEWS / WINTER 2014

overhead expenses incurred with physical space. In 2014, Harrisburg will welcome its first virtual incubator, the idea of Sam Coyl, owner of Netrepid. His goal is to support increased innovation from startup technology companies and foster a vibrant technology entrepreneurial culture in the mid-state. Using a team of advisors to assess incubator applicants’ business ideas, the team will pick award winners who will gain access to support, the chance to connect with mentors, and a certain amount of free networking and data services to be provided by Netrepid.

It is encouraging to know that bank lending to small businesses is again on the rise as evidenced S D !

by SBA loan volumes showing that the last three fiscal years LEGISLATORS’ FORUM II were the highest on record. Yet the PA SENATE startup strategies summarized MARCH 18, 2014 7:30 a.m. above are promising tools to help Hilton Harrisburg foster an entrepreneurial culture in our region.

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SMALL BUSINESS MATTERS

SMALL BUSINESS – WE SUPPORT YOU! HAVEN’T YOU HEARD? The Chamber & CREDC supports small businesses! We know this is not the easiest environment for small business owners, but we want you to know that WE SUPPORT YOU! The Chamber & CREDC has been running a series of small business focus groups for the past year and a half, and we’re incorporating more support for small business owners into our future as an organization. Here are some things we’ve done over the past few months and the past year to show our support for small businesses: We launched our solo-preneur rate for the Business Expo in 2013!

This is 50% off the regular price! We appreciate those of you who took advantage of it.

We launched our monthly membership subscription! It’s still in BETA form, so bear with us! Nevertheless, if you are a small business owner (with less than 10 employees) and you’d like to stay connected as a Chamber & CREDC member, you may want to consider our $30 a month subscription option! Contact us today and tell a friend!

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With nearly 40 small business vendors, the Broad Street Market has something for everyone!

In 2014, we’re totally revamping our Mid-Day Lunch Break! Based on your feedback, you want something more from your networking activities. Our new concept, LEADS OVER LUNCH will provide you the opportunity to walk away with CONTACTS of all attendees, as well as receive valuable tips on how to go out there and GET MORE BUSINESS! We hear you loud and clear! You want more advanced training and educational opportunities. Look for our upcoming Making It Happen sessions as well as our various roundtable speakers and presenters.

We’re focusing on adding value to your membership through advanced training on topics you’re interested in.

We’re also launching SMALL BUSINESS MENTORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES! If you’re interested in connecting with a mentor, contact our Membership Services Manager, Derek Whitesel at dwhitesel@hbgrc.org or 717-213-5047 and we’ll add you to our list as mentors become available.

In 2014, we’re launching some new Membership Value Programs to help you save on the costs associated with doing business! We’ll be adding our Staples Advantage program to save you a few bucks on your supplies, as well as shipping and logistics programs with UPS and GTS (Group Transportation Services). Keep checking www.HarrisburgRegionalChamber.org/mvps for updates on roll outs!

We have some other good things cookin’! Stay tuned!!! Wherever you see that Small Business Matters logo, that means we’re doing something that involves promoting or serving small businesses. Follow that logo in 2014! Thank you for your support of the Chamber & CREDC and remember that investing into your Chamber & CREDC membership means investing into the connections and relationships that membership can help create for you. We encourage you to get involved with a committee, stop by and meet with someone from our staff or come out and attend events. We want to get to know all about your business and how we can support you! Remember, we believe SMALL BUSINESS MATTERS!

A PUBLICATION OF THE HARRISBURG REGIONAL CHAMBER & CREDC

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEWS

CREDC’S ROLE

IN THE CITY OF HARRISBURG’S

RECOVERY PLAN

by: Linda Goldstein, Vice President/COO, Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC THE HARRISBURG REGIONAL CHAMBER & CREDC serves as a catalyst for

promoting growth and quality of life in the region by providing a unique blend of business, community and economic development, and advocacy services under one roof to boost our economic vitality and livability as a region. Catalyst is the key word in the mission statement because it shows the importance of a demonstrated “call to action.”

River Street Garage on North 2nd Street in Downtown Harrisburg.

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a catalyst for promoting growth and quality of life in the region by providing a unique blend of business, community and economic development, and advocacy services.

CREDC’s latest “call to action” is associated with the Harrisburg Strong Debt Recovery Plan as it relates to the $270,000,000 bond issue for the long term lease of the City garages including on and off street parking. The Pennsylvania Economic Development Finance Authority (PEDFA) called on CREDC to participate in the transaction.

PEDFA is the vehicle that is actually leasing the City’s garages, lots and off street parking from the Harrisburg Parking Authority and then sub contacting the management of the facilities to Trimont and Standard Parking. PEDFA is a State authority with a small staff and they needed assistance with the management of the asset management contracts. That is where CREDC comes into play.

CREDC has been designated by PEDFA as a “Qualified Designee” to serve as the Authority’s representative regarding contracts and to oversee the administration and management of the Parking System. CREDC will act as an owner’s representative on behalf of PEDFA. The general and daily operations are the responsibility of Trimont and Standard Parking. CREDC will represent PEDFA in regular monitoring, annual reporting, and discussions on facility improvements.

Some of the projected activities include: certification of annual budget and capital investment plans; quarterly reports to PEDFA Board; representation for PEDFA on the Advisory Board; serve as a public liaison as it relates to bigger picture items; work with asset manager to operationalize daily S D ! operations of the parking; work with DGS, the largest lease 2014 ANNUAL DINNER holder.

APRIL 16, 2014 CREDC has successfully part5:30 p.m. nered with PEDFA on another Hershey Lodge important transaction in the region --- the sale of Forum Place, that

was previously owned by the Dauphin County Authority. In both transactions CREDC honored its mission of being a “catalyst”. The organization stepped up to the plate to ensure that both Forum Place, as well as the Garage transaction were able to happen.

ave-the- ate

HARRISBURG REGIONAL NEWS / WINTER 2014

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REGIONAL SPOTLIGHT

DISCOVER WINTER IN HARRISBURG by: By Nicole Keiner, Writer, Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC

Also at the Giant Center and HersheyPark Arena this winter is ice skating. Public skating sessions are scheduled throughout the winter months.

Visit Giant Center’s website for more information.

Roundtop Mountain Resort offers the traditional skiing and snowboarding packages ranging from expert to beginner slopes. You can also try snow tubing which is touted as “winter fun for everyone!” All day snow tubing tickets mean your family has the flexibility to

Parade at HERSHEY'S CHOCOLATE WORLD.

DISCOVER WINTER IN THE HARRISBURG REGION. The winter months offer a plethora of entertaining activities for both visitors and locals alike.

Whether you want to take in a performance – a show or concert, experience a movie at an IMAX theater, attend a sporting event or spend the day on the slopes this area has it all.

The Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts offers many attractions including the IMAX Theater, the educational Science Center and Performance Theater. For more information and to view a schedule of events visit www.whitakercenter.org.

Are you interested in sports? This winter season, check out one of the Hershey Bears’ hockey games (www.hersheybears.com or www.giantcenter.com) or cheer on the Harrisburg Heat at one of their arena soccer games (www.harrisburgheat.com).

enjoy your day outdoors and indoors. Snow tube for an hour or two then come inside the lodge for a cup of hot chocolate. Paintball is also open year round. Visit www.skiroundtop.com for more information.

2014 marks the 10th anniversary of Chocolate-Covered February in Hershey. Hershey Entertainment & Resorts is celebrating a decade of chocolate decadence with the celebration kicking off with the annuGREAT QUALITY FOUR-COLOR PRINTING AND MAILING SERVICES.

Call me to discuss your next project.

Claudia Decima 717-460-6659 FAX 717-474-8010 claudiad@spectrumprintpartner.com

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A PUBLICATION OF THE HARRISBURG REGIONAL CHAMBER & CREDC

PHOTO PROVIDED BY: HERSHEY ENTERTAINMENT & RESORTS

A chair lift taking skiers to the start of their journey downhill at Roundtop Mountain Resort.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY: HERSHEY ENTERTAINMENT & RESORTS

CHOCOLATE-COVERED FEBRUARY Dessert Buffet.

al Chocolate Dinner Extraordinaire at The Hotel Hershey on Friday, January 31st at 6:30 p.m. This is a five-course chocolate-infused dinner. Pricing is $94.50 per person, and wine pairings can be added for $45 per person (guests 21+). Additional event information at The Hotel Hershey and The Hershey Lodge can be found by visiting their websites at www.thehotelhershey.com and www.hersheylodge.com.

Attraction and event information regarding Hershey’s Chocolate World and The Hershey Story can be obtained by visiting www.hersheys.com.

For a complete listing of events you can experience this winter in the Harrisburg region, please visit www.visithersheyharrisburg.org or www.visitcumberlandvalley.com.

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VISION RESOURCES is a community benefit organization serving the blind and visually impaired with advocacy and action; raising the quality of life in Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin and Perry Counties.

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(717) 238-2531

www.vrocp.org HARRISBURG REGIONAL NEWS / WINTER 2014

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CATALYST AWARDS

CELEBRATING OUR REGION’S CATALYSTS CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2013 CATALYST AWARD RECIPIENTS!

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ON DECEMBER 4TH, 2013 the Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC presented the awards listed below to local individuals and businesses for their outstanding achievements during the 2013 Catalyst Awards. Congratulations to all of the winners and thank you for your continued support of our region!

AMBASSADOR OF THE YEAR AWARD BRENNA KERNAN of Members 1st Federal Credit Union received the 2013 Ambassador of the Year Award. The mission of the Ambassador Committee is to serve as a communication link between the Chamber & CREDC and its new member businesses.

ATHENA AWARD KAREN SNIDER, President of Susquehanna Consulting and Financial Group (SCFG) received the 2013 Athena Award.

Athena Award winners demonstrate excellence, creativity, and initiative in their business or profession, provide valuable service by devoting time and energy to improve the quality of life for others in the community and assist women in reaching their full leadership potential.

BUSINESS DIVERSITY CHAMPION AWARD HIGHMARK BLUE SHIELD was honored as the Business Diversity Champion Award recipient. Business Diversity Champions are individuals or companies who work in their community or organization to promote the cause of diversity and inclusion. They have shown exemplary leadership in ensuring that all individuals are included, represented and served. In addition, these individuals have supported or pioneered existing projects or programs involving diversity or inclusion.

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CATALYST AWARD HARRISBURG YOUNG PROFESSIONALS (HYP) was the recipient of the Catalyst Award. The most prestigious award given by the Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC is the Catalyst Award. Catalyst Award recipients are individuals or organizations whose leadership, business or governmental activities and community service have best exemplified the Chamber & CREDC's goal of being a Catalyst for our region in making it a better place to live, work and play. It is a special recognition for an individual or organization who has made a difference over the past year, or perhaps over a lifetime of service to the region.

CORPORATE CITIZEN OF THE YEAR AWARD PINNACLEHEALTH SYSTEM received the Corporate Citizen of the Year Award, which is given to a company who has demonstrated strong values in corporate social responsibility in our region. Nominees of this award were evaluated on the following criteria: Commitment to Advancement of Society, Legal/Ethical Compliance, Community Outreach, Social Involvement in Community and Measured Results.

DIPLOMAT OF THE YEAR AWARD PATTY BOWEN, Coordinator of Professional Development with HACC – Central Pennsylvania’s Community College was the recipient of the 2013 Diplomat of the Year Award. The mission of the Diplomat Committee is to serve as a communication link between the Chamber & CREDC and its member businesses.

A PUBLICATION OF THE HARRISBURG REGIONAL CHAMBER & CREDC

EMISSARY OF THE YEAR KAREN YOUNG of HR Resolutions, LLC was honored as the Emissary of the Year Award recipient. The Emissary of the Year is presented to a member of the Chamber & CREDC's Membership Task Force. The Membership Task Force visits prospective businesses in conjunction with the Chamber & CREDC staff, communicates the benefits of membership to prospects, hosts prospects at events and encourages business retention throughout the region. The winner of Emissary of the Year is based on a scoring system that quantifies the work of each member of the Membership Task Force.

ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR AWARD GARY NALBANDIAN of NAI CIR, Wormleysburg & Metro Bank, Harrisburg was honored as the Entrepreneur of the Year Award recipient. The Entrepreneur of the Year Award is given to an individual who has assumed the financial risk of starting and operating a business venture, and carries the connotation of being creative, self-motivated and visionary.

GOVERNMENT LEADER OF THE YEAR AWARD CAPITAL REGION COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS received the 2013 Government Leader of the Year Award. The Government Leader of the Year Award is chosen by the Chamber Executive Committee with recommendation by the Chamber & CREDC’s government relations staff. It is awarded to an outstanding government official or an organization focused on government relations who has contributed to the betterment of our region and has shown exceptional leadership in government over the past year.

SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AWARD LETORT TRUST received the Small Business of the Year Award. Small Business of the Year Award recipients have demonstrated staying power, workplace innovation, commitment to community and attainment of goals.

VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR AWARD JEWEL COOPER, Retail Executive in the Capital Region at Susquehanna Bank was the recipient of the 2013 Volunteer of the Year Award. The Volunteer of the Year Award is chosen by the Chamber & CREDC staff. This individual has shown their support of the organization by serving on Boards and/or Committees and attends events on a regular basis. They have dedicated their time and energy to ensure the success of the organization.

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT LEADER OF THE YEAR AWARD RUTH KOUP, Founder & CEO of Dress for Success South Central PA was honored as the Workforce Development Leader of the Year Award recipient. The Workforce Development Leader Award is given to an individual whose leadership has made a significant contribution to workforce development initiatives in our region.

PRESIDENT’S AWARD The 2013 President’s Award was given to the following individuals involved in making the Harrisburg Strong Plan come to fruition: • THE DAUPHIN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS (JEFF HASTE, MIKE PRIES, AND GEORGE HARTWICK) for their leadership and willingness to participate in the solution and teamwork in making the county seat fiscally strong while ensuring a better future for all of Dauphin County.

• MAYOR LINDA THOMPSON for petitioning for Act 47 and for her tireless efforts working with the Receiver and his team to bring the plan to where it is and bring the City to a much better place than when she arrived.

HARRISBURG REGIONAL NEWS / WINTER 2014

• HARRISBURG CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS (WANDA WILLIAMS, SUSAN BROWN WILSON, EUGENIA SMITH, BRAD KOPLINSKI, SANDRA REID, KELLY SUMMERFORD, AND BRUCE WEBER) for asking the tough questions, for challenging the process and for demonstrating political leadership by casting a unanimous vote for the parking project a few weeks ago.

• RECEIVER GENERAL WILLIAM LYNCH for his leadership, for his vision and his faith in a better Harrisburg and a better region.

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MAKING STRIDES

MEMBERS IN THE NEWS Mount Nittany Medical Center (MNMC) and ALEXANDER BUILDING CONSTRUCTION CO., a Butz Family Company, received the 2013 Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) National Project of the Year Award for New Construction with a constructed value less than $25 million. MNMC and Alexander were awarded the honor for the construction of the Lance and Ellen Shaner Cancer Pavilion, part of Mount Nittany Health in State College, PA. C.S. DAVIDSON, INC. announced that Andrew J. Ferrari, P.E. was selected as the Pennsylvania/Delaware ESOP Chapter’s 2014 Employee of the Year at the Chapter Conference held in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Ferrari will be the Chapter Representative for the National Employee of the Year contest in spring 2014 being held in Washington, D.C. CENTRIC BANK President and CEO Patricia A. Husic was chosen by American Banker as one of The 25 Women to Watch in U.S. banking and is featured on the cover of a special October edition of American Banker magazine. Selected from hundreds of banking executives in a nationwide ranking, Husic was praised for leading an initiative to advance more women into executive management and C-suite roles.

DAWOOD ENGINEERING (Dawood) was awarded the Supplier of the Year Award from The Western Pennsylvania Minority Supplier Development Council (WPMSDC) at the top regional minority businesses and corporations during their Ninth Annual Awards Gala on Friday, October 4, 2013 at the LeMont Restaurant on Mount Washington. Over 220 guests filled the LeMont for the sold-out event, with gourmet food and live entertainment.

F&M TRUST provided financial support to New Hope Ministries, a Christian social service agency that serves the Mechanicsburg and West Shore areas of South Central PA in addition to Dillsburg, Dover, and Hanover. New Hope Ministries

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provides support and organized assistance for at-risk or in-crisis individuals and families. Programs include financial assistance and education, medical assistance, transportation assistance, food pantry, and afterschool program.

For more information, please visit www.nhm-pa.org.

GUNN-MOWERY announced the asset acquisition of Wells Fargo Insurance’s Camp Hill, PA operation.

The acquisition closed on November 27, 2013, with an effective date of December 1, 2013. The combined operations will manage over $80,000,000 of insurance premiums, $9,000,000 in annual revenues, and will include 66 employees providing superior customer service and expertise from Gunn-Mowery’s four regional offices in Cumberland, Lancaster, York, and Centre Counties.

The last remaining facility associated with air travel prior to September 11th, is now being removed at HARRISBURG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. The $1.8 million project is funded by grants from the Federal Aviation Administration, the state of Pennsylvania’s Bureau of Aviation and SARAA. The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development announced that three parcels of HIA property— totaling about 124 acres—have been designated as Keystone Opportunity Zones. A Keystone Opportunity Zone is a geographic area that provides specific state and local tax benefits. The goal of the KOZ program is to revive economically distressed areas with one of the most powerful market-based incentives – eliminating taxes. The three approved SARAA owned properties include the parking lot and old terminal building site, the former Bethlehem Steel property on the western end of the airport and the former Crawford Station power plant site on the eastern end of the airport.

The JFC STAFFING COMPANIES announced that it has been named to Inavero’s 2013 Best of Staffing™ Client list of award winners.

Presented in partnership with CareerBuilder, the fourth annual Best of Staffing list provides the only statistically valid, objective, service quality benchmarks in the industry and reveals which staffing

agencies are delivering exceptional service to their clients. This year’s list highlights a growing divide among the industry’s leaders and laggards, and identifies the JFC Staffing Companies as one of the best staffing agencies for companies to call when they are looking to hire temporary or permanent employees.

METZGER WICKERSHAM personal injury law firm has relocated its principal office to a newly constructed building in the Harrisburg area. The mid-sized law firm is settled into its new and more spacious office in Susquehanna Township as of November 25, 2013.

Metzger Wickersham occupies the entire building, which is located at 2321 Paxton Church Road, Harrisburg, PA 17110.

QUANDEL ENTERPRISES, INC. announced that it is No. 22 among the top 72 small/medium employers in the state, according to the 14th annual Best Places to Work in PA awards program. This program evaluates and ranks the best places of employment in the State based on employee satisfaction and engagement, as well as workplace practices and policies.

ROOF ADVISORY GROUP is again a top-ranked investment advisory firm according to Financial Advisor magazine’s 2013 national ranking of Registered Investment Advisors (RIA). Of the 522 firms included in that survey, Roof Advisory Group ranked in the top 38% of firms for average assets under management per client and the top 21% of firms for percent growth in the number of new clientele. The firm placed nineteen out of 185 firms in its peer group. In Pennsylvania, Roof Advisory Group was included in the small number of top firms that were ranked in the state.

SACUNAS, one of the mid-Atlantic region’s premier B2B marketing and branding agencies, announced the hiring of Thaisa Jones as an Account Manager.

Jones comes to Sacunas with more than 10 years of experience in both business-to-business and businessto-consumer communications. She has developed strategic communications plans, new media strategies, and marketing campaigns for international consumer brands, government sectors, and non-profit organizations.

Michael J. Breslin of Harrisburg was honored with the 2013 Humanitarian Award from UNITED WAY OF THE CAPITAL REGION’S (UWCR) Tocqueville Society for his outstanding commitment to improving lives locally and throughout the region during a special reception, sponsored by M&T Bank and Higher Information Group. For more than four decades, Breslin has been a leader in the human services profession. He is the chief operating officer of NHS Human Services, Inc. in Harrisburg, which provides mental health, mental retardation, drug and alcohol, children and youth, juvenile justice and aging programs and services. NHS has more than 11,000 employees throughout seven states and an annual budget of more than $500 million.

WAGMAN COMPANIES, INC. was named among the Best Places to

Work in PA for 2013. “We are thrilled to be named among the Best Places to Work in PA again!” states Mike Glezer, President & CEO of Wagman Companies, Inc. “We take great pride in the fact that many employees spend the majority of their career and finish their career at Wagman, while encouraging other family members to join the company. We strive to make Wagman a great place to work and appreciate our employees voting us among the Best Places to Work in PA 2013!” (Include Best Places to Work Logo) WOHLSEN CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, headquartered in Lancaster, Pa., received two Awards of Excellence from the Delaware Contractors Association. The awards were presented at the association’s 44th Annual meeting. An Excellence award was presented to Wohlsen in the General Contractor Under $5 million category for the addition and renovations to the Dover Behavioral Health Facility. Wohlsen Construction and Array Architects provided Integrated Project Delivery services to construct a one-story, 24-bed addition to the existing facility located in Dover, Dela.

Additionally, Wohlsen received an Excellence Award for the 2D ICU Renovation project for Christiana Care Health System. The project, designed by Wilmot Sanz Architects, consisted of 13,833 square feet of renovations at the Christiana Hospital in Newark, Delaware.

A PUBLICATION OF THE HARRISBURG REGIONAL CHAMBER & CREDC