News

With registration opening this week for the 2016 fall conference, PEDA is now accepting and encouraging your submission of 2017 spring conference session proposals. Please use the following outline in submitting your proposals to be considered for the April 24 – 26, 2017 event at the Hilton Harrisburg.

In your submission, please include your name, title, organization, phone number, email address, and mailing address and send via email to PEDA at conferences@peda.org, labeling the Subject line "2017 PEDA Spring Recommendations".  Thank you for your assistance.

• Explain your proposed session topic, title, and overview.
• Explain what is innovative about your proposed session and topic(s) of focus.
• Explain your presentation approach / style.
• Describe what the key takeaways will be for conference attendees.
• Provide any information you feel will help us better understand what you want to do as a presenter.
• Provide name / title / organization for each of the speakers / presenters you're recommending for consideration.

Click here to view PEDA's current sponsorship brochure.

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Governor Wolf Announces 207 Jobs With New Hudson’s Bay Company Facility in Schuylkill County

Harrisburg, PA – Governor Tom Wolf announced today that Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC), parent of Saks Fifth Avenue, Lord & Taylor and Saks OFF 5TH, will establish a new facility in Foster Township, Schuylkill County. The move will result in 207 new, full-time jobs.

“This is the nineteenth jobs announcement that my administration has made with the Governor’s Action Team this year, securing commitments for the creation of thousands new jobs all across the commonwealth,” said Governor Wolf. “Each announcement is another boost to Pennsylvania’s economy and the addition of HBC’s new facility in Schuylkill County means 207, new, full-time jobs for Pennsylvanians.”

HBC will move into an existing distribution facility in Foster Township. The company will establish an e-commerce fulfillment center and develop a 50,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art fashion photography studio. The company has committed to making an investment of at least $50 million in the project and has committed to creating 207 new, full-time jobs and retaining 391 positions over the next three years.

The project was coordinated by the Governor’s Action Team, an experienced group of economic development professionals who report directly to the governor and work with businesses that are considering locating or expanding in Pennsylvania, in collaboration with the Schuylkill Economic Development Corporation.

“We are grateful to Governor Wolf and the Governor’s Action Team, and excited to become part of the Pottsville community,” said Jerry Storch, HBC’s Chief Executive Officer. “At HBC, we are laser-focused on our all-channel strategy, and this investment leapfrogs us to the forefront of internet distribution technology. As we execute on our digital strategy, we continue to invest in innovation that enables us to serve our consumers seamlessly, lead the evolution of trends in the retail industry, and expand our business which creates new job opportunities and investment in the community.”

HBC received a funding proposal from the Department of Community and Economic Development that includes a $500,000 Pennsylvania First program grant, $93,150 in WEDnetPA funding for employee training, and $414,000 in Job Creation Tax Credits to be distributed upon creation of the new jobs.

“There is no issue more important in Schuylkill County than good-paying jobs,” said state Sen. David G. Argall, R-Schuylkill/Berks. “I want to congratulate Governor Wolf and his team, as well as Frank Zukas at SEDCO and Rep. Goodman and all of our local economic development advocates on a job well done. The interstate and international competition for jobs of this kind is very intense and I am very pleased by the result today.”

“I’m thrilled that Hudson’s Bay Company has chosen to bring hundreds of family-sustaining jobs to my legislative district and to invest $50 million into this project,” said state Rep. Neal P. Goodman, D-Schuylkill. “Hudson’s Bay Company is one of the fastest growing department store retailers in the world, and its e-commerce fulfillment center in Highridge Business Park will help the company and Schuylkill County to continue to move forward.”

“Today’s announcement is great news for the economic future of Schuylkill County given the excellent reputation of the Hudson’s Bay Company as an innovative retailer and e-commerce leader with iconic brands such as Saks Fifth Avenue and Lord & Taylor included in their family of companies,” said Frank Zukas, president, Schuylkill Economic Development Corporation. 

Hudson’s Bay Company is the oldest company in North America. HBC’s leading North American banners include Hudson’s Bay, Lord & Taylor, Saks Fifth Avenue, Gilt, and Saks OFF 5TH, along with Find @ Lord & Taylor and Home Outfitters. In Europe, its banners include GALERIA Kaufhof, the largest department store group in Germany, Belgium’s only department store group Galeria INNO, as well as Sportarena. The company has more than 460 stores and 66,000 employees around the world.

Katie Krise serves as a Financial Assistant in the Accounting department for the North Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission.  She is responsible for fiscal tracking for several programs throughout the commission, including the loan program for the Enterprise Development Department.  She accounts for loan profiles and activity within the loans for ARC and EDA Revolving Loan Funds, Intermediary Relending Programs, Microloans, and SBA Microloans.  North Central presently maintains a portfolio of over $26,000,000.00 with 250 active loans.

Ms. Krise worked with North Central as an intern through her college years and later received a full-time position with the Commission after obtaining a Bachelors of Science degree in Business Administration with an individualized Accounting option from the Pennsylvania State University.

PEDA wishes to congratulate Board President Pamela J. Shupp, AICP, CEcD, who has been named President and CEO of Greater Reading Economic Partnership, effective July 1, 2016.  A full press release is available here. 

Click here to access the Young Professional Scholarship Request Form for PEDA's fall conference. This scholarship opportunity is made available through the generosity of FirstEnergy Corp.

PEDA has joined forces with Keystone Edge web magazine (see KeystoneEdge.com) to create a series of feature stories profiling the next generation of economic development professionals. We are seeking the help of our membership in identifying young professionals that you believe would offer an engaging perspective on how younger people are shaping what's next in local or regional economic and community development.

As a guide, the best candidates for these features would be in the 22 to 40 age range and currently or recently spearheading unique and/or high-impact economic and community development projects in urban, suburban, or rural markets. The intent of the Keystone Edge partnership and the forthcoming features is to show the magazine's readers that economic development is a contemporary and compelling career path for recent graduates and younger professionals looking to make a difference in their communities. Responses can be sent directly to newsletter@peda.org.

These features are projected to reach more than 30,000 readers from across Pennsylvania and border state markets with the first feature running in either the August or September edition of Keystone Edge. 

For more information on Keystone Edge - and to subscribe to monthly email editions - go to KeystoneEdge.com/about.

Christopher C. Houston is a Principal of the law firm of Salzmann Hughes, P.C. and serves as Senior Advisor to GMS.  Working in close collaboration with GMS’ multi-disciplinary team, Chris offers GMS clients extensive experience in creating opportunities to maximize the efficient utilization and timely delivery of various federal, state and local assistance, development, and incentive programs to ensure successful completion of complex community and economic development projects. His experience includes assisting communities and developers in all aspects of project development, including program design, funding application preparation and submission, program implementation, and administration/compliance. 

Chris’ background includes a 33+ year legal career, with service at the top level of state government, as Chief Counsel of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development and Chief Counsel of the $27 billion Pennsylvania State Employees’ Retirement System.

Preceding his Commonwealth service, Chris served as the Executive Director of the Redevelopment and Housing Authorities of the County of Cumberland, where he oversaw the implementation and administration of various housing, community and economic development projects and programs in Perry and Cumberland Counties. Prior to serving as Executive Director, Chris served in a variety of positions with the Authorities, including Assistant Director, General Counsel and Director of Real Estate Development.  Previous to Chris’ public service he was in private law practice.

Reading, PA, April 25, 2016 — Greater Reading Economic Partnership is pleased to announce Pamela J. Shupp, AICP CEcD, Vice President, has been elected to the Northeastern Economic Developers Association (NEDA) Board of Directors.

The Northeastern Economic Developers Association (NEDA) is a regional association of dedicated economic development professionals who share best practices to make its members more valuable to the organizations they serve. NEDA members work to create effective regional economic development programs and promote regional cooperation and learning through thought-leadership and professional networking.

“I am pleased to join this Board of prestigious economic developers representing the northeast United States,” said Pamela Shupp. “The organization’s collaborative approach to community and economic development provides a sound foundation for regional partnerships and learning and mirrors our approach in Greater Reading and PA.”

With over 30 years of professional experience in community and economic development, Pamela is a valuable and knowledgeable addition to the Board of the Northeastern Economic Developers Association. Pamela is also the President of the Pennsylvania Economic Development Association (PEDA).

About Northeastern Economic Developers Association

NEDA members are dedicated economic development professionals who share best practices to make you more valuable to the organizations you serve.

NEDA will be the best resource for advancing the mission of your organization, creating effective regional economic development programs, and promoting regional cooperation and learning through leadership and professional networking.

About Greater Reading Economic Partnership

Greater Reading Economic Partnership’s mission is to lead regional efforts to attract, retain, and grow business and to market Berks County as a competitive and attractive location for business. For further information, visit GreaterReading.com.

GREP is one of 46 economic development organizations out of over 4,500 worldwide to receive accreditation from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC).

CREDC Financing Supports PPO&S Renovation of 100+ Year Old Building in the City of Harrisburg

HARRISBURG, PA (March 4, 2016) – The Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC (Chamber & CREDC) announced today that the Partnership of Packer, Oesterling & Smith (PPO&S) recently closed on an Enterprise Zone loan to renovate 513 N 2^nd Street in the City of Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.

CREDC provided a $200,000 Enterprise Zone Loan towards the real estate and relocation project. This financing leveraged another $430,000 in equity and bank financing provided by First National Bank.

PPO&S is an integrated marketing communications firm founded in 1980, and until late 2015, resided at 122 State Street. President Virginia Roth evaluated a number of options to provide the growing agency with a more functional space, but was also committed to remain within the City of Harrisburg. Literally around the corner, she found a diamond in the rough that would support the company’s goals, personality and energy. Roth and her team saw that the property had real potential to provide a major upgrade in the agency’s working environment, and smarter space for collaboration, creativity and innovation.

“We’ve been in the new space for over three months now, and I’m thrilled with the feedback from my colleagues and clients alike with the decision to stay in the city and make this our new home,” said Roth. “It will support our continued growth in serving clients across the Commonwealth and in more than14 states. Our partnership with CREDC’s leadership and staff was an invaluable ingredient to the successful transition to the new property, and I’m most grateful.”

The Capital Region Economic Development Corporation is the economic development arm of the Harrisburg Regional Chamber, and is the leading organization for promoting and performing economic development activities in Cumberland, Dauphin and Perry counties. The group offers a variety of programs and resources to help attract, retain and expand business in the region. CREDC is a certified lender in Cumberland, Dauphin, and Perry counties.

The Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC serves as a catalyst for promoting growth and quality of life in Cumberland, Dauphin and Perry Counties 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. The Chamber & CREDC has been accredited with five stars from the United States Chamber of Commerce.

In honor of Pennsylvania Economic Development Week, PEDA's Board of Directors has adopted its FY2016-17 legislative priorities.

Click here for a press release.  Click here for this year’s legislative priorities.