Energizing the economy

Leaders from across the public and private sectors converged at the Hilton Harrisburg on Tuesday for City & State’s 2024 Economic & Workforce Development Summit – a half-day event that featured appearances from members of the U.S. Economic Development Administration and the Harrisburg mayor’s office, as well as panels focused on Pennsylvania’s economic trajectory and the state’s unique workforce issues. 

The event kicked off with remarks from Jonathan D. Lovitz, senior adviser and director of public affairs for the U.S. Economic Development Administration, who highlighted how federal legislation implemented by the Biden administration will result in economic gains for the Keystone State. 

“Every year, we keep our economy strong by supporting good jobs, innovations and opportunities that, most importantly, start, grow and remain in the United States,” he told attendees. “Because of recent historic legislation such as the American Rescue Plan, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the CHIPS and Science Act, the Inflation Reduction Act and so many more, our communities are seeing new manufacturing in clean energy investments, new roads, new bridges, lower health care (costs), improved access to energy, lower internet costs and so much more that make it better for people to live and work.”

The day’s first panel examined how community leaders can leverage a region’s location when developing an economic strategy, how recent changes to Pennsylvania’s corporate tax structure will help the state’s business climate, and how state and local incentives can spur development. The panel comprised Douglas E. Brown, deputy director at the Dauphin County Office of Community and Economic Development; Don Cunningham, president and CEO at the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp; and Justin J. Frank, senior specialist and area sales manager at L3Harris Technologies.

Cunningham emphasized on the importance of collaborative relationships between the public and private sectors.

“It is a challenge if the public sector is not predisposed towards economic growth and development, which is the first underlying point of public-private partnership, beyond just investment from” state or federal government, he said. “What we find from businesses and developers is they want to see elected officials or their appointed representatives across the table working with them. If you have that, then you truly do have a public-private partnership.”

The summit’s second panel, which focused on workforce challenges facing the commonwealth, featured United Way of Pennsylvania President Kristen Rotz; Aiisha G. Herring-Miller, deputy director of diverse business and workforce development at the City of Philadelphia’s Capital Program Office; and Leo Knepper, chief of staff for state Sen. Jarrett Coleman. 

The panelists explored several topics, including access to affordable child care and transportation. Rotz said that public and private sector leaders must take a holistic view of workforce challenges. 

“We really take a very broad lens on this. It is not just about hard skills and soft skills. It is also about: Do you have access to child care? Do you have a reliable mode of transportation? Do you have safe and affordable housing to keep a roof over your head?” Rotz said. “It is next to impossible to provide all of your intellectual and physical capability to an employer – whatever your job – if you are struggling with any one of these things.”

City & State will return to the Hilton Harrisburg on Thursday, Oct. 17, for its 2024 Aging in Pennsylvania Summit.