2008 (October): Managing Stormwater Locally – This workshop addressed stormwater
management. Subjects covered included the MR-4 process and how to make it work,
success stories in developing stormwater management plans, and addressing legal and
financial challenges. At the end of the formal; event, attendees could choose one of three
activities—visiting actual stormwater mitigation efforts along Paxton Creek, the Dauphin
County Conservation District site which has Best Management Practices exhibits, or to
remain with experts for a question-and-answer session. The event was held at HACC’s
Wildwood Conference Center. About people attended the event. Co-sponsors of the
workshop included: New Baldwin Corridor Coalition, Susquehanna Regional Basin
Commission, Dauphin County Conservation District, Paxton Creek Watershed and Education
Association, Tri-County Regional Planning Commission, Dauphin County Planning
Commission.
2007 (June): Community Workshop on Multicommunity Economic Development –
This workshop was designed for municipal officials, community economic development
officials, private sector developers and related private interests, nonprofits interested in
community and economic development, interested citizens who wish to learn more about or
discuss multicommunity collaboration in economic development. The mission for this
workshop was to address a variety of multicommunity economic development efforts, such
as Main Street programs and other collaborative multicommunity ventures outside of the
Main Street program. The purpose is to inform attendees of such programs, to stimulate
discussion on the value of multicommunity economic development collaborations, and to
provide an environment in which such collaborative efforts might take place. The program
was held at Harrisburg Area Community College’s Wildwood Campus.
The schedule:
A. Introduction: Bill Fontana, Pennsylvania Downtown Center
B. Startup Main Street program: Ben Scott, Upper Dauphin Main Street Manager
C. Ongoing program: Patty Rader, North Schuylkill Main Street Program
D. Multicommunity Collaboration: Dan Leppo, Walnut Street Project.
2006 (November): Avian Flu Workshop - On November 30, 2006, at the Student Center in the Capital Union Building at Penn State Harrisburg (in Middletown, PA), a workshop on avian flu was held. About 150 people attended, making this a very successful event. The Prime Sponsor was the Pennsylvania Department of Public Health, which provided support to make this event available to the public without cost. Co-sponsors include the New Baldwin Corridor Coalition, the South Central Assembly for Effective Governance, the Penn State Harrisburg School of Public Affairs, and the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission. Avian flu is a potentially dangerous global problem that requires local action. This workshop addressed community emergency preparedness in anticipation of the possibility of a pandemic. Among issues discussed: recognition of the potentially global nature of avian flu and the need for local action; the need for coordination across different groups, organizations, and levels of government; bridging the gap across government, emergency managers, health organizations, nonprofits, the private sector, and so on; the need to emphasize preparedness at all levels, including families and individuals. Copies of presentations and more information on Avian Flu can be found at http://www.cl.psu.edu/spa/avianflu
2005-2007: Facilitated the creation of the Electrical Connector Consortium - The Electrical Connector Consortium came about as a result of discussion by Coalition members. The South Central WIB is supporting this initiative; the Consortium is moving forward in a positive way by meeting regularly and setting up training for the member companies. The consortium has offered Blueprint Reading classes and Pro E classes.
2005 (November): Community Workshop - at the Wildwood Center at HACC. Designed to provide information to stakeholders and residents of the Corridor about the nature and use of eminent domain and about the Constitutional issues involved. The purpose was to inform interested parties about the issues and to provide a forum for discussion of what the Coalition might do to further discussion and advance discourse on the matter.
2005 (May): Community Workshop - a Community Workshop on Emergency Management and Homeland Security was held at the Wildwood Conference Center at Harrisburg Area Community College. Sponsors of this workshop included the City of Harrisburg, the Dauphin County Commissioners, Harrisburg Area Community College, and the School of Public Affairs at Penn State Harrisburg.
2004 (May): Community Workshop - a Community Workshop focused on key themes facing the Corridor; the Workshop was held at HACC’s Wildwood Center. The purpose was to develop a set of themes that the New Baldwin Corridor Coalition might use as the basis for ongoing discussion and development of action steps. Among themes identified included the value of neighborhood associations, voter turnout efforts, regional cooperative efforts, and EMS coordination. As a result of this workshop, NBCC municipal managers began meeting on a quarterly basis to discuss issues of mutual concern. These meeting continue today.
2002 (November): Community Workshop - a Community Workshop was held at HACC. One key theme: a discussion of the concept of a Regional Asset District (RAD). Mr. Dale Davenport, Editorial Page Editor of the Harrisburg Patriot-News, acted as moderator of the discussion. Mr. Alex Hartzler, Vice President of Web Client Net, spoke for the RAD and Mr. Grant Gulibon, Senior Policy Analyst from the Commonwealth Foundation, spoke against the RAD. Following the presentations, a question and answer period took place.
2002 (May): Community Workshop - a Community Development Workshop was held at Harrisburg Area Community College’s Wildwood Center. Representatives from communities and organizations along the Corridor spoke of common needs. The President of NBCC, Mr. Robert G. Garraty, opened the meeting by giving background on the reasons why it is sponsoring this Community Development Workshop. NBCC is interested in promoting meaningful jobs all up and down the corridor (Rt. 230 from Royalton to Harrisburg) and is also interested in promoting overall citizen involvement in government at all levels. Another long-term supporter of NBCC, Professor Rupe Chisholm, talked a little about this Session. The idea was to bring up anything attendees want. NBCC is a different kind of organization in that there is no hierarchy, no hovering specter of a larger entity out there hanging over us. This kind of organization didn’t come about by happenstance, but because conditions are changing around the world.
2001: Professional Development Workshops - NBCC offered coordination, communication, facilities, evaluation and college credit for regional professional development workshops for teachers (Grades K -12) within local school districts. In February 2001, over 56 teachers from four school districts participated in half- or full-day workshops emphasizing integrating technology into the classroom. A group of school administrators and teachers planning the workshops have worked together to change school district calendars in an effort to create more common professional development days to further support these regional professional development workshops. Real Results: Now the region has one place where our children's teachers can upgrade their skills in a cost effective and high quality environment!
1999-2003: Family Sustaining Jobs Initiative - The Family Sustaining Jobs Initiative (FSJI) engages employers, community organizations, and disadvantaged workers to bridge the gap between employers and the local community. The program is based on the reality that regional employers have high quality jobs going unfilled while underemployment and poverty endure in our communities. The FSJI is designed to connect, assist and support disadvantaged workers in family-sustaining jobs. Real Results: As a result of this program, 20-25 underemployed workers will be trained and placed into family sustaining jobs and five local businesses will have vacant job positions filled by employees willing and eager to work.
1999: Voyager program - In 1999, NBCC secured scholarships for four Harrisburg City youths to attend a Voyager summer camp program in space exploration at Harrisburg Area Community College
1999: Metalcraft Consortium - NBCC pulled together eight met working companies in the Corridor, assessed their training needs, and developed a training curriculum for them. The first training offered was "Blueprint Reading" in August 1999 for eleven employees of six local companies in an effort to share training resources. Real Results: Enterprises and unions working together are assessing the detailed needs of our region's workplaces and delivering quality and customized training to eliminate skill shortages that limit retention, expansion, and attraction of regional jobs!
1999: Common zoning - The NBCC evaluated zoning districts (using GIS) to determine unique opportunities to develop parcels using sound land use principles. In October 1999, the Center for Geographic Information Services at Penn State Harrisburg completed the mapping of six of the eight municipalities located within the New Baldwin Corridor Coalition. Real Results: For the first time, community planners and economic development specialists can look at a single map and see various zoning designations for the entire Corridor region!
1998-2000: Youth Summer Camps - NBCC coordinated planning efforts and registration of multi-school district summer camp program for school age children. In 2000, over 800 students attended camps covering a variety of topics including foreign languages, international cooking, basketball, television, history, geography and tennis. Real Results: As a result of this program, every student in the five school district region can have a quality place to go during his or her summer school break. Plus, it makes the schools more effective!
1998: Increase in Voter Participation - The NBCC began initiative to track voting participation in municipalities in order to increase overall participation. Following the 1998 general election, voting data was collected from each of the municipalities and voting percentages were calculated using 1990 Census population data. It was discovered that less than 43% of the population of any one municipality participated in the 1998 general election. In 2000, the general election participation was measured and compared to the 1998 data. Two municipalities were awarded plaques for their effort to increase voting participation. Real Results: Sane public policy requires an engaged citizenry. Encouraging more people to vote starts us in that needed direction!
Other NBCC Initiatives:
Cameron Street Building - Assisted owner of building on Cameron Street to be used as youth entrepreneurship center with business plan development and support. NBCC members were able to connect the owner of the building with students at Penn State Harrisburg who created a business plan for the building to fulfill requirements for an entrepreneurship class. This building will be used as a youth entrepreneurship and training center.
Program Costs Item
$1,000 Assists NBCC in supporting another entrepreneur. Real Results: This is a grassroots effort to get kids off the streets and started toward a family sustaining career!
Enterprise Zone - NBCC played a part in extending the Harrisburg Enterprise Zone to parts of Middletown Borough and Lower Swatara Township.
ENVISION Partner - NBCC supports the efforts of the Harrisburg Regional Chamber. ENVISION is an initiative of the Harrisburg Regional Chamber, Lancaster Chamber of Business & Industry, and the York County Chamber of Commerce.
ENVISION seeks to create a better quality of life for Central PA through better education.