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For over five years, the Economic
Pennsylvania (EDCNP) has ahd un-
derway an “Image Program.” Over the
years, this program had developed
various aspects but was not a unified
activity.
It was felt that after five years it was
time to look at the program objectively to
see what had been accomplished and
whether it was serving its purposes.
In order to do this an Ad Hoc Committee
was set up consisting of individuals who
previously. The purpose of the committee
was to see what aspects of the program
might have had impact on the community
and to determine whether or not it should
be continued in whole or in part. Actually,
every member of the committee was
familiar with at least some aspects of the
program, and it became quite evident that
the program was accomplishing gost of
its goals. Consequently, it was determined
that “it should be reactivated and
reorganized.
A plan was evolved which would bring
all elements of the program under a single
steering committee. The members of that
steering committee would be the co-
chairpersons of the six separate program
committees. The steering committee
from State
and Jack Roth.
It was also felt that it was desirable to
have a designation for the program that
and thrust. Consequently, it was decided
to identify it as the Area Awareness and
Action (AAA) Program of the Economic
Development Council of Northeastern
Pennsylvania.
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William Bachman, media; Jesse Pierson
and Karen Devey, Pocono Northeast
Community Awards; Thomas Shelburne,
Sr., regional marketing strategy, David
Tressler and Richard Laux, visitation;
Nancy Shukaitis and Philip Walter,
government challenge play; John McCole
and Jack Bates, private sector coor-
dination.
Are Industrial
Parks Obsolete?
Most Americcan communities are
economic development projects, says a
Pennsylvania State University professor
and economic development consultant.
“Very often the expertise is available,”
sayd Peter B. Meyer, associate professor
of economic planning. “You have people
who are quite skilled in finance in most
areas, for example. It's a matter of
focusing the expertise and recognizing the
new tools of economic planning.”
Instead, many areas continue to rely on
an old tool--the industrial park, according
to Dr. Meyer.
“I understand that there are ap-
proximately 16,000 industrial parks in the
United States with vacancies,” he said.
“In 1982 around 150 new plants with 250 or
more employees opened. Yes, we've
overbuilt industrial parks. We followed the
leader a bit too long.”
Dr. Meyer, who directs the Local
Economi¢ Development Assistance
project at Penn State, works to show cities
and counties the range of economic
“One of the best resources an area has is
its existing firms” he said. ‘Virtually all
those firms have some growth potential.”
One of the new economic tools involves
showing companies how to expand. “Say a
firm has a proiduct and it is acutally the
proverbial better mouse trap. But the
fellow who makes it knows little about
marketing and has never tried to sell the
product - nationwide. He could have a
business that is 10 times as big.
“What would happen if good marketing
assistance was provided to that firm? It’s
a lot easier than selling your area to
another firm looking for.a new place to
open a plant when you know you are
competing with hundreds of other areas.”
Another often overlooked tool is helping
local people to stat a business. ‘‘Many
times a person with a good product or
service idea doesn’t have a good idea of
how to put together a good business plan--
something that shows the steps to take and
when to expect to break even. If you don’t
know how to do that, you’re not going to be
able to borrow money. Get some advice
for that person and you might have a new
small firm for your town.
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