Presented By:Presented By:Business Data ProcessingBusiness Data Processing

Wilkes-Barre Area Wilkes-Barre Area Vocational-Technical SchoolVocational-Technical School

The collaboration of The Greater Scranton The collaboration of The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce and The Greater Chamber of Commerce and The Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business and Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business and

Industry to propel a healthy entrepreneurial Industry to propel a healthy entrepreneurial climate with business and employment climate with business and employment opportunities and a stable work force opportunities and a stable work force

Comprising the I-81 Comprising the I-81 Corridor merging Corridor merging Scranton, Wilkes-Scranton, Wilkes-

Barre, and Hazleton Barre, and Hazleton from Northern from Northern Lackawanna to Lackawanna to

Southern Luzerne Southern Luzerne CountyCounty

Luzerne

Lackawanna

Re-invent the image of the Great Re-invent the image of the Great Valley, and attain the stature of a Valley, and attain the stature of a

globally competitive economic future globally competitive economic future where you can comfortably raise a where you can comfortably raise a

familyfamily

Generating, attracting, and Generating, attracting, and keeping highly skilled technical keeping highly skilled technical

workers will be key in the workers will be key in the transformation transformation

of an industrial economyof an industrial economyto a technology-based to a technology-based economyeconomy

20% 14%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

Percent

Nation Great Valley

Business climate complimented by low Business climate complimented by low cost of livingcost of living

Attractive natural resourcesAttractive natural resources

Strong economic development Strong economic development organizationsorganizations

Advanced telecommunication servicesAdvanced telecommunication servicesEducational resourcesEducational resources

Insufficient technology-driven infrastructureInsufficient technology-driven infrastructure

Obsolete research & development facilitiesObsolete research & development facilities

Inadequate entrepreneurial & employment Inadequate entrepreneurial & employment opportunitiesopportunities

Lack of vibrant downtowns with an aging Lack of vibrant downtowns with an aging populationpopulation

Failure to retain college graduatesFailure to retain college graduates

Departure of low-cost operationsDeparture of low-cost operations

Out-migration trend of college graduatesOut-migration trend of college graduates

Under-employment & low cost income Under-employment & low cost income populationspopulations

Relocation of existing technology Relocation of existing technology companiescompanies

$41,521

$33,308

$24,673

$0

$5,000

$10,000

$15,000

$20,000

$25,000

$30,000

$35,000

$40,000

$45,000

New Y ork Philadelphia Great Valley

Leverage higher education systemsLeverage higher education systemsCapitalize on recreational activitiesCapitalize on recreational activitiesBuild on existing call center operationsBuild on existing call center operationsCapture expansion of information Capture expansion of information technology technology Access talent of successful entrepreneursAccess talent of successful entrepreneursCapitalize on industrial & technology parksCapitalize on industrial & technology parks

An analysis of labor clusters and projected An analysis of labor clusters and projected U.S. employment to year 2006 indicates:U.S. employment to year 2006 indicates:

Significant decline in traditional industriesSignificant decline in traditional industries

Emergence of new smaller industriesEmergence of new smaller industries

New growth sectors will embark upon New growth sectors will embark upon information technologyinformation technology

SpecializationsSpecializationsPositive Positive

Competitive Competitive ShiftShift

Strong Start-upStrong Start-upActivity Activity

Health services

Electronic & other electrical equipment

Trucking & warehousing

Legal services

Financial institutionsInsurance carriers & agents

Engineering & mgmt servicesReal estate and holding services

Transportation servicesCommunications services

Air transportation

Instruments & related products

Technology based companiesWell paying jobs

Career opportunitiesQuality of life

Technology infrastructure

Innovative entrepreneurial activityInnovative entrepreneurial activityKnowledge-based industrial growthKnowledge-based industrial growth

Business Government

Educational Institutions

Information Technology Growth Information Technology Growth

Technology Infrastructure InvestmentTechnology Infrastructure Investment

Innovation and EntrepreneurshipInnovation and Entrepreneurship

Knowledge Worker Retention and AttractionKnowledge Worker Retention and AttractionEnhancement of Quality of LifeEnhancement of Quality of Life

Industry AssistanceIndustry Assistance

Generate specialization Generate specialization and nurture of a core and nurture of a core competence in competence in information technologyinformation technology

Create Information Create Information Technology InstituteTechnology Institute

Initiate an incubator and multi-tenant Initiate an incubator and multi-tenant facilityfacility

Re-establish rail service to New York CityRe-establish rail service to New York City

Improving air service Improving air service from Wilkes-Barre/from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton InternationalScranton InternationalAirportAirport

Form Angel Investor and Mentoring Form Angel Investor and Mentoring NetworkNetwork

Create Great Valley Innovation FundCreate Great Valley Innovation Fund

Celebrate entrepreneurial successCelebrate entrepreneurial success

Expand graduate programsExpand graduate programs

Institute internship and cooperative Institute internship and cooperative programs for students/facultyprograms for students/faculty

Establish career development/job Establish career development/job placement servicesplacement services

Facilitate young professional's Facilitate young professional's organizationorganization

Develop partnerships to create an Develop partnerships to create an attractive environment and outdoor attractive environment and outdoor activitiesactivities

Develop Develop Manufacturing Manufacturing Technology NetworkTechnology Network

Assess future Assess future clusters with clusters with Information Information Technology InstituteTechnology Institute

Implementing these strategies requires a Implementing these strategies requires a collaborative effort that rests on the collaborative effort that rests on the

region’s ability to change and adapt to the region’s ability to change and adapt to the new economy upon us.new economy upon us.