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.