On Friday, I attended a luncheon where Sec. Yablonsky, head of Pennsylvania's Department of Community and Economic Development spoke about his plan for Pennsylvania. To my pleasant surprise he brought up a point I had made to NET's board a day earlier - young professionals move to an area because of quality of place, not for a job like previous generations. I publicly thanked him for this acknowledgment.
It is refreshing to know that someone in as powerful position as he is gets it. Please give his office a call to thank him sometime at 717-720-1355.
Vanessa Williams
President
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Monday, October 29, 2007
Celebrate Diwali - Nov. 17th
Presented by the Indian American Association of the Lehigh Valley
5:00pm - Dinner
6:30pm - Local entertainment
8:30pm - back by popular demand - Film songs by Sunita Kapur!
In addition to an exquisite dinner and talented performances from local artists, this year we are going have a special entertainment program given by Sunita Kapur and her music group. Sunita Kapur is a famous singer from Bollywood, who has performed on stage with stars such
as Sonu Nigam, Anu Malik, Sudhesh Bhosle, Laxmikant Pyarelal, Kalyanji Anandji, Abhijeet, Kumar Sanu, Kavita Krishnamurthy, Alka Yagnik, Shaan, Vinod Rathod and many others. Check her website at www.musicsunita.com for more details.
Tickets:
Adults - $18 (Advance purchase only); $20 at the gate
Kids and participants - $12
Please call Nitin Laud (610-351-4984) to get your tickets today.
5:00pm - Dinner
6:30pm - Local entertainment
8:30pm - back by popular demand - Film songs by Sunita Kapur!
In addition to an exquisite dinner and talented performances from local artists, this year we are going have a special entertainment program given by Sunita Kapur and her music group. Sunita Kapur is a famous singer from Bollywood, who has performed on stage with stars such
as Sonu Nigam, Anu Malik, Sudhesh Bhosle, Laxmikant Pyarelal, Kalyanji Anandji, Abhijeet, Kumar Sanu, Kavita Krishnamurthy, Alka Yagnik, Shaan, Vinod Rathod and many others. Check her website at www.musicsunita.com for more details.
Tickets:
Adults - $18 (Advance purchase only); $20 at the gate
Kids and participants - $12
Please call Nitin Laud (610-351-4984) to get your tickets today.
Learn about the Neighborhood Partnership Program this Wednesday
The Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce (GLVCC) and the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation (LVEDC) will hold a Community Breakfast on October 31 to inform the business community about The Neighborhood Partnership Program – a significant tax credit program that fosters the development of private, non-profit, public and neighborhood civic groups to improve the quality of life in distressed communities.
The Neighborhood Partnership Program (NPP) is offered by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development as a new tool to help communities build and sustain development efforts and adapt to changing economic and social conditions over the long term. The NPP provides tax credit incentives to private, for-profit businesses that have significant state tax obligations and make substantial long-term contributions to community development projects. The program also promotes business growth and provides employees with the opportunity to volunteer in the community and have a hands-on role in neighborhood improvement.
It is the mission of GLVCC and LVEDC to promote economic prosperity throughout the Lehigh Valley, and one of the most important efforts in reaching this goal is through the marketing and revitalization of our urban cores, including the more impoverished neighborhoods. As community partners responsible for ensuring that our businesses in the Lehigh Valley thrive and continue to prosper, LVEDC and the GLVCC encourage your attendance to learn about this important component to the health and success of the Lehigh Valley.
The breakfast will be held from 8 to 9 a.m. at the Northampton Community College, Fowler Center, 511 S. Third Street, Bethlehem. For more information, contact: Taryn Heisler at 610.266.2217 or theisler@lehighvalley.org.
The Neighborhood Partnership Program (NPP) is offered by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development as a new tool to help communities build and sustain development efforts and adapt to changing economic and social conditions over the long term. The NPP provides tax credit incentives to private, for-profit businesses that have significant state tax obligations and make substantial long-term contributions to community development projects. The program also promotes business growth and provides employees with the opportunity to volunteer in the community and have a hands-on role in neighborhood improvement.
It is the mission of GLVCC and LVEDC to promote economic prosperity throughout the Lehigh Valley, and one of the most important efforts in reaching this goal is through the marketing and revitalization of our urban cores, including the more impoverished neighborhoods. As community partners responsible for ensuring that our businesses in the Lehigh Valley thrive and continue to prosper, LVEDC and the GLVCC encourage your attendance to learn about this important component to the health and success of the Lehigh Valley.
The breakfast will be held from 8 to 9 a.m. at the Northampton Community College, Fowler Center, 511 S. Third Street, Bethlehem. For more information, contact: Taryn Heisler at 610.266.2217 or theisler@lehighvalley.org.
LVEDC's Urban Opportunities Tour shows investment opportunities in Lehigh Valley's downtowns
New York architect Kathy Sekowski was impressed. The urban designer making her first visit to the Lehigh Valley expected to find its urban zones just starting to move out of the post-industrial malaise and instead found three cities far along the path to revitalization.
“There’s a huge disproportion between the image and the reality,” she said after a lunch break on the 2007 Urban Opportunities Tour conducted Oct. 18 by the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation.
The goal of this year’s tour was to reach out to developers and real estate professionals across the Valley and beyond to introduce them to the potential for redevelopment in the urban areas, and the tour attracted almost 30 of those professionals from as far away as New York City and Connecticut. For some, it reinforced what they already knew and provided further insight on the efforts the city’s have been putting forth to rebuild their tax base. For others, such as Sekowski, it was an eye-opening day.
“I never realized how much development was going on, how much architectural wealth there is, and how much charm there is in these cities,” she said after listing to Easton Mayor Phil Mitman’s luncheon presentation on his city’s four-year effort to prioritize cleanliness, economic development, public safety and residential and investor confidence. “I will definitely come back.”
The third annual Urban Tour gives the developers and real estate professionals a chance to interact with city Community and Economic Development leaders and visit a variety of sites that display the potential of urban properties. Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski, Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan and Easton Mayor Phil Mitman will give presentations on their cities as the tour visits each municipality, and the developers will have the opportunity for follow-up meetings with the mayors and city officials on Friday to learn more about specific sites of interest.
“The revitalization of our cities has been and remains one of our top priorities,” said Robert Weed, interim President and Chief Executive Officer for LVEDC. “By providing the opportunities for developers to learn more about the cities and the potential these sites offer for creative and substantial use or re-use, we encourage increased investment and the continued restoration of an important economic platform for the Lehigh Valley.”
The tour began at the Banana Factory in Bethlehem at 8:30 a.m. Thursday with a presentation by Mayor Callahan, followed by a bus tour of selected sites in that city.
Callahan outlined the $1.6 billion in redevelopment already underway in the Christmas City and explained the committed urban planning process that has guided the city as it sets the pace for redevelopment across the Valley.
“While Bethlehem has see a tremendous amount of growth and good things, there are still a lot of opportunities here,” Callahan said before the group began its tour of his city. “You are going to see some projects that will take some vision, but we are here to help.”
Mayor Mitman said Easton has seen a resurgence in residential investment over the past four years, and that has helped spur increased commercial and office development interest. Referring to the Bank Street Annex where the group stopped for lunch, Mitman explained its reuse over the years.
“We are going to see several buildings in Easton that offer the same potential,” he said as the group prepared to board the bus for the post-luncheon tour.
Mayor Pawlowski told the professionals that while Center City has seen some strong projects brought to fruition over the past several years, they are only a small portion of a renaissance going on across the Valley’s largest municipality. The focus now is on rebuilding the residential neighborhoods surrounding the downtown to provide a stable platform for continued growth, he said.
“We have some great potential. This is a place for opportunity,” he said during a presentation at the Baum School of Art. “Allentown is at the tipping point (of a solid revival).”
Sites visited in each city included a mix of office, retail/commercial and industrial buildings and developable sites without existing structures, such as the Calo building on Front Street and the former Pennsylvania Department of Transportation District 5 office on Lehigh Street in Allentown; the Miller Wholesale/Christmas City Bottling facility on Monocacy Street and the former D’Huy Engineering building on Main Street in Bethlehem; and the former Lipkin’s Furniture store at 3rd and Ferry Streets and a vacant manufacturing building on Lincoln Street in Easton.
“There’s a huge disproportion between the image and the reality,” she said after a lunch break on the 2007 Urban Opportunities Tour conducted Oct. 18 by the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation.
The goal of this year’s tour was to reach out to developers and real estate professionals across the Valley and beyond to introduce them to the potential for redevelopment in the urban areas, and the tour attracted almost 30 of those professionals from as far away as New York City and Connecticut. For some, it reinforced what they already knew and provided further insight on the efforts the city’s have been putting forth to rebuild their tax base. For others, such as Sekowski, it was an eye-opening day.
“I never realized how much development was going on, how much architectural wealth there is, and how much charm there is in these cities,” she said after listing to Easton Mayor Phil Mitman’s luncheon presentation on his city’s four-year effort to prioritize cleanliness, economic development, public safety and residential and investor confidence. “I will definitely come back.”
The third annual Urban Tour gives the developers and real estate professionals a chance to interact with city Community and Economic Development leaders and visit a variety of sites that display the potential of urban properties. Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski, Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan and Easton Mayor Phil Mitman will give presentations on their cities as the tour visits each municipality, and the developers will have the opportunity for follow-up meetings with the mayors and city officials on Friday to learn more about specific sites of interest.
“The revitalization of our cities has been and remains one of our top priorities,” said Robert Weed, interim President and Chief Executive Officer for LVEDC. “By providing the opportunities for developers to learn more about the cities and the potential these sites offer for creative and substantial use or re-use, we encourage increased investment and the continued restoration of an important economic platform for the Lehigh Valley.”
The tour began at the Banana Factory in Bethlehem at 8:30 a.m. Thursday with a presentation by Mayor Callahan, followed by a bus tour of selected sites in that city.
Callahan outlined the $1.6 billion in redevelopment already underway in the Christmas City and explained the committed urban planning process that has guided the city as it sets the pace for redevelopment across the Valley.
“While Bethlehem has see a tremendous amount of growth and good things, there are still a lot of opportunities here,” Callahan said before the group began its tour of his city. “You are going to see some projects that will take some vision, but we are here to help.”
Mayor Mitman said Easton has seen a resurgence in residential investment over the past four years, and that has helped spur increased commercial and office development interest. Referring to the Bank Street Annex where the group stopped for lunch, Mitman explained its reuse over the years.
“We are going to see several buildings in Easton that offer the same potential,” he said as the group prepared to board the bus for the post-luncheon tour.
Mayor Pawlowski told the professionals that while Center City has seen some strong projects brought to fruition over the past several years, they are only a small portion of a renaissance going on across the Valley’s largest municipality. The focus now is on rebuilding the residential neighborhoods surrounding the downtown to provide a stable platform for continued growth, he said.
“We have some great potential. This is a place for opportunity,” he said during a presentation at the Baum School of Art. “Allentown is at the tipping point (of a solid revival).”
Sites visited in each city included a mix of office, retail/commercial and industrial buildings and developable sites without existing structures, such as the Calo building on Front Street and the former Pennsylvania Department of Transportation District 5 office on Lehigh Street in Allentown; the Miller Wholesale/Christmas City Bottling facility on Monocacy Street and the former D’Huy Engineering building on Main Street in Bethlehem; and the former Lipkin’s Furniture store at 3rd and Ferry Streets and a vacant manufacturing building on Lincoln Street in Easton.
Unique grassroots movement promotes tolerance for LGTB community
I first heard about the "gay? fine by me." T-shirt project last year when my sister mentioned it occurring out at Millersville University's campus.
The Gay? Fine By Me™ T-Shirt Project sprung from a dinner conversation between ten friends, both gay and straight, at Duke University in the spring of 2003. In January 2005, two of the founders of the original T-Shirt Project, Lucas Schaefer and Leila Nesson Wolfrum, established Fine By Me, Inc. to give voice to the friends and supporters of LGBT Americans. In June 2005, Fine By Me became a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation.
Through the organization you may purchase an inexpensive T-shirt which simply states "gay? fine by me." It is one way to promote tolerance for the LGBT community regardless of your sexual orientation. The movement has spread virally across primarily college campuses with several thousands of T-shirts purchased and distributed nationwide.
To learn more visit finebyme.org.
The Gay? Fine By Me™ T-Shirt Project sprung from a dinner conversation between ten friends, both gay and straight, at Duke University in the spring of 2003. In January 2005, two of the founders of the original T-Shirt Project, Lucas Schaefer and Leila Nesson Wolfrum, established Fine By Me, Inc. to give voice to the friends and supporters of LGBT Americans. In June 2005, Fine By Me became a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation.
Through the organization you may purchase an inexpensive T-shirt which simply states "gay? fine by me." It is one way to promote tolerance for the LGBT community regardless of your sexual orientation. The movement has spread virally across primarily college campuses with several thousands of T-shirts purchased and distributed nationwide.
To learn more visit finebyme.org.
Why the Lehigh Valley needs a regional Health Bureau
Last week, I met for the first time with NET's Board of Advisers to discuss my plans for the upcoming year. Steve Bliss, a representative from Renew Lehigh Valley, was there to alert NET for the need for a regional health bureau.
Why is this an issue? Currently we have two health bureau's in this area, one in Allentown, and one in Bethlehem. Anyone who live outside of those areas may have an official here and there, but are grossly unprotected. These groups and scattered officials for the most part do not communicate on a regular basis. What does this mean? That in the Lehigh Valley we are seriously lacking public health services like immunizations. And if were ever to have an large outbreak of any kind, or bioterrorism, there is no central entity to take charge, and take action. A Lehigh Valley Health Bureau would coordinate response to such emergencies.
Some officials are wary of a regional health bureau because they are afraid that it will tax the existing fragmented system. However, by creating a regional organization, state funding for the area would increase by $3.2 million. More than double what our region receives now - $1.4 million.
What can you do? Express your support! Voting is coming up in both counties on the issue.
Vanessa Williams
President
Why is this an issue? Currently we have two health bureau's in this area, one in Allentown, and one in Bethlehem. Anyone who live outside of those areas may have an official here and there, but are grossly unprotected. These groups and scattered officials for the most part do not communicate on a regular basis. What does this mean? That in the Lehigh Valley we are seriously lacking public health services like immunizations. And if were ever to have an large outbreak of any kind, or bioterrorism, there is no central entity to take charge, and take action. A Lehigh Valley Health Bureau would coordinate response to such emergencies.
Some officials are wary of a regional health bureau because they are afraid that it will tax the existing fragmented system. However, by creating a regional organization, state funding for the area would increase by $3.2 million. More than double what our region receives now - $1.4 million.
What can you do? Express your support! Voting is coming up in both counties on the issue.
I live in Northampton County...
Together we can create a safer, healthier region.Vanessa Williams
President
"Priced Out" says Morning Call; the Affordable Housing Crisis in the Lehigh Valley
An article appeared in Sunday's Morning Call about the affordable housing crisis in this area. This is a topic NET has been speaking about for over a year now. We know that it is one of the biggest hurdles facing young professionals in this area. And I know first hand as I am currently in the housing marketing.
The article followed the Telesha family who are looking for a home under $125,000. Not surprisingly, they only found homes which were in bad neighborhoods, or in dire need of repair. In my opinion, however, they are the extreme. Most of you have expressed "affordable housing" as being between $150,000 and $200,000. This is still a struggle as most of us, as the article touched upon, are ineligible for any sort of assistance program.
Vanessa Williams
President
The article reported:
"In the past five years, home prices have risen more than 55 percent, hitting a record high last year of $228,000. Prices are even higher now, with the average cost of an existing home up 3 percent from a year ago.
Median incomes in the Valley, meanwhile, have risen at less than a third of that rate in the same period, according to the U.S. census.
Lehigh and Northampton counties deem the lack of affordable housing a growing issue and are planning to convene a first-ever summit on the issue.
''You have young professionals who are almost becoming the working poor,'' said Chris Bennick of Habitat for Humanity of the Lehigh Valley. ''It's a crisis.''
Some fear that the growing failure of people to make the jump from rental housing to owning a home will undermine the Valley's economic boom.
The dearth of affordable housing threatens to affect employers -- particularly hospitals and schools that may not be able to attract essential employees. A bi-county study published this year found teachers, policemen and others can no longer afford homes in the Valley that cost the median price.
On the heels of the report, the two counties have taken some steps to address the problem. Both counties have put aside money to pay for a regional housing coordinator to develop a strategy to boost the number of affordable units.
Lehigh County has re-established its housing trust fund, which will pay for the construction and rehabilitation of houses for low-to-moderate income families, and hopes to begin disbursing funds by the end of the year.
Other initiatives also provide a measure of hope. The Housing Association and Development Corp. announced last week an ambitious plan to build and repair 26 homes in Allentown, many of which will be sold for less than $100,000. In Bethlehem, Habitat plans to build 26 affordable homes near the top of South Mountain.
The number of people in the Valley who need help, however, is growing. And few assistance programs target people who are not low-income. For example, only families earning 80 percent of the median income or less will be eligible to buy homes in the HADC project."
....
"Participants in the Valley's recent study on affordable housing, completed in May, recommended creating a revolving loan pool to provide financing to nonprofit developers of low-cost housing.
They also recommended waiving some fees and providing incentives for private developers that commit to building affordable housing. That's an idea embraced by housing advocates across the country.
''In order to meet the demand for affordable housing, we have to mobilize the private sector,'' Pam Patenaude of the Urban Land Institute, a Washington, D.C., advocacy group.
Florida is addressing the problem aggressively after a housing summit galvanized the state, Patenaude said. The state has created a pilot program to build ''work force'' housing for those making between 60 to 120 percent of the area's median income. Florida is also using density bonuses to encourage private developers to build more affordable units.
The Valley's bi-county advisory committee has taken steps to make affordable housing a permanent issue. It will meet at least four times a year, organize an annual summit and produce annual progress reports.
Experts say it's wise for the two counties to take the long view because the availability of affordable homes in the Valley is unlikely to change soon."
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