Village Voices

Despite turbulent economic times, municipalities across the state are illustrating that through innovative ideas and unique partnerships, there are ways to improve the image and long-term vitality of Pennsylvania’s communities.

Last year, for instance, the purchase of a local school district's football facilities created a domino effect that helped revitalize and restore confidence in the City of Lock Haven in Clinton County.

City officials acquired Keystone Central School District's dilapidated stadium and practice field, which could no longer accommodate the district's growing needs. In its place arose Susquehanna Square containing a 60-room hotel, two restaurants, and 24 upscale condominiums. Much credit goes to a $2.5 million Tax Increment Financing plan which Lock Haven parlayed into $15 million in private investment, 210 new jobs, and $186,000 in annual tax revenue.

This new development also allowed the city to secure $1 million in Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) funds to build a walking path for visitors. The project will have a positive impact on pedestrian flow from the newly revitalized downtown to Lock Haven University, the new Durrwachter Alumni Conference Center*, and the business district.

Meanwhile, using the proceeds from the sale of the site as the local funding match, Bald Eagle Township secured $1.25 million in RACP funds to build a new community stadium for Keystone Central.

For these efforts, Lock Haven received the Governor's Award for Promoting Community and Economic Revitalization. Each year, the Governor's Award for Local Government Excellence recognizes local governments and officials, like Lock Haven, that have found creative ways to improve their communities. The awards ceremony was held on Wednesday, April 15, at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg during Local Government Week.

Honors were presented in eight categories:

• Building Community Partnerships
• Innovative Community/Governmental Initiatives
• Promoting Community and Economic Revitalization
• Innovative Planning and Sound Land Use Practices
• Responding to Adversity
• Fiscal Accountability and Best Management Practices
• Intergovernmental Cooperation
• Information Technology

Like Lock Haven, Elizabethtown in Lancaster County was also recognized for promoting community and economic revitalization. A successful public/private partnership between the borough and Mars Snackfood US, one of the world's largest chocolate companies, enabled a new connector road to be constructed as well as a $70 million expansion of Mars' manufacturing plant. This sparked the beginning of major economic development efforts in downtown Elizabethtown in support of the Master Plan for Downtown Elizabethtown.

By supporting this project, Elizabethtown Borough retained a major employer in the community and created new jobs. It secured the most productive use of a large, low-impact industrial facility for future generations. The new connector road has improved pedestrian, vehicle, and truck traffic at a heavily-used intersection. It also created a new entrance to downtown Elizabethtown and a "second square" that serves as a connection to Mars Snackfood US, Elizabethtown College, and Masonic Village.

Lycoming County was presented with the Innovative Community/Governmental Initiatives award for demonstrating exceptional community vision and economic innovation. Capitalizing on its location astride the Marcellus Shale, a geologic formation believed to contain significant reserves of natural gas, the county is carving out a large role in gas exploration.

Geologists and title searchers from several major gas exploration companies, the Board of Commissioners, and the Williamsport/Lycoming Chamber of Commerce formed a Community Gas Exploration Task Force, the first by any county in the state. The task force, also comprised of public officials and private citizens, embraces the economic development opportunities and challenges posed by gas exploration that lay ahead in the region.

Doylestown Township, along with the boroughs of New Britain, Chalfont, and Doylestown, earned the Building Community Partnerships award based on an effort that is a model of what's possible when communities come together and embrace collaboration.

These local governments worked with the Community Bike and Hike Committee (CBHC) to build more than 16 miles of bike and hike paths over the past 15 years. These trails contribute to the health, safety, and well being of all residents. Most recently, the DBHC worked with PennDOT, Delaware Valley College, SEPTA, and these neighboring municipalities to create a path that runs through the Delaware Valley College campus. As a result, this community partnership and the trails have forged a more cohesive community by connecting students, residents, and visitors with the facilities and amenities in Doylestown Township.

2009 Governor's Award for Local Government Excellence Recipients

Building Community Partnerships

• City of Altoona, Blair County
• Doylestown Township, New Britain Borough, Chalfont Borough and Doylestown Borough
   

Promoting Community and Economic Revitalization

• Elizabethtown Borough, Lancaster County
• City of Lock Haven, Clinton County
   

Innovative Community and Governmental Initiatives

• Centre Area Transportation Authority
• Lycoming County
   

Fiscal Accountability

• Trafford Borough, Westmoreland County
   

Innovative Planning and Sound Land Use Practices

• Mount Joy Borough, Lancaster County
   

Intergovernmental Cooperation

• Clinton County Sewer Authority and Clinton County
• Somerset County
   

Information Technology

• Cambria County
   

Individual Award Winners

• John Callahan, Mayor, City of Bethlehem
• Dave Coder, Commissioner, Greene County
• William B. Hawk, Council President, Lower Paxton Township
• Carl Hess, Planning Director, Borough of State College
• Ginnie Anderson Kane, Commissioner. Upper Allen Township
• Thomas Kurtz, Assistant Manager, State College Borough
• Frank S. Langianese, Council President, Lewis Run Borough
• Dennis Wince, Municipality Authority of Borough of Belle Vernon
   

Dallas A. Dollase Award for Excellence in Planning

• David J. Steil, State Representative for the 31st Legislative District
   

*Cover story photo: Durrwachter Alumni Conference Center in Lock Haven