Schedule

1: 00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. | Registration

Located in the prefunction area.

2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. or 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. | Tour the Anthracite Heritage Museum
Shuttle available from the Hilton.

4:30 p.m. - 5: 30 p.m. | Welcome Tour

Walking tour of the Scranton Cultural Center at Masonic Temple. For those interested in participating in the tour, please meet in the hotel lobby at 4:30 p.m.

5:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. | Local Committee Welcome Event

Hosted at the Scranton Cultural Center, featuring live entertainment, food and a cash bar.

7: 45 a.m. - 8: 45 a.m. | Breakfast Buffet and Welcome Speech

with Senator John Blake (speaker from 8:15 a.m. - 8:45 a.m.)

8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. | Exhibitor Expo Set-up

Prefunction Area

8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. | Mobile Workshop

Downtown Hawley
Facilitated by Elaine Herzog of the Downtown Hawley Partnership, this workshop will cover a variety of downtown Hawley redevelopment and preservation projects and will present information on the "How To" of accomplishing revitalization projects outside of state funding. Lunch at the Hotel at the Glass Ledges is included. Sponsored by Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority.

9:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. | Community Revitalization 201: Unlocking Entrepreneurship

Speaker: Jeff Finkle, International Economic Development Council (IEDC)
Amphitheater
Based on the IEDC's handbook, Unlocking Entrepreneurship: A Handbook for Economic Developers, this intensive session will focus on how a community can adapt its focus on access to tools, strategies, networks and institutions that support an entrepreneurial culture that builds vibrant, resilient economies. In particular, the session will focus on building infrastructure for entrepreneurship; entrepreneurial strategies in limited-resource communities; case studies of entrepreneurship support organizations; and lessons learned. This session will provide a toolkit that can be utilized by economic development professionals to foster entrepreneurial growth in their communities.
Sponsored by the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce.

12:15 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.| Lunch on Your Own

1:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. | Exhibitor Expo

Prefunction Area

1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. | Community Revitalization 201: Unlocking Entrepreneurship

REPEAT SESSION
Speaker: Jeff Finkle, International Economic Development Council (IEDC)
Amphitheater
Based on the IEDC's handbook, Unlocking Entrepreneurship: A Handbook for Economic Developers, this intensive session will focus on how a community can adapt its focus on access to tools, strategies, networks and institutions that support an entrepreneurial culture that builds vibrant, resilient economies. In particular, the session will focus on building infrastructure for entrepreneurship; entrepreneurial strategies in limited-resource communities; case studies of entrepreneurship support organizations; and lessons learned. This session will provide a toolkit that can be utilized by economic development professionals to foster entrepreneurial growth in their communities.
Sponsored by the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce.

6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. | PDC Welcome Event

Scranton Historic Iron Furnaces
Featuring music, PA trivia, and a fantastic spread of Mexican cuisine catered by Chicano's Restaurant. This is an informal, outdoor event so dress in comfortable attire and bring a picnic blanket!

7: 45 a.m. - 8: 45 a.m. | Breakfast Buffet

Welcome Speech from Lisa M. Hall of the University of Scranton SBDC (speaker from 8:15 a.m. - 8:45 a.m.)

7:30 a.m. - 3:15 p.m. | Exhibitor Expo

Prefunction Area

9:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. | Mobile Workshop
Cedar Avenue Elm Street

Facilitated by Mike Hanley and Marty Fotta of United Neighborhood Centers of Northeastern PA, this tour will showcase the Cedar Avenue Redevelopment Project, Façade Program, and Connors Park. Sponsored by the Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority.

CONCURRENT SESSIONS | 9:00 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.

Business District Track | Mayfield Room

First Impressions are Lasting: Links between Economic Development & Litter | Speaker: Cecile Carson, Keep America Beautiful
First impressions make a difference in retaining and promoting quality of life. Everyone has a role in preventing litter including businesses, government and individuals and the costs associated with litter cleanup and prevention are often hidden. Session will explore how to communicate the story of litter and its costs to your community's quality of life. In addition learn more about the tangible costs of littering identified in the 2009 KAB Litter Cost Research. Sponsored by Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful.

Neighborhood Track | Dunmore Room

Sustainable 19125: Using Green Techniques to Revitalize Urban Neighborhoods | Speaker: Kevin Musselman, New Kensington CDc
How can you improve quality of life, property values, safety, and economic prospects in your neighborhood all at once? The answer is simple: by greening. In this class, New Kensington CDC will present its own, nationally recognized, green community initiative to show how greening can improve your neighborhood!

Theme Track | Waverly Room

Public Entrepreneurship, Social Capital and the Management of Public-Private Business Community Development Partnerships | Speaker: Dr. Seth A. Grossman, Rutgers, The State Univeristy of New Jersey
Throughout the world managed business districts (Main Street Programs, BIDs, SIDs, PPPs, etc.) are challenging and re-shaping traditional assumptions of public management--its promises and performance--at the most local of community levels, the neighborhood and town centre. Key to this metamorphosis is the concept and application of public-private partnerships that merge public and private management technologies, public entrepreneurship, and social capital. This session explores how and why public-private partnership management is a distinct profession, and further examines the role of managed business districts in an evolving application of public-private partnerships that build local management capacity for community and downtown revitalization.

Sustainability Track | Amphitheater

Assessing the Social & Economic Impacts of Marcellus Shale Drilling in PA Communities | Panel: Dr. Tim Kelsey, The Pennsylvania State University; Bill Blevins, Bradford County Human Services Administration; Robert Rodino, Ph.D., Rodino Associates
The panel will initially discuss the overall importance of this topic in terms of the impacts of industrial development on local communities, then in specific terms focusing on the current impacts of Marcellus on local communities. The main thrust of the panel will focus on what communities are doing and what they can do to maximize the benefits and minimize the negative impacts of the Marcellus industry. A survey of Main Street and Improvement District managers will have been conducted on these issues and the results will be shared with the audience. Participation by audience members from Marcellus regions will be sought.

CONCURRENT SESSIONS | 10:45 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.

Business District Track | Amphitheater

Retail Business Recruitment: Lessons Learned from Carlisle & Cumberland County | Speakers: Christopher Gulotta, The Gulotta Group; Rebecca Yearick, Cumberland and Perry County Housing & Community Partnership; Glenn White, Downtown Carlisle Association
The Downtown Carlisle Association and the Redevelopment Authority of Cumberland County have vigorously pursued the recruitment/ retention of quality retail businesses in recent years with some success despite a challenging economy. The session will feature the former Executive Director of the Redevelopment of Cumberland County, the Downtown Carlisle Association Retail Recruiter and the Redevelopment Authority Downtown Coordinator. Successful approaches for attracting and retaining businesses including how to sustain the business recruitment effort will be discussed.

Neighborhood Track | Dunmore Room

Bridging the Gap: Creating an Inclusive Neighborhood through Language Partnership | Speakers: Stephanie Bressler and Greg Elliott, United Neighborhood Centers of Northeast Pennsylvania
This workshop presents the Language Partnership developed by South Scranton's Elm Street team to help low-income and Spanish-speaking immigrant residents become active contributors to revitalization and help English-speaking residents become familiar and comfortable with the Spanish language and the Spanish-speaking community. While teaching each other a second language, partners learn about each other's culture and have an opportunity to develop relationships of mutual respect, understanding and support. These interactions build the community connections necessary to support revitalization as participants become involved in projects and work together to restore pride and identity to the neighborhood.

Theme Track | Waverly Room

Where Rural PA Youth Want to Live & Why | Speaker: Dr. Diane McLaughlin, The Pennsylvania State University
Leaders and families in communities and small towns across rural America have experienced the loss of rural youth -- a phenomenon known as the 'brain drain.' While the 'brain drain' is well-documented, less is known about whether these youth actually want to leave, and if not, what would encourage them to stay in or return to their home communities as adults. This presentation draws upon data from the Rural Youth Education (RYE) Project at Penn State, funded by the Center for Rural Pennsylvania and USDA National Research Initiative. This study asked students from several rural school districts across Pennsylvania about their educational, occupational and residential plans and about the characteristics that these students liked about their home communities and the characteristics they would find most important in the communities in which they want to live when they are thirty years old. It also asked if they would like to return to their home community when they have children and if entrepreneurial opportunities would encourage them to stay.

Sustainability Track | Mayfield Room

The Story Factor | Speaker: Cecile Carson, Keep America Beautiful
This training is based upon the idea that storytelling is a skill that can complement the needs of people in organizations - and leads to lasting, mutual communities of influence. Learn the 7 stories everyone needs to know how to tell and how storytelling can complement grant writing. Sponsored by Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful.

12:15 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Luncheon | Linking Artisan Trails and Main Streets Forum

1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. | Mobile Workshop
Main Street Scranton

Facilitated by Leslie Collins of Scranton Tomorrow, this workshop will showcase the accomplishments of the Scranton Main Street Program, including Scranton Main Street, 600 Lackawanna, and the Connell Building. Sponsored by the Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority.

CONCURRENT SESSIONS | 1:30 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.

Business District Track | Waverly Room

When Bad Ideas Meet Good Downtowns | Speaker: Malcolm Johnstone, West Chester Business Improvement District
Creative entrepreneurship adds vibrancy to a downtown environment. But it can also be a challenge when ideas clash with the culture of downtown. This session will discuss how to better manage the entrepreneur without squishing their spirit. Best practices strategies will be provided along with examples of how some pretty nasty ideas were softened or reversed.

Real Estate Track | Dunmore Room

Keystone C.O.R.E. Services (KCS) & Carnegie Mellon University's Brownfields Project | Panelists: KCS board president, Chris Brown of Derck and Edson; Bill Fontana, Pennsylvania Downtown Center; Eddy Kaplaniak, Carlisle Elm Street; Ed Brennan, Esquire.
Over the last two years, PDC has been working to develop a nonprofit real estate development arm, in order to assist business districts and neighborhoods across PA with the difficult issues surrounding vacant, blighted and deteriorating properties. For some conference attendees, this effort has included participation in Carnegie Mellon University's Small Site Brownfields Project. In this session, participants will get an update on new tools to deal with blighted properties, an update on the results of the Attributes Questionnaire and the next steps to be taken in that effort, as well as the current status of and plans for Keystone CORE Services (KCS). For those interested in blighted property real estate development, this is a session not to be missed.

Theme Track | Mayfield Room

The New Reality: Accomplishing Redevelopment in an Era of Declining Public Resources | Speaker: Christopher Gulotta, The Gulotta Group
The session will be broken down into four parts: a quick review of tools that have been historically overlooked/underutilized in the past because of more readily available funding from the state and federal government, developing a successful fundraising effort to raise funds for a particular program or project, using an organization's 501 (c) (3) status more effectively to raise funds from foundations and to acquire real estate at a below market price, and developing programs that will generate program income that can be recycled into future projects.

Sustainability Track | Amphitheater

Transfer of Wealth Study | Speaker: Barry Denk, Center for Rural Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania is in the midst of a remarkable time - a time when wealth from one of the more prosperous generations of our time is passing on to the next generation. This intergenerational transfer of wealth offers significant opportunities for Pennsylvania communities to capture some of that wealth for locally driven community and economic development efforts. In this session, participants will learn about the Transfer of Wealth research sponsored by the Center for Rural Pennsylvania, and opportunities and strategies for garnering some of that wealth.

3:15 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. | Statewide Managers Meeting

Steamtown Ballroom

5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. | Exhibitor Mixer and Pre-Townies Networking

Prefunction Area

6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. | 2011 Annual Townie Awards Gala Dinner

Casey Grand Ballroom

7: 45 a.m. - 8: 45 a.m. | Breakfast Buffet and Presentation

Snap, Crackle & Pop-ulation: Waking up With Data | Speaker: Jonathan Johnson, Center for Rural Pennsylvania

This eye-opening session will look at racial and ethnic diversity in Pennsylvania. Using newly released Census data, this session will answer the "who, what and where" of the commonwealth's 2.6 million minority residents. In addition, a profile of minority entrepreneurs will be presented along with the latest trends in economic development.

9:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. | Mobile Workshop

Wilkes-Barre
Facilitated by Larry Newman of the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce, this workshop will showcase successful redevelopment projects of downtown Wilkes-Barre. Sponsored by the Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority.

CONCURRENT SESSIONS | 9:00 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.

Business District Track | Amphitheater

Creating an Effective Social Media/Marketing Strategy, Seminar | Speaker: Kim Walsh-Phillips, Inside Out Creative
In this seminar, attendees will learn how to engage their target markets through social media to enable viral marketing through Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube and blogging. NOTE: Attendees not familiar with these mediums are encouraged to attend the hands-on workshop.

Neighborhood Track | Dunmore Room

The Power of Greening: How Building Civic Engagement in Greening Builds Communities, Strengthens Economies and Increases Livability | Speakers: Patricia James, The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Barley VanClief, Tree Tenders Program, Sally McCabe, Garden Tenders Program
Can one tree make a difference? Consider this: a tree within 50 feet of your home, can increase its market value by almost ten percent. Shoppers spend more time - and money - in tree-lined shopping areas. Can a community garden do more than feed people? Way more! Learn how community gardens reduce blight, vandalism and even crime while enabling people to grow fresh, healthy produce. This session introduces Pennsylvania Horticultural Society's signature Tree Tenders and Garden Tenders programs. These programs focus on training citizens to get involved and take leadership in greening their communities, providing them with the skills to plant and maintain trees, gardens and community parks, and to become stewards of a community's green resources. Learn how you can bring these programs to your community. Sponsored by Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful.

Theme Track | Waverly Room

The Reading Trifecta: Three Steps to Save the City | Speakers: Daniel Wright, Steven Haver, Sam Loth, and Daniel Robinson, City of Reading
Through case studies of three innovative initiatives in the City of Reading, including the Blighted Property Review Program, Ricktown Arts District and Downtown 2020, this session will explore how to: use existing State & local laws to achieve goals, use interactive cooperation with divergent agencies, identify funding streams & innovative methods, utilize modern technology and social perspectives and identify assets and their use to achieve objectives.

Sustainability Track | Mayfield Room

NID Planning: Partnerships, Relationships and Getting it Right Up Front | Speakers: David Feehan, Civitas Consultants LLC, Josette Fitzgibbons, Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh, Karen Brean, The Community Technical Assistance Center
With Main Street district managers facing funding and sustainability challenges, the advantages of creating a Neighborhood Improvement District (NID) become extremely compelling. However, the process of creating a NID is a significant, time-consuming undertaking. This session will identify the issues that need to be addressed at the outset, internally and externally, in addition to providing tools to analyze the issues.

CONCURRENT SESSIONS | 10:45 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.

Business District Track | Amphitheater

Creating an Effective Social Media/Marketing Strategy, Hands-on Workshop | Speaker: Kim Walsh-Phillips, Inside OutCreative, York, PA
For this post-seminar workshop, attendees will be given step-by-step instructions on how to use LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter for social media novices or for those needing a refresher.

Neighborhood Track | Dunmore Room

Cultivating Civic Leaders: Adding Value to Internships | Speaker: Dr. Charlene Gray, Pennsylvania Campus Compact
This workshop will outline ways in which to leverage the human capital of college students within your communities. The mantra that students today utter is that they would like to make a difference in their world. Community-based organizations from the broad range of nonprofits (governmental, human/health services, education, environmental etc.) can capture the civic imagination of students by providing them an experience which will not only harness their service, but also give them a grounding experience within their community which will cultivate life-long civic leaders.

Theme Track | Waverly Room

Creative Partnerships to Enhance Your Special Event | Speaker: Jennifer Baker, Mayor's Office of Special Events, Lancaster, PA
This session will explore ways for your organization to enhance its special events program through creative partnerships. We'll look at what the benefits are of partnerships and help you find new partners in your community, along the way providing real case examples of collaborations that have proven successful for the City of Lancaster and its Mayor's Office of Special Events.

Sustainability Track | Mayfield Room

Special Events Insurance & Risk Management | Speaker: Ira Rosen, Entertainment on Location
Insurance and risk management are topics most event planners would prefer to avoid. However, if we fail to pay attention to them, the long term cost to our organizations could be substantial. This session will provide a practical guide to what you need to know and how to keep your organization from becoming a bad news story!

12:15 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. | KEYNOTE LUNCHEON | Mr. Bill Strickland, Manchester Bidwell Corporation

Get a sneak preview of our esteemed keynote speaker.