Cheers, YoCo! BY KEVIN J. SCHREIBER PRESIDENT & CEO, YORK COUNTY ECONOMIC ALLIANCE Congratulations, YoCo! As 2018 comes down to the final few months, we have much to celebrate. The York community and our YCEA members have had tremendous successes, some of which you will read about in this issue, including Legacy in Hanover, Rise MMJ, and Marshmallow MBA. At the YCEA, our team has worked tirelessly to move the needle for York County in 2018. While our work isn’t done, we are certainly proud of some of the following highlights:
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The Wolf Administration awarded $19.4 million in Pennsylvania Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) funding. This amount includes $5 million for the beautification of the Codorus Creek, $3 million to Magnesita Refractories, and $1.4 million to Downtown Hanover. These projects will leverage a total project investment of nearly $75 million. That investment, in turn, will create an exponential indirect economic impact in new jobs, tax base, and construction activity.
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The YCEA launched the “YoCo Bloom” grant program, providing small business grants to three businesses in York County: MarshmallowMBA, Studio 117 York, and Mt. Rose Barberama. Our dynamic summer interns spearheaded this inaugural program and narrowed down many applications from seven finalists to the final three recipients. We look forward to the next round!
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We welcomed several of you to events throughout the year, including a sold-out Annual Dinner: Showcasing YoCo, a sold-out Spirit of York County Awards breakfast, and recently sold-out Directors’ DrawDown. We also launched the Brews & Views series at Collusion Tap Works that’s focused on community engagement and growth.
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We cut 33 ribbons to welcome new businesses, celebrate anniversaries, and honor business growth.
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And, of course, I’d be remiss not to include perhaps our greatest achievement this year: our strategic affiliation with Downtown Inc (see pages 12-13). Bringing together these two economic powerhouses will create a prosperous County and a thriving downtown.
And we’re just getting started! Together for the better with Downtown Inc, we have expanded our capacity, talent, creativity, and economic drive to better serve York County. Expect us to Make MORE Things Happen in 2019.
05 YoCo CONNECT | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018 | YCEAPA.ORG
