Jobs for York County: Let's Have a Bigger Impact

On Friday, The York Dispatch posed a question to the 2011 Republican Candidates for York County Commissioner:  “How do you plan to either bring in or retain jobs in York County?”  To which, one of our incumbent county commissioners replied, “The commissioners have limited impact in regard to creating and retaining jobs countywide.”

So let’s START having a BIGGER impact!

The Commissioners have spoken about working closely with the York County Economic Development Corporation to seek out and follow up on industry inquires to relocate to York County.  And it is true that the Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance Act does serve as an incentive to attract new industry.  With today’s unstable and competitive economy, I don’t believe that this is enough.
It is up to every York County resident to assist in the efforts to retain jobs within the county and encourage new industry to locate within the county.  It is our county leaders’ responsibility to put these positive efforts in motion.

How can your County Commissioners do more?  Let’s get started by ...

• Keeping our local money circulating within our county by purchasing products that are created, manufactured or produced in York County.  The demand for locally produced products will help to retain employment.  Help York County farmers and promote your family’s health by creating demand for locally produced nuts, fruits, and vegetables, such as beets and blueberries.  Consider hiring a local painter, plumber, electrician or building contractor to help you fix up your home.  
  
• Supporting local small business men and women as much as possible.  Local entrepreneurs are subject to the same real estate taxes that the big box stores must pay.  Except the small businessman or woman has to work twice has hard to make their sales and move their inventories.
   
• Supporting local transportation, entertainment, sporting and recreational venues.  Not only do these venues create value for our community, they a go step further and support our local schools and nonprofits—they donate tickets, they sponsor advertisements, and they match fundraising efforts.  By supporting local businesses more dollars can be created to support not-for-profit causes. 

What ideas do you have to retain and create sustainable jobs in York County?

A Unified Plan to Increase Revenue

As I have now announced my candidacy for York County Commissioner, I will use this blog to begin sharing my ideas with the York County voters in the run-up to the Democratic Primaries on May 17th and in anticipation of the general election in November.  I want to begin with a topic that affects all of us and permeates every issue: Increasing Revenue & Saving Money

I applaud the efforts put forth by the York County Economic Development Corporation, the York County Area Chamber of Commerce, the Hanover Area Chamber of Commerce and the World Trade Center.  I want to put forth an even more concerted effort to preserve the current employment base.  The county leaders need to collectively market and promote the equipment and products that are manufactured in York County and educate York County residents and organizations about our products.  Based on that foundation of understanding, I would call upon all business organizations, corporations and county residents to promote and market York County products both nationally and internationally.

Our dedicated school board members are working hard to balance their individual district budgets.  Now let’s explore ways in which we can consolidate administrative resources, such as a unified district effort to purchase computers.

Some of the greatest county parks in the State of Pennsylvania can be found in York County but some of the land located within these parks is not being utilized.  The Board of County Commissioners should begin studying the possibility of earning income for York County by leasing unused portions of land for agricultural use.

Over the years the staff of the York County Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) has successfully attracted organizations to hold their events in York, especially at the York Expo Center.  We can do even more by joining forces with a regional convention and visitors’ bureau.  If elected, I would like to initiate regional consolidation talks with the Hershey-Harrisburg CVB.  There are tremendous benefits to be gained from promoting York County as the “gem” located between Baltimore and Hershey.  More promotional opportunities will be available to York County by working within a larger regional organization.  When you work within small budgets the rewards are usually small, but when you work with a larger budget the rewards can be exponentially greater.  

We have some very talented and hard working individuals who are employed within the departments of county government.  I’ve also heard some very interesting ideas from my colleagues and neighbors outside of government.  I welcome all suggestions concerning fiscal responsibility for an effective and efficient running county government. 

What ideas do you have?  I look forward to your comments on my weekly blog posts and I hope that we generate some discussions through Twitter @RobertWrightYPa.