Beyond the Great Recession - South Central Pennsylvania 2020 Summit Grant Proposal
The South Central Assembly (SCA) is seeking sponsorship and support for its upcoming Beyond the Great Recession - South Central Pennsylvania 2020 Summit, to be held June 13, 2012 in York, Pennsylvania.
South Central Pennsylvania has been seriously affected by the Great Recession, with business, community institutions, nonprofit agencies, schools, cities, county and local governments all experiencing major setbacks. Corporate losses have led to increased unemployment and lower tax yields, with attendant declines in school and local government expenditures and services, and corporate philanthropy. The pain has spread through all sectors of the community, with municipalities, schools, and non profits being the last to recover.
The South Central Assembly (SCA) has offered several area wide Policy Summits that have provided leadership and guidance to help its 8 counties through difficult times since its creation in 1997. This upcoming Summit will help our communities and their institutions chart a new course by examining our difficulties and developing recovery and renewal strategies based on the Regions' many strengths.
"Beyond the Great Recession ..." will be a one day action-oriented event that brings together South Central Pennsylvania’s community and corporate leaders, the media, local government and school officials, nonprofit agencies, colleges, think tanks, and interested citizens to develop plans and strategies and forge / renew the partnerships needed to move the Region back into prosperity. The Governor, area legislators and key State agencies have been asked to play a supportive role in the Summit, and policy suggestions will be presented to the state government to help implement recovery in all regions across the Commonwealth. Extensive follow-up to implement the output of the Summit will be undertaken by the Assembly and partner agencies and institutions.
At the end of the proceedings, the SCA will develop a Blueprint for Action and Strategies to help the region successfully move out of the Great Recession, and on to a thriving decade for effective public and private partnerships that will help grow and sustain vital community services, institutions and organizations and an enhanced sense of regional awareness and commitment in the eight county region. The Summit's strategic emphasis of moving beyond short term survivability to long term sustainability will provide a model for recovery and growth in other regions of Commonwealth.
The Summit is being planned and coordinated by SCA Board and committee members, in partnership with other regional organizations who have expressed interest in the concept.
Based upon past ten SCA Policy Summits, approximately 200 attendees are expected. A plenary session will be held to introduce conferees to the Summit's process and goals, provide a summary of key issues facing the region in the several topical workshop areas that follow, and offer an overall orientation to the day's events. Morning and afternoon breakout session workshops will provide intensive focus on key issues facing our communities, offering a framework to develop strategies to move the Region forward in these vital areas. These breakout sessions will be led by subject matter experts familiar with the region's challenges and opportunities and a facilitator to help coalesce opinions, strategies and partnerships.
Proposed Breakout Session Workshops include:
The Governor has been asked to be the luncheon speaker between the morning and afternoon breakout sessions. After the afternoon breakouts sessions, the conferees will move to a plenary session featuring speakers from Pennsylvania “think tanks” who will offer their own policy perspectives. At the end of the plenary session, an Assembly Facilitator will bring key ideas and concepts from the day's proceedings together to cement partnerships to move the Region forward. A Wine and Cheese reception will follow to further build key relationships and networks.
The SCA plans to expand its existing committee structure to help coordinate important follow-up efforts to implement the Summit's key policy directions, strategies, and plans, while ensuring coordinated educational and outreach efforts going beyond the purview of the Summit itself.
Funding The Summit
Funding to sponsor/underwrite the event is being requested from corporate and exhibitor contributions, foundations and government grants, and participant fees. Conferee fees shall be kept to a minimum to encourage widespread attendance from agencies and officials across the region.
Sponsorship Levels
Champion: $5,000
Partner: $1,000
Sponsor: $500
Exhibitor: $200
Sponsorship benefits for each level
Champion Level:
Sponsors' name and logo on all conference material and any post conference reports,
Sponsor recognition at the beginning of the session
Sponsor greeting at the podium (brief)
Three free conference registrations
Permit exhibit of one table in display area
Partner Level:
Sponsors' name and logo on conference material and any post-conference report
Special recognition by Plenary speaker
Two free conference registrations
Permit exhibit of one table in display area
Sponsor Level:
Sponsors' name and logo on conference material
Sponsor recognition by Plenary speaker
One free conference registration
Permit exhibit of one table in display area
Exhibitor Level:
One free conference registration
Permit exhibit of one table in display area
Background
The South Central Assembly (SCA) is a 501.c.3 non-profit organization incorporated in 1997. It is focused on the broad scope of quality-of-life concerns in the eight-county region of South Central Pennsylvania that includes Lancaster, Lebanon, Dauphin, Perry, Cumberland, Franklin, Adams and York counties. SCA currently has a twenty member Board of Directors that is made up of elected public officials and regular members of the Corporation. The public officials represent the county and municipal governments within the eight county region. This board meets monthly to further its mission “to enhance the quality of life of South Central Pennsylvania citizens by improving governance in the region; by encouraging cooperation among governmental entities; by fostering public-private partnerships; by collaborating with other non-governmental organizations; by developing and communicating "best practices" in local government service delivery; and by facilitating the reduction of sprawl, all to make governance more efficient, effective and economical.”
The goals of the SCA, as stated in its bylaws, are to serve as a forum for discussion and debate on collaboration among and between government entities, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and the private sector; to provide services to government entities, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and the private sector that further the SCA mission; to facilitate a future-focused planning perspective for the region as-a-whole, as well as for constituent areas within the region; and to study issues of importance to the region (and its constituent elements).
At a broader level, the SCA is in the early stages of developing a Sustainability Institute to address serious regional growth related issues such as development of green initiatives, reduction in waste, more efficient processing of waste, and better use of water and energy, while balancing social and economic interests. The Institute is envisioned as having several key elements to achieve its mission of enhancing sustainability efforts in the region. Among these are:
§ Workshops and other educational events to inform participants of the sustainability perspective, with applications to issues of interest to attendees
§ Facilitating development and implementation of sustainability initiatives within communities
§ Sustainability consulting services would be provided, to assist individual businesses and organizations and government units to address sustainability challenges at a more local level.
Accomplishments
The SCA has served a major role as training and professional-education facilitator for the south central PA region. It has succeeded in creating a forum for clear discussion and planning for the region's future in three main areas: economic development; social issues including affordable housing; and the environment (protection, enhancement, restoration and sustainability).
For over 14 years SCA has offered conferences, research, advocacy and training on pressing issues facing the regions communities Examples of SCA’s efforts include:
-Perry County Housing Needs Assessment, 2006
-Cost of Community Services Studies, 2002
-Development Guidelines Report, 2002
-Predatory Lending in South Central Pennsylvania, 2005
-Housing in the Region White Paper, 2002
Currently, the SCA is facilitating the development of a partnership among the Borough of Carlisle, the Army War College, and Penn DOT to use sustainability principles in developing solutions for storm water management. The United States Army has crafted new sustainability objectives, and the Army War College is enthusiastic about adding this to their ongoing sustainability projects.
South Central Pennsylvania has been seriously affected by the Great Recession, with business, community institutions, nonprofit agencies, schools, cities, county and local governments all experiencing major setbacks. Corporate losses have led to increased unemployment and lower tax yields, with attendant declines in school and local government expenditures and services, and corporate philanthropy. The pain has spread through all sectors of the community, with municipalities, schools, and non profits being the last to recover.
The South Central Assembly (SCA) has offered several area wide Policy Summits that have provided leadership and guidance to help its 8 counties through difficult times since its creation in 1997. This upcoming Summit will help our communities and their institutions chart a new course by examining our difficulties and developing recovery and renewal strategies based on the Regions' many strengths.
"Beyond the Great Recession ..." will be a one day action-oriented event that brings together South Central Pennsylvania’s community and corporate leaders, the media, local government and school officials, nonprofit agencies, colleges, think tanks, and interested citizens to develop plans and strategies and forge / renew the partnerships needed to move the Region back into prosperity. The Governor, area legislators and key State agencies have been asked to play a supportive role in the Summit, and policy suggestions will be presented to the state government to help implement recovery in all regions across the Commonwealth. Extensive follow-up to implement the output of the Summit will be undertaken by the Assembly and partner agencies and institutions.
At the end of the proceedings, the SCA will develop a Blueprint for Action and Strategies to help the region successfully move out of the Great Recession, and on to a thriving decade for effective public and private partnerships that will help grow and sustain vital community services, institutions and organizations and an enhanced sense of regional awareness and commitment in the eight county region. The Summit's strategic emphasis of moving beyond short term survivability to long term sustainability will provide a model for recovery and growth in other regions of Commonwealth.
The Summit is being planned and coordinated by SCA Board and committee members, in partnership with other regional organizations who have expressed interest in the concept.
Based upon past ten SCA Policy Summits, approximately 200 attendees are expected. A plenary session will be held to introduce conferees to the Summit's process and goals, provide a summary of key issues facing the region in the several topical workshop areas that follow, and offer an overall orientation to the day's events. Morning and afternoon breakout session workshops will provide intensive focus on key issues facing our communities, offering a framework to develop strategies to move the Region forward in these vital areas. These breakout sessions will be led by subject matter experts familiar with the region's challenges and opportunities and a facilitator to help coalesce opinions, strategies and partnerships.
Proposed Breakout Session Workshops include:
- Local Government Effectiveness / Municipal Service
- Energy & Transportation
- Community Planning / Parks & Recreation
- Economic Development
- Agriculture & Rural Issues
- Saving Cities and Schools
- Environment & Infrastructure
- Housing & Community Development
- Health Care
The Governor has been asked to be the luncheon speaker between the morning and afternoon breakout sessions. After the afternoon breakouts sessions, the conferees will move to a plenary session featuring speakers from Pennsylvania “think tanks” who will offer their own policy perspectives. At the end of the plenary session, an Assembly Facilitator will bring key ideas and concepts from the day's proceedings together to cement partnerships to move the Region forward. A Wine and Cheese reception will follow to further build key relationships and networks.
The SCA plans to expand its existing committee structure to help coordinate important follow-up efforts to implement the Summit's key policy directions, strategies, and plans, while ensuring coordinated educational and outreach efforts going beyond the purview of the Summit itself.
Funding The Summit
Funding to sponsor/underwrite the event is being requested from corporate and exhibitor contributions, foundations and government grants, and participant fees. Conferee fees shall be kept to a minimum to encourage widespread attendance from agencies and officials across the region.
Sponsorship Levels
Champion: $5,000
Partner: $1,000
Sponsor: $500
Exhibitor: $200
Sponsorship benefits for each level
Champion Level:
Sponsors' name and logo on all conference material and any post conference reports,
Sponsor recognition at the beginning of the session
Sponsor greeting at the podium (brief)
Three free conference registrations
Permit exhibit of one table in display area
Partner Level:
Sponsors' name and logo on conference material and any post-conference report
Special recognition by Plenary speaker
Two free conference registrations
Permit exhibit of one table in display area
Sponsor Level:
Sponsors' name and logo on conference material
Sponsor recognition by Plenary speaker
One free conference registration
Permit exhibit of one table in display area
Exhibitor Level:
One free conference registration
Permit exhibit of one table in display area
Background
The South Central Assembly (SCA) is a 501.c.3 non-profit organization incorporated in 1997. It is focused on the broad scope of quality-of-life concerns in the eight-county region of South Central Pennsylvania that includes Lancaster, Lebanon, Dauphin, Perry, Cumberland, Franklin, Adams and York counties. SCA currently has a twenty member Board of Directors that is made up of elected public officials and regular members of the Corporation. The public officials represent the county and municipal governments within the eight county region. This board meets monthly to further its mission “to enhance the quality of life of South Central Pennsylvania citizens by improving governance in the region; by encouraging cooperation among governmental entities; by fostering public-private partnerships; by collaborating with other non-governmental organizations; by developing and communicating "best practices" in local government service delivery; and by facilitating the reduction of sprawl, all to make governance more efficient, effective and economical.”
The goals of the SCA, as stated in its bylaws, are to serve as a forum for discussion and debate on collaboration among and between government entities, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and the private sector; to provide services to government entities, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and the private sector that further the SCA mission; to facilitate a future-focused planning perspective for the region as-a-whole, as well as for constituent areas within the region; and to study issues of importance to the region (and its constituent elements).
At a broader level, the SCA is in the early stages of developing a Sustainability Institute to address serious regional growth related issues such as development of green initiatives, reduction in waste, more efficient processing of waste, and better use of water and energy, while balancing social and economic interests. The Institute is envisioned as having several key elements to achieve its mission of enhancing sustainability efforts in the region. Among these are:
§ Workshops and other educational events to inform participants of the sustainability perspective, with applications to issues of interest to attendees
§ Facilitating development and implementation of sustainability initiatives within communities
§ Sustainability consulting services would be provided, to assist individual businesses and organizations and government units to address sustainability challenges at a more local level.
Accomplishments
The SCA has served a major role as training and professional-education facilitator for the south central PA region. It has succeeded in creating a forum for clear discussion and planning for the region's future in three main areas: economic development; social issues including affordable housing; and the environment (protection, enhancement, restoration and sustainability).
For over 14 years SCA has offered conferences, research, advocacy and training on pressing issues facing the regions communities Examples of SCA’s efforts include:
- Regional Summits on key policy issues, including Housing and Community Development, Mass Transit, Intergovernmental Cooperation, Community Planning, and Local Governance.
- SCA produced a White Paper on Regional Housing and Community Development Issues and hosted numerous workshops on the subject of predatory mortgage lending in the region. It has conducted continuing-education workshops on code enforcement, planning and zoning. A Regional Predatory Lending Conference and a Regional Housing Expo, each were attended by 100 housing practitioners;
- SCA gave testimony relating to land-use planning, agricultural land preservation, and integration of land use and transportation planning at the regional forums provided by the Commonwealth’s Department of Community and Economic Development and recommendations to the Commonwealth Transportation Advisory Committee on their 12-year plan on the need for closer links between land use and transportation planning;
- SCA took the lead and facilitated a series of public participation events for the Commonwealth’s Department of Environmental Protection for Ozone Action Stakeholders;
- SCA hosted a series of health Insurance workshops through the Central Pennsylvania Health Insurance Trust (CPHIT) and presenting testimony and recommendations to the Department of Health on the State Health Improvement Plan;
- SCA organized a special Chesapeake Bay Tributary Task Force to advise on matters of equity regarding implementation of state and federal policy initiatives for the Bay as well as holding and documenting discussions in the report “The Mason Dixon Dilemma: the Assessment of Impacts of Regional Growth Patterns in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed” in 2005;
- SCA sponsored ongoing programs to spark discussion on key affordable housing issues in the region after producing the following studies:
-Perry County Housing Needs Assessment, 2006
-Cost of Community Services Studies, 2002
-Development Guidelines Report, 2002
-Predatory Lending in South Central Pennsylvania, 2005
-Housing in the Region White Paper, 2002
- SCA produced a report on Regional Policing and held a workshop which was attended by over 125 officials;
- The SCA and the American Public Works Association (APWA) jointly hosted a regional sustainability workshop, “Sustainability: Balancing our Responsibilities” in 2010. At this workshop, sustainability tools and resources were introduced to help identify and guide attendees toward sustainability goals focused on economic vitality, environmental stewardship, and equity/social responsibility; and
- SCA staff administered the Commonwealth’s Keystone Opportunity Zone program for 14 municipalities in four counties.
Currently, the SCA is facilitating the development of a partnership among the Borough of Carlisle, the Army War College, and Penn DOT to use sustainability principles in developing solutions for storm water management. The United States Army has crafted new sustainability objectives, and the Army War College is enthusiastic about adding this to their ongoing sustainability projects.
