YOUNG, PROFESSIONAL, INVOLVED

DAUPHIN COUNTY

Harrisburg group fares well despite city's struggles; others in area branch out

With the large debt cloud hanging over Harrisburg and fiscal pain in the daily forecast for the foreseeable future, it's not hard to imagine young professionals taking their talents to other metropolitan areas.

That doesn't appear to be the case, however.

In spite of the ongoing uncertainty over the city's finances, including the $310 million incinerator debt mess, future-minded civic groups such as Harrisburg Young Professionals continue to experience steady membership growth.

And those members, who are still moving into the city, remain overwhelmingly positive and passionate about Harrisburg's future, according to a recent HYP survey.

"Even though (the debt is) a problem of government, I don't think people see it as a hurdle that will not be resolved," said Matthew Crocker, co-chairman of HYP's membership committee.

When the nonprofit started in 1998 it had just 50 members who met for downtown social events. Today, membership is pushing nearly 2,000 between full and sports-only members.

While the sports leagues, which kicked off about three years ago, have more than doubled HYP's membership, a lot of the group's success stems from continued involvement and advocacy in several areas that impact the city, Crocker said.

HYP and sister organizations in Lancaster, Lebanon and York offer not only social events for businessto- business networking but also opportunities to volunteer to improve the look of the city and create another vehicle for young business leaders to encourage economic development and reinvestment.

In 2010, HYP launched Home in the City, a program funded by local employers to encourage home ownership in Harrisburg. The program offered $1,000 to individuals who purchased homes in the city. Fifteen new homeowners were assisted last year and at least 25 are expected to be aided this year, President Ryan Riley said.

"Harrisburg has an opportunity to transform itself," Riley said, highlighting the need for city leaders to create more economic opportunities so investors and developers can build contemporary living neighborhoods such as Olde Uptown or mixed-use residential and retail properties like the 1500 Project. Susquehanna Townshipbased Vartan Group is building the condominium project at North Sixth and Reily streets.

HYP supports renewal of the city's 10-year tax abatement program as a way to help provide more attractive places for young professionals to live, Riley said. The program offers tax breaks on redevelopment or improvement projects.

HYP also has been focusing on developing corporate partnerships. They have fostered around 100 partnerships, including those with banks, health insurers and educational partners, such as Harrisburg University of Science and Technology, Crocker said.

Over the past five years, HYP has run a scholarship program for students at the university, said Steven Infanti, a spokesman for Harrisburg University.

The young professionals also have been business mentors for the students, he said, which provides for a good transition as they move out into the professional world.

Different focus

Young professional groups are a lot like other business associations, said Patrick Freer Jr., vice chairman of the Lebanon Valley Young Professionals. However, young professional groups typically target a different demographic and serve as a bridge to fostering future community leaders.

The median member age for most young professional groups is between 25 and 35.

"Here in Lebanon, the challenge is getting the demographic to realize we have a voice and understanding what the needs and wants are," Freer said.

LVYP has been around about three years and only has about 25 full-time members.

The Lebanon group is working to emulate HYP, which is among the largest of its kind in the commonwealth, and gain more autonomy from the local chamber of commerce, Freer said. It is working to create a passport program, or partnership with local businesses to offer discounts and incentives, which most groups offer to members.

In York, the membership is not quite to the level of Harrisburg's. However, it is on the rise and sits at 200 members, President Ryan Hayman said.

York Young Professionals, which has been around since 1999, continues to fine tune its process to attract new members, Hayman said. This year the group launched a website that allows prospective members to sign up via PayPal.

YYP also has been partnering with more downtown businesses through its passport programs and expanding its social events, Hayman said, in hopes of keeping the city vibrant for shopping and dining.

Both the Harrisburg and York groups attract big crowds with their annual city home tours.

"When a new building opens up, we try to get them on the home tour so people can see what (city living) is and maybe somewhere down the road they will choose to live downtown," Hayman said.

One notable redevelopment project in York is the Codo 241 near Sovereign Bank Stadium on North George Street, a $12 million mixed-use residential and commercial property that opened in 2009.

York's Codo initiative is backed by local business leaders to help bring urban living options for professionals to downtown. There is also the Codo 28, a $4.8 million mixed-use building with 11 apartments and one commercial unit.

Developers such as the Vartan Group and GreenWorks Development, which has been leading the charge in Midtown Harrisburg, recognize the young professional population wants attractive places to live, Riley said.

Today's HYP members, who are five times likely to work in the capital city, pump millions into the city's economy through social events and downtown home buying, Riley said.

"Our members take advantage of and embrace city living. They recognize walkability and also the central location," he added. "The city has only gotten better through the years and will get better if people invest."

The majority of HYP members living in Harrisburg are very pleased with the city's entertainment and dining options, and choose to continue living here because of the urban setting, according to the recent survey.

Raising a family, the education system and crime and safety, followed by the city's finances, top the list of reasons city residents want to move out, the survey said.

[Sidebar]

David Moore-Beitler of Phoenix Contact, left; Amanda Dinmore, a recent graduate of York College's nursing program; Ben Clark of State Farm Insurance; and Ryan Sullivan of Mack Hospitality Staffing network at the Harrisburg Young Professionals new-members social. The event was June 27 at City House Bed and Breakfast on Front Street in Harrisburg.

Jeff Davis of Professional Approach Landscape Services networks with Amy Daniels, left, of Boscov's Travel and Dickinson law student Susanne Edwards at a Harrisburg Young Professionals social held June 27 at City House Bed and Breakfast in Harrisburg.

[Author Affiliation]

BY JASON SCOTT

jasons@journalpub.com