Don't look at the stock market. The gyrations will just make you nauseous. A better idea – tune into Smart Talk tonight at 8 on witf TV to get a sense of how the local economy is faring amidst global upheaval and dour domestic forecasts. Our panel of experts will talk about new business growth, housing starts, job prospects, and answer your questions on Central PA's economic condition.
The City of Harrisburg's financial woes have made national front-page news for the last few months, painting the region in depressing hues. A federal judge holds a hearing Nov. 23 on Harrisburg City Council's petition to seek bankruptcy, a move staunchly opposed by Mayor Linda Thompson, Gov. Tom Corbett and a host of other elected officials and stakeholders. There are some encouraging signs, however, that council and the mayor might, just might, work things out to avoid further litigation. We'll know more after a joint meeting with creditors on Monday.
In the meantime, many mid-state residents ponder the state of our economy. Which industries are interested in moving to Central Pennsylvania and what kind of jobs will they create? Do we have a skilled and readily available workforce to meet the demand, and if not, how do we train people quickly to take those positions? These are some of the questions we'll put to our guests tonight at 8.
The panel includes Tom Baldrige, president of the Lancaster Chamber of Business & Industry, Mark Price, Ph.D.,a labor economist with the Keystone Research Center, and David Black, president and CEO of the Harrisburg Regional Chamber and the Capital Region Economic Development Corporation (CREDC). Black hosted a "State of the City" summit this week featuring Mayors Thompson, Chris Doherty of Scranton and Thomas McMahon of Reading – all third-class PA cities in financial distress.
A couple of points to ponder: state tax collections to date are down $282 million, or 3.6%, from the Corbett administration's revenue estimates. The state unemployment rate sits at 8.3%. The national rate is 9.1%. The holiday shopping season kicks off officially on November 25, and for a lot of companies, that is make it or break it time. Join the conversation by calling 1-800-729-7532 tonight at 8, or email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . You also can post a comment to Facebook.
