The City of Lock Haven is beginning its seventh year as a Rural Enterprise Community. This designation has provided the community with an abundance of technical, financial and human resources. The Empowerment Zone/Enterprise Community Program has caused the community to partner, to create new initiatives for our residents, to engage citizens in the development of new programs and to work toward sustainable community and economic development strategies. We have been very successful in these areas. Over the past six years Lock Haven has leveraged over 33 million dollars in other state, local and federal resources while creating and retaining over 400 jobs. We have also learned to work together to face changes such as the recent announcement of a plant closing by one of the largest employers in the city resulting in a loss of almost 700 jobs. Again, our community agencies, key leaders and community residents came together to discuss strategies and solutions for our future. It is with the same approach used during the development and implementation of the EZ/EC program that we will work together to create new opportunities for our families, neighbors and friends. Below is a description of some of the EC strategies, as well as our plans for future growth for Lock Haven.

Airport Business Park

The City is continuing with the development of the Airport Business Park at the William T. Piper Memorial Airport. The City has completed an environmental review pertaining to issues such as flood plain, wetlands, historical and archeological resources etc. as well as a Phase I and Phase II Archeological investigation. The Phase II Archeological revealed two prehistoric archeological sites. The City agreed to enter into a memorandum of agreement with the Pennsylvania Historic Commission and placed a covenant on the Airport property to restrict the usage of the 8 acres. There are a total of 14.75 acres to develop into a business park. The City hired an engineering firm to develop alternative roadway designs. Following input from the bureau of aviation, the City finalized plans to locate the roadway along the southern border of the airport business park enabling the City to utilize a majority of the land for business development.

Preliminary cost estimates for the construction of the roadway and related infrastructure are estimated at $450,000. In addition to the archaeological investigations and engineering design, the City also completed a Phase I and Phase II Environmental Assessment. Funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development was obtained in the amount of $15,836 to complete these assessments.

The City will continue to pursue the development of the Business Park. Funding from USDA Rural Business Enterprise Grant, Lock Haven State Enterprise Revolving Loan proceeds, Lock Haven EC funding and the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development Industrial Sites Reuse Program have supported this initiative.

Small Business Development Center

The Lock Haven University Small Business Development Center provides technical consulting services to start-up and existing businesses located in Clinton and Lycoming Counties. During the period of January 1, 2000 through December 31, 2000, the Lock Haven University SBDC provided 2,500.5 hours of consulting to 160 clients. The total consulting hours in 2000 increased 36% over the same period in 1999. Twenty-two training seminars were held with 235 attendees. The seminars and presenter were evaluated using the SBA Participant Questionnaires and Course Evaluation forms. All seminars and presenter received positive evaluations. The Lock Haven University SBDC is staffed with one full-time director, two full-time business consultants, one full-time training coordinator/administrative, and a part-time business consultant. The center also employs three Lock Haven University students and outside consultants when the need arises.

Home Chore

The most significant accomplishment of the Home Chore Program during the year 2000 is to have outlived its usefulness. Significant policy shifts regarding our educational system have brought about an end to the practice of isolating students who have been determined to be in need of emotional support.

The progressive plan to offer vocational and technical training at the secondary facility known as Central Mountain High School opens doors to all students, especially benefiting those who had been closed out.

Human service programs aspire to cure the ills they seek to address. Seldom, if ever, is this goal met. This is not to say that the Home Chore Program has performed a unique miracle. Rather, the kind of dialog and partnering, which is fostered by funding from the Enterprise Community designation, is paying off in Lock Haven.

Capital Improvements/Main Street Improvements

Downtown Lock Haven took on a brand new look including new 9 foot brick sidewalks, concrete curbing, ornamental street lights, new parking meters, new streets and tree grates, upgraded utilities including the replacement of a water main and sanitary sewer work. The City held a celebration and grand opening in November with a lighting ceremony. The City’s Mayor thanked the partners involved with the project including the technical and financial support from USDA for business development programs.

Literacy Corp Project

During the 2000 calendar year the Literacy Corps Program continued to operate very successfully and was recognized as one of the most successful and long running Literacy Corps programs in Pennsylvania.

Clinton County Women’s Center

Victim Empowerment and Legal Advocate Safe Child Projects

The Clinton County Women’s Center completed their contract with the City of Lock Haven in 2000 for the Enterprise Community funding. Due to the financial support of the EC, the Women’s Center was able to provide consistent services to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. The Women’s Center now funds three positions with State funding including a Legal Advocate, Transitional Advocate and Safe Child Project director. The agency has been able to promote a positive relationship with key community people, such as judges, the district attorney and law enforcement personnel as well as a variety of agencies and organizations that can provide a support system for their clients.

Student Advocacy Program

Keystone Central School District received Federal Enterprise funds to support the Student Advocate Program at Central Mountain Middle School. The program targets at-risk students and provides various services to help them achieve success during their education. Because of consolidation within the District, schools have re-aligned and activities are not only being offered at Central Mountain Middle School East (formerly Lock Haven High School) but also Central Mountain Middle School West and Central Mountain High School. The District provides tutoring assistance to students at the schools through a program coordinated with Lock Haven University, a truancy reduction program that enlists the aid of parent volunteers, and alternative education programs for students that are experiencing academic hardship, behavior problems, and/or extreme absenteeism. In addition, Enterprise funding was used to create a School Police officer position.

Early Admissions Program

The last Cycle for the Early Admissions Program had six students enrolled for seven semester hours in the Lock Haven University Educational Opportunity Program for Summer 2000. All six students attained a 3.0 or above overall grade point average in the courses completed at Lock Haven University over the three summer programs. Five of these students attended Lock Haven University Fall 2000 and maintained a 3.0 or above overall average.

Administration

In the past year the City of Lock Haven has provided assistance to the Lock Haven Vitalization Team, the local business bureau, by assisting with promotions and community events such as the Easter festivities, Halloween activities and Holiday events. At each of these events over 1,000 children and their families came to the downtown to celebrate seasonal events. The Enterprise Community Program and the Lock Haven Community Policing Program assisted in these events to promote community and family bonding as well as to attract these families to the downtown.

In September of 2000, the City of Lock Haven received a Rural Business Opportunity Grant from USDA to develop a Business Resource Center. The City will locate the Center in the downtown to provide technical assistance and business promotions for the downtown business district. The Business Resource Center will be modeled after the National Main Street Program to provide a comprehensive approach for business development and retention in Lock Haven.

The Enterprise Community Program also partnered with key community agencies and organizations to develop a Communities That Care delinquency prevention plan for Clinton County. The Enterprise Community has been a natural facilitator for initiatives that require partnering and leveraging of local resources. The Enterprise Community Program facilitated the development of a three-year plan to prevent our children and youth from in engaging in problem behaviors. The development of this plan resulted in an additional $150,000 for the county to implement five strategies which compliment existing Enterprise Community Initiatives.

*Disclaimer Notice

City of Lock Haven EC Summary Page    City of Lock Haven EC Funding Page 

Main Map    EZ/EC Home Page