HRG Assistant Vice President Bill Kick appears weekly on the Tri-State Economic Update to discuss issues impacting the business community and economic development in and around Franklin County, PA. Tune in to News Talk 103.7 FM on Saturday mornings to hear this segment live during the 9 a.m. hour. Click on one of the links below to hear a recording of previous broadcasts on Soundcloud.
Welding Training Center Comes to Franklin County
Mike Ross of the Franklin County Area Development Corporation returns to announce a new training program for welders that will begin offering classes in the Cumberland Valley Business Park this October. He and Bill continue familiar themes of workforce development and the need for skilled trades men and women. | September 7, 2019
Encouraging Development & Managing Growth in Antrim Township
Bill talks with Antrim Township Board of Supervisor member Fred Young in a two-part interview. They discuss the township’s evolution from a sleepy exit with vast expanses of farmland to a center of economic development with distribution centers and other businesses popping up near the I-81 interchange. Specifically, they describe some of the policies the township put in place to encourage development and to preserve the community’s character as development brings more people and more traffic to the area. | August 24 and 31, 2019
Exciting Developments in Chambersburg
Steve Christian of Greater Chambersburg Area Chamber of Commerce stops by to discuss the diverse, dynamic economy in Chambersburg and several exciting construction projects in the area, including the new F&M Headquarters being built in a former high-tech manufacturing facility. | August 17, 2019
Reunited: Jamie Keener Talks Downtown Revitalization and Economic Development
Bill reunites with HRG’s former sales director and community planner Jamie Keener for a conversation about downtown revitalization and Jamie’s new role at the Cumberland Valley Economic Development Corporation | August 10, 2019
Gene Strite’s Remarkable Journey Enters a New Phase
Bill features wisdom and experiences from the remarkable life of Gene Strite, a man who’s done a lot of living and ain’t done yet. Locals know him for his work with El Dorado Stone, but he also discusses his deep faith and his charitable efforts on behalf of orphans in Kenya and Guatemala. Gene talks about selling his home and travelling the country to learn people’s stories. He makes the case that people can do anything they dream if they overcome their fears and trust in others. | August 3, 2019
The Voice of Business Talks NASA, Free Markets, and Democracy
On the 50th anniversary of the moon landing, Bill sits down with Dr. Richard Lesher, who observed the space race first hand overseeing NASA’s technological transfer program. Lesher also discusses his two decades of service as the president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and his advocacy across the globe for democracy and free markets. | July 21 and 28, 2019
Made in America/Made in Franklin County, Part 1
Sam Stuard stops by to talk about the role his company, Monarch Manufacturing, plays in developing parts and products shipped around the globe. Clients include the U.S. Department of Defense and the maker of high-end vehicle exhaust systems for Ferraris, Lamborghinis, and Porsches. | July 6, 2019
Made in America/Made in Franklin County, Part 2
Last week’s guest Sam Stuard tells Bill about the challenges of growing a young business like Monarch Manufacturing (such as finding start up capital, getting connected to investors and understanding everything you need to know about finance and operations in addition to your own industry). He also talks about the mentors who have helped him achieve success, his passion for motorsports, and his commitment to make sure young people learn to drive safely. | July 13, 2019
Georgina Cranston of the Greencastle-Antrim Chamber of Commerce talks about why Greencastle is “sitting pretty” as the “sweetest spot on I-81.” She discusses the benefit of modest growth and development from warehouse construction that brings new jobs without overwhelming the school district and local resources, and she emphasizes the importance of thinking now about what type of area the community wants Greencastle to be, so that they can plan and mold that growth in the desired direction. | June 22, 2019
The executive director of the Tuscarora Chamber of Commerce Chris Ardinger talks with Bill about the Mercersburg Vibrancy Plan: an effort to bring community stakeholders together to discuss solutions for stormwater management, fire and EMS, downtown revitalization and other issues impacting the area. They discuss the “Norman Rockwell painting” feel of the area and the effort to balance its much-loved rural nature with appropriate growth. | June 15, 2019
Developing a Workforce with the Skills Cumberland County Needs
Laura Potthoff of the Cumberland County Area Economic Development Corporation talks with Bill about workforce development in the areas where the county suffers the biggest skills gap: heavy equipment, advanced manufacturing, and healthcare. She also discusses an innovative collaboration she started between the major medical employers in the county and the educational institutions to ensure men and women are being trained in the skills area employers need. | June 8, 2019
Promoting Franklin County and Its Businesses to Tourists
Janet Pollard of the Franklin County Visitors Bureau explains how the bureau benefits residents as well as tourists. She also offers advice for local businesses interested in working with the bureau to promote themselves to out-of-town guests. Inbetween, she describes the bureau’s award-winning restoration of the National Bank of Chambersburg building for its new headquarters. | June 1, 2019
Mainstreet Waynesboro Launches Podcast and Weekly Farmer’s Market
Bill Kohler stops by to discuss the new podcasts from Mainstreet Waynesboro as well as what’s in store for the weekly Farmer’s Market in Waynesboro this summer. | May 25, 2019
Early Education Crucial for Workforce Development Success
The president of the Franklin County Area Development Corporation Mike Ross is back in the studio to discuss workforce development. He and Bill talk about the importance of early childhood education and career development programs that reach children at the elementary school level. | May 18, 2019
Continued Revitalization of Downtown Chambersburg: What Comes Next
Sam Thrush, president of Downtown, Inc., brings his energy and enthusiasm into the studio to discuss his passion for developing downtown Chambersburg. He talks about recently completed projects at the Coyle Free Public Library and the tourism bureau, ongoing initiatives in construction now, and the effort for future development of a night-time economy and residential space above the existing commercial space. | May 11, 2019
Making Connections for Business Development
The director of business development for Washington County, Maryland, returns for a second visit with Bill. This time she discusses her award-winning Making Connections campaign which facilitates business development through both physical connections (roadways, infrastructure) and personal connections between governments, businesses, and community organizations. | May 4, 2019
Aerial Imaging in Franklin County
Dave Mackley joins Bill to discuss how his company Anu Aerial Imaging, LLC, is supporting design, construction and marketing of local businesses in the region. | April 27, 2019
Franklin County’s Beauty and History + Leg Up Farms
Patti Nitterhouse joins Bill for an expanded segment discussing the natural beauty and history that makes Franklin County such an attractive place to live and work along with Penn National’s support for bringing Leg Up Farms’ equestrian therapy program to Franklin County for special needs youth. | April 20, 2019
Casino and Other Developments Coming to Shippensburg + Uprise Festival
Shippensburg Chamber of Commerce President Scott Brown talks about the casino, warehouses, and restaurants coming to Shippensburg. He also discusses the Uprise Festival, which is celebrating its 15th year in 2019. | April 13, 2019
Economic Development in Hagerstown
The executive director of the Greater Hagerstown Committee, Jim Kercheval, chats with Bill about economic development occurring in Hagerstown. They also discuss the potential for development collaboration with Franklin County and other locales throughout the I-81 corridor. | April 6, 2019
HRG talks with Bill Kohler of Mainstreet Waynesboro about the organization’s efforts to revitalize downtown Waynesboro with new businesses and events that attract locals and out-of-town visitors. | March 30, 2019
Economic Development is a Team Sport
Bill speaks with Susan Small, the director of business development for Washington County, Maryland, about her efforts to bring stakeholders across the region together for infrastructure improvements and economic growth. They discuss how development is spreading from Franklin County down the I-81 corridor to Maryland, how citizens across the region benefit from job growth, and the public-private partnerships that are making it happen. | March 23, 2019
Growth and Development in Downtown Chambersburg
Bill speaks with Stephen Christian of the Greater Chambersburg Chamber of Commerce and Chambersburg Area Development Corporation. They discuss all of the development happening in downtown Chambersburg (from storefront redevelopment to the new county judicial center), what is driving that development, and the role the chamber and development corporation play in that growth. | March 16, 2019
Local Education for Skilled Trades
Bill speaks with Mike Ross of the Franklin County Area Development Corporation about how local education for skilled trades – like the new civil engineering program at Shippensburg University — can create a pool of qualified applications for area businesses. | March 02, 2019
FCADC Position on Transource and Minimum Wage
Bill speaks with Mike Ross about the Franklin County Area Development Corporation’s position on the Transource power line proposal and a potential increase in the state’s minimum wage. | February 23, 2019
Bill speaks with Mike Ross of the Franklin County Area Development Corporation about the impact prevailing wage standards have on local construction costs. | February 16, 2019
Bill speaks with Mike Ross, president of the Franklin County Area Development Corporation, about the need for programs to develop the skilled staff area businesses need to grow. | February 09, 2019
