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The Lancaster City Alliance oversees the implementation of Lancaster’s award-winning Building on Strength strategic

plan. Joins us as we keep tabs on the plan by clicking here to review the Building on Strength Quarterly Report.

To learn more about the Lancaster City Alliance click here.

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STRATEGY 1 | EXPANDING SUCCESS: TRADITIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INVESTMENT

1A ­ Investment Sites

Plan Recommendation: Identify key sites within the City of Lancaster that present short-term and long-term

opportunities for investment.

Status: Lancaster City Alliance’s Economic Development and Planning Executive Leadership Team continues to explore

additional opportunity sites outside of the corridors as identified in the plan. Lancaster is well underway with a variety

of projects advancing in the City. Here are a few examples: Plaza Centro, redevelopment of Lancaster Square, and LGH’s

park development on the former YMCA site. As of the end of the fourth quarter, 16 out of the plan’s 40 identified

“investment opportunity sites” (40%) are under development.

Bravo, a small, full-service grocery store successfully opened on West

King Street. The opening of Bravo is a positive development adding a

needed grocery shopping option for City residents. A timeline for

repurposing and opening two more locally owned grocery stores.

The City of Lancaster’s Redevelopment Authority received three RFP’s

for the redevelopment and sale of SMC. A buyer has been selected with the sale anticipated to be final in the

first quarter of 2018. The SMC will be developed into a housing

market providing a one-stop housing retail destination.

LHOP is organizing a meeting to discuss and strategize identification of additional housing opportunity sites.

Lead Organizations: Lancaster City Alliance, Economic Development Company of Lancaster County and City of Lancaster

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1E4­ Lancaster High-Speed Internet Plan Recommendation: Continue with the current partnership to

implement LanCity Connect to existing businesses and attract new

ones.

Status: MAW Communications continues to advance the installation of

fiber for commercial and business users. Most recently installed in the North West neighborhood of the City. Interested

parties click here.

Lead Organizations: City of Lancaster

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STRATEGY 2 | EMBRACING THE COLLABORATIVE ECONOMY: CULTIVATING ENTREPRENEURS

2A ­ Entrepreneurial Development Coalition

Plan Recommendation: Engage the entrepreneurial community, gather feedback on policies and programs, and brainstorm about ways to continue to foster the entrepreneurial climate in Lancaster. Host regular forums (a minimum of two per year) to engage the entrepreneurial community.

The Lancaster City Alliance and Assets received a grant from the Lancaster Community Foundation. The funds

will support the efforts of the Entrepreneurial Coalition by increasing collaboration, reducing duplication and

streamlining access to the resources available to Lancaster’s entrepreneurs.

A successful Entrepreneur’s forum Cultivate Lancaster was held on December 7. The event featured four

entrepreneurial food vendors, networking, one-on-one mentoring with SCORE professionals, and six breakout

sessions.

Assets The Great Social Enterprise Pitch awarded five awards. Bridge, an online platform where customers can

book cross-cultural experiences with refugees was awarded

the top prize. The Great Social Enterprise Pitch served as an

idea incubator and business plan competition for concepts

that have a positive social or environmental impact in

Lancaster.

The Economic Development Company of Lancaster County hosted the national Rise of the Rest tour that brought together local entrepreneurs, businesses, nonprofits, and universities during a one-day tour of Lancaster, York, and Harrisburg. A pitch competition was held where a local startup, Device Events, received $100,000 investment.

Lead Organizations: Lancaster City Alliance

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STRATEGY 3 | LEVERAGING THE BRAND: MARKETING LANCASTER CITY

3C – Building the City Brand for Tourism

Plan Recommendation: Continue to develop marketing materials that profile shopping, dining, events, and opportunities to explore Lancaster City, extending beyond Downtown to places “off the beaten path.”

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Governor’s Awards for the Arts was celebrated with six days of

events including a parade on the arts, the first parade held in

Lancaster in many years. Over 1,500 people attended the

awards ceremony which recognized five artists. Special

Recognition for Public Leadership in the Arts was given to then-

Mayor Richard and Gail Gray.

Lead Organizations: Lancaster Office of Promotion, City of Lancaster and Discover Lancaster

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STRATEGY 4 | QUALITY OF LIFE: REINFORCING COMMERCIAL HUBS

4A – Foster Commercial Hubs within Neighborhoods Plan Recommendation: Recognize the unique character and culture of Lancaster’s Commercial Hubs, and establish those identities through branding and place-making techniques.

Status: Lancaster City Alliance has compiled a list of commercial and historically commercial spaces in the Building On

Strength commercial hubs and SoWe neighborhood revitalization area. The data is being summarized and expected to

be available in the first quarter of 2018.

Lead Organization: City of Lancaster

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4B – Street Network and Improved Accessibility Plan Recommendation: Build upon city-wide efforts to enhance streetscapes,

provide better walkability, bike-ability, and transit opportunities. Focus on

networks that reinforce the quality of life in Downtown and the Commercial Hubs

and those that reinforce critical connections throughout the City.

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Status:

Bike It Lancaster is underway with six bike share locations and thirty bikes available to the community. The

program is part of the City of Lancaster’s bicycle infrastructure initiative.

The City of Lancaster has begun phase I of painting Bike “sharrows” — on pavement markings that indicate a

roadway prioritized for sharing between cyclists and motorists.

Charlotte Street outreach has begun to transition Charlotte Street into a two-way street over the next year.

Lead Organization: City of Lancaster, South Central Transit Authority and Lancaster City Alliance

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4B2 ­ Circulator Study Plan Recommendation: Improve pedestrian and transit connectivity by establishing

a north-south and an east-west circulator, with a route that extends from the Train

Station to the Southside and another connecting the Thaddeus Stevens campus to

The West End.

Status: South Central Transit Authority is gathering input from business and

community leaders to help update its Transit Development Plan. Surveys for users of

mass transit as well as employers were sent to gather insight on transit service needs

currently and for the future.

Lead Organization: City of Lancaster, South Central Transit Authority and Lancaster

City Alliance

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4B4 - Gateways and Streetscapes Plan Recommendation: Fund and implement enhancements to gateway areas and commercial hub streetscapes to

increase investment and economic development

Status: In Celebration of the Downtown Investment District’s 25 Anniversary, the DID has set aside money to provide

trees to downtown property owners in areas where there is little to no greenery. To date, over 30 new street trees will

be planted. Planting began in November and will conclude in Spring, 2018 with a goal of planting 50 trees.

Lead Organization: City of Lancaster and Downtown Investment District

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4D ­ Neighborhood Healthy Food Initiative

Plan Recommendation: Establish a healthy food initiative to include partnerships with existing entities such as Lancaster

General Health/Penn Medicine and extends into the Commercial Hubs.

Status:

LG Health received a grant to promote the use of SNAP benefits and WIC farmer checks during the fall as the last push to purchase seasonal local vegetables before the expiration of the WIC checks on November 30.

Twenty five corner grocery stores continue to participate in the healthy corner store initiative by providing healthy fresh food options. Lead Organization: Lancaster General Health/Penn Medicine

Lancaster City Alliance

717.394.0783

115 East King Street | Lancaster, PA 17602