Keystone Edge - Blog

EdgeBlog 1 - Dining with the neighbors

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The oldest saw in the proverbial shed is that Philadelphia is a city of neighborhoods. Block by block, communities coalesce around a really good coffee shop, local grocery, or the corner bar. Small, fairly-priced restaurants form the nucleii of the comfiest residential neighborhoods in Philly. Some are chef-driven, like the new boite from outspoken chef David Katz, Mémé. Open less than four months, the foie gras tarts with seasonal fruits and lush, rustic entrées for two have kept the jewel-box space buzzing with happy diners, most of whom are also neighbors.

In the funkier Gayborhood, Mercato serves nouveau Italian plates with a heavy dash of scene. The BYO policy means you can supply your own Primitivo to complement Mercato's take on familiar flavors, like a short rib ragu with ricotta gnocchi, broccoli rabe and locatelli. In Society Hill, Dmitri's seafood BYO faces The New Wave Cafe, a long-standing casual neighborhood bar. Since Dmitri's is positively allergic to reservations and there is absolutely nowhere to stand inside the minnow-sized joint, guests drop their bottles with one of the waitresses along with their name, and head across the street for a drink at the New Wave. Once a table opens up, the Dmitri's girls come fetch their hungry guests from across the street--the anticipation and cocktail elevating the grilled whole fish and tender octopus in to a memorable night out. Such mutually beneficial symbiosis isn't just a pleasant novelty, but rather a method of success for the small businesses in this city of neighbors.

All of the below restaurants are located in Philadelphia, and are walkable from Center City.

Mémé, 2201 Spruce St., 215-735-4900, memerestaurant.com

Mercato, 1516 Spruce St., 215-985-2962, mercatobyob.com

Dmitri's, 795 S. 3rd St., 215-625-0556

The New Wave Cafe, 3rd & Catherine Sts., 215-922-8484, newwavecafe.com

EdgeBlog 2 - New American Music Union

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 14:57:23 GMT

This past summer, Pittsburgh played host to the New American Music Union, a two-day festival headlined by Bob Dylan that included Gnarls Barkley, Spoon, and The Raconteurs.

As a blogger, I was invited to the event with complimentary tickets and access to the pre-show press conference, where several of the musicians were asked what they thought of Pittsburgh, and the impressions they had before arriving.

I'm not sure what made Anthony Kiedis (of the Red Hot Chili Peppers), who designed the venue, choose Pittsburgh. He mentioned a generously low ticket price (understandable as the show sold out quite quickly). It was also noted that while several locations for such performances are usually well beyond city limits, the concert-goers could practically see the skyline from where they watched.

Danger Mouse of Gnarls Barkley said of Pittsburgh, "We were expecting Detroit, and got Chicago. Which is a good thing."

The whole weekend, I was flabbergasted that I was able to get so close to the performers and shows by simply agreeing to mention it on my Web site. As I talk to other bloggers, I realize that most of the places they live hardly recognize the internet as a news source at all, let alone the personal Web site of a college kid with little credentials for a press pass.

It made me wonder who would benefit from the small blurb. Letting my readers know about the event before it happened could certainly sell a few more tickets, but they were looking for coverage, not advertisement.

Pittsburgh's status as the "third bloggiest city" last year, following Philadelphia, is indicative of how strongly its residents are in touch with their city, and why it could be a good idea to further the collective voice, which is constantly growing in the community and shows no signs of breaking.

EdgeBlog 1 � Tastes like Pittsburgh

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

When I was asked to contribute to this blog by focusing on Pittsburgh, my hometown, as a cultural event, I was immediately in love with the idea. Admittedly, when I began publishing online, my focus wasn't especially geared towards the city. I'd grown up in the area, lucky to have been raised by my artist-writer grandfather, who led me by my hand to every play, museum, and exhibit that PAT bus could get us to.

When I decided to study writing, it was long after my initial attempts at keeping an online journal. Back then, blogging was not a popular concept, let alone a word. A couple years later, after minimal attempts at attracting an audience, and a developing interest in design and social media, I happened upon pghbloggers.org, a listing of blogs in the Pittsburgh area. Soon after, through that Web site, I learned about PodCamp Pittsburgh, an "unconference" run by and for people who create, enjoy, or are interested in learning more about social media.

Until that time, I was skeptical about cultivating a web presence. I was wary about publishing pictures of myself, my full name, or details--however bland--regarding my personal life. The Internet was, in my mind, a scary place that didn't touch ground. It was the essence of companies and the shadows of the personalities who promoted themselves.

When I finally began to form relationships with the people behind PodCamp--the speakers, organizers, and enthusiasts--I realized that they were journalists, and teachers, and parents. They were humble in what they did, and passionate about what they wanted to learn. From there, I very clearly stamped my blog with Pittsburgh, and my audience flourished beyond any hopes I had regarding readership.

In the beginning, as my blog floated around the universal Internet, without a backbone or home base, it was nearly impossible to convey a distinct personality. Pittsburgh's vibrant culture not only helped me benefit from a local connection, but also provided extremely colorful material that provided a means to break free from the personal blog label.

EdgeBlog 3 - For everyone who tried to make a rocket as a kid...

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

I've been wanting to talk about Make:Philly on Keystone Edge now for some time, so I figure I should take the opportunity now. Essentially, Make:Philly is a group of people that get together every month to make cool stuff, like rockets and robots, or invite scientists and inventors to speak about and share what they've done.

Last month, we did a video of Make:Philly's annual Art Buggy Derby, in which competitors are tasked to build a hand-powered buggy that makes art as you push it along. Check out the video below.

This coming Sunday, Nov. 23, Make:Philly is hosting Professor Andy Hicks of Drexel University, who will talk about mirror design. Hicks, whose work with mirrors originated in vision-based control of robots, has designed a driver-side mirror with no distortion and no blind-spot, and will have several other prototypes on hand, including a mirror that does not reverse, a panoramic mirror, and a curved mirror in which things don't look curved.

Inspired by Make: magazine, Make:Philly is an integral part of of what's commonly called the "creative economy." The 400-odd members of Make:Philly comprise a community of innovators and tech-savvy artists that cities need to attract and retain great talent. Ultimately, what the kids at Make:Philly are making is a better economy and a better, stronger city.

The Art Buggy Derby:

EdgeBlog 2 - 2008 Founder Factory a smashing sucess in Philly

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

There was a cool event held here in Philly yesterday called The Founder Factory, a day-long mega-conference that drew about 250 local entrepreneurs to World Cafe Live for a marathon of discussions, panels and Q&As, during which Philly's up-and-coming entrepreneurs picked the brains of local business leaders.

David Speers of Phillypreneurs live-blogged the event and made this short video of Founder Factory organizer Blake Janelle effusively recapping the 9-hour event.

What The Founder Factor says to me is that the entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well in Philadelphia, and the startup community here is teeming with ideas, energy. and industry. Bravo to everyone involved.

EdgeBlog 1 - Jules the humanoid robot

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Hello, this week I'll be posting various items of interest I come across but don't have time or space to include in the regular issue of Keystone Edge. We begin with one of my favorite industries: robotics.

Robots, as is mentioned in my short intro to this blog, creep me out. But I'm also fascinated by them, and Pennsylvania is a great place to be if you like robots.

The robot scientists at CMU, for example, are among the most ingenious, innovative researchers anywhere in the Commonwealth. In fact, next month we're running a story on CMU's team competing in the Google Lunar X Prize Competition, a $30 million competition between privately funded teams to send a robot to the moon, travel 500 meters and transmit video, images and data back to the Earth. Pretty awesome.

But I digress. Today's posts is about Jules, the first 'humanoid' robot with eyes and hair and a rubbery, flesh-colored face that can mimic human expressions. Described by the Daily Mail as a, "disembodied androgynous robotic head," Jules has tiny motors that allow its "face" to grin, grimmace, pucker and furrow its brow. It can also speak, and mimic human behavior it observes through video camera "eyes":

Jules mimics the expressions by converting the video image into digital commands that make the robot's servos and motors produce mirrored movements.

And it all happens in real time as the robot can interpret the commands at 25 frames per second.

The result, as you can see below, is exceedingly creepy:

Jules operates with 10 stock emotions (happy, sad, concerned, etc.) a team of engineers programmed into it. The project is called 'Human-Robot Interaction', devised at the Bristol Robotics Laboratory run by the University of the West of England and the University of Bristol.

EdgeBlog 4 � Using the social web in your community

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

A couple of years ago, viral videos were the rage and everyone wanted to have a video that people would forward to each other. Then businesses started to believe blogging was the best way to reach the world.

This year, we're seeing the hype expand to include social networks and social media.

The truth is that, trendiness aside, social networks really can have value in an organization's marketing--and beyond marketing, in operations and other areas.

Here are some ways revitalization groups, businesses, and others can use social networks:

Monitor public perception: Track mentions of your topic on blogs and microblogs. Use Tweet Scan and Google Alerts to have emails sent to you when a name or topic is mentioned on the web. Respond directly--offline--to the poster to gather more info or to address misperceptions.

Share plans and solicit input: On a Web site, post ideas in progress and solicit feedback -- but only if you're willing to honestly consider and use the feedback. Use offline media (print and broadcast) to drive people to the Web site.

Recruit and organize volunteers: Create a database of interested, active volunteers, then give them a task to do. Or, better yet, ask them what they think they should do to help, and then offer tools for them to connect with each other to get it done. Provide clear guidelines on how projects are evaluated for support and funding, then post a list of ideas that were backed and those that were turned down.

Offer a human face for the organization: Create a blog that shows the organization at work. Be real--share ups and downs. Allow comments only if you have the resources to monitor and respond. If a blog is too much work, create a bookmark list on Delicious (www.delicious.com) highlighting news and resources of interest, and embed it in your Web site.

Keep in mind that you still need to create an overall vision and strategy. Social networks work best as part of a larger plan.

Still, if your efforts are sincere and supported by the rest of your plan, you'll get back at least as much as you put in. And you have the chance to receive an exponentially larger return via true community engagement.

EdgeBlog 3 � A community as an unstoppable force

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Imagine a volunteer-based organization that always had people on-hand to do work--even physical projects; that had enough money to fund improvements and to plan for future expansion; that regularly held events and enjoyed big community turnouts; that dealt with setbacks calmly and with a sense of perspective.

It might sound like a fairy tale, until you spend a little time with the Butler-Freeport Trails Council.

Recently, I attended one of the council's monthly meetings. It was the largest volunteer-based meeting I've attended in a while, with about 30 people there. The meeting was lively, and input and commentary weren't confined to only a few people.

The Butler-Freeport Trails Council is notable for getting things done: trail improvements, trail extensions, facility development, community involvement.

I think they've been successful for a few reasons:

• They inspire people, inside the organization and outside it, with their vision. A few indefatigable individuals started the project with a vision, and were able to communicate this vision to create a team dedicated to the cause. Over time, the project acquired a momentum and life of its own.

• They communicate, with regular and open meetings, newsletters, email lists, a Web site, a Facebook group, and more. They use every available channel to connect with the community and with each other.

• Their processes are transparent. Work is discussed openly in regular meetings, and credit is given where it's due.

• They balance project work with fund-raising, and they aggressively pursue funding sources.

• They have a broad base of volunteers, and they invite volunteers to take on responsibility--but they also provide structure in which those volunteers can work. For example, they provide a Trail Project Worksheet and a clear process for reviewing and approving projects.

• They complete what they set out to do.

What struck me as I sat in that meeting was the confidence that the people in the room had, individually and as a team. They believed in what they were doing, and they trusted each other to do the right thing.

They seemed to feel that any problem could be handled and that whatever happened, they would succeed. I can't imagine anything that could stand in their way.

EdgeBlog 2 - Building community, online and off

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

We started Pittsburgh Bloggers in late 2004. Our goal was to make it easier to find blogs that originated in the Pittsburgh region. We knew they were out there, but no one had a definitive list, so we set out to create it.

We tried to put as few restrictions as possible on the kinds of blogs we listed. We defined "Pittsburgh region" broadly--I lived and worked then, as now, about an hour's drive north of the city, and I wanted to be included on the fun; plus we recognized that the area in which residents define themselves as "Pittsburghers" extends well beyond the city limits.

We also decided to include blogs written far away, as long as they regularly included content about Pittsburgh or the region. That way, a blogger in Colorado who was a fan of the Steelers could be part of the local sports conversation.

The site has grown steadily since the start: From an initial list of a few dozen blogs on a range of topics, it's grown to include over 900 sites, including blogs, podcasts, and other variants of social media. It has been useful in finding and following blogs on various topics, although we never have enough time to make all the technological improvements we have planned.

But what I think is more interesting than the Pittsburgh Bloggers directory is the physical, in-person community that is connected with it.

Bloggers have the reputation of living at their desks, never venturing out to the real world, but we regularly have strong turnouts for our quarterly BlogFests. The bloggers and podcasters who have organized three PodCamp Pittsburgh conferences seem to enjoy the camaraderie as much or more than the chance to show off their knowledge. People in the community regularly offer advice, job leads, support, and friendship to each other.

We Pittsburghers might be a bit lucky in having an ideal foundation for this kind of community to form. Our area is rich in tech-savvy people who are comfortable in the online world, so that gives us a lot of tools for communicating and organizing, for following up on ideas formed during in-person meetings. And the relatively small size of the city means that a little change can have a perceivable impact.

I don't know if other cities have the same kind of community, one that thrives both online and off. I'd like to hope they do, because it's a wonderful kind of community to be part of.

EdgeBlog 1 � It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

A few weeks ago, I asked some of the out-of-town speakers at PodCamp Pittsburgh 3 what they thought of the Steel City. Every one of them said they found the place varied, cultured, pretty, and just all-around nice. And every one of them was surprised about it.

The reaction is a common one. First-time visitors to Pittsburgh seem always to come expecting sooty factory-style buildings, corrosion, and unemployed steel workers wandering the streets like zombies. They find instead an intriguing skyline, a robust economy, and a lively arts and culture scene.

In Pittsburgh and throughout western Pennsylvania we spend a lot of time fretting that we're still thought to be worn out, our best days behind us--and we spend a lot of time wondering how to change perceptions. The no-fail method seems to be bringing people here to see for themselves, but until we find a way to get everyone to come in for a big old slumber party, we need an alternative.

Here it is: We're having a Neighborhood Walk. Everyone is invited. And everyone's hosting too, if they want to.

The idea came up at PodCamp, in fact. I think it was Janko of I Will Shout Youngstown who suggested it, at a session that functioned as the second Rust Belt Bloggers meeting. We are looking for ways to use social media to help "promote the urban frontier"--most specifically, the post-industrial cities in the rust belt of the U.S. and Canada.

This isn't just about Pittsburgh. The same concerns apply to other rust belt cities: Johnstown, Youngstown, Erie, Cleveland, Buffalo. We want everyone to get involved.

The Neighborhood Walk will happen Nov. 11. On that day, everyone is encouraged to take a walk around their neighborhood and to photograph or video or draw or sculpt or somehow to document it, and then to share the media they create online.

The idea is to show others where you live--the good and the bad of it, and maybe your hopes and plans for its future.

Anyone can join in--including you, Gentle Reader. It's easy to start a blog for the occasion, or to post to Facebook or whatever site you use to stay in touch. Or you can send an email to the Rust Belt Bloggers site and we'll post it for you.

What will happen? Will this event have any effect?

I predict that there will be a small turnout the first time, and that each time we repeat there will be more and more awareness. Maybe like other events it will grow slowly and then suddenly blossom exponentially.

Maybe it will flop--if we don't follow through or if we all get distracted by other issues and concerns.

Or maybe it will gradually but steadily build until it becomes a part of the national/international consciousness. That's an exciting prospect indeed.

EdgeBlog 4 � Connection to community

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Another element that makes the Philadelphia music scene so strong is its connection to community. I've said before that there's a strong history of activism in Philadelphia; grassroots, community-based, and non-profit organizations citywide help connect neighborhoods and individuals with causes. Many musicians here recognize this and are making serious efforts to integrate their art with these community causes and organizations.

There are some great examples of community-driven music organizations across the city. In West Philadelphia, a group called Intercultural Family Services recognized they wanted to provide access to music instruction for all low-income children in their after-school program. With the backing of renowned jazz saxophonist Odian Pope, the group started a program called Music and Mentorship, in which local musicians and songwriters taught music lessons. The classes were very affordable because they were taught in a large group format, and the program really started to flourish when local musician Shannon Pelcher took over. Because of her connections in the music community, Shannon was able to gain access to instruments, song rights and even studio recording time. As a result, the program has become a model for music education at a time when arts are disappearing from most school budgets.

Another example of a community-driven music organization is The Philadelphia Folk Song Society. This is the group behind The Philadelphia Folk Fest, an annual folk concert attended by thousands of people. What most people don't realize is that there's actually a non-profit at the core of this organization. The society recently decided to hire a young executive director named Levi Landis in hopes that he would revitalize both the concert and the organization--and he has not disappointed. As a former community center director, Landis recognized there was great potential for partnership and an opportunity to bring music out into the community; he immediately set out to find non-profit partners and non-traditional venues.

In putting together the strategic plan for The Philadelphia Sessions, I had to identify possible partners and stakeholders. I started looking at businesses I wanted to partner with and as I filled out the list I was surprised to see that many businesses on my list had nothing to do with music. I knew, however, that these organizations were connected with mine through the larger brand of the city of Philadelphia and ultimately that's what I'm promoting. These are the relationships and synergies that are central to creating that "creative" climate ripe for attracting top talent to any region.

EdgeBlog 3 � Philly's memory-making music venues

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Location is important. When you think back to your favorite experiences, they often have as much to do with the location as with the events. Sometimes the location itself makes the memory. Philadelphia has more than a few memorable music venues. I could literally write a book about all the great spaces here and what makes them unique, but instead I'll tell a few stories about some of my favorites.

Stevenson's
I see a lot of live music on a weekly basis. I've always liked live music because of the personal connection with the artists, and what better place to make that connection than in small venues. One of those venues is a little bar in the Northeast called Stevenson's. This place is quintessential Northeast Philly, a neighborhood bar with pictures along the wall that go back 60 years, telling the family history of the owners. There's a glass display with political buttons and paraphernalia going back to the Eisenhower administration. The owner's name is Rob; his father owned the bar before him and seemed to pass down a love of bartending and live music to his son

Normally, a place like Stevenson's isn't somewhere you tread lightly. Philly is a working class town and many city neighborhoods have their own provincial dress codes and customs, but this is a place where they go out of their way to bring in talented and diverse musical acts. In fact, it's fair to say that it's one of those places that transcend demographics. It doesn't matter who you are or where you come from, if you love music you are instantly a regular at Stevenson's. If you're really good, you can even coax Rob to come out from behind the bar and play a pretty mean trombone.

TLA
When I first moved to Philadelphia I lived about two blocks from South Street--a great place to be for a young man in his early 20's. Of all the places that I frequented on that street, the Theatre of the Living Arts, or TLA, was one of my favorites. This is a venue that hosts national touring acts almost seven nights a week in a space that holds a few hundred people comfortably.

One Friday night--Halloween, actually--I went to see a great band from L.A. called Grant Lee Buffalo, and the energy of the crowd and the performers was electric. Most of the people in the room were wearing some bizarre costume and I still remember the opening band that night. The lead singer had a very distinct look; he was albino with white hair and features, and he had a really striking white suit on with a red carnation in the lapel. He closed his set that night with a solo song he played on accordion that told a sinister tale of murder--perfect for Halloween. As he sang, I looked around the room and everyone there was captivated and I knew you could only see a show like this at the TLA. It was one of those moments where the space lent authenticity to the performance.

Avenue of the Arts
In the heart of downtown Philadelphia there's a stretch of Broad Street called the Avenue of the Arts. Some of the best large venues in the city are included here. It's home to the Academy of the Arts, where the Philadelphia Symphony and Opera Company perform. This beautiful antique theatre has acoustics that just can't seem to be replicated--no matter how good architectural technology gets. In fact, I recently got to see Feist play at the Academy and she gushed that it was one her favorite places to play in the U.S. and that they had offered her a larger concert venue but that she much referred the character and intimacy of that room.

There are several theaters on this stretch that are also great to see a show, but the crown jewel of the Avenue has to be The Kimmel Center. This is a state-of-the-art building. A French magazine once remarked that in the Kimmel Center, "Philadelphians have a building that Parisians will envy." With an incredible lineup every season, the center attracts a wide range of the most talented performers in the world. That being said, my favorite performance there was on the venue's opening weekend. The Kimmel Center invited every performer in Philadelphia to take part in a 24 hour "open mic," where anyone in the city could come down, sign up and say they "played the Kimmel." I went to give a friend some moral support, and to see so many people show up spoke volumes to me about the importance ordinary Philadelphians place on the arts. It also sent a message that the premiere venue in the city would be a place where all Philadelphians would be welcome.

EdgeBlog 2 � Why Philly's scene is so interesting

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In yesterday's post, I talked about the connection between the new economy and the "creative" class--workers whose main export is ideas. For these people, creative environment and lifestyle are important, and becoming more of a consideration for businesses that are looking to attract this new kind of worker.

The music coming out of Philadelphia right now is a strong attraction for new economy workers that are looking to do business in a climate that inspires them. Philadelphia has already garnered a reputation for music through the commercial success of acts like The Roots, Jill Scott and others. In fact, when my sister graduated from the University of the Arts with a Jazz Performance degree and left Philadelphia to play music internationally, she was pleasantly surprised at how many performers were already familiar with the city and the music it was producing. Philly is especially known for its "neo-soul" scene but that's really only scratching the surface.

Diversity is the key to any cultural movement and music is no exception. On any given day in Philly you can see anything from opera to hip hop to bluegrass and beyond. If your musical tastes are more traditional, we have world-class opera, classical music and jazz in Philadelphia. Three renowned music programs keep an influx of talented musicians and vocalists coming to the city every year: Curtis institute is an internationally respected music conservatory where some of the country's most talented young performers come every year to hone their skills in classical genres. The city is a direct beneficiary of this, as the Curtis students host free recitals that are open to the public. I have taken groups of children from my community center there to help expose them to culture they normally wouldn't have access to.

Temple University and The University of the Arts also attract a large number of talented young performers, but both schools have a more diverse musical approach and incorporate jazz and modern music into their curriculum. I remember going to my sister's Brazilian jazz recital while she was a UArts student and getting to see the world-famous Brazilian percussionist Nana Vascancelos sit in with the students because he was friends with the teacher. UArts and Temple students are making more and more of an impact, like recent Temple grad Maxfield Gast, who is garnering reputation as a jazz saxophonist to watch. Another local favorite is guitarist Ross Bellenoit, a UArts Alum that started out by touring with Amos Lee and ended up touring with Bob Dylan.

Beyond the schools are the organic music scenes that exist in the city and that have produced some of its largest commercial successes. There is a huge singer-songwriter community that has produced extraordinarily talented performers like Blue Note recording artists Amos Lee and Mutlu. Experimental alternative rock bands like Man Man have achieved critical acclaim and commercial success when they were featured in a series of Nike commercials and the Showtime series "Weeds." Of course, there is always the staple of neo soul and hip-hop performers like The Roots, Jill Scott, Eve and a host of up-and-coming performers from that scene like pianist Anam Owili-Eger and trip-hop performers Quintero.

At my very first fundraiser for The Philadelphia Sessions, I decided to host a concert at downtown bar called Fergies. Fergie is an Irish immigrant who came to the city in the 80's and bartended his way into owning a few successful downtown pubs. At 5-feet 9-inches tall, with a full white beard, he's one of those types that you can't miss and basically comes across Santa with an Irish brogue. I'll talk about him and his venues more in tomorrow's blog; all you need to know about him for today is that he's a huge supporter of local music. My event was successful, in that the room was packed and we raised the amount of money that we needed to. What made the event really special was a surprise appearance by Amos Lee. Amos not only came out to support the cause and cheer on the local performers, he got up and sang a few songs at the end of the night to help re-pack the room and send us over the top in terms of our fundraising goals.

I bring up this story to underline the point of my blog. This is what makes Philadelphia music so attractive to the creative class; the music is accessible on every level. On any given night, you can find a world-class performance going on somewhere in the city and those performers that achieve commercial success constantly come back and pop in at venues across the city. Whether it's someone like Amos Lee popping up at an open mic night in Manayunk, or ?uestlove (the drummer for The Roots) DJing a recurring party at a popular South Street night club, the scene is filled with performers that are ready to entertain and inspire. This is what creates and sustains a creative atmosphere--and makes Philadelphia a great place to do business.

EdgeBlog 1 - Why music matters to business

Thu, 30 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In his groundbreaking book, "The Rise of the Creative Class," author Richard Florida lays out an argument that the driving force for new business and revitalization is a certain type of "creative" worker. Architects, software engineers, web designers, urban planners, policy wonks, and even baristas fit this new designation. Right now there is a push to draw the most talented of the creative class, and businesses are trying to figure out what kind of place appeals to this new breed of worker.

Here in the Philadelphia region, there is a consensus recognition that arts and culture are not only enriching, but they are also good for business. Recently, Mayor Michael Nutter reopened the office of Arts and Culture while adding the term "Creative Economy" to its title. Time will tell what influence this new office has on the city's cultured sub-scene, but if recent events are any indicator, it's been timed perfectly to meet the rising tide of the Philadelphia music scene.

Keystone Edge has asked me to blog about the Philadelphia music scene, and what role it has to play in the new economy. Music is a topic near and dear to my heart; not only have I played and promoted music for the last 10 years in this city, but recently I started a nonprofit organization called The Philadelphia Sessions, aimed at expanding the city's reputation through its music. We help send Philadelphia musicians abroad and also help host international musicians here. I always like to say that we are helping to move Philadelphia from metropolitan to cosmopolitan.

Over the next four blog posts, I'm going to take you on an inside tour of the Philadelphia music scene and explain why it merits being called "hot" by Rolling Stone and "revitalized" and "trendier" by USA Today.

Tomorrow, we'll start by looking at the sheer volume and diversity of great music coming out of this city right now, including several acts that have been signed to large label deals that still play music regularly in the city.

Next, we'll examine the wealth of music venues in Philadelphia, from small bars that are all heart, to modern concert halls that are the envy of Paris. I'll also discuss the community-based musical movement where musicians are coming together to support communities and nonprofits.

Lastly, I'll talk a little bit about the strategic plan for The Philadelphia Sessions and how we are partnering with other organizations and local businesses to help improve the Philadelphia brand under the banner of music and arts.

My hope is that after reading all five posts, you'll not only have a greater appreciation of both Philadelphia and it's music, but you'll also see the connection between good music and good business.

EdgeBlog 5 - Small town and cities are an answer... to the affordability of our energy

Wed, 29 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In the spirit of energy conservation, I'll summarize this post up-front for you: Living closely to one another saves a lot of money (and a lot more than money).

There's been much talk in Pennsylvania about the uncapping of our electricity rates. In late 2006, Team PA Foundation joined with Carnegie Mellon University to develop a comprehensive report on this issue to give legislators and policy leaders the knowledge and numbers they need to make a prudent decision. With decisions still pending, the only thing we do know is that electricity rates will soon go up significantly.

The important point to remember from this latest pricing peak before the economic slowdown is that energy pricing is increasingly volatile and on an upward trend. As China brings on three to four new coal fired power plants online EACH WEEK, and millions of Indians and Chinese are gaining the wealth to buy their first car, American energy users are finding themselves in an ever more crowded and hungry global marketplace.

Apart from the sheer dollars and sense of the issue, the upward trend of energy consumption has proven to be unsustainable for our environment. Pick your environmental crisis du jour, and our hungry energy appetite most likely drives it. Research is showing us that the increase in ocean acidity and the subsequent breaking of the food chain may beat out global warming as the most urgent environmental degradation trend caused by increases in carbon in the atmosphere from the burning of fossil fuels.

So what do small towns and cities have to do with this? The traditional way of small-town way of life that defined Pennsylvania since its founding did so due to its great market efficiency. Walkable mixed-use core communities are not relics of our past--they are models of socioeconomic efficiency (including energy efficiency). Buyers near sellers, employees near employers, students near schools, politicians near their constituents, ratepayers near services, families near parks/theatres/restaurants, and people near other kinds of people.

Dense population centers allow for innumerable ways to reduce costs and environmental impact while increasing quality: Centers of employment develop near to centers of population meaning shorter commutes and better pools of workers to choose from, goods/services are more efficiently provided to dense centers of consumption (reducing cost and increasing profitability), niche businesses can thrive due to diversity and size of customer base (more consumer options), and smaller homes and fuel bills keep more money in family pockets.

Adaptive reuse of existing structures and brownfield redevelopments act as super-sized recycling programs, helping conserve BOTH construction materials and land! All of these measures taken together equate to significant demand reduction, which drives prices down for all of us, not only because of supply/demand but also because of the locational marginal pricing model of our current electricity market. It's estimated that merely a 5 percent reduction in demand would save Pennsylvania consumers $190 billion in annual energy costs.

As energy costs continue their march upward, it's in the interest of all Pennsylvanians and Pennsylvania-based businesses to reinvest in our traditional core communities.

EdgeBlog 4 - Small towns and cities are an answer� to our fractured politics

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The other day, I was perusing through some old books at an antique store when I came across "The Pennsylvania Citizen," Copyright 1895. Under its time-worn cover, I discovered a primer defining the history and practice of all levels of government in Pennsylvania--and how a person can best "exercise citizenship."

I plunked down a couple of dollars for it, and promptly spent the better part of my morning flipping through its century-old pages. Two things immediately stood out to me: 1) surprisingly little has changed in our form of governance since 1895, and 2) this little book defined the solution to a problem in our society that I have yet to hear any pundit or news anchor talk about--the lack of true citizenship. I'm not talking about the current hype of challenging everyone's true patriotism, but something much deeper and more integral to the workings of our democracy.

The preface opens with this rather profound text: "Much is said about teaching patriotism in the schools, and laudable efforts are made to inculcate patriotic sentiment in the minds of the pupils: flags float from the tops of our school-houses, patriotic songs resound from within their walls... But much of all this is mere sentiment, which alone will not suffice... boys and girls should be trained in the art of American citizenship... the exercise of citizenship--like charity--begins at home. It is illogical and impractical to train a (student) in the duties of a President or Congressman and not in the duties of a voter, juryman, and local officer."

It goes on to say in no uncertain terms that love of country and of your fellow citizens can only start at home as we learn to become engaged in actively supporting our immediate community--and more than that, we owe our local governments a kind of devotion. Devotion for the education they provide our children, the protection they give our families and our homes, for the order its laws make possible, for its property, and public benefits.

It continues: "We should be so public-spirited that, when we see a big stone in the road or banana peel on the sidewalk, we remove it for the safety of others... We should take part in everything pertaining to (our town's) welfare; for its welfare is our welfare... In this way by practicing the art of government in a small sphere within our reach, we become true patriots. We learn to love order and fairness, and to demand our rights from others and to recognize our duties toward them. To know all this and to practice it is patriotism in its highest sense."

This concept is something that I have appreciated greatly about living in a small city. It is nearly impossible to not know your neighbor, or care for the wellbeing of your immediate neighborhood. When you live closely with so many people, you can't help but think about your impact on their lives. Small talk on the porch stoop, neighborhood clean-ups and block parties all lend to the "we're in this together" spirit that pervades most small-town and city neighborhoods. These connections lend people to become invested in their community and involved in local politics not only for their own welfare, but for the welfare of their friends and neighbors.

If only we as citizens could replicate nationally this concept that plays out so well in small towns and cities across Pennsylvania, our country--and our political system--would be better off.

EdgeBlog 3 � Small towns and cities are an answer� to our leaky pipes and rusting bridges

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Remember that bridge in Minneapolis that collapsed last year, turning a normal Wednesday morning commute into a national tragedy? And the pictures of the steam pipe explosion in midtown Manhattan? These were glimpses into a growing challenge that all communities face in the U.S.--our aging infrastructure.

The average age of the US water infrastructure is around 50 years, and many sewer pipes are more than 100 years old. A recent report found that more than 25 percent of our nation's bridges are "structurally deficient" or functionally obsolete. In Pennsylvania, 44 percent of our bridges are deficient, and more than 35 percent of New Jersey's bridges are deficient. And it's not only water and roads; it's also our telecommunications and electric infrastructure that are woefully lacking investment in many areas of the country.

It's gotten so bad that voters in Pennsylvania on November 4th will be faced with the choice of whether or not to authorize $400 million in bond financing to pay for just the beginning of what is needed, since it has been estimated it would cost nearly $140 billion (yes, with a "b") to repair or replace all Pennsylvania's bridges. Oh, that we could all just tar our wagons and ford the river--doesn't work so well in a Honda.

So what do cities and small towns have to do with this? Americans have been living beyond their means in more ways than one; we've been outspending our income, and our outward sprawl patterns have been out-pacing our infrastructure investment. Despite being woefully in need of more funding, 2004 was a record year with more than $312 billion in public spending on U.S. water and transportation infrastructure. It seems money will alone not be enough to solve this problem--we need to think creatively.

The trend of people moving back to traditional, walkable core communities will significantly reduce the new investment needed for infrastructure to feed new development and free up that funding to improve our existing infrastructure. More dense centers of both population AND employment will also decrease wear on existing infrastructure by people living, working and shopping locally, decreasing vehicle miles traveled and increasing efficiencies in commercial trucking and delivery traffic. It will make it possible to have less linear feet of roads, pipes, wires, and fiber-optics per person, plain and simple. The more people in a given square mile, the more tax base and customer base you have to pay for upkeep of infrastructure.

Simple math, but not so simple public policy. Since the Highway Trust Fund is nearly entirely funded by gas taxes, if people drive less (like what happened in April 2008) it only serves to widen the infrastructure funding deficit. Pennsylvania needs enforce a strong "Fix it First" policy that mandates existing infrastructure be adequately maintained before new infrastructure is built, and we need to invest in enhanced materials-science and engineering by utilizing our academic institutions to develop new construction and maintenance technologies that will reduce long-term maintenance costs. This is once again is a great opportunity for Pennsylvania to continue its heritage of leadership in transportation policy and advanced material innovation.

EdgeBlog 2 � Small towns and cities are the answer� to the economy.

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Three out of Four people privately employed in Pennsylvania work in the service sector (meaning they no longer make stuff); they sell their ideas and abilities. The drivers of this economy are now talent, innovation and technology--smart people thinking smartly about fulfilling the needs of their customers in a way that is either cheaper or better than their global competitors. This is especially true for the high-wage jobs in finance, engineering, IT, life sciences, and creative industries.

So why are small towns and cities important to this? Just as last century's mill had to be located near a rail line or river, so too these new economy industries develop near locations dense with talent and innovation--and the higher this density, the more these businesses thrive.

In Cities and the Creative Class, Richard Florida makes the case that wealth-generating industries prosper in areas that have high concentrations of what he calls the 3 T's: Talent, Technology, and Tolerance, and that "companies cluster in order to draw from concentrations of talented people who power innovation and economic growth� Such a concentration of people is a tremendous source of competitive advantage for companies in our time-driven and horizontal economy."

This economic concept is also called agglomeration, meaning industries do better when they are geographically near to one another. As economic agglomeration occurs, so does cultural and educational agglomeration: the more people you have in an area, the more fertile the area becomes for amenities, arts and culture, and educational opportunities.

Small towns and cities lie squarely at the intersection of economic and cultural agglomeration, and that makes them the most fertile ground for industrial innovation, entrepreneurship, and the foundations of our new economy.

Fortunately, Pennsylvania has a wealth of these core communities that are exceptional places to live, and nearly all have cultural amenities and academic institutions that are magnets for smart people. Across the Commonwealth, cities and towns are becoming hubs of innovation and new economic growth, attracting more smart people and entrepreneurs in a virtuous circle of economic development. Small cities like Bethlehem and Harrisburg are surging forward as economic engines for their respective regions, and communities like Lancaster and Pittsburgh's Southside have become cultural and arts centers attracting large numbers of young talented creative people who are spurring on all kinds of new economic activity. Traditional manufacturing towns like Erie are capitalizing on both their academic institutions and the influx of young educated people and are seeing exceptional new employment growth from high-tech industries.

This trend is being encouraged by the development of the Keystone Innovation Zones (KIZs), which work by creating a geographically specific support infrastructure around academic institutions that act as a virtual business incubator. This not only helps commercialize research, but it also helps provide job opportunities for young talented students--helping them develop roots in their community and giving them a reason to stick around.

Pennsylvania has the nation's third largest number of colleges and universities--nearly all of them located in a traditional small town or city. With more than 700,000 students in Pennsylvania (one out of four international or from out of state), Pennsylvania stands ready to continue its heritage of being a leading economic engine for the world. In the coming years, our decisions to reinvest and revitalize our small towns and cities will play a key role in how and where these centers of innovation and economic activity will develop.

EdgeBlog 1 - Small towns and cities are the answer

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

These days, the news seems most often to be a compilation of the latest tit-for-tat political jabs, chicken-little style economic predictions, and for a little spice they throw in some bizarre criminal act to keep your attention: "Man dressed as a banana robs bank!"

I doubt that many of us think this lowest common denominator media enlightens us to any of the real problems faced by our nation or our communities, but nevertheless we're hit from all angles in a seemingly endless marquee of ripped-from-The Onion inane BREAKING NEWS!

I spend what is probably too much time thinking about how we overcome the real challenges we have as a nation--challenges that are often the same at all levels of government and life. Since Lisa and I moved into Harrisburg city about five years ago, I've been thinking a lot about how aspects of living in an innocuous little city or small town like this have the potential to solve many if not all of the problems of our society. Quite a fanatical claim, I know. So here goes my shot at not looking like I am to urban living what Tom Cruise is to Scientology.

So what problems are we talking about here? Not having a good Thai restaurant nearby? No, I'm talking about the real underpinning issues of our nation: our faltering economy, fractured political system, dilapidated and decaying infrastructure, and the skyrocketing costs of energy and healthcare. These are the issues that present the biggest challenges, and in their solutions the greatest potential for our nation--and for Pennsylvania.

Demographics, transportation costs, and a host of other reasons are driving our society to reverse the trend of suburban sprawl and migrate toward reinvestment in our older core communities. And my belief is that we as a society and a state should encourage this trend, not only for the benefit of those communities but also for the benefit of all of us.

Over the next few days I'm going to look at how each of these problems are positively influenced by the growing trend of people migrating back to the to core communities of our Commonwealth. I'd love to get your feedback and incorporate your thoughts into the discussion, so feel free to leave a comment.

EdgeBlog 5 - Create regional "home rule"

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In today's global economy, regions compete for jobs, investment, and talent--not states. Businesses choose between Pittsburgh and Charlotte, Erie and Buffalo, and Philadelphia and Boston, not Pennsylvania vs. Massachusetts, New York, or North Carolina.

It's no surprise to anyone that Pennsylvania's regions are very different places. It's not just that we call soft drinks "pop" in the west and "soda" in the east. More important things, like land and infrastructure issues, differ dramatically across the state. For example, one of the most critical challenges in western Pennsylvania has been finding money for industrial site development and reuse of brownfields to enable business growth, while a pressing need in southeastern Pennsylvania has been controlling development of farmland from pressures for new housing. Western Pennsylvania has an abundance of water, but it has problems keeping it clean, while eastern Pennsylvania has been plagued by droughts. Pittsburgh and Philadelphia have sought predictable funding for transit systems, while the rest of the state has been more concerned with highway funding.

Yet the decisions about how to deal with each region's unique issues are made not by the regions themselves, but by officials in Harrisburg. Although regional planning commissions develop regional transportation plans and prioritize projects, PennDOT still decides which projects will be funded, not the regions. Although county and regional agencies plan, organize, and prioritize economic development projects, the decisions about which projects get funded are made by the Department of Community and Economic Development or the Governor's Office, and do not always match local priorities. There is no flexibility to create special programs or to reallocate funds to respond to regional needs--all programs have to be statewide, and the funding amounts and program guidelines are all established in Harrisburg.

In many of its key economic development and infrastructure programs, the state should allocate a portion of the funding and delegate the decision-making authority for spending it to those regions that have effective regional planning and decision-making mechanisms in place. For example, Southwestern Pennsylvania has demonstrated that it can effectively plan and set economic development priorities at the regional level. For over a decade, beginning with the Southwestern Pennsylvania Growth Alliance and now through the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission, ten counties have worked together to identify priorities for infrastructure investment and business climate improvements. But all too often, the state has chosen to ignore the region's priorities.

So what can you do?

1. Demand that the state follow regional priorities. The next time the Governor or your state legislator come bearing "gifts" from Harrisburg, ask whether the projects they're funding were regional economic development priorities.

2. Urge that state funding programs be regionalized. What good is planning if you can't assure that funding will follow the plan? Just as many municipalities have been given "home rule" powers by the state, state economic development and infrastructure programs should be modified to explicitly delegate decision-making responsibility to capable regional entities.

If we enable each of the state's regions to compete effectively for jobs and talent in the post-recession economy, we'll see greater economic success for the state as a whole.

EdgeBlog 4 - Make business taxes more competitive

Tue, 21 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Although there are many reasons why businesses should want to locate or expand in Pennsylvania, many never learn about them because the state publishes a big red STOP sign for economic development.

It's called the state Corporate Net Income (CNI) Tax. Pennsylvania's CNI tax rate is 9.99 percent, the highest flat tax rate in the country. (Iowa has a higher rate--12 percent--on net income over $250,000, but businesses in Iowa with less than $100,000 in net income pay only 8 percent.)

On top of that, Pennsylvania is also one of only two states to limit the ability of companies to deduct prior-year losses from their current year's income. That makes Pennsylvania's high CNI tax even more uncompetitive for entrepreneurial startup firms and for some of our largest and highest-wage businesses like steel and chemicals that operate in cyclical industries.

As if that wasn't bad enough, Pennsylvania also imposes a Capital Stock and Franchise Tax (CSFT) on non-manufacturing businesses. Fewer than half of the states even have such a tax. Although Pennsylvania is phasing out the CSFT, it won't be gone until 2011, and that's assuming the state doesn't delay the phase-out, as it has twice in the past.

The bottom line is that Pennsylvania has the most uncompetitive state business taxes in the country. Pennsylvania's worst-in-the-nation ranking sends a "take your business elsewhere" message that undercuts all of the other valuable economic development initiatives the state has undertaken. And in our current difficult economic times, businesses are going to be looking for states and regions that help them be competitive, not ones that overtax their earnings.

Pennsylvania hasn't always been this unfriendly to businesses. Twenty years ago, the state's CNI tax rate was reduced to 8.5 percent, improving the state's national ranking to 16th. Job creation in the Commonwealth soared. But the success was short-lived because the state increased the rate dramatically in 1991, making it the highest in the country, and the state's job growth rate correspondingly plummeted.

State officials will say there's no way we could even consider cutting business taxes now, with the state facing a budget deficit this year. And it's unfortunate that the state spent all of its big surpluses over the past several years, rather than cutting business taxes when it could afford to do so, or saving more in the Rainy Day Fund.

But even in the current economic climate, the state can enact a cut in the CNI tax--it just needs to delay implementation until 2010, the same way it has enacted future cuts in the CSFT in order to phase it out affordably. Businesses don't make investment decisions based on what the tax rates are this year, but on what they expect the tax rates to be in the future. And a lower tax rate will encourage business growth in the state, thereby increasing state revenues from all taxes, including the personal income tax and the sales tax, helping get state finances back on track.

What can you do? It's simple:

Ask your state legislator to make Pennsylvania more competitive by supporting a reduction in the Corporate Net Income Tax.

EdgeBlog 3 - Create a value-driven healthcare system

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

One of the biggest problems facing the nation in the years ahead is the high and growing costs of healthcare. It's making our businesses uncompetitive, and it's the primary culprit behind the growing problem of the uninsured. No plan for expanding access to health insurance will be sustainable if costs aren't brought under control.

Imagine what it would mean for attracting both businesses and residents if Pennsylvania became the first state in the nation to reduce health care spending while improving quality. Impossible? No. A big part of the solution lies in changing the way we pay for healthcare. Under current payment systems, physicians, hospitals, and other healthcare providers receive strong financial incentives to deliver more services to more people, but they are often financially penalized for providing better services and improving health.

To fix this, people need to start choosing healthcare services based on both cost and quality, so that healthcare providers have an incentive to eliminate the estimated 40 percent waste and inefficiency in the healthcare system.

Read the October 5 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette for an example. The newspaper ran a story profiling a man who found that his medication cost $46 at one pharmacy and $557 at another, but his insurance plan would pay 80 percent of the cost regardless of where he went, and the high-priced pharmacy said that because of that, they compete on convenience, not on price.

Or look at the 2007 report from the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council (PHC4) showing that heart surgery costs more than twice as much at some hospitals as it does at others in the same region, with no difference in quality. Yet most health insurance plans give people no incentive to choose the lower-cost care.

What do we need to do?

1. Reauthorize PHC4 and issue public reports on healthcare providers' costs and quality.Pennsylvania was actually a pioneer in providing information on hospital quality and costs when it established the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council over twenty years ago. But more recently it has fallen behind other states and regions by failing to expand quality reporting to physicians and outpatient services. And now even hospital reporting is at risk because of the governor's and General Assembly's failure to reauthorize PHC4.

2. Use health insurance plans that pay based on value. Businesses and state government in Pennsylvania should follow Minnesota's lead and create incentives for employees to use higher-value healthcare providers. Rather than charging employees more for all of their healthcare, charge them less for using higher-value providers and more for using lower-value care.

3. Choose healthcare providers based on quality and price. National studies have shown that higher-cost healthcare doesn't mean better quality healthcare. Just like any other product or service, the only way to lower spending is for all of us to ask about both price and quality, and use the healthcare providers that deliver the best value.

EdgeBlog 2 - Hold schools accountable for performance

Fri, 17 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In the years ahead, businesses of all sizes will increasingly need a workforce that is proficient in basic skills, particularly mathematics. And unless workers have those skills, they'll have trouble finding employment at a good wage.

Although Pennsylvania has a national reputation for having a high-quality workforce, we're at risk of losing that advantage in the new knowledge-based economy. Last year, almost half (44 percent) of Pennsylvania's 11th graders weren't proficient in math, and over a third couldn't read at a high school level. If you think your school district doesn't have a problem, you're probably wrong--only two school districts in the entire state had 90 percent of their 11th graders proficient in math, and only 19 (out of 501) had 80 percent or more proficient in math.

But the problem starts much earlier--over a quarter of Pennsylvania's 5th graders can't do math properly and almost 40Percent can't read at a 5th grade level.

What business could survive if 25-40 percent of its products were defective? How can Pennsylvania expect to be competitive in the global economy if a third of the young people entering the workforce can't read or do math properly?

The standard excuses are that the tests are bad or that schools need more money to do better, particularly those that have many low-income students. But there are schools in Pennsylvania and in other states that have achieved high levels of proficiency on standardized tests for all children, including low-income children, while spending below-average amounts per child.

The solution isn't more money or new state or federal laws. It's local citizens demanding better performance from their schools for their children. What can you do?

1. Find out where your local schools rank on student proficiency. Most people know how their local high school football team is doing, but not how their local school students are performing on basic skills. You can get statistics on student proficiency for every school in the state from the Pennsylvania Department of Education Web site.

2. Find out if your school district has a plan for improving proficiency. Ask if the district has a goal of 100 percent proficiency for children, and ask if they have a plan for achieving it. Ask if they're using tools like Value-Added Assessment to determine which schools and which teachers are performing below par and how they are addressing problem performers.

3. Elect school board members committed to proficiency. It's not the President, the Governor, or state legislators who oversee schools, it's the 4,500 school board members across the state, and about half of the seats will be up for election next year. If your school district isn't performing as well as it should, elect new school board members who will hold the superintendent and teachers accountable for improving performance.

EdgeBlog 1 - Five ways to transform Pennsylvania's economy

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Everyone is understandably focused right now on getting through the current financial and economic crisis facing the country. But it's important for Pennsylvanians to also think about how to best position the state and their communities for growth in the post-recession economy. Although Pennsylvania has many strengths, the world will likely be a very different place in the years ahead, and it's time for us to take bold action to make the state as competitive as possible in that new environment.

Here are five ways to do that. Some require state legislation, but all require action by citizens, business leaders, and local officials--in other words, by you and me!

#1 - Encourage and Support Entrepreneurs

Many of Pennsylvania's biggest employers--Air Products, Alcoa, Medrad, PPG, Respironics, U.S. Steel--were started by entrepreneurs, some as long as a century ago. But we can't rely just on the businesses we have to keep our economy growing; we need new entrepreneurs to create new businesses that will grow and become the state's large employers of the future.

Over the past 25 years, starting with the creation of the Ben Franklin Partnership in the Thornburgh Administration, Pennsylvania state government has put in place one of the most extensive arrays of entrepreneurial and technology support programs in the nation. But those programs are intended to complement community support, not substitute for it. Without private sector investors, lenders, customers, and employees, startup firms can't succeed no matter how many public programs are available. And it's particularly important to help support startup businesses now as bank credit and consumer spending have tightened.

What can you do to support entrepreneurs in your community?

1. Invest in them. Entrepreneurs particularly need "angel investors" to provide the early stage capital for developing and market-testing their products or services. Risky? Sure. But the so-called safe investments aren't looking too good right now, either! Analyses have shown that investments in early stage capital have had significantly better returns than either later stage venture capital, buyouts, or traditional stocks.

2. Buy products and services from them. After getting its initial financing, the most critical milestone for a new business is finding its first customers. But many startup businesses in Pennsylvania claim that they can't get in the door to sell their products or services to existing firms. We shouldn't force our own businesses to go out of state to find their initial sales.

3. Celebrate them. When was the last time you saw headlines about a startup company's success on the front page of the paper? When was the last time you saw a story about an entrepreneur on the television news? The public needs to understand the critical role that entrepreneurs play in creating the jobs of the future. Parents and guidance counselors can help by conveying to children that success can be "starting your own business," not just "getting a job with a big company." And many of the most successful entrepreneurs failed one or more times before succeeding, so we need to encourage those who fail to try again!

EdgeBlog 5 - It's all about who you know

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Anyone can attest to that certain somebody who got the job or landed the promotion because they "knew people" or because they were "in" with the right people.

So, why not you? Are you making the connections that count, marketing yourself, and building relationships that will further your career or company? Don�t worry if your MySpace page isn�t that impressive. For many Pennsylvanians there�s an easier way to make connections with other professionals in their area. If you�ve never tried actively engaging yourself into the local Young Professionals organization, you should get out and see what you've been missing.

Pennsylvania is lucky enough to have over 20 Young Professionals organizations across the state, with almost every urban center represented, from the Young Erie Professionals (YEP) to Philadelphia�s Young Professionals Network (YPN). Across the state, professionals under the age of 40 (generally) are actively meeting other people, making connections, supporting their local communities and having a blast in the process.

I can speak to my own experience as a member of the Harrisburg Young Professionals (HYP), a very active organization that boasts nearly 600 members who have various involvement in committees, sports leagues, dinner and book clubs, and social gatherings at the city�s best watering holes. Businesses recognize the benefits of having their employees connected to other professionals inside regional organizations and willingly pay for corporate memberships so that all of their young employees can get involved with HYP. The city is also supportive of the economic impact an active, young body of professionals can have on a burgeoning city like Harrisburg. The mayor has appeared at more than a few HYP events to display his personal support, sometimes even sponsoring memberships himself to encourage people to join.

Did I mention that most Young Professionals memberships only cost about $30? Many areas, including Harrisburg, offer great discount cards to members as well, so the investment is minimal in terms of the connections and relationships you build while attending a political debate, playing in a kickball tournament, or just enjoying a drink at a member social.

There�s no better way to network than being actively involved in a Young Professionals organization. Like most things in life, it�s really what you make of it, but the opportunity to create both friendships and professional connections while having a great time is well worth the investment. If you're one to agree that, "it's all about who you know," then get out and meet some people! You can find more information about Young Professionals organizations across the state at www.PAYoungProfessionals.com.

EdgeBlog 4 - Harnessing academia for business

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Pennsylvania colleges and universities are filled with talented faculty of diverse backgrounds and disciplines. Unfortunately, faculty members who have demonstrated extremely high proficiency in very specialized areas of expertise are often completely overlooked by the business community.

Companies looking to stay competitive or innovative often times search far and wide for that particular expert to improve their product or complete intensive research on their processes, but neglect to seek the assistance of the universities and colleges in their own backyards! These institutions are teeming with established experts that most likely are working on their own pet projects and may have considerable interest in making contact with local businesses.

Working with colleges and universities across south-central Pennsylvania through the Innovation Transfer Network, I've seen faculty from a dozen institutions large and small, research-oriented and liberal arts-focused, all make significant contributions to local companies who had the smarts to look for talent at their local schools. Successful partnerships have been created on projects ranging from solar technology and skin sensors to dietary treatments and dental tools. Over the past two years, the Innovation Transfer Network has facilitated more than two-dozen such collaborative projects between school faculty and private sector companies. Whatever your business dilemma might be, there is most likely a faculty member in one of Pennsylvania�s nearly 300 institutions of higher education that's an expert in your industry, however obscure or specific.

A perfect example of how this type of academic/private sector partnership can work is Express Dynamics, a startup company located in the greater Harrisburg area that has created an easy-to-use customizable software platform called WorkXpress. The company wanted to produce an upgraded version of their software with very specific capabilities, so they recruited two IT professors and two interns from local Shippensburg University and put together a very effective team to tackle a new generation of product. The interns got great experience and possibly a job offer in the future, the faculty members earned some supplemental income and business contacts, and the company can now produce a fantastic product.

Of course, not all faculty members are willing or able to participate in collaborative projects with the private sector, but the experts are out there, and with the help of organizations such as the Innovation Transfer Network, successful collaboration between academia and the private sector is possible.

EdgeBlog 3 - Social media isn't just for kids anymore

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

So who's not "connected" or "linkedin"? Millions of people around the world are using social media platforms to share ideas, make new friends, find information and more--much more, in fact. Is your business utilizing the power of these mega networks? If not, it's time to create a user name and password.

Companies that aren't using blogs, Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, StumbleUpon or other media are keeping their organizations very old school--and I don�t mean that in a good way! Think of it like this: do you ever read newspaper ads? Do you instinctively change radio or TV stations to avoid commercials? I know my eyes are skilled at reading right around ads on websites, even when they are placed in the center of an article. More than ever, organizations need to think outside the box to get their brand out to places where people actively spend time.

Case in point: Flying Dog Brewery. They do everything right with social media. Not only does the company actively blog about anything and everything they do that might be of interest to beer enthusiasts, but they communicate with people on twitter, let fans and customers interact on Facebook, and bring people back to their Web site with timely and interesting email newsletters chock-full of quality videos and other content. Admittedly, Flying Dog makes fantastic beer, but is it any coincidence that they�ve had record beer sales since utilizing a number of social media platforms?

My advice to any company that has an interest in utilizing social media is to create a basic presence wherever you can, but to focus on one or two platforms that you can really put some time into keeping fresh and interesting. Maintaining a blog with quality content takes time, but it's an easy and free means to pushing your brand to the top of the search engines. Newsletters are becoming way over-used, but timely information that's of interest to your audience can be an effective and cheap way to define your brand or sell your product. Want to promote an event? Facebook is a great way to allow attendees to interact and spread the word among friends. Twitter is a (somewhat addictive) tool that allows people to communicate and build relationships with others around similar interests. Social bookmarking sites like StumbleUpon and Delicious can also funnel people to your Web site.

The list goes on and on. There's no end to the kinds of creative tools and platforms available to companies online. Some will work better than others, but the key is to think outside the box and creatively brand your organization online. This isn't just kids' stuff anymore.

EdgeBlog 2 - Brain gain

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Speaking of buzz words, brain drain in Pennsylvania is a topic you�re likely to have heard so many times you might just be ready to leave the state yourself. The monotony is unfortunately necessary; Pennsylvania has a shortage of knowledge workers for the new economy we�re living in. And although the strategy for encouraging more talented young workers to choose Pennsylvania differs across the state, there�s one approach everyone should embrace: internships.

Sure, you say, it�s on your to do list, you�d like to take a student or two into your organization but you just don�t have the time, right? Absolutely not.

In fact, a five year study by the Internship Institute found that, "a qualified manager can gain 225 full 8-hour workdays of productivity in a calendar year by effectively utilizing college interns." The benefit of taking on interns isn�t just about saving time, either. Establishing a regular internship program is a cost-effective way to recruit and evaluate potential employees. Not only do students find out about the company and gain valuable real-world experience, companies receive a free or low-cost trial period with a potential new hire. And the cost per hire is decreased when you hire an intern because they transition into the company and become productive much faster.

Around Harrisburg, we encourage employers not to shy away from internships because of time constraints, but to create efficient programs that free up valuable time for them to pursue projects that most require their attention. Local employers can get assistance with communicating their open positions to regional college career centers through a free forwarding service on StayInventCentralPA.com. The site also offers a comprehensive manual for download to anyone who wants to start or improve an existing internship program.

Bringing students into Pennsylvania companies is an excellent approach to reversing brain drain. Call it a brain gain strategy: not only do students benefit from the experience, but employers get an opportunity to screen potential employees, free up time, or just infuse the office with young, creative talent.

Consider rearranging your to-do list; you probably don�t have time not to have an internship program.

EdgeBlog 1 � Innovation as more than a buzzword

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Innovation is a catchy word nowadays; it defines a lot of advertising campaigns, strategic plans, and job titles. As the coordinator for the Harrisburg Market Keystone Innovation Zone, I�m no exception. In Harrisburg, the KIZ specifically seeks to promote entrepreneurship, retain young talent, and facilitate partnerships between business and academics.

Any company that wants to be defined as innovative needs to keep those three goals in focus. Truly innovative companies like the all-powerful Google recognize the importance of a meaningful internship program, entrepreneurial collaboration, and harnessing the expertise of local universities. Allowing for collaboration and encouraging communication through new forms of media is essential for any company seeking to compete in the global marketplace.

Exciting things happen when communication is not just allowed, but encouraged. Creative entrepreneurs flock to places like the Silicon Valley in California or the Research Triangle in North Carolina to learn from and share with collaborators and competitors alike; they realize the value in having a critical mass of people thinking outside the box.

Harrisburg might not come up on the first page of search results for innovation, but the area is gradually accumulating that critical mass of creative companies, entrepreneurs, young talent, and academic collaborators necessary to create some real business growth and economic development. Our world-class business incubator, the Murata Business Center, is home to a host of entrepreneurial startups, many of which are growing out of the place at an astounding pace. The Hershey Center for Applied Research is also attracting a number of faculty entrepreneurs and bio-tech companies into the first-constructed building in the research park, adjacent from the Penn State Milton S. Hershey College of Medicine. Clearly, these companies benefit from and are willing to locate into an environment of collaboration and creativity.

Companies of all sizes and industry can benefit from poking around facilities like these to form joint ventures with other companies and startups. Projects and ideas that may be put on the backburner at larger companies can be perfect for smaller enterprises willing to take on new work and create future business partners. The payoff for those willing to open communications with other players in the business and academic world is essential for Pennsylvania�s new economy; without it, innovation is destined to remain a buzzword.