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WILKES-BARRE — A significant key to the economic growth and stability of any region rests with the quality of education at all levels.

Northeastern Pennsylvania — and specifically Luzerne County — is fortunate to have five colleges and universities that provide numerous programs that produce thousands of graduates each year.

Larry Newman, executive director of the Diamond City Partnership, steward of Wilkes-Barre’s downtown, had this to say.

“Consider this: in 1919, Wilkes-Barre was the largest city in the United States without any college or university to educate its young people,” Newman said. “Today, Greater Wilkes-Barre boasts five different colleges and universities enrolling more than 16,000 students. That didn’t happen by accident, but through hard collective effort.”

Thomas P. Leary, President, Luzerne County Community College, has hundreds, if not thousands of success stories about his students.

Like the the time a young woman walked across the stage to receive her diploma as a graduate of the LCCC nursing program.

“As she approached me, I heard a little girl yell out ‘mommy.’ It was the graduate’s daughter in the audience,” Leary said. “I found out that this young lady was raising her child, working full-time, and caring for an aging parent.”

After the ceremony, Leary had a conversation with the graduate. She shared with him that it had always been a dream of hers to become a registered nurse but her life’s obligations had gotten in the way of her accomplishing that sooner.

“She said she had to tell her little girl at times to go play or be quiet because she had to study,” Leary said. “It reminded me of how her accomplishment will inspire her little girl and it really transforms not only individuals, but generations. This is a story that literally can be told hundreds of times over. This is how LCCC impacts individual lives in our communities.”

Leary said Northeastern Pennsylvania has made substantial economic progress in the past several years with the many companies which have located in our region.

“These new businesses are providing thousands of new jobs for the area including significant opportunities for our graduating students, as well as current students who are employed as they work to complete their degree,” Leary said. “Luzerne County Community College is formulating partnerships with these new employers as we continue to join with the community to provide training and education for the workforce.”

Leary said college officials and company leaders are developing working relationships which enhances the ability to fulfill the college’s mission of serving the education and training needs of the region. Since LCCC has the ability to align its academic programs with labor needs in the area, it’s important to remain in constant contact with area employers so that students graduate with skills that employers need.

“Additionally, tuition incentive plans offered by the businesses and industries in our region are a great benefit for individuals to assist with enhancing their skills and competencies for mobility within the workplace,” he said.

King’s College

Rev. John Ryan, president of King’s College, said the economy in Northeast Pennsylvania has been improving since 2010, with unemployment in Luzerne County dropping and currently below 5 percent. He said the top four industries in Luzerne County, which includes educational services, account for more than one half of all employment in the county.

“King’s College, along with other institutions of higher education, has been a force for positive change in Wilkes-Barre and NEPA,” Ryan said. “King’s College has provided over $100 million of direct economic impact to our area in 2018–2019 including: $13.3 million in new construction projects, $8 million in student spending, and $16.3 million for federal, state, local and property taxes.”

Ryan said some 60 percent of students at King’s College come from outside NEPA. Students from different parts of our state, country and world chose to come to NEPA to live and to study. Ryan said a welcoming, attractive and economically vibrant NEPA is necessary to continue to attract outstanding students from both within and outside our region.

“The fate of our region and institutions of higher education are joined at the hip,” Ryan said. “An energetic and lively NEPA economy supports higher education. Higher education, through student formation, workforce training, community services and direct spending, support the NEPA economy.”

As a native son of Wilkes-Barre, Ryan said he is one who has benefited from the social and educational formation of this area.

”I am especially proud to see the economy of our region improving and making outstanding contributions to the common good of our state, country and world,” he said.

Penn State Wilkes-Barre

Dr. Dale Jones, Chancellor and Chief Academic Officer at Penn State Wilkes-Barre, said the economic health of the Wilkes-Barre area and Northeastern Pennsylvania region depends on the strength of our communities, businesses, and citizens.

“A vibrant economy improves the quality of life in our region,” Jones said. “Penn State Wilkes-Barre is an anchor in the region. We have been here for 103 years bolstering the economy.”

Jones said Penn State Wilkes-Barre contributed $23.3 million to the local and Pennsylvania economies in fiscal year 2017, and supported, directly and indirectly, 311 Pennsylvania jobs. A new study, released in February 2019 by Penn State, focused on measuring the university’s impact in communities across the Commonwealth.

As part of the Invent Penn State initiative, Jones said Penn State Wilkes-Barre partners with the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business and Industry to promote employment growth, business development, and entrepreneurial spirit in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Services at the Wilkes-Barre THINK Center on Main Street in downtown Wilkes-Barre are offered free of charge to community members, Penn State students, other local college students, and employers. Programming and resources include speaking events, pitch competitions, start-up support, networking opportunities, business development, employment outreach, conferences, and business space.

“Without any doubt, our campus is an economic engine that helps drive the regional economy and improve lives,” Jones said. “There are many other ways in which Penn State Wilkes-Barre generates economic activity in Northeastern Pennsylvania and benefits students, families and residents. Examples of these secondary benefits are numerous.”

Beyond the $23 million in total economic contributions measured by the study, Jones said additional secondary impacts of Penn State Wilkes-Barre’s presence in the region not measured include: business revenue and personal income generated by visitors to campus educational and cultural events, and other attractions annually; donations of money and time by Penn State Wilkes-Barre students, faculty, staff, and alumni to important regional causes; fostering new business startups and driving student career success and job creation; providing workforce training programs through continuing education; and projecting Penn State through its teaching, research, and service to assist Northeastern Pennsylvania compete and succeed on a global stage.

Wilkes University

Patrick Leahy, president of Wilkes University, said though there are challenges in our region, there are also significant opportunities.

“An example are the recent recommitments of Berkshire Hathaway Guard Insurance and Kris Jones to downtown Wilkes-Barre,” Leahy said. “This further supports the idea of creating a technology hub in our host city, generating incredible experiences for Wilkes students via internships, full-time employment or entrepreneurial support.”

Leahy said Wilkes’ engineering and business programs, as well as the work of the Allan P. Kirby Center for Free Enterprise and Entrepreneurship, are a natural fit for this kind of economic growth.

“The idea that we can create professional opportunities that not only attract students to Wilkes, but encourage them to stay and invest in the area after graduation, is a win-win,” Leahy said. “To do so in the business and tech sectors can position our region for success now and in the future.”

Leahy said Wilkes remains committed to the downtown and will continue to seek out ways to grow the public-private partnerships that make cities successful.

“A recent example is the next phase of our pedestrian safety project that improves and beautifies city streets not just for Wilkes, but for our neighboring businesses and residents,” Leahy said. “That kind of investment would not occur if not for Wilkes. Wilkes-Barre can become the next great college town — Wilkes is thrilled to be a part of it.”

Misericordia University

Thomas J. Botzman, Ph.D., president of Misericordia University, said private higher education has a direct interest in educating students who are skilled and employable.

“Students want value for tuition,” Botzman said. “They want good jobs.”

Botzmnan said Misericordia’s programs must offer the contemporary literacies and real-word application needed to attract students so it is clear to them that upon graduation they are employable, able to drive economic growth, and enhance our communities in a positive way.

”Our professional programs are under-pinned by the liberal arts,” Botzman said. “Employers have said that people with broad-based thinking skills are needed to solve challenges and drive innovation. Certainly, that must be true for Northeastern Pennsylvania. Liberal arts encourages those thinking skills.”

Botzman said caring, motivated students, faculty and staff, like those at Misericordia University, also enhance our region by providing thousands of hours of community service, in-depth service learning, and philanthropic support for dozens of worthwhile projects each year.

“Northeastern Pennsylvania’s economy offers much potential,” adds Botzman. “I have seen the expert presentations that illustrate how we sometimes lag behind the national economy.

“But our colleges and universities are producing new waves of talented graduates each year who offer a high level of professional competence and creative thinking. We also attract brilliant individuals to live and work here and complement the amazing talent who are born and raised in NEPA.”

Botzman
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/web1_Misericordia-Prez-Botzman.jpg.optimal.jpgBotzman

Jones
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/web1_PSU-Dr.-Jones.jpg.optimal.jpgJones

Ryan
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/web1_King-s-President-Ryan.jpg.optimal.jpgRyan

Leary
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/web1_LCCC-President-Leary-1.jpg.optimal.jpgLeary

Leahy
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/web1_PAT-LEAHY-WILKES-U-PREZ.jpg.optimal.jpgLeahy

Tony Callaio | For Times Leader King’s College Engineering Department Chair Paul Lamore stands in a future classroom of the future Mulligan Center for Engineering in the former Spring Brook Water Building on Franklin Street in Wilkes-Barre.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/web1_King-s-Projects-4.jpg.optimal.jpgTony Callaio | For Times Leader King’s College Engineering Department Chair Paul Lamore stands in a future classroom of the future Mulligan Center for Engineering in the former Spring Brook Water Building on Franklin Street in Wilkes-Barre.

Butch Comegys|For Times Leader The Penn State Lion outside of the new Science Building at Penn State Wilkes-Barre.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/web1_TTL04XX19InnovPennState2.jpg.optimal.jpgButch Comegys|For Times Leader The Penn State Lion outside of the new Science Building at Penn State Wilkes-Barre.

By Bill O’Boyle

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Reach Bill O’Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.