Archive for Greater Wilkes-Barre

Welcome to the America’s Best Communities Competition

CSC_0056The City of Wilkes-Barre has recently qualified as one of 50 quarter-finalists in Frontier Communication’s competition designed to identify America’s Best Community. This gives our city the opportunity to compete for up to $3 million in support of a strategic revitalization plan that will spur economic growth and advancement in our region. The America’s Best Communities competition contributes $10 million over three years to support innovative plans for revitalization in small towns and cities across the U.S

Thanks to our sponsors Frontier Communications, DISH Network, The Weather Channel, CoBank, and our local partner Scripps Network Interactive, Wilkes-Barre has received $50,000 towards the development of our strategic plan during this quarter-finalist phase.

We will utilize a GoPro camera provided by our sponsors to document the impact that this competition has had on our community, as well as our progress towards implementing downtown Wilkes-Barre’s five year action plan. Our videos will focus on six core goals that will enhance and transform the downtown. Downtown Wilkes-Barre will be:

A safe, clean, and attractive place to live, work, shop, and visit

The region’s college neighborhood

The region’s “walk-to-everything” neighborhood of choice.

The region’s “Innovation District”: a setting for business growth and entrepreneurship

A great visitor’s experience, enhanced by our historic architecture, riverfront, colleges, and walk-ability

A regional center of arts, culture, dining, and entertainment

This downtown revitalization plan was developed through the support of our committee members, including the Diamond City Partnership, the City of Wilkes-Barre, Wilkes University, Kings College, Senator John T. Yudichak, and Representative Eddie Day Pashinski.

These goals align to form an accessible innovative hub that leverages the arts, entertainment, area businesses, and local colleges and universities.

Check out oCSC_0055ur video, which highlights the Greater Wilkes-Barre area as a great place to live, work, and experience at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4vVElo4kAc

Intern Insight: Alexis Maroney

Alexis Maroney- Marketing Intern

Alexis Maroney- Marketing Intern

Alexis Maroney is a Junior Psychology major with minors in Studio Art and Management at Wilkes University. She is also the Marketing Intern at the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce for the Spring 2015.

 

Where are you from? 

I grew up in Phoenixville, PA, right outside of King of Prussia. I now live in Wilkes Barre, PA

Where are you going?

After college I plan to pursue a career in Industrial or Organizational Psychology and marry my fiance.

Why Wilkes-Barre?

I only applied to Wilkes University and Wilkes alone. I chose to go to college in NEPA because I really enjoyed the location Wilkes U was placed and the community that is developed in Wilkes-Barre. I chose my major because I did a bit of trial and error and realized a combination of psychology and business was the perfect match for me.

What are your thoughts on Wilkes-Barre?

My first impression of Greater Wilkes-Barre is how beautiful the architecture of the buildings here are. Most people I met from this area talk often about the various parks and Sheetz. I will remember this area most for the amazing college experience it gave me.

What are you involved with on campus?

I am currently a Resident Assistant as well as a Orientation Leader for First Year Students, along with both of those positions I am also Parliamentarian of the Psychology Club at Wilkes.

What would allow you to settle down in Wilkes-Barre?

I would settle down and live in NEPA for the rest of my life if there were options for jobs for me. I also wish someone would open a Wawa in Wilkes-Barre.When it comes to working in NEPA, unfortunately industrial and organizational psychology is not a large field.

What do you enjoy in your free time?

In my free time I enjoy reading and writing. When the weather permits I love to go snowboarding. I also have a cat that I enjoy watching Netflix with when I can.

What are your plans after you graduate Wilkes?

I will be graduating  with a Bachelors in Psychology. I will be going to Mesa, AZ to get my Master’s in Business Administration directly after I graduate, and will be able to obtain it in about a year because of the program I am in. Perhaps the field will have grown by then and I will be able to return and work in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

If you could create your dream job, what would it be?

If I could create my dream job, it would be traveling the world and consulting for businesses, which actually is a real thing but it’s so hard to get into. This will be involved with industrial and organizational psychologist as a consultant.

interns

Want to become a Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber Intern?
Apply NOW for Summer 2015 at internships@wilkes-barre.org!