HARRISBURG, Pa., Sept. 12, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- The Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry is pleased to announce the selection of the Harrisburg Region as the 2002 Outstanding Pennsylvania Community. The Harrisburg Region will be honored with this award at the "Election Year Edition" of the 18th Annual PA Chamber Dinner to be held Monday, September 23, 2002 at the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center.
"It should come as no great surprise to Pennsylvania businesses operating in and around the Capitol beltway that the entire Harrisburg Region is an extraordinary place to live and work," said PA Chamber President Floyd Warner. "A stable and growing economy, combined with a superb quality of life, add up to the ideal home for both businesses and families. This area stands out as an excellent example of what happens when public officials and business recognize the opportunity to work together in a way that ultimately benefits the entire region."
Encompassing the City of Harrisburg, Cumberland, Dauphin and Perry counties, the Harrisburg Region makes a major contribution to Pennsylvania as a home to innovation. The region features traditional manufacturing, service firms, opportunities in medicine, new technology and biotechnology, as well as a large selection of major colleges and universities growing both ideas and jobs for the future, combined with an enthusiastic, young professional workforce.
"The Harrisburg Region is honored by this prestigious award from the Pennsylvania Chamber," said David Black, President & CEO, Harrisburg Regional Chamber & Capital Region Economic Development Corporation. "This award is a direct result of both private and public sector leadership, as well as regional cooperation demonstrated by the City of Harrisburg, Cumberland, Dauphin and Perry Counties and represents the solid foundation for the future of this region."
Prominent Harrisburg Region community, government and business leaders will be honored during a special ceremony at this year's Chamber dinner. During the evening's festivities, which kick off with a reception at 4:45 p.m., followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m., the 2002 recipient of the Ben Franklin Award for Distinguished Leadership in the Commonwealth will also be honored.
Media representatives are cordially invited to attend the Commonwealth's largest annual gathering of business and political leaders which will also feature over seven hours of inside political insight and perspective, including:
-- Political Keynote Address (2:30 PM)-NBC Political Analyst Tim
Russert will provide insight and commentary on both the PA and
federal scene, including a complete mid-term review on the Bush
administration and what to expect in 2004.
-- Gubernatorial Candidates Forum (3:15 PM)-With most governors
serving two terms this is a once-in-a-decade opportunity to hear
where the final two candidates stand on critical business issues
just weeks away from Election Day. Moderated by NBC's Tim Russert.
-- Featured Evening Entertainment-Straight from the halls of
Congress, America's leading political satirists, the Capitol
Steps will take center stage to cap off the "Election Year
Edition" of the Chamber Dinner with their own bipartisan brand
of music and comedy.
Every year the Chamber Dinner draws close to 1,300 attendees, including Chamber members, members of the Governor's Cabinet, legislative leaders from the PA House and Senate and members of the General Assembly.
With over 10,000 members representing every county in the Commonwealth, the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry is the state's largest broad-based business association and the fastest growing state chamber in the United States.