Photo by Michael Yatsko
“Our city nearly went bankrupt from a previous mayor, and we’re dealing with the legacy of that.”
This was the response from a community leader last year when asked, “What do you think of Harrisburg?” It was part of a broader effort to better align our region’s business, talent and tourism attraction strategies. Or, to use a favorite sports analogy: making sure we are all calling plays from the same playbook.
As part of that work, we underwent an intensive process, led by our partners at Visit Hershey Harrisburg (our local visitor’s bureau), to bring in placemaking experts who interviewed stakeholders, surveyed regional visitors, and conducted a data-driven assessment of who and what we are as a region.
Their top recommendation? Stop apologizing for Harrisburg.
Not better marketing. Not focusing on a single strength. Just a shift in mindset—because there’s no reason to apologize.
Yet, stakeholders told us again and again, “Downtown Harrisburg used to be a great place to go; it’s not what it used to be.”
Let’s look at the numbers. Dauphin and Cumberland counties outpace our neighboring peers in the number of nightlife experiences, restaurants and events. Our region outpaces benchmarks in population growth and talent while maintaining a low unemployment rate.
Do we have work to do? Absolutely. Our remote workforce has grown faster than our peers, primarily because of our strong industry mix. This changes the way we plan our communities, and we need focused efforts to rethink places that were intended to house workers and commuters.
But here’s the good news: we get to do it right here in Harrisburg—a region that offers a rich diversity of opportunities that allow visitors and residents to live fully. Our region is one of very few places that beautifully balances a high quality of life, low cost of living, and vibrant cultural and outdoor programming.
We sit at the keystone of the Keystone State, a hub of national and international logistics. That asset sometimes leads people to sell the region by saying, “You can visit Philly, NYC, Baltimore or DC every weekend if you want.” Instead, I challenge you to flip that and say, “All of your friends in the East Coast’s biggest cities can easily visit you for a fun weekend getaway.” Harrisburg can be the destination.
A core value of the work I do every day is to be unapologetically positive about our region. Why? Because I noticed the same thing that the consultants found when I started in my role at the chamber three years ago—too many people leading with apologies for Harrisburg instead of pride. To be clear, that’s not blind optimism— I’m not burying my head in the sand. I am not saying we are exactly where we need to be as a city or a region, but why not focus on what we have rather than long for what we don’t?
As residents and lovers of Harrisburg, if we can’t shed the apologies and start by celebrating our community, then who else will?
Ryan Unger is president and CEO of the Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC. For more information, visit www.harrisburgregionalchamber.org.
If you like what we do, please support our work. Become a Friend of TheBurg!
