Tag Archives: harrisburg

Harrisburg accepting co-applicants for county gaming grant funds

June 6, 2024 | by Maddie Gittens

Harrisburg’s MLK City Government Center

The city is trying a new way to help local organizations get county grant funds.

Harrisburg announced on Thursday that it would offer a co-application opportunity for nonprofits and other organizations looking to apply for Dauphin County’s annual gaming grant money.

Every year, the county receives millions of dollars from the Hollywood Casino at Penn National to award locally. For 2024, the county allotted $8.9 million to around 200 projects.

The application process for the 2025 gaming grant funds opened on June 1.

For those interested in receiving a letter of support from Mayor Wanda Williams and co-applying with the city, the city is accepting applications through July 8.

In the application to the city for support, groups will need to share information about their organization, as well as their purpose, mission, vision and how they plan to use requested grant funds.

Once completed, the form will create an auto-generated letter, which will be reviewed by Williams, who will review each letter and organization on a rolling basis. Approved letters will be signed by Williams, then scanned and sent to the county. The city will let applicants know by no later than July 31 if their letter has been accepted or rejected.

Gaming grant applications are due to the county by Aug. 15.

To apply as a co-applicant with the city for county grant funds, click here. For more information about the Dauphin County Gaming Grants, visit their website.

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TheBurg Pride Guide

May 30, 2024 | by Admin

HARRISBURG

6/8: READING THE RAINBOW BOOK CLUB

6/8: SAFE SPACE QUEER PROM

6/9: ERIC’S OLD SCHOOL REVIVAL

6/10: COLBY MARTIN BOOK SIGNING

6/12: PRIDE NIGHT AT SENATOR’S

6/22: PRIDE CRAWL

6/29: COCKTAIL MAKING GLO FUNDRAISER

YORK

6/7: PRIDE POP OFF PARTY

6/15: GIFT HORSE BREWING FUNDRAISER FOR PRIDE

6/22: YORK COUNTY PRIDE & AFTER PARTY

6/22: PRIDE CRAWL – NO LINK, INFO INCLUDED WITH THE ABOVE EVENTS

6/27: PRIDE AT THE PARK

DAUPHIN

6/22: PRIDE IN THE VALLEY CAMP OUT & DANCE PARTY

LANCASTER

6/5: OUR TOWN PRIDE BEER LAUNCH

6/8: PET PARADE

6/9: ELEVATION YOGA

6/9: POCKETBOOK QUEER AUTHORS

6/23: POOL PARTY

6/28: STONEWALL VIGIL

6/30: PAGAN POETRY PRIDE BINGO

CARLISLE

6/4: PRIDE-A-PALOOZA

6/7: PAINT W/ PRIDE FOR PALESTINIAN YOUTH

6/8: PROCLAMATION OF PRIDE & BIG GAY WALK

6/8: GARDEN PARTY

Thank You to our Official Sponsor

The Nation’s Leader In On-Demand Lawn Mowing Has Just Launched Its Service In Harrisburg

May 16, 2024 | by Admin

GreenPal, which has been described as “Uber for lawn care,” is already being used in 48 states by more than 1 million homeowners.

With more and more homeowners looking to hire someone for their lawn care services, GreenPal lends itself to being the only way to get your lawn mowed this season. Here’s why:
GreenPal’s technology allows local, pre-screened vendors to competitively bid on lawns ensuring homeowners receive the best price for all of their lawn care needs.
Homeowners can order “contactless” lawn care for same or next-day service while beating the heat. Over 30% of GreenPal customers are over the age of 60. This demographic is particularly vulnerable to health risks and greatly benefits from the added safety and convenience provided by our platform.
Homeowners can list their lawn care needs with their desired service date and lawn care companies then bid on the property based on the Google street and aerial images and any other details the homeowner provides.

Then, homeowners select who they want to work with based on the vendor’s ratings, reviews, and price.

Once the service provider has completed the job, they send a time-stamped photo of the completed work. Homeowners pay using the app and can set up more appointments.

The app has already launched in about 250 major markets around the U.S., including Nashville, Chicago, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Tampa among others.

To visit GreenPal, visit https://www.yourgreenpal.com/

For landscaping professionals looking to grow their business, check us out at https://www.yourgreenpal.com/welcome-vendor

Check out our other service areas at https://www.yourgreenpal.com/greenpal-service-area

Sponsored Content

Celebration of Dreams Honoring Harlem Globetrotter Chris “Handles” Franklin and Anne Deeter Gallaher, “Others Award” Recipient

April 16, 2024 | by Admin

The Salvation Army Harrisburg’s Annual Spring Event: Celebration of Dreams Honoring Harlem Globetrotter Chris “Handles” Franklin and Anne Deeter Gallaher, “Others Award” Recipient

Thursday, May 2nd, 2024 @ The Hershey Lodge
5:00 PM – Basketball Free-Throw Competition and Arcade Games, Networking, Cash Bar
6:15 PM – Dinner & Program

We will begin the evening with networking, free-throw competition sponsored by Planet Fitness, double-shot arcade basketball games to challenge your friends, and cash bar.

Join us for dinner and a fireside chat with Chris “Handles” Franklin to discover how he reached his dreams to become a Harlem Globetrotter. We will also enjoy a demonstration of his mad basketball skills! Anne Deeter Gallaher will be awarded The Salvation Army’s “Others” Award for the countless ways she has impacted our community through Salvation Army Harrisburg and many other local organizations.

Attire: Business Casual

Tickets and Sponsorships: https://DreamsTSA.givesmart.com

Sponsored Content

The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

February 2, 2024 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Gittens

Broad Street Market Alliance Board meeting on Wednesday

Our February issue of the magazine came out this week, specifically highlighting stories celebrating Black history and culture. We hope you learn something new and are inspired by our stories this month. Grab your copy at one of our distribution locations, but before you do so, catch up on our weekly reporting, below.

Bike share in Harrisburg may be on pause for the winter, but Tri-County Regional Planning Commission, the program operator, has shared its plans for the 2024 season. Starting this spring, Susquecycle will introduce new station locations and upgrades.

The Broad Street Market Alliance board approved a 25% rent raise for vendors in order to raise additional funds for the market, which is currently operating at a deficit, our story reported. The market also weighed a proposal from Midtown Property Management for free services.

The Broad Street Market received two proposals for plumbing work on its temporary market structure, our online story reported. A few weeks before, the city secured a bid for electrical work, as well.

Candidates for the 10^th congressional district reported their fundraising totals, our online story reported. One candidate, Blake Lynch, has also received an endorsement from Harrisburg Mayor Wanda Williams.

Dauphin County Treasurer Nick DiFrancesco announced that he would pursue the Republican nomination for the 15th senatorial district, our online story reported. He said that he would focus on such issues as schools, safety and the economy.

February events will celebrate the season of love and Black History Month through art, music and food. Check out our Community Corner for special featured events, as well as our long list of Happenings.

Harrisburg University shared that Dr. Steven Jasinski, a professor at the school, had identified and described a new species of large, predatory dinosaur, Tyrannosaurus mcraeensis, our online story reported. Jasinski has been describing and naming dinosaur finds for years.

Harrisburg’s walkability, urban neighborhoods, nature and proximity to larger cities are its greatest strengths. According to our publisher, the city should embrace that destiny to attract residents.

Leon Laing, a local photographer, will display a collection of his work at Harrisburg’s city hall through March, our online story reported. Laing’s photography is focused on celebrities and hip-hop musicians.

Sara Bozich has a list of exciting events for your weekend in Harrisburg. Find them all, here.

Theatre Harrisburg’s show “Next to Normal” is showing now and our reviewer has shared her take on the play, here. The “tense drama” portrays the impact that mental illness has on a family and community, she says.

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Broad Street Market secures plumbing proposals for temporary structure

January 26, 2024 | by Maddie Gittens

Broad Street Market temporary structure

Harrisburg is moving a little closer to completing a temporary structure for Broad Street Market vendors.

The city shared on Friday that it received two proposals for plumbing work on the structure, following months of project delays due to a lack of contracting bids.

This morning, the city learned that two proposals had come in through PennBid. City officials will now review their offers and their qualifications.

According to the city, they also received interest from additional companies that did not put together a formal bid yet, but are interested in supplying a quote for consideration.

Last month, Harrisburg issued a request for bids on PennBid, to complete both electrical and plumbing work on the tent-like temporary building, which will house vendors displaced by the July fire in the market’s brick building.

Earlier this month, the city received a bid for electrical work from Manheim-based KCS Electric submitted a bid of $84,491.

Visit the city’s Broad Street Market page for building updates.

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Harrisburg objects to proposed Governor’s Square sale, court decision postponed

January 25, 2024 | by Maddie Gittens

Photo by Dani Fresh

While the owners of a blighted, bankrupt affordable housing development in Harrisburg zero in on a buyer, the potential sale is facing friction and delays.

On Wednesday, the city filed an objection in court against Uptown Partners’ proposed sale of the Residences at Governor’s Square, totaling more than 200 affordable rental units, to a New Jersey-based real estate company.

Additionally, the final court hearing on the sale, which was due to take place in a matter of days, has been continued to Feb. 29.

Uptown Partners filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in May and has since sought a buyer for its properties, which have received hundreds of city code citations and condemnations.

Earlier this week, Uptown Partners filed a motion to sell their properties to Mount Holly, N.J.-based ANCDI, which made an offer of $9.6 million at a Jan. 10 auction. The company also identified 2087 Market Street LLC, which offered $9.5 million, as a backup buyer.

However, the city and the Harrisburg Redevelopment Authority, in a joint filing, have objected, questioning whether ANCDI would be able to take on the purchase and needed rehabilitation.

The city and HRA’s document states that the purchase of Governor’s Square will require significant renovations and relocation of residents during renovations. And because Governor’s Square has a multi-million-dollar U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) loan tied to it—awarded to fund past renovations—and relies on federally funded Section 8 housing vouchers, a buyer must operate under HUD guidelines and comply with federal procurement practices when issuing contracts.

According to a statement in the city’s objection, “Neither the ‘Winning Bidder’ or the ‘Backup Bidder’ demonstrated any ability to successfully operate in the mandatory federal framework at play here.”

On Tuesday, community members Monique Bryant, Anita Hall and Deborah Taylor also filed an objection to the sale motion through their attorney, a lawyer with the Community Justice Project, a nonprofit legal assistance firm for low-income residents. Two of those objectors hold tenant leases at Governor’s Square.

Similar to the city, their filing stated that ANCDI “has no HUD property subsidized housing experience whatsoever.”

Additionally, they objected to the language in the motion stating that Governor’s Square should be sold “free and clear of all liens, claims, encumbrances and other interests.” The objectors stated that the wording may allow the property to be sold free of and violate restrictive covenants that currently require the units to remain affordable and may allow Governor’s Square to be sold free of current tenant leases.

According to the sale motion filed by Uptown Partners, ANCDI provided proof of funds to close and renovate the properties.

Also, in a narrative by ANCDI owner Charles Howard, which was attached to the objection documents, the company has “decades of experience” working with tenants with housing choice vouchers.

Prior to the auction, city and HRA staff and officials interviewed both ANCDI and Woda Cooper Companies, an Ohio-based affordable housing provider that also bid on Governor’s Square, according to court documents. Both companies had made offers before the auction.

In December, the city and HRA told Uptown Partners that they would approve of Woda Cooper as the buyer, according to the filing. Woda Cooper made an offer of $9.1 million but was not selected by the owner.

The city is now asking that the court “conduct a rigorous examination of the buyer’s finances, operational experience, and future intention to comply with the myriad of laws that affect low income housing,” according to its filing.

Harrisburg also requested to see a proposed deed showing HUD approval, a commitment that the buyer will maintain Governor’s Square as affordable housing and a proposed agreement of sale, among other documents.

A final bankruptcy court hearing to approve a buyer is now slated for Feb. 29 in the in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.

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Harrisburg creates webpage to share Broad Street Market updates

December 1, 2023 | by Maddie Gittens

Broad Street Market

Harrisburg has a new way to keep the community updated on the Broad Street Market, an action taken after questions and concerns by city residents.

A new webpage was created to provide status updates on both the market rebuild and the construction of a temporary market structure.

“This is an opportunity for us and the market to be more transparent with what is going on,” said Matt Maisel, communications director for the city. “We know people have questions.”

The webpage, hosted on the city’s website, includes background information on the market and the July fire, which heavily damaged the market’s brick building. There is also information about the temporary market tent, which will house vendors displaced by the fire.

The city had hoped to have the temporary market up and running this fall. However, the opening has been delayed several times due to various challenges, including, most recently, an inability to secure bids from contractors, Maisel said.

On the website, community members can also submit questions through a form and view a list of frequently asked questions about the market progress.

According to Maisel, any status updates will be added to the site, and he expects that there will be positive updates soon.

While the city doesn’t oversee the day-to-day operations of the market, which is handled by the nonprofit Broad Street Market Alliance, Harrisburg does own the buildings and is responsible for the rebuild process.

Creating the website for market updates was a joint decision by the market and city.

“Everyone deserves to have their questions and concerns addressed,” Maisel said.

Click here to visit the city’s Broad Street Market info page.

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Harrisburg tops list of “Best Places to Retire” in the U.S., says report

November 7, 2023 | by Lawrance Binda

The Harrisburg skyline, from City Island

The Harrisburg metro is the top place for retirement in the nation, according to a report issued today.

On Tuesday, U.S. News & World Report issued its annual “Best Places to Retire” in the United States in 2024, ranking the Harrisburg area first among the country’s 150 most populous metropolitan areas.

“It’s great to see a national publication recognizing what we already know, living and working here everyday, that Harrisburg is one of the best places to live and retire in the country,” responded Ryan Unger, president and CEO of the Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC.

According to U.S. News, Harrisburg took the top spot based on metrics such as affordability and health care.

“While Harrisburg isn’t necessarily regarded as affluent, it has a more affordable housing market and a lower cost of living than many of the East Coast’s larger metro areas,” according to the report.

In all, U.S. News based its ranking on six factors: affordability, health care quality, happiness, desirability, job market ratings and retiree taxes. Affordability was weighted most heavily and, for 2024, was expanded to include the comparative cost of general goods, as opposed to just housing.

A screenshot from U.S. News & World Report, “Best Places to Retire”

Harrisburg moved up one spot from last year, when U.S. News ranked it No. 2 in the nation for retirement. The metro displaced Lancaster, which fell from No. 1 to No. 3 in the 2024 list. In all, Pennsylvania cities took seven of the top 10 positions.

The top 10 “Best Places to Retire” for 2024 are as follows:

#1: Harrisburg
#2: Reading
#3: Lancaster
#4: Scranton
#5: Allentown
#6: New York City
#7: York, Pa.
#8: Daytona Beach, Fla.
#9: Youngstown, Ohio
#10: Pittsburgh

“As retirees consider where to spend their golden years, they want areas that not only give them the best bang for their buck, but places where they can live a happy, healthy life,” said Beverly Harzog, a consumer finance analyst for U.S. News. “This is why Pennsylvania dominated the Best Places to Retire ranking’s top positions, taking seven of the top 10 spots on the list.”

Of the 150 largest metro areas, the lowest-ranked were Denver, San Juan, P.R., Albuquerque, N.M., Stockton, Calif., and San Jose, Calif. (lowest), respectively, according to U.S. News.

To determine these rankings, U.S. News stated that it employed its own proprietary surveys, in addition to data from governmental and non-governmental sources, such as the U.S. Census Bureau, the FEMA National Risk Index and the ShareCare Community Well-Being Index.

Earlier this year, U.S. News also ranked the Harrisburg area as the 38th “Best Place to Live” in the country, as well as the No. 1 place in Pennsylvania.

To read the complete story from U.S. News & World Report, visit their website.

Click here to read our January feature story that focused on Harrisburg as a retirement destination.

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Harrisburg shares mid-year financial update, “largely on track” 2023 with budget

September 27, 2023 | by Maddie Gittens

Harrisburg City Council on Tuesday

Harrisburg appears to be mostly on track with its budget for the year.

At a City Council meeting on Tuesday, city administration presented a mid-year financial report, in which they stated that Harrisburg is in solid fiscal shape.

For 2023, Harrisburg’s overall spending plan totals $109.4 million, including the $82.3 million amended general fund budget and the $20 million neighborhood services fund budget, among other items.

According to the report, the city is “largely on track” with meeting that budget.

The city’s mid-year review states that, by the end of June, about 47%, $38.8 million, of the general fund budget was spent. Harrisburg has spent about $10 million more at the mid-year point than it did in 2022, due largely to an $8 million debt payoff to bond insurer Ambac Assurance in March, as well as additional capital expenditures, according to the report.

At the end of June, the city had also received 55% of its budgeted $69.6 million in revenue. According to city Budget Manager Timothy Brooks, Harrisburg has seen significantly increased rental revenue due to payments from PennDOT for land used for its I-83 widening project. Earned Income Tax and Mercantile/Business Privilege Tax revenue are higher than expected, as well. Officials forecast that those taxes will exceed budgetary expectations by year end.

The report projects that by the end of the year, Harrisburg’s expenditures will reach $84 million, nearly $2 million over the general fund budget, due to the Ambac debt payoff, using federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding and increased personnel medical claims, among other expenses.

However, the budget is still expected to remain balanced, with additional federal funds yet to come in and with additional fund balance appropriations.

At mid-year, the city’s cash reserves equaled $22.9 million. Currently, they total about $23.8 million.

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