WILKES-BARRE — Lindsay Griffin-Boylan, president and CEO of the Greater Wyoming Valley Chamber of Commerce and Chamber of Business & Industry, said innovation has been at the helm of the Chamber’s strategy moving forward. She said this can be seen through many aspects of the community and the ways the Wyoming Valley and NEPA region are moving into the future.
“We are so proud of what we have all collectively accomplished in 2023 leading into the first half of 2024 and how we have all embraced collaboration and used our resiliency to move forward and face the many challenges the past years have brought,” Griffin-Boylan said. “Our Chamber remains dedicated to local businesses and organizations of all sizes, to the diversity of our workforce and industrial base, and to the vitality and quality of life in our community.
Griffin-Boylan said two years ago, the Chamber team launched a 2023-2025 strategic plan, positioning the organization to execute its mission to innovate, connect and elevate the Greater Wyoming Valley.
“As you can see from our strategic pillars, our work is geared toward business and community advocacy, sustainable workforce development, regional connectivity and elevating the quality of life in our region,” Griffin-Boylan said. “Our businesses, workforce and region are core to who we are and where we stand. Innovation has become part of our organization’s DNA and an aspect we bring to each piece of our work. We believe innovation is more relevant than ever as we re-imagine and shape the future of NEPA.”
Griffin-Boylan said the Chamber’s focus now remains on its mission and vision of being the dynamic force in connecting the community, building economic innovation, and elevating the quality of life in the region.
Through business and community advocacy, Griffin-Boylan said the Chamber will advocate for and support businesses in the changing economic landscape, engage a diverse cross-sector strategy through public policy and government affairs and continue to provide funding opportunities to foster continued economic development — including regional approaches.
“Our workforce development efforts will be focused on building innovative solutions and pipelines that meet the demands of the region’s workforce needs, using collaborative partnerships and accessible and integrative technology,” Griffin-Boylan said. “We will continue to expand upon regional connectivity by leveraging our regional network, talent base and skill sets to solve the most pressing challenges we are faced with, using viable and sustainable solutions. Quality of life enhancement will remain at the forefront of our work to retain our region’s expertise, attract tomorrow’s leaders and showcase the assets of our community for business and resident retention and attraction.”
Griffin-Boylan said, as you will see from the Chamber’s programming and initiatives, diversity, equity and inclusion will remain a priority and will be integrated into each aspect of the organization.
“The true key to community growth and success is when we are all sitting at the table together,” she said.
Griffin-Boylan said the organization has provided information, resources and innovative ways to not just survive the challenges of the past few years, but to thrive, as it builds a stronger and more resilient re-imagined future.
“It is with renewed energy that we step into the future and our Chamber team and community partners are up for the challenges and opportunities that are before us,” Griffin-Boylan said.
With a changing demographic and continued population shift within the region, Griffin-Boylan said the need for collaborative workforce solutions and new approaches to the way economic development is done will continue to be needed and critical to the way we move forward as a region.
“With a new generation of workforce on the horizon, we will continue to collaborate to offer innovative solutions and approaches to engage and retain our youth and offer long-term sustainable pipelines to our current and future industries,” Griffin-Boylan said. “We will partner with and support other organizations to meet their workforce needs and address critical challenges like transportation, housing, child care and the barriers our residents are facing.”
SPARK grant program
Griffin-Boylan said the rise of entrepreneurship will also continue to be strong as seen through the SPARK Wilkes-Barre Grant Program, which has now opened more than 90 new businesses in Wilkes-Barre City.
“With the next generation being coined the most entrepreneurial we will ever see, this will require the alignment of resources and programs to continue and strengthen their future businesses and our future economy,” Griffin-Boylan said.
All of the resources and programs mentioned below will continue to address the needs of the community and ensure the area is positioned for continued and future economic success through innovation and collaboration.
Griffin-Boylan said the past years have shown tremendous growth as more companies are seeking out Northeastern Pennsylvania for new business development and as Penn’s Northeast reported, NEPA was recognized again as one of the best locations across the United States for economic development projects.
“Our organization remains prepared and ready alongside our partners and community to continue this growth for both large and small businesses to continue elevating our Valley for a bright and strong future,” Griffin-Boylan said.
Tackling regional challenges and the Chamber’s solutions
Evolving from the Chamber’s 2022 Project PIVOT is the development of a continuing workforce development initiative called Luzerne Learns to Work. This program is run in partnership with Luzerne Intermediate Unit 18 and The Institute, PA Careerlink Luzerne County, and LinkedIn Learning, and serves as a long-term workforce development and talent pipeline management solution.
Griffin-Boylan said this program provides Luzerne County school districts with a process and platform to introduce career exploration, allowing students to navigate pathways online through LinkedIn Learning and Metrix Learning and linking education and industry by providing students with work-based learning opportunities.
“Making these experiences a bigger part of career exploration will build a pipeline of talent filtered into local industries, ensure that students get early exposure to our community, and produce more qualified talent retained to fill jobs in our most in-demand industries,” Griffin-Boylan said.
She said although Lackawanna, Luzerne and Wayne Counties’ total populations have largely been White/Caucasian, the percentages of residents who are Non Hispanic White/Caucasian alone have declined since 2000, with substantial declines noted between 2010 and 2021. The growth of the Hispanic/Latino population has been considerable, with the share of the population most recently estimated at 16% in Luzerne County [and] 9.5% in Lackawanna County. The percentages of Asian Americans and African Americans in [both] counties have also grown since 2000, along with those identifying as some other or two or more races.” — 2023 Indicators Report by The Institute
Connect Inclusive
Griffin-Boylan said entrepreneurship and business growth experienced by individuals from minority communities by providing accessible resources for all stages of business education and technical resources, to start up or continue to grow their business.
“The program leverages and builds upon our existing Connect business assistance program, to provide much-needed support services specifically tailored to the needs of minority-owned businesses in our community,” Griffin-Boylan said. “With a successful pilot launched within Luzerne County, we are pursuing avenues to extend and expand this program to cover both Luzerne and Lackawanna Counties.”
Griffin-Boylan said the Connect Inclusive Program addresses systemic and historical barriers to The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council, looks at the Greater Wyoming Valley Chamber’s diversity initiatives, ensures inclusion in Chamber programs and policies, and works towards a more equitable future for all in the Wyoming Valley.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council
Griffin-Boylan said the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council looks at the Greater Wyoming Valley Chamber’s diversity initiatives, ensures inclusion in Chamber programs and policies, and works towards a more equitable future for all in the Wyoming Valley.
“Our DEI Council has officially turned one year old and has already championed several initiatives within our community, including a DEI Forum, a DEI Certificate Program, and an Inclusion Plan,” she said. “This Council has also expanded its programming to encompass a more regional footprint in collaboration with our regional Chambers.”
Young Professionals Council
The Young Professionals Council plans and assists the young professionals of Greater Wyoming Valley to improve their careers, develop their leadership abilities, build their professional network, and give back to the community.
“We have approximately 500 young professionals engaged in our network, and host the Young Professionals Awards, the largest young professionals’ awards event in our community,” Griffin-Boylan said. “We have recently expanded our programming to encompass a more regional footprint in collaboration with our regional Chambers.”
Connect Program
Griffin-Boylan said the Connect program, the entrepreneurial and economic development arm of the Greater Wyoming Valley Chamber of Commerce, ensures that all entrepreneurs, startups and existing businesses have access to the resources, providers and facilities necessary to grow in Northeastern Pennsylvania, free of charge.
She said Connect leverages a partner network to align innovation, strategies and resources that meet the needs of the business community. Through the click of a button, any business can request services, including business plan assistance, financing, workforce solutions, transportation strategies, academic-industry partnerships, work-based learning experiences, entrepreneurial mindset and exploration training, tailored resources for minority-owned businesses and more.
Acting as a catalyst for business development in NEPA, Griffin-Boylan said Connect formulates strategic partnerships with the academic, business and community sectors to spur business job creation, and retention. Connect is run through a committee comprised of strategic partners and subject matter experts and is a free service offered to businesses in our community.
Public Funding
Griffin-Boylan said there are numerous federal, state and local grants, loans and training programs available that the Greater Wilkes-Barre Industrial Fund regularly assists with. She said the area offers some incentive programs that are not available anywhere else in the state — giving the Greater Wyoming Valley area a competitive advantage for businesses that are interested in expanding locally or relocating to our region.
Luzerne County Small Business Sustainability Grant Program
Additionally, Griffin-Boylan said the Luzerne County Small Business Sustainability Grant Program is also currently underway through Luzerne County’s ARPA funding and is aimed at helping the small businesses of Luzerne County sustain and thrive into the future.
“This grant program is in partnership with the Pittston Chamber and Hazleton Chamber of Commerce and not only ensures that our businesses are building and planning for the future, but that our local Chambers and Economic Development organizations are working together to create regional partnerships to strengthen NEPA and way we deliver resources and programs for the most impact for those we serve,” Griffin-Boylan said.
Innovating through regional partnerships and collaboration
“We have a strong history of collaboration with our regional Chamber partners and have expanded and strengthened some of our programs and events through collaboration with the Back Mountain Chamber, Greater Hazleton Chamber, Greater Pittston Chamber, Greater Scranton Chamber, and Wyoming County Chamber,” Griffin-Boylan said. “We held 16 regional partner events and programs last year, including our Young Professionals and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Councils and their associated programming and events, as well as additional programs through our Government Affairs Council, Nonprofit Council and Women’s Council in collaboration with other local resource partners.”
The Chamber has shown its commitment to the region through the development of a physical location in the heart of the Wyoming Valley. The Chamber purchased a blighted building in downtown Wilkes-Barre to make its future home, which will function as a unique and innovative ecosystem that creates jobs, launches businesses, inspires entrepreneurs and unites resources and individuals within the community.
“All of these resources and programs will continue to address the needs of our community and ensure we are positioned for continued and future growth,” Griffin-Boylan said.