This column was originally published in the Gettysburg Times, March 8, 2018
By Robin Fitzpatrick
Steve Jobs once said, “My favorite things in life don’t cost any money. It’s really clear that the most precious resource we all have is time.”
Time: What a precious commodity! Numerous community leaders have given of their time and talents in order to build The Adams Economic Alliance into the organizations they are today. One shining example is Barbara Hartman, who recently stepped down after an impressive and remarkable 25+ years as our Chair of the Board of Directors, Adams County Economic Development Corporation (ACEDC). Her exemplary service and devotion deserves much applause!
I also want to introduce and thank Michael Cogliano, new Chair, ACEDC Board of Directors for accepting this new role. Cogliano, who holds an administration position with WellSpan Health Gettysburg, has been involved in the Alliance for the past year as an ACEDC Board member, and we very much look forward to his leadership.
“I see my involvement with the ACEDC and the Alliance as complementary to my work as a hospital administrator, rather than in addition to it,” says Cogliano.
“Providing healthcare in 2018 and beyond is as much, if not more, about keeping people healthy than it is only taking care of them when they are sick. In many ways the economic health of the community we serve has a direct impact on the physical health of that community. For example, if we don’t support the local agriculture industry, we might not have healthy fruits and vegetables to provide a balanced diet. If our community lacks job opportunities, our friends and neighbors might not be able to provide housing and other support for their families, which can lead to chronic illnesses and injury. These are just a few examples of connections between economic development in our community and the health of our community.”
Appropriately enough, healthcare is the focus of our next Advantage Adams panel discussion, set for April 10 from 8-9:30 am (location TBD—keep an eye on our website and social media for final details). The public is invited to this free session, our latest in a series of informative discussions highlighting the current issues and challenges facing Adams County’s top industries. Previous events focused on manufacturing, tourism and agriculture.
Healthcare is the second-largest sector of employment in Adams County, with manufacturing in the top spot, according to the latest statistics provided by the Pennsylvania Center for Workforce Information and Analysis.
“The state of healthcare continues to change rapidly for all of us, not just in Adams County but across the nation. Challenges include caring for a rapidly growing baby boomer population as well as an aging healthcare workforce, rising costs (for both employers and employees), lower reimbursement from government and private payors, and the need to ensure timely, convenient access to high quality care,” says Cogliano.
“The healthcare panel discussion will give attendees a basic understanding of these challenges and opportunities to help inform business planning in their organizations,” Cogliano summarizes.
One final piece of news: We are excited to announce that Adams Economic Alliance has a new website! We invite you to take a look at AdamsAlliance.org!
Robin Fitzpatrick, President of Adams Economic Alliance, can be reached at 717-334-0042. The Adams Economic Alliance, is comprised of three organizations: The Adams County Economic Development Corporation (ACEDC), the Adams County Industrial Development Authority (ACIDA) and the Adams County General Authority (ACGA). For more information, see adamsalliance.org, or follow us on Twitter (@AdamsAlliance), Facebook (Facebook.com/AdamsAlliance) and LinkedIn (Adams Economic Alliance).
