Fall Public Awareness T.W. Phillips

Dear Chamber Members,  In an ever-evolving and competitive marketplace, we have to become intensely unified in order to survive. Marketing ourselves as the best area to do business and open a business should be our first priority. Accentuating the benefits of doing business here is tantamount to being a successful region. We cannot remain stagnant. Apathy cannot be a part of our vocabulary. We need to develop a positive spin about our city. Making things happen takes leadership and desire. The New Ken Chamber of Commerce has taken that leadership role by partnering with the City of New Kensington with a first of many joint ventures to revitalize the downtown business district. Through our joint New Kensington Beautification Project we have purchased new trash receptacles. This was accomplished by soliciting donations from the public and the business sectors. We were able to raise $18,500 and we continue to move forward with our beautification plans through an "adopt an island" project whereas groups, organizations, business owners and individuals can adopt an island and replant them with flowers and shrubs to give them a fresh look and make it an inviting place to invest and do business. This is an example of one small success that leads to many more. Of course, it takes much more than flowers and garbage cans to prosper a city. It takes sheer will and determination to revitalize and grow our business district. The Chamber is committed to assisting in any way we can to foster "forward thinking" to make a reality. We have to remove the old "perception mentality" and begin to work together with other economic groups to ensure that growth and prosperity is not optional but a desired outcome for all. It can be done. During the groundbreaking ceremony for Westmoreland County Community College, I was impressed with President Enders' comment that he was excited about contributing to the economic development of New Kensington. What an encouraging statement for a city who some have written off as a loss. The possibilities are endless and pro-active thinking and doing will surely bring about great results. We don't need endless and non-productive rhetoric. We need action and it starts with you and with me. In conclusion, we all agree that economic growth is critical to our success, but just important are the people that make success happen.    Sincerely,  Thomas P. Ansani, President  New Kensington Area Chamber of Commerce

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