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By David E. Black

I recently had the opportunity to attend the official ribbon cutting for the Hospital and Healthcare System Association of PA (HAP) that recently moved from the suburbs to downtown Harrisburg.

It's another reminder of Harrisburg's journey back from the brink.

There are a lot of good things going on in Harrisburg.

Business are moving back into the city, older office space is being converted to cool residential apartments and condos, new restaurants are opening and old restaurants are re-opening with new looks, new names and new management.

The makeover at the Hilton is done. Hamilton Health's facility and the work of the Community Action Commission are driving improvement in South Allison Hill. Midtown is making a comeback with Broad St Market, Midtown Scholar, COBA, 1500, HMAC and the Millworks among other venues.

Much has changed for the better since headlines of Harrisburg's looming bankruptcy appeared in the pages of the Wall Street Journal back 2012 and 2013.

The city was carrying $620 million in debt, owned a financially upside-down incinerator, was making net revenue of only $250,000 per year from the parking system and was using parking tax revenue to make parking debt payments.

The Verizon tower in Strawberry Square was the next major debt poised for default and confidence in the city both locally and in bond markets was shaken.

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania invested in Harrisburg in remarkable ways through the administrations of three governors: Ed Rendell, Tom Corbett and Tom Wolf.

Long term parking leases from the state are the major revenue component to the parking system that has absorbed the overwhelming majority of city debt.

The state Department of Transportation has invested in city road rebuilding and repair, state budgets have consistently provided $5 million for public safety and fire protection at the Capitol Complex.

Moving 900 state employees into Strawberry Square from the suburbs has created markets for more restaurants and more services for workers. The parking system revenues to the city have increased exponentially. On behalf of all us connected with Harrisburg, thank you Governors and lawmakers for believing and investing in our city.

Dauphin County has also helped in many ways, most notably as a participant in the Strong Plan's parking transaction and working with the state and others to make sure the deal continues to work to pay off the city's massive debt, provide a consistent stream of revenue to the city and maintain a modern, safe parking system.

Thank you, Commissioners.

Being good, being competitive, being world class is achieved through teamwork. Everyone has to work together at it and everyone has to want to be better. Through the efforts of many, Harrisburg is getting better, arguably good as we aspire to be great.

We don't always hear positives and unfortunately we always hear all the negatives about Harrisburg.

Sure things could be better, sure there are things that need to be fixed, but North Front Street isn't one of them anymore.

Sure there have been and there will be disagreements between elected officials in city hall. That's ok, that's democracy as we have seen disagreements settled by reasonable people through reasonable conversation and negotiation, not litigation any more.

The Harrisburg business community has stood with the city, not only as a stakeholder; but as investors through taxes, fees as well as investing dollars into buildings and businesses.

We share a common vision with city residents, Dauphin County and the Commonwealth for a better and continuously improving city.

We encourage continued investment by city government in public safety and public works as their priorities.

Working collaboratively city government, residents, businesses, Dauphin County and the Commonwealth can turn that aspiration of greatness into reality.

David E. Black is the president & CEO, Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC. Readers may email him at dblack@hbgrc.org.