Lebanon, Pennsylvania

At the time,many people in the area had a nega- tive perception about the city, but Capello and her teamwanted to change that mindset, believing that if you create your own boundaries, you can succeed. It’s all about determination and a positive attitude. Family-sustaining jobs and addressing the gap in workforce development were key objectives. “We’re trying to reach students at a younger age and provide themwith more options that don’t require a four-year degree,” says Capello.“Blue collar jobs in technology,welding–high-paying opportunities in need of skilled labor.We’re addressing soft skills and the talent gap and it’s starting to pay off, now that the outreach is there, and more employers and service providers are recognizing it.” Lebanon is a former steel town that has struggled financially to recreate itself.A lot of businesses that were booming in the 1950s were lost when Leba- non Steel and Bethlehem Steel moved out in the early ‘80s and shopping malls moved in.With those life-changers happening simultaneously, the down- town core started to suffer and has yet to recover. In a revitalization effort, the city held an economic de- velopment brainstorming summit in 2010 that led to the creation of a Business Improvement District. At that time, Lebanon’s crime statistics had declined for more than a decade, but the message wasn’t out there. People thought it was unsafe to walk down- town.