Why York County: Looking Ahead to 2025: York County's Vision for Growth and Innovation
January 5, 2025
Why York County
Looking Ahead to 2025: York County's Vision for Growth and Innovation
Lisa Hurley, YCDC Executive Director
As we roll into 2025, York County is ready to keep the momentum going—building on growth, innovation, and a whole lot of community spirit. At YCDC, we’re laser-focused on development, retention, and recruitment—whether it’s housing, talent, or businesses. It’s a simple formula for success: grow our talent base, support existing businesses, attract new ones, build/improve housing, and make York County the place where everyone wants to be. Before I get into an update, let me welcome Emily Perry back as she transitions from being home with baby Mia back into the office.
A Glimpse into 2025
1. Why York County Talent Initiative: Workforce needs? We’ve got it covered. YCDC’s Talent Initiative is all about attracting, training, and keeping skilled workers. Did you know that we have an online talent ad that follows the York News-Times to viewers located out of Nebraska? We are analyzing ways to expand that talent marketing reach. We’re talking job fairs, workshops, and partnerships with schools and businesses to put York County on the national map as the place to live and work. The first stop? Our New Year, New Career event—an easy way for job seekers to explore openings online or through packets distributed around the county. (Pro tip: Check out our initiatives at yorkdevco.com.)
2. April 2nd, Regional Career Day Launched in 2014, this event shows students what’s possible right here at home. With around 10 schools participating, it’s making a lasting impact.Students will explore career clusters and connect with businesses who are hiring. Keynote speaker Johnny Quinn—Olympic bobsledder and former NFL player—will bring energy, resilience, and leadership lessons to inspire students. Bonus: All York County high school students who are not at the Career Fair can catch his talk after lunch. Big thanks to our sponsors for making it happen!
3. Business Retention and Expansion (BRE) Program: Supporting our local businesses is priority #1. Need talent? Childcare? Housing? Customers? Suppliers? We’ve got programs for that. Our BRE campaign includes site visits, surveys, meetings, training, and connections to funding resources. Plus, we’ll use survey data to fine-tune strategies. Honestly, building relationships through BRE touchpoints is one of my favorite parts of the job.
4. Industrial Park Marketing: Shovel-ready sites? Check. Infrastructure? We know where it is, along with its capacity. In 2025, we’re doubling down on marketing the Northwest York industrial Park to attract businesses that fit our ecosystem. Digital ads, targeted outreach, and site visits will make sure we’re top-of-mind for locations. Who knows, maybe this park could be a location for one of our expansions…
5. Entrepreneurship: YCDC's SPARK Program, which ignites entrepreneurship by providing funding and resources to promising business ideas, will continue into its second year to fuel innovation. Building on past success, this year's focus will include more workshops, networking opportunities, and additional tools to support entrepreneurs in turning ideas into thriving businesses. Thinking about expanding? Use our SizeUp York County tool at YorkDevCo.com. Let’s make those sparks fly!
6. 17-County Leadership Program: Three group sessions, three coaching calls, and one 360-degree evaluation—this program is all about building better leaders through the Better Culture curriculum. Thanks to Dr. Shannon Leinen at York University for guiding the way! (Spoiler alert: You’ll leave with sharper skills and stronger connections.)
7. 17-County Podcast: What’s better than sharing York County’s story? Sharing it with over 34,500 downloads in 24 countries! The YCDC podcast highlights local businesses, leaders, and stories that make our community shine. Tune in anywhere podcasts are streamed or find episodes at YorkDevCo.com. Don’t miss out—we’re just getting started.
8. Housing: Stay tuned—big things are happening here! Infrastructure work in two subdivisions is planned for spring, with more housing opportunities coming soon. Follow our newsletters and social media for updates.
Charting the Path Forward
2025 is shaping up to be a year of growth, collaboration, and opportunity. By focusing on development, retention, and recruitment, YCDC is ensuring York County remains a hub for business and community success.
Want to know more information? Ready to get involved? Visit www.YorkDevCo.com and let’s build the future together. You can sign up for our monthly Newsletter on our website.