The Scranton Plan, the industrial marketing arm of The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce in partnership with PPL Electric Utilities and community leaders launched “Rediscover Scranton” to promote and strengthen greater Scranton’s quality of life and business assets. Through Rediscover Scranton, volunteers are identifying and contacting accomplished people with ties to greater Scranton, informing them about economic, quality of living, and growth opportunities, and encouraging them to relocate their businesses and families to the area.

Rediscover Scranton is targeting individuals who are successful company executives, professionals, entrepreneurs, individuals who work in the creative industry and any other successful former residents. According to Chamber president Austin J. Burke, “Rediscover Scranton is more than a catchy name.” He also stated, “Energetic, committed “Scranton-philes” who believe in the future of our city forged Rediscover Scranton. It is an ambitious plan with clearly defined objectives.”

Rediscover Scranton’s first objective is to identify and contact 4,000 company executives, professionals, entrepreneurs, creative industry talent and other successful former residents of Scranton. Next, Rediscover Scranton will cultivate relationships among the database of prospects and area residents. They will inform prospects about the economic, quality-of-life and growth opportunities through a website, organizational links, a volunteer training program, and our volunteers. Finally, Rediscover Scranton will encourage prospects, based on those opportunities, to relocate their businesses and families to Scranton. Volunteers from Rediscover Scranton noted that several very successful individuals have recently relocated, or will be relocating their families and businesses in the near future. Michele Dempsey, president of DxDempsey, moved her architecture firm to downtown Scranton. Ms. Dempsey stated, “Returning to Scranton in 2002, I was energized by the ground swell of change and a charismatic mayor who believed that investing in the city would translate into opportunity for all. Wanting to contribute, I applied for office space in the Scranton Enterprise Center’s Business Incubator due to the tax incentives and opened the doors of DxDempsey: architecture + design. Scranton is a place of innovation and my growing firm helps design those dreams.”

Officials from Rediscover Scranton are partnering with local colleges and universities to contact alumni about the initiative. In addition, officials from Rediscover Scranton are building an e-mail database to contact former residents, and volunteers are continuing to gather contact information of individuals with connections to greater Scranton.

Former residents can still log on to www.rediscoverscranton.com and submit their contact information with an e-mail address for a chance to win the VIP weekend in Scranton. Individuals who are interested in learning more about Rediscover Scranton can also contact Krissy Maher to provide their e-mail address and other contact information at 570.342.7711 or at kmaher@scrantonchamber.com. For more information visit www.rediscoverscranton.com