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Susquehanna Valley Center

Pennsylvania Infrastructure: The Why

by President Ronald Reagan

SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY CENTER POLICY BRIEF

www.susvalleypolicy.org

PENNSYLVANIA INFRASTRUCTURE: THE WHY

By Kelly Lewis

We were asked recently, "Why is the Technology Industry spending so much time and resources on infrastructure and why would the Technology Industry ever be leading the first-ever Pennsylvania Infrastructure Summit?"

For starters, the issue of strong infrastructure is self-evident. Since the
beginning of civilization, natural infrastructures provided the building blocks for strong communities. And, strong communities thrived next to clean water so they had ready-made access to safe drinking water, energy, transportation and communications.

And so it was then, and so it is today; communities with a greater abundance of
natural infrastructures have a natural competitive advantage. But more than ever, any community's level of natural infrastructures can be overcome by good planning, motivation and focused commitment. And more than ever, the technology industry and our citizens need advanced infrastructures.

And let it be known that every company and citizen in this land relies on
infrastructure every moment of our existence. Just like advanced-technology, every company and citizen's livelihood is built directly on top of its infrastructure systems. Everyone's success is wholly dependent on their access to the best, most affordable, reliable and safe infrastructure.

And like politics. All infrastructure is local.

So today we draw a line in the sand. Today, it's time we focus on the basic building blocks for our communities, our Pennsylvania. Today, we start developing the building blocks for an Infrastructure Agenda for Pennsylvania. And these building blocks shall start local and build-up to counties, regions and the state.

The global economy and infrastructure are a lot like Saturday's Final Four
basketball game between Kansas and North Carolina. Most sports experts predicted North Carolina was pre-ordained to win the game. Some said based on their height, speed and talents that North Carolina had a natural advantage, an infrastructure advantage. But that's why games are played versus simulated on paper or called by so-called experts. And in record time Kansas had built an extraordinary lead of 28 points. So the talking heads started to quickly proclaim the game over even though 30 minutes of the 40 minute game remained. For example purposes, I point out this large point spread, because isn't so true that some communities have natural or constructed leads in infrastructure. Often times these communities believe their natural advantages are inherently ever-lasting.

Like life, infrastructure and basketball, no lead is insurmountable, and any
advantage not pressed and strengthened eventually will be caught and surpassed. So it was with Greece, Rome, Britain, Napoleonic France and the Soviet Union so it is in infrastructure and basketball.

Remarkably in that basketball game, North Carolina never quit and after another 15 minutes of play, North Carolina cut the insurmountable lead of 28 points to 5 points. It was unbelievable. In the NCAA tournament the biggest lead ever erased was 22 points. But like life, civilizations and nfrastructures, natural advantages can be lost, regained and lost again.

No doubt, North Carolina's comeback was awe-inspiring. But the college basketball game is 40 minutes. And over the last 5 minutes of play, Kansas returned to its original formula and remarkably ended the game with an 18 point win.

Championship seasons are months, years and decades in the making. Championships
start in small towns and inner-cities with the most basic infrastructures of a
basketball net and a driveway or rundown inner-city basketball court. And on those courts, kids decide to compete. And some kids have natural gifts that enable them to go far and some kids have an unstoppable energy that compels them to work so hard they can overcome all kinds of challenges. And so it is.

Now more than ever, while some communities have enjoy natural infrastructure
advantages, no community, no region, state or nation has figured out the answers to all the infrastructure needs for today or most importantly the future. So today we draw a line in the sand because every small town and inner city in our Commonwealth has a chance in this new millennium to build up its existing infrastructure and create a new platform for companies and citizens to thrive. But they need to have a plan.

Communities that are failing to plan are planning to fail.

So today we draw a line in the sand because we are non-stop focused on
infrastructures as the basic building blocks for a strong and vibrant future that helps companies and citizens compete and win. Together we are going to highlight our infrastructure needs, large and small, over the next 2, 5 and 10 year periods.

It's all free will. Communities either do or they don't. And by free will every
community, every municipality, county, region, state and nation can hear or read these words and challenges. He, who has ears, let them hear.

And we invited every elected official in Pennsylvania to attend and participate in the historic April 10th Pennsylvania Infrastructure Summit, free of charge. And we're going to spend the next year getting our message to all four corners of Pennsylvania. Because all Infrastructure is local!

So how can you help? It's easy. Today, we are asking every community to draw up and submit to us, the Infrastructure Agenda for your street, municipality, county, and region. Answer the question, "What does your street, your community, municipality, county and region need to compete in the 21st Century?" We want you to put it in writing and send it to Deena Malley at dmalley@tccp.org or fax at 717.635.2003. We want you to declare it, proclaim it, defend it and advocate it because it's so important. And, because no one else on the planet will do it for you!

If you haven't already read or noticed there are small towns and inner-cities all over the world extremely focused on infrastructure! Everyday in India, China, Europe and the Middle East, they are focused on their Infrastructure Agendas. Every day they are building water, sewer, roads, dams, power plants and communication systems in record time, in record scale and funding. Yes, all infrastructure is local. It all starts locally and builds. So it is.

Now we are just getting starting but in the next 30 days we are going to announce the Infrastructure Agenda for Pennsylvania based on the historic first-ever Pennsylvania Infrastructure Summit. And we're going to work all year on it. Then, in 12 months we are going to meet here again on the first Thursday in April 2009.

Focused!

But before we meet again, we stand ready to help every county in Pennsylvania host
their own County Infrastructure Summit. In 2001-2004, we hosted 3 in Monroe County,
so we know they are easily done and beneficial.

Now through whatever process, we need you to get us your local Infrastructure
Agendas. These Agendas don't have to be anything fancy and costly. We just need you
to answer the Ask, "what infrastructure does your community need to compete in the
21st century?" And send it to Deena Malley at dmalley@tccp.org, or fax (717)
635.2003.

For basketball it only starts with a court and a basket. But for anything to happen
it takes one person to get motivated and show up. And play. And then it takes a
second person to show up. And play. And so on. And kids practice thousands and
thousands of hours, shooting, passing, defending and scoring. The basket and the
court are just the basic infrastructures. But without those basic infrastructures
constructed throughout the land, nobody plays in San Antonio for the national
championship.

Kelly Lewis is President & CEO of the Technology Council of Central Pennsylvania and
its TechQuest Pennsylvania programs. For more information on the April 10th
Pennsylvania Infrastructure Summit, the Infrastructure Agenda for Pennsylvania, and
TechQuest Internship, contact Mr. Lewis at 717.635.2114, klewis@tccp.org or
www.techquestpa.com.