‘Economic Trends in Bucks and the Region’ highlight forum
At the Lower Bucks County Chamber of Commerce’s annual Economic Forum, attendees had the opportunity to hear a panel of business leaders share their perspective and expertise on the economy, along with their own proven strategies for success. Moderated by Bucks County Commissioner Rob Loughery, Craig Baclit (Patch Management Inc., Pothole Killers), Todd Buch (McCafferty Auto Group), Ron Davis ( PARu Casino C Racing), Sean Galt (Thompson Networks), and Liz Walsh (Bucks County WIB/CareerLink) all gave their views on the “Economic Trends in Bucks County and the Region.”
Thank you to the Economic Forum sponsors for their support! • 9HULzRn ($wDUGs 6SRnsRU) • 3UG )HGHUDO %DnN • $nJHOPDUN $ssRFLDWHs, ,nF. • /DwUHnFH /HxXs • P1& :HDOWK 0DnDJHPHnW • 6WUHDPOLnH PDyUROO, //& • :HLGHO 5HDOWRUs – $nnH 0. &RsWHOOR The Economic Development Award was presented to Good Friends, Inc. at the Economic Forum. This award recognizes individuals, businHssHs nRn-SURfiW RUJDnLzDWLRns DnG/RU JUHHn WHFKnology for their outstanding work in promoting economic development and job growth in Bucks &RXnWy. 7KLs wDs WKH IRXUWHHnWK yHDU WKDW 9HULzRn sponsored the presentation of these awards at the Economic Forum program. Thank you to Dan 5HDvy RI 9HULzRn DnG WR HvHUyRnH wKR sXEPLWWHG nominations for their support.
Good Friends, Inc. is a residential treatment program for adult men recovering from substance dependency, including those with a co-occurring psychiatric disorder. Established in 1977, Good Friends, Inc. is licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Health to provide comprehensive and quality behavioral health services conducive to personal growth.
Since its inception Good Friends, Inc. has maintained the highest standard for its treatment services and the needs of their clients. Because of this the agency has been called a model within its scope of business and one of the leaders in the provision RI KDOIwDy KRXsH WUHDWPHnW Ln WKH sWDWH. ,W UHflHFWs in their treatment success rate too, which last year was 57B above the national average.
While their service provides substance abuse treatment it also emphasizes providing opportunities for independent growth and responsible community living. Gaining employable jobs is one such opportunity. Entering the program, their clients are unemployed, a scenario they change during the course of treatment. This allows Good Friends, Inc. to have a positive impact within our community while their clients are in treatment and after they return to the community. Using an average of A12.00 per hour for an employed client, one year of post-treatment paid taxes would be approximately A4,680.00 in revenue not previously FROOHFWHG. 0XOWLSOy WKLs fiJXUH Ey WKH 197 FOLHnWs who completed the program between 7/1/09 and 6/30/12 DnG $921,960.00 Ln WDxHs DUH FROOHFWHG, where prior there were few to none. And this only counts those clients who completed their treatment process.
Other positive economic measures are captured when a client enters treatment. Every A1.00 invested in addiction treatment saves A7.00 in reduced crime and criminal justice costs and when KHDOWK FDUH sDvLnJs DUH IDFWRUHG Ln WKH fiJXUH jumps to A12.00. Research indicates that addicWLRn WUHDWPHnW sLJnLfiFDnWOy UHGXFHs HPHUJHnFy room use, inpatient hospital stays and total health care costs; and, untreated addiction incidence in the workplace yields increases in tardiness, absHnWHHLsP DnG Rn-WKH-MRE FRnflLFWs, FRXSOHG wLWK decreased employee productivity.
Good Friends, Inc. was nominated by Jessica Sweeney of First Federal of Bucks County.