Reference no: EM131781749

The City of Harrisburg (City) has become an example of urban resurgence at a time when many ofAmerica's cities continue to undergo further decline and serious economic stress. Harrisburg's renewal has been multi-faceted, touching virtually every area of city governmental and community endeavor. Listed as the second most distressed city in the nation in 1981 under federal distress criteria,Harrisburg launched, in 1982, a major change in course based on three priority pursuits: reform of city government, development of non-tax revenue sources, and aggressive economic development. These remain this City's priorities. The resultant success of these efforts is, in part, reflected by the various national and state recognitions Harrisburg has received from independent private-sector, professional, civic, and governmental bodies. In the past seventeen years, Harrisburg has each year attained the highest national award for governmental accounting and financial reporting, the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting. The City has also won the highest national award for budgeting, the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award, for the past fourteen consecutive years. Today, only three of the 2,565 Pennsylvania municipalities can claim the distinction of presently holding both recognitions.