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By Gil Smart
Lancaster Online, Aug 19, 2015

... If the key to rising out of poverty is a job that pays a decent wage, where are city residents to find that in Lancaster? Don’t get me wrong – there are some places. The Lancaster Food Company is one (disclaimer: I know co-founder Charlie Crystle, but that’s irrelevant to this point, as stated on the company’s web site):

We feel strongly about reducing poverty in the U.S., and feel we can do our part here in Lancaster by paying better than living wages, and by hiring people who might otherwise have difficulty getting work because of obstacles like legal records or educational gaps. …

•   We primarily hire people living in the City of Lancaster, with a focus on hiring people out of poverty.

•   We pay employees a “thriving wage,” and all employees will have access to stock ownership in the company through stock options (we’re still working on this). Up to 30% of the company will be employee owned in the future.

... More such organizations, more such jobs are needed. Lots more. ...

But maybe, in addition to being an arts hub, we could talk about how Lancaster could become a hub for socially responsible entrepreneurs and the jobs they might create. What might that take? What public policies could encourage it – what do companies like that need?

That may be a bit too idealistic. But who knows? We do need more jobs, primarily for the people in the neighborhoods still struggling despite the downtown revitalization. And every little bit helps.

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