Celebrating a decade of impactful storytelling, VISTA Today marks its 10-year anniversary as a trusted voice capturing the stories that shape Chester County and the Delaware Valley’s economy, culture, and community. Founded through a collaboration between Ken Knickerbocker and the Chester County Economic Development Council (CCEDC), VISTA Today has become a vital platform, shining a light on the county’s and region’s opportunities and successes.
Gary Smith, the CCEDC’s President and CEO, recently shared how his organization’s collaboration with VISTA Today has helped bring attention to the county’s economic growth and foster a sense of community.
How did you and Ken Knickerbocker first connect?
I first became aware of Ken back when he was politically active in Chester County. He had run for various elected positions in the county, and I noticed that he had a public-spirited heart. It caught my attention.
It was very apparent that he had a civic interest in our community; he wanted to make Chester County better. He lived here, he served here. He had a civic heart for taking care of others.
Looking back at 2013, what were the factors that led the CCEDC to consider launching a county-wide business journal?
Years after I first knew of Ken, my friend Bruce Mowday, a local author and former editor of The Daily Local News, introduced us. Ken had this idea to highlight the positive economic activities in Chester County, sharing stories about the opportunities people here were creating for themselves. His idea really resonated with me.
At the time, VISTA 2025, Chester County’s 10-year economic development plan, has just launched. Out of that strategy came the need for a platform to tell our county’s story — to break the stereotypes and showcase the diverse elements that make Chester County prosper. I told Ken, “We need to tell these stories,” and from that moment, our partnership took shape.
Ken’s vision for VISTA Today was exactly what we needed — a way to share daily stories about the positive things happening here, from helping businesses start and grow to educating and training our workforce, to showcasing the work we do with local governments, schools, and other partners. Ken launched the pilot project, curating local stories under one umbrella and making them accessible to everyone, free of charge.
Our partnership has remained strong because we both believe in building something meaningful. We share an affinity for highlighting what makes Chester County one of the best places to live, work, and raise a family, and VISTA Today has become the perfect vehicle for that.
Did your team consider several options at the time?
I actually never considered other options because Ken’s idea was exactly what we needed. His model gave us a platform to tell our stories on a larger scale and reach a broader audience. Before VISTA Today, we relied on press releases and hoped for coverage, but Ken brought something fresh. He produced original content, talking directly to people and finding the human side of each story — and, importantly, he did it without any political slant, which was crucial to us. We wanted to keep politics out of it entirely.
Ken’s approach was objective, and that objectivity has made VISTA Today a valued resource for the community. It’s become essential for local businesses and new companies — people know that to truly be part of Chester County, you need access to VISTA Today.
It’s streamlined, easy to read, and keeps people up to date without the hassle of searching through multiple sources. It’s a one-stop resource for staying informed on local leadership, business updates, and community news. In today’s fast-paced world, that’s invaluable.
Other options can’t match the accessibility or the depth of connection VISTA Today provides.
How did you settle on the name of VISTA Today?
Ken’s initial idea was to call the blog Chester County Business Journal, but as we discussed it further, we realized the name needed to capture more than just business news — it had to reflect the broader economic and community vision we were aiming for.
VISTA Today was a perfect fit because “VISTA” aligned with the county’s VISTA 2025 economic development plan, which looks ahead to the future. VISTA stands for Vision, Ideas, Strategies, Teams, Action.
It represents a forward-looking perspective, and the word “Today” emphasized the focus on current stories and updates. This combination allowed us to communicate not only business news but also the daily pulse of Chester County’s economy, culture, and community. Ultimately, it gave us a platform to share our ongoing progress while staying connected to our long-term goals.
Nov. 14 will be the 10-year anniversary of VISTA Today’s launch at the Annual CCEDC Stakeholders Breakfast. What impact has VISTA Today had on Chester County’s “Quality of Place”?
One of the ways VISTA Today has played a crucial role in preserving Chester County’s “Quality of Place” is by highlighting its unique balance between economic growth and land preservation. From the outset, our partnership with TIP Strategies, the consulting company we hired to help us craft VISTA 2025, emphasized that Chester County was the first place they’d seen where preservation took priority over development.
Today, 31 percent of Chester County’s 760 square miles are permanently protected, ensuring that the county’s agricultural heritage and green spaces remain intact. This preservation is more than just aesthetic; it sustains the livelihoods of family-owned farms, which are vital to both the local economy and Chester County’s cultural legacy. It also provides abundant safe and accessible places for our residents to enjoy nature.
As one of the largest agricultural producers in Pennsylvania, Chester County must support its farms through economic development initiatives that keep them profitable and prevent them from falling into disrepair.
By connecting farmers with essential resources through programs like Ag Connect, VISTA Today ensures that our local agriculture remains competitive while maintaining the open spaces that attract residents and make Chester County a desirable place to live.
As VISTA Today commemorates its 10-year anniversary, we celebrate the partnership between Ken Knickerbocker and Gary Smith and the Chester County Economic Development Council.
Looking ahead, we are excited about the continued evolution of VISTA Today as it remains dedicated to sharing uplifting stories that enhance the region’s vibrancy and quality of life.
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