Harrisburg’s Millworks marks 10th anniversary; owner lauded and small donation announced for city K-9 unit

Millworks, the redeveloped Stokes Millworks complex in midtown Harrisburg, celebrated its 10th anniversary with remarks from local officials, a proclamation from the lieutenant governor’s office and an announced contribution to the city’s canine unit.

At the event, an event host identified in the transcript only as Ryan (event host) said the Millworks had been “a catalyst here in the midtown, community and critically important, to the ongoing development of our city.” He pointed listeners to a nearby historical marker for Mira Lloyd Dock on Front Street and described Millworks as a regional destination that draws visitors from Baltimore, Reading and Philadelphia.

Ryan read a proclamation issued by Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis congratulating the Millworks on its tenth anniversary. He said Davis “do[es] hereby congratulate the Millworks on their tenth anniversary and continue to send best wishes to the owner, Josh Kessler, for continued future success,” and added the lieutenant governor plans to visit for dinner, according to the reading of the proclamation.

Fire Chief Enerlein (identified in the transcript as the fire chief) told the gathering he had initially doubted the feasibility of converting the long-derelict mill building but said projects like the Millworks “rebuild cities” and create local jobs. “Taking a building like this that was derelict and fallen down and creating the masterpiece that is here really takes a lot of work, a lot of ambition, blood, sweat, and tears,” he said.

The event included acknowledgments of first responders. The host said the Millworks would make “a small contribution to the canine department” and called Corporal Bender and a K-9 named Lupo to the stage. The transcript does not specify the dollar amount or the administrative mechanism for the contribution.

Organizers also invited first responders to a complimentary hero’s lunch planned for the following Friday, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., described in the transcript as a pig roast “on the house” for Harrisburg’s first responders. The host said the tenth‑anniversary observance would run one to two weeks and that art events for the celebration are listed on the Millworks website.

Josh Kessler, identified in the transcript as the owner of the Millworks, was thanked repeatedly for investing in the city, supporting local vendors and creating “third places” that provide community identity. Speakers said the project checked several economic-development priorities, including brownfield redevelopment, historic preservation and use of local vendors.

No formal votes or legislative actions were recorded in the transcript provided. The donation to the canine unit and the hero’s lunch were announced at the event; the transcript does not show a formal approval process, city council vote, or budget authorization for either item.

The celebration combined community recognition, remarks about economic development and a small, informal gift to the city’s canine program. Additional public programming tied to the anniversary was described as forthcoming on the Millworks’ website.