The Northwest Commission held its 3^rd Annual Dinner on Wednesday, April 1, at Cross Creek Resort in Titusville.  One hundred eighty-seven people attended to help us celebrate a year of accomplishments and partnership.  The theme for this year’s annual event was, “Counties, Communities, and Companies: Partnering for Progress, Hand-in-Hand.”  It’s always nice to find an opportunity to network and keep the lines of communication open.  Thank you to those that attended the Annual Dinner event, and to everyone that supports the Commission throughout the year. 

Staff Recognition
At the Commission’s 2009 Annual Dinner, Dorte Heffernan, Manager of the International Program, received the “Above and Beyond Award,” for her outstanding performance over the past year.  Congratulations to Dorte, your hard-work and dedication is truly appreciated!

Thank You, Sponsors
I would like to extend a special thank you to the organizations that sponsored our Annual Dinner and helped to make it a success. 

Platinum- PNC Bank, Optical Filters, L. Robert Kimball & Associates 

Gold- Central Electric Cooperative, First National Bank, National Fuel, Northwest Industrial Resource Center, Northwest Savings Bank, Regional Center for Workforce Excellence.

Silver- Citizen’s Bank, Design Nine, Gannon SBDC, Gent Gent & Snyder, Keller Engineers, Lee-Simpson Associates Inc., May & Company, Mercer County State Bank, Oil Region Alliance, UPMC Health Plan.

Bronze Level- Clarion County Economic Development Corporation, Erie Bank, First United National Bank, Gannett Fleming, Lawrence County Economic Development Corporation, Meyer Unkovic & Scott LLP, Northwestern Rural Electric Cooperative, and Penn-Northwest Development Corporation.

Five Organizations also contributed door prizes that were given away at the event.  These organizations included: Clarion Area Chamber of Business and Industry, Foxburg Inn Hotel, Northwest Pennsylvania Great Outdoors, Pennsylvania’s Great Lakes Region, Warren County Visitors Bureau.

Thank you all for your support, it is truly appreciated.

Congratulations Award Winners
Congratulations to all of the individuals and organizations that were nominated for awards this year.  Your commitment and dedication to the Northwest Commission is an honor and we enjoy working with each of you, year after year.

Clarion County Commissioner, Donna Hartle was named the 2008 Board Leadership Award Winner.  Other nominees included, MaryAnn Yochim, Manager of Government Relations for National Fuel, and Bob Spaulding, the Director of Economic Development for Erie County.  To read the press release about this award winner, click here.

Penn-Northwest Development Corporation was named the 2008 Partner of the Year.  Other nominees included Affinity Technology Consultants and Central Electric Cooperative.  To read the press release about this award winner, click here.

The City of Oil City was named the 2008 Local Government of the Year.  Other nominees included North East Borough, New Wilmington Borough, and Grove City Borough.  To read the press release about this award winner, click here.

Optical Filters of Meadville was named the 2008 Business of the Year.  Other nominees included Ron Jones Hardwood, and American Cap Company, LLC.  To read the press release about this award winner, click here.

To view an electronic version of the 2008 Annual Report and to see pictures from the Annual Dinner, please click here!

Community Service Appreciation
A special thank you goes out to Tom Surman and Vantage Healthcare for providing the northwest region with a website that proudly displays photos from events occurring throughout the year.   What a great community service, and we truly appreciate it!  To view the photos, including those from our Annual Dinner, click here.

Save the Date
The Northwest Commission will be holding an Open House, the afternoon of Thursday, June 18, at the new Clarion Outreach Office.  The new office is located at 627 Wood Street, Clarion.  Following the Open House, the Commission will be hosting a Chamber After Hours in partnership with the Clarion Area Chamber of Business and Industry.  It will be a terrific opportunity to check out our new location and network with Northwest Commission staff.  Please watch the Calendar of Events on the Commission’s website for exact times and registration details.  I hope you will join us!

Save the Date
The Northwest Commission’s 5^th Annual Partner Appreciation Golf Scramble

Date: June 26, 2009
Location: Venango Valley Golf Course
Registration: 7:00am
Tee Time: 8:00am
Price: $10 per person

Pre-registration is required to organize teams.  Please include handicap for 18 holes when registering.  Food and beverages will be available at the clubhouse all day, and prizes will be given away at the end of the scramble.  For more information or to register, contact Matt Gilara at mattg@nwcommission.org, or by phone at 814.677.4800 x102.

Why is April 15 Tax Day? 
In 1913, Congress passed the Sixteenth Amendment that said Congress can collect Income Tax.  At that time, tax day was set for the first day of March.  In 1918, tax day was changed to March 15 …Beware the Ides of March… Finally, in 1954, Congress changed the tax day to April 15, because the IRS was getting swamped with last-minute returns.  I bet they don’t get any last-minute returns anymore!  ;-)

Happy Spring and remember, April showers bring May flowers!

In March the Northwest Commission closed three loans:

• Andrew Grove Farm, FLP of Crawford County closed on a $137,950 FIF/Ag loan to purchase and renovate an 85 acre farm.  This is an agriculture loan; therefore job creation is not required.
   

• Erie Molded Plastics, Inc. of Erie County closed on a $106,000 SBF loan to purchase equipment.  Five jobs will be created within three years.
   

• KPS Industries, LLC of Crawford County closed on a $70,000 SBF loan to purchase equipment.  Three jobs will be created within three years.

The Loan Committee approved three loans in March:
 

• Innovative Pressure Technologies, LLC of Erie County

• Trace Lawn and Landscaping, Inc. of Crawford County

• Vineyard On The Knoll, LLC of Erie County

Entrepreneur Training Series
The Northwest Commission in conjunction with the Clarion SBDC has scheduled the Entrepreneurship Training Series for May 12, to be held at the French Creek Cafe in Franklin. Registration begins at 8:45am and the training will take place from 9:00am - 11:00am.  Harry Howard of How 2 Consulting will present the importance of Networking.  The Training Series is held every other month through September 2009 and the topics are chosen by the participants. To register, contact Ethel Rodebaugh by email at ethelr@nwcommission.org or by phone 814.677.4800 x113 or call Clarion SBDC at 877.292.1843 toll free. 

Loan Program Workshop
The Loan Department will host a workshop on May 21, at Cross Creek Resort in Titusville.  Registration will begin at 9:30am and the workshop will run from 10:00am - 2:00pm.  The cost is $25, which includes lunch at the conclusion of the presentations. The speakers and topics for the workshop are:

• Steve Drozda from the SBA Pittsburgh District Office will present the SBA programs and give updates on the “Recovery Act”
   

• Tim Kishbaugh, Loan Officer with Seda-COG, will present the SBA 504 loan program and will give updates/changes to the program
   

• Scott Dunkelberger, Chief Operating Officer at DCED, will present the DCED programs and updates
   

• Daryl Coyne, Manager Loan Programs for the Northwest Commission, will present the Northwest Commission RLF program

To register, contact Ethel Rodebaugh by email at ethelr@nwcommission.org or by phone 814.677.4800 x113.

Please click here for a list of upcoming events available to small businesses.
 

April 30 - Government 101 – On the Road in Forest County
Conducted by the Northwest Commission, this introductory training provides an overview of how to do business with the Federal, State and Local governments.  This half-day event will be for any company who is looking to start working with, or would like to refresh their memory about, the sites and certifications of the federal and state procurement process.  Presenters from the Small Business Administration (SBA), Department of General Services (DGS), and COSTARS will be in attendance.  Topics such as set-asides, bid leads, registrations, and how to work through government opportunities are customized to attending companies for this event.  The Commission is taking the Government 101 “on the road” to better accommodate the companies within the region.  The April event will be taking place at the MicroTel Hotel in Marienville, PA.  Registration will begin at 8:30am with presentations beginning at 9am.  For more information and to reserve your spot, please contact Lori Kenyon at 814.677.4800 x104 or by email at lorik@nwcommission.org.

Regional Events:

April 29 - SBA HUBZone, 8(a), and SDB Certification & Contracting Workshop U.S. Small Business Administration will conduct an 8(a), SDB and HUBZone Certification & Contracting workshop from 9am-12pm at Riverside Center for Innovation, 700 River Ave., 1st floor Conference Room, Pittsburgh (Northside).  It is free to the public.  MBE/WBE and Veteran-owned businesses are encouraged to attend.  To register, contact Mary Ann Sperling at 412.395.6560  x107.

May 28-29 - Showcase for Commerce
Showcase for Commerce is government marketing event available to businesses.  This event will be held in Johnstown, PA, May 28-29.  This event will allow companies to meet and market to major primes (Boeing, Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics, etc), as well as provide training seminars.  For more information, visit:  http://www.johnstownchamber.com/showcase/.  This year, there is also an opportunity for local companies to meet with a variety of U.S. and Pennsylvania government agency buyers in one-on-one settings.
 

Spring Visits 2009 - Meet with the PA Authorized Trade Representatives!
This is your opportunity to introduce your company, products and share your business objectives with the PA Trade Representatives. Upon request, the trade representatives can assist in detailed market research reports, agent/distributor searches, and foreign company background checks, identify and assist with international trade shows, provide in-country logistical assistance and meeting itinerary development while traveling in a foreign market.

• Group 2: April 29 – Clarion (Clarion County) – Building and Hardwoods industries China Beijing, Russia, Singapore/Vietnam, United Arab Emirates. (Registration form)
   

• Group 3: May 13 – West Middlesex, Mercer County – Metals & Machinery; Electronics & IT industries Germany, India, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Taiwan United Kingdom

The spring visits are focusing on industry sectors; however, meeting appointments are available for any PA company that may want to meet with any of the above listed representatives. The industry sector focus is an indicator for best markets in respective countries.

For additional information and registration for one-on-one appointments, please contact Katarina Ishman at katarinai@nwcommission.org.

Trade Mission to Israel, Jordan, Turkey
Pennsylvania’s Office of International Business Development invites you to travel to Israel, Jordan and Turkey in June 13 – 20, 2009. The purpose of this mission is to assist PA companies in exporting their products and services to these territories. Meeting face-to-face with prospective customers is crucial to establishing business relationships, and by attending this mission you can meet your business objectives in these countries. All appointment schedules will be tailored to accommodate your company’s individual needs. The recruitment for this trade mission is still ongoing but the deadline to register is April 30.

For more information and to register please click here.

Northwest PA virtual Export Compliance Center
Are you currently exporting and you believe you may need an export license, but you are not certain who to turn to?  Help is just a mouse click away! The Northwest Commission contracted with Associated Global Systems, N.Y., to provide non-bureaucratic and immediate export licensing counseling by specialists in their field.  Contact exportcompliance@nwcommission.org and a specialist will be available to address your questions. All services will be performed by qualified, efficient, and discreet employees in strict accordance with the recognized best practices. Support via phone, fax, email is free of charge and offset by funding of the Northwest Commission. Face-to-face counseling or training sessions will be quoted separately.
                           

Upcoming MTAP Classes

The Winter 2008/Spring 2009 MTAP courses continue to be hugely popular with the District’s municipalities.  Remaining topics to be covered include:

• April 29: Adding Visual Appeal to Word 2007 Documents, MCCEC, Sharon, 1:00pm – 4:30pm
   

• May 2:  Awareness Training – What all Rural Responders Must Know about Public Health Emergencies, Farmington Township Fire Hall I in Leeper.  Hosted by Forest County, the training is offered by the University of Pittsburgh Center for Rural Health Practice.  Session details and registration information are available here.

To register, please contact Amber Dille at 814.677.4800 x100 or by e-mail at amberd@nwcommission.org.  Space is limited and registration is on a first-come, first-served basis.  The Commission encourages you to share any thoughts or ideas that you may have as to upcoming course topics.  If a subject is important to you, the Commission will try to accommodate it.  As always, these courses are free of charge.