The Northwest News

"If you want to be creative in your company, your career, your life, all it takes is one easy step...the extra one. When you encounter a familiar plan, you just ask one question: What ELSE could we do?"

~Dale Dauten

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2010 Annual Dinner
The Northwest Commission held its Fourth Annual Dinner on Thursday, April 1, at Cross Creek Resort in Titusville. Approximately 200 people attended to help us celebrate a year of accomplishments and partnership. The theme for this year’s annual event was, “Meeting the Challenge” 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
Ned Goucher, Senior Director, was recognized for his 35 years of service. Thanks, Ned, for all your hard work and dedication. Here’s to another 35!

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 - Optical Filters

Gold - Central Electric Cooperative; National Fuel; Northwest Savings Bank; PNC Bank; and the Regional Center for Workforce Excellence

Silver - Citizen’s Bank; First National Bank; Keller Engineers; Lee-Simpson Associates Inc.; Marquette Savings Bank; Mercer County State Bank; Oil Region Alliance and the SBDCs of Clarion and Gannon Universities.

Bronze - Erie Bank; First United National Bank; Kimball & Associates; Lawrence County Economic Development Corporation; McDonald, Illig, Jones & Britton; Meyer Unkovic & Scott LLP; Gent, Gent & Snyder; and Northwestern Rural Electric Cooperative.

Four organizations contributed door prizes for the event. These organizations included: Lawrence County Tourist Promotion Agency, 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.

Maryann Yochim - 2009 Board Leadership Award Winner

Oil Region Alliance of Business, Industry and Tourism - 2009 Partner of the Year

The City of Warren - 2009 Community of the Year

TM Fluid Engineering - 2009 Business of the Year

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.

Erie Inland Port Conference
The Economic Development Corporation of Erie County (EDCED) and affiliated agencies recently announced a comprehensive and multifaced effort to grow the region's logistics and shipping industry called the "Erie Inland Port" projects. A key component to the effort is the creation of the Erie Shippers Association, which will be launched at the Erie Inland Port conference scheduled for Tuesday, May 25th, at the Bayfront Convention Center. To view more information and to register, please click here.

Cheers!

Two Loans Approved – Four Loans Closed

In March, the Loan Committee approved two loans:

Erie Molded Plastics, Inc. – Erie Co.
Fiesler Sand & Gravel LLC – Erie Co.

In March, the Loan Committee closed four loans:

Abbatron, LLC of Crawford County closed on a $100,000 RLF loan to purchase the assets from a Michigan based company. Abbatron presently has 22 employees and plans to create an additional four jobs.
Bayless Fuel, LLC of Crawford County closed on a $200,000 RLF loan to purchase the assets of an existing fuel delivery business. The company will create eight jobs.
Erie Molded Plastics of Erie County closed a $200,000 RLF loan to purchase equipment and molds. The company has 40 employees and will create an additional seven jobs.
Mac & B, Inc. of Erie County closed a $74,500 Small Business First Loan to purchase the assets of a printing business. The company will create three jobs.

Entrepreneur Training Series - "Analyzing Your Financial Statements”
On May 18, the Clarion Small Business Development Center, in partnership with the Northwest Commission, will hold a training event at the Northwest Commission's office at 395 Seneca Street, Oil City. The training will run from 8:45am - 11:00am. This free event is for existing business owners who already have some familiarity with financial statements. Breakfast is included. To register, contact the SBDC toll free at 1-877-292-1843.

Please Click Here for the events available to small business in the region.

PTAC Government Contracting Manager to speak at Seminar
The Northwest Commission will attend a training seminar on April 20th where staff will present an overview of the Commission’s PTAC Program. Topics in the presentation will include why you should sell to the government, the services that the PTAC can provide a company, and samples of companies within the region that have had great success in obtaining Government Contracts. This event is held for any company who is looking for information regarding the state procurement process. Elizabeth Bowers of the PA Department of General Services’ PA Minority Business Enterprise/Women Business Enterprise (MBE/WBE) Program will present and provide attendees insight on how the state purchases goods and services, how to properly respond to a bid and how state contracting can assist in growing a small business.

Doing Business in China Event Held
The Commission held for this full-day event on April 20th so that people could receive basic business strategies in order to succeed in the China market. The agenda offered regional companies to meet one-on-one with the PA Trade Representatives from the China-Beijing and China-Shanghai trade offices. Attendees also received China marketing briefings and learned to understand the Chinese business culture. They received tools on how to protect Intellectual Property Rights and how to proactively respond to import competition from China (Trade Adjustment Assistance).

Mini Training Session on Term of Sales (INCOTERMS) and Term of Payment
Upon special request of one of it's Venango County clients, the International Program is offering a mini training session on Term of Sales (INCOTERMS) and Term of Payment on April 29 at the Northwest Commission. The event will be held in the Commission's Conference Room. Gary Carver of Carvel International, Erie, is going to present this half-day event scheduled for 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM. The training is available to a limited number of attendees. Registration is available on a first-come first-served basis. There is a registration fee of $15 per person. Please contact Katarina Ishman to register.

Pennsylvania Trade Representatives Visit Meadville
Fourteen of the Pennsylvania Trade Representatives from Australia, Eastern Mediterranean, France, Germany, India, Japan, Korea, Netherlands, Russia, Southeast Asia, Spain, United Kingdom and Vietnam visited Meadville on March 16, 2010. The event took place at the Meadville Country Club. The Representatives met with 24 regional companies with the objective of providing opportunities to businesses interested in exporting. The Center of Trade Development commented, "The trade representatives were especially pleased with the quality of appointments and the promising number of new companies interested in export assistance."

(Click on the photo to view larger image)

NASBITE International 2010
The International Marketing Team traveled to Austin, Texas April 7-9 to participate in the 23rd North American Small Business International Trade Educators Conference. The annual NASBITE conference is a great opportunity for trade professionals and trade educators from around the world to interact with global trade professionals and NASBITE members in a dynamic forum designed to increase knowledge and skills for best practices in international business and global trade. Key note speakers, break-out sessions, and panel discussions will cover a vast range of trade related topics. In addition, Dorte Heffernan accepted on behalf of the Center for Trade Development (CTD), the “Program Excellence Award 2010.” Congratulations CTD!

Click the above button to view pictures of this event on the
Commission's new Facebook page!

Return On Investment (ROI) Update
ROI will be working to identify potential investors and setting up appointments for Hannover Messe 2010. Hannover Messe today, ranks as the leading international showplace for industrial technologies, materials and product ideas.

Thermoplastic Extruder Visits the Region
The PA Investment Office in the UK has identified an Italian investment prospect in the thermoplastic industry. They were in the region visiting sites on April 15.

Upcoming Trade Shows

Staff will participate in the AWEA, the Wind Energy Show being held in Dallas, Texas, in May. This will be a joint effort with Tap into Manufacturing.
Staff will participate in the MDM East, held in NYC in June. This is a joint effort with First Energy, the State of Pennsylvania, and Tap into Manufacturing.

Meet and Greet Held
The first KIZ meet and greet was held on February 11th in Crawford County. The event attracted over 40 attendees and was successful in presenting the KIZ to new entrepreneurs, existing companies, faculty and staff of the local colleges/universities, and other interested parties.

Ernst Biomass Receives Loan
KIZ company, Ernst Biomass was awarded a $125,000 loan from Ben Franklin for the development of their biomass generator.

First Round of Energy Workshops Completed
The Commission recently completed a series of seven workshops covering Strategic Energy Management and PA Act 129. Attendance at these events was excellent, with the Commission able to offer instruction to a total of 172 participants. Speakers at these workshops included representatives from Penelec and Allegheny Power, PA DEP, and Commission staff. As a result of these workshops, the attendees are now armed with significant knowledge to help facilitate their respective organizations’ plans to identify energy savings opportunities and energy cost reduction strategies. Due to the popularity of these workshops the Commission is looking into the possibility of conducting more in the future, with the potential to add additional topics as well.

Northwest Commission Takes on Energy Efficient Lighting Project
The Commission recently undertook a lighting project for the Oil City headquarters that is predicted to have a significant impact on overall electric consumption. Over 400 lights and 100 ballasts were replaced during the project by upgrading the existing T12 fixtures to make use of high efficiency T8 lighting. All “Exit” signs were also upgraded from incandescent bulbs to LED models. As a result of this project, it is estimated that the Commission will save approximately 21,591 kWh annually, with an estimated monetary savings in excess of $1,700. These monetary savings are anticipated to increase once Penelec’s electricity rate caps are removed in January 2011. The purchase cost of all project materials was able to be financed through First Energy/Penelec’s Act 129 rebate program.

To determine the extent to which similar savings opportunities are available to your organization, or for questions about the Energy Program, please contact Bill Rupert at 814.297.7158 x103.

Northwest Commission Takes Part in Thermal Imaging Training Course
The Commission, along with the other members of PA Energy Program (PEP), took part in a two-day Thermal Imaging training course conducted by The Snell Group, the country’s leading independent expert on thermal imaging and infrared technology. As a result of this training, PEP personnel will be able to conduct more effective Energy Assessments for their clients by enhancing their ability to identify problematic areas in a facility’s building envelope. Ultimately, this will allow PEP to uncover and identify more potential savings opportunities for their Energy Assessment clients.

First Energy Announces New Rebate Programs
In addition to the previously announced Lighting Incentives, First Energy has two new additions to their Act 129 rebate programs. Motors and Drives Incentives and HVAC Incentives are now open and accepting applications. If you feel that your municipality or business could benefit from energy efficient upgrades in these areas, these rebate programs can significantly help to alleviate the material costs associated with such projects. Program details can be found at www.energysavePA.com.

MTAP courses have once again proven to be immensely popular with the Commissions clients as demonstrated by 54 people receiving training in the six completed courses. View the official MTAP schedule by clicking Here!

Remaining Schedule for 2010:

5/05 – QuickBooks Level I, Warren
5/19 – QuickBooks Level II, Warren
6/02 – Microsoft Outlook, Corry
6/16 – Mail Merge, Corry
6/16 – Excel Functions, Corry
6/21 – Microsoft Access 2007 Database Level I, Clarion

MTAP Used Computer Equipment Donations
The Commission is pleased to announce the winners of the MTAP Computer Equipment Giveaway. The following municipalities will each receive a flat screen monitor:

City of Oil City
Cranberry Township
Sugar Grove Borough
City of Warren
Knox Borough

The monitors will be available to be picked up at the Commission’s Oil City office during regular business hours, M-F, 8:30am – 4:30pm.

$200,000 Supplemental Funding Request Approved
Deputy Secretary Ritzman gave approval to the Northwest Rural Planning Organization Capital Project Supplement to the UPWP. The intent of this project is to supplement the 2007-2032 Long Range Transportation Plan to identify prioritized transportation improvements and needs to developing a list of recommended capital projects for inclusion to the Transportation Improvement Program as funding and urgency allow. Upon completion the Commission will be expected to showcase to the Department of Transportation what has and will be accomplished through the study.

2011- 2014 Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP)
The 2011-2014 Bridge and Highway TIP and the 2011-2014 Transit TIP were both approved by the Transportation Advisory Committee. These documents will be on display for public review and comment at the Northwest Commission and the five county planning offices by the end of April and will be subsequently submitted to the PennDOT Central Office in July. Included with documents for public review will be the Crawford Area Transit Authority Job Access Reverse Commute (JARC) and Welfare to Work (W2W) Applications.

Commission to Co-host Regional Broadband Event May 11^th
The Commission is collaborating with the Pennsylvania Office of Administration to conduct a public information session on the $28.8 million recently awarded to the Commonwealth to expand broadband infrastructure. The presentation will emphasize how resulting projects will improve service in the region and across the Commonwealth. Officials will emphasize opportunities available to existing and potential providers of last mile broadband service. Additionally, information regarding the National Broadband Plan and ongoing state and national broadband mapping efforts will be discussed. The public information session will be held on the campus of Clarion University in the Gemmell Student Complex. The event will begin at 2:30pm and should conclude by 4:00pm. For online event registration visit http://www.nwcommission.org/511 event or call 814.677.4800.

Bona Fide Retail Request (BFRR) Program Pending Decision in Harrisburg
Department of Community and Economic Development program staff contacted the Commission in late March advising that Broadband Outreach and Aggregation Fund grant awards remain pending. Citing competing demands resulting from ongoing broadband stimulus efforts, the Commission was informed that funding announcements should be made soon, but no definitive dates or deadlines were specified. Funding for the BFRR-related outreach, education, and technical assistance programs of the Commission expired on September 30th. The Commission continues to provide limited assistance to individuals and communities pursuing broadband deployment through the BFRR program. This assistance includes submission of community boundary requests, threshold specifications, and forwarding/tracking of completed BFRR forms. Renewed funding will allow the Commission to target efforts within the dozens of communities in Northwest PA that have initiated the BFRR process but have not been successful in obtaining the required number of service commitments to trigger mandatory DSL deployment.

Connect 2 Communities Conference
Registration for the 4th annual Connect 2 Communities (C2C) is underway. Go to www.nwcommission.org and follow the link. All attendees must be pre-registered for the day-long event on Wednesday, May 5th at Cross Creek Resort on Route 8, just south of Titusville. There will be 12 different educational sessions to choose from. The topics include Storm Water Management (Act 167), Energy (Act 129), Technology and Broadband, Greenways – Next Steps, Joint Purchasing - COSTARS, Marcellus Shale, the PA Wilds Design Guide and Artisan Trail, USDA Rural Development, Bridges, and Dealing with Downtown Blighted Properties. PennDOT Engineering District 1-0, District Executive Bill Petit will be the lunch-time keynote speaker. Representatives from the Northwest Commission, USDA Rural Development, DCED, DCNR, DEP, PennDOT, PEC and Fish & Boat will be in attendance. Over 30 sponsors, vendors, and exhibitors have already signed up to participate in this year’s event. C2C includes a continental breakfast, 12 educational sessions, networking, vendors, exhibits, lunch, and much more. Register now!

ArtsErie – CultureSpark - the Erie County Cultural Plan
The draft plan was presented to the Steering Committee for review and final comments on April 14th and the final plan will be presented by Bill Bulick during a special meeting on May 21st. Community revitalization staff has been serving as a member of the steering committee for this year long, county-wide planning process. The draft plan can be reviewed at www.culturesparkerie.org

Route 6 Heritage Communities
The Commission’s Community Revitalization program is providing technical assistance to the Route 6 Heritage Corporation, serving as the western Heritage Community Coordinator. 2009 communities Conneaut Lake and Youngsville are now scheduling work sessions with staff to begin implementing the Heritage Community recommendations from their WorkPlans. The 2010 designation announcements are anticipated in late April. Please Visit http://www.paroute6.com for more information.

Northwest Regional Managers’ Network
The next meeting is April 28th in downtown Ridgway. Staff will be presenting a session on blighted properties to the managers and revitalization partners. The day will also include a downtown walking tour.

Third Greenways Implementation Block Grant Round Announced
Notice of the third round of the Greenways Block Grant Program’s Notice of Intent will be announced on April 15th. Applicants will have until May 14th to return applications. The Implementation Steering Committee expects to announce awards in June. Eligible applicants include conservancies, conservation districts, and municipalities.

2009 KOZ Annual Report
The 2009 KOZ Annual Report has been submitted to the Department of Community and Economic Development. In 2009 the Northwest region is reporting 6,245 acres of KOZ designated land of which 1,114 acres are occupied. Three new companies applied for benefits in the last quarter.

PA Rail Freight Seminar
The 2010 PA Rail Freight Seminar will be held in Harrisburg on May 19^th – 21st. The Marcellus Shale impact on Pennsylvania is fast becoming a hot topic for the state impacting on all areas of our lives.

Airport Hazard Zoning Ordinances
PennDOT will be hosting a workshop at the Business Innovation Center in Oil City on May 24th from 8:00am to 10:00am to facilitate the development of airport hazard zoning ordinances by hazard area impacted municipalities. Planning commission members, zoning board members, elected and appointed officials, municipal solicitors, local and county planners, airport sponsors, and MPO/RPO planners are being encouraged to attend.

Jason Amory is the Business Development Coordinator at the Northwest Commission. Jason primarily devotes most of his time to the Northwest Pennsylvania Keystone Innovation Zone (NWPA KIZ) where he serves as the coordinator.

Feel free to contact Jason by telephone at 814.677.4800 x130 or email him at: jasona@nwcommission.org.

What is your favorite type of food?
Favorite food sushi or fresh seafood right from the ocean

Do you have any hidden talents?
If I do, they are too well hidden for even me to discover

If you could trade places with any other person for a week, famous or not famous, living or dead, real or fictional, with whom would it be and why?
It was Tiger Woods but we all saw how that turned out. I’d say Jimmy Buffet, what a life!

What CD is in your CD player right now?
I’m pretty eclectic with my music selections, so I am unsure, maybe Sinatra’s greatest?

If Hollywood made a movie about your life, whom would you like to see play the lead role as you and why?
I’d like my life to be romanticized, so I would have to say whoever the young, hot talent of the day would be.

What is the most satisfying thing about working at the Commission?
I feel like I have finally found an outlet for my interest. I also feel surrounded by a group of talented individuals who possess fascinating knowledge and life experiences within the Economic Development world. This has been a very exciting opportunity for me. I have always hoped that when I look back on my professional career that I could say that I made our region a better place for my children. I feel like I have the tools at my disposal to accomplish that goal.

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