KIZ Semi-Annual Reports
Semi-Annual reports from KIZ companies and higher education partners are now due to DCED by January 8, 2010.  Please contact Janet Anderson if you have any questions regarding this reporting process. 
 

Company Lead
A lead was forwarded to the Erie Chamber for a company looking to construct a facility between Buffalo and Pittsburgh.

ROI Contract 
The company, Research On Investment, a company hired to help with business attraction for the region.  During their first month, the company has identified 3 businesses interested in Pennsylvania.  Two of the businesses are interested in very specific sites in Pennsylvania outside the Northwest region and have been forwarded to the Governor’s Action Team.  The third is interested in identifying a contract manufacturer for their product in the region.  They are hoping to move forward during 2010.
         

Thermal Imaging a Success
As discussed in prior editions of the Northwest News, the Energy Program now has the capabilities to conduct thermal imaging on buildings for the purpose of detecting substandard weatherization.  To date, two sessions have taken place with intriguing results.  Many opportunities to save heating costs were identified in the sessions, including poorly insulted windows and doors, faulty seals on windows and doors, heat loss through unsealed cracks and crevices, damp insulation, and a variety of other issues.  The ability to visualize heat loss is paramount to effectively and efficiently addressing these weatherization issues.

Northwest Commission Now Planning Municipal Energy Workshops
As a part of the year three work plan, the Pennsylvania Energy Partnership (PEP) is looking for opportunities to conduct energy related workshops throughout Northwestern PA.  At this point PEP is looking at conducting sessions on a variety of topics including Consortium Energy Purchasing, Efficient Lighting, Weatherization Basics, and Alternative Energy Opportunities.  With electricity rate caps coming off for most of the region in January, 2011, these workshops can potentially help lay the groundwork for an energy savings plan to combat these significantly rising costs.  If you have a particular topic of interest or would like to recommend a suitable location to conduct one of these workshops, please let Bill Rupert know.

Alternative Energy Sources and Energy Assessments
One item that the Commission is continually asked about is alternative energy sources.  These sources include solar, wind, geothermal, and the like.  Although these are all very legitimate sources of renewable energy, rarely are they the best “first option”.  Prior to undertaking a major alternative energy project, the best thing that a building owner can do is ensure that the facility in question is up to current weatherization and insulation standards.  It makes little sense to “add new water to a leaking bucket”. 
 

MTAP Schedule is Complete
The Northwest Commission is pleased to announce that it now has the completed schedule of MTAP course for Winter/Spring 2010 as follows:

• 1/15 – Excel 2007 Level I

• 1/15 – Excel 2007 Level I

• 1/17 – Word 2007 Level I

• 1/27 – Excel 2007 Level II

• 2/09 – Word 2007 Level II

• 2/24 – Microsoft Vista

• 3/03 – PC Security and Maintenance Level I

• 3/08 – Social Networking

• 3/31 – PC Security and Maintenance Level II

• 4/14 – Excel 2007 Level III

• 4/21 – Word 2007 Level III

• 5/05 – QuickBooks Level I

• 5/19 – QuickBooks Level II

• 6/02 – Microsoft Outlook

• 6/16 – Mail Merge

• 6/16 – Excel Functions

• 6/21 – Microsoft Access 2007 Database Level I

For times and places please refer to the official MTAP schedule at:

www.nwcommission.org/mtap.html

MTAP Cancellations
Due to the high demand for MTAP courses, the Commission now must require a 24 hour cancellation notice if you registered and cannot attend. This will allow the Commission to fill the spot with someone on the wait list. Failure to show for a course without notice may result in that person being denied registration for future MTAP courses.
 

Manager Appointed
Sue Smith has accepted Manager of Regional Planning position. In this capacity Sue will be responsible for integrating the traditional transportation planning functions of the Commission with broader and project-specific planning functions including Greenways planning. Sue brings extensive leadership skills and experience to the position. Please join the Commission in welcoming Sue to the Community Development Team.

Route 8 Land Use and Transportation Study Progressing
The Route 8 Land Use and Transportation Study team has convened and started work toward a fall 2010 project completion date. A project newsletter is being developed. The format and content will be decided during a December 14th planning meeting. Additionally, an announcement of public meeting dates is anticipated following the same meeting. The study is designed to examine the land use and transportation needs impacting the safety of accessing Route 8 in Barkeyville Borough.  The project goal is to develop and complete a highway access management plan and to advance a design solution to the Stevenson Road access point which is the primary point of entry for the Industrial Park.

First Route 62 Transportation Study Planning Meeting Held
Work on the Route 62 Transportation Study is progressing with finalization of the project team and a commitment to coordinate efforts with another Route 62 study being conducted immediately adjacent to the study area covered by the work being conducted by JMT. This project will focus on encouraging in-fill redevelopment south of the Allegheny River in Oil City’s south side business and commercial districts.  The project will also determine a set of multi-modal infrastructure projects that will improve the safety and mobility of residents and visitors. 

Bi-Annual TIP Updates
The Northwest Commission, in its role as the Rural Planning Organization (RPO) is working with PennDOT Districts 1-0 and 10-0 to finalize the 2011 Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP). It is important to note that the financial resources provided for the TIP has been significantly reduced from previous years. For example, in District 1-0, the projected funds decline from nearly $40 million in 2011 to only $33 million in 2014. This represents potentially significant challenges to both economic and community development.
 

Route 6 Heritage Communities
The implementation of the Pennsylvania Route 6 Heritage Communities Program is an effort to maintain and enhance the viability and stability of small towns along the corridor.  The region’s 2009 designees are Conneaut Lake and Youngsville and these communities Stakeholder Groups are working towards completion of their WorkPlans.  2010 Heritage Community designation guidelines and applications are now available at www.paroute6.com under the Heritage Corridor tab.  The application deadline is December 30th.  The Commission’s Community Revitalization program is providing assistance to the Route 6 Heritage Corporation as the western Heritage Community Coordinator.

Northwest Regional Managers’ Network
The next networking meeting will be hosted at the Transit Building in downtown Oil City in January 2010.  One focus of this meeting will be looking at how the arts and artisan trails can impact and connect the downtown, the community, and the region.  Attendees will also have the opportunity to tour the Transit, and visit the shop and studios as well as hear directly from a few of the local entrepreneurs. Oil City's Arts Revitalization is tapping into the creativity of long-time residents and attracting the good energy and fresh vision of relocating artists from all over the country.  Visual artists, filmmakers, musicians, and fine artisans are coming together here in small-town America, and the momentum is building. (www.artsoilcity.com)  These networking meetings are open to Main and Elm Street communities as well as those revitalization organizations moving forward with active programs and projects.  Please contact Suzanne Gagliardo at 814.677.4800 x122 for more details.

Save-the-Date
The 4th annual Connect 2 Communities Conference will be Wednesday, May 5th at Cross Creek Resort on Route 8, just south of Titusville.  Interested Sponsors and Vendors may contact members of the Community Development Team for additional information.
 

Bobbi Beightol is the Assistant Fiscal Manager at the Northwest Commission.  She worked at the Commission as a accounting clerk and Fiscal Assistant prior to re-joining the staff again in November of 2009 as the Assistant Fiscal Manager.

Feel free to contact Bobbi by telephone at 814.677.4800 x119 or email her at: bobbib@nwcommission.org

What is your favorite type of food?
Anything Italian

Do you have any hidden talents?
If I do they are still hidden!

If you could trade places with any other person or animal for a week, famous or not famous, living or dead, real or fictional, with whom would it be?
It would be my cats, they get to sleep all day long!

What CD is in your CD player right now?
Miley Cyrus

If Hollywood made a movie about your life, whom would you like to see play the lead role as you and why?
Sandra Bullock because she is spunky

What is the most satisfying thing about working at the Commission?
The communication between everyone here at the Commission