The Northwest News

According to the Prognosticator of all Prognosticators, Punxsutawney Phil, we still have a few more weeks of winter. I, however, would like to believe that winter will be over shortly, making way for the spring showers and flowers! If Phil happens to be correct, make the most of the plentiful winter activities in northwest Pennsylvania: enjoy a walk in the wintery woods, go for a snowmobile ride in the Allegheny National Forest, try your hand at ice fishing on Lake Erie or get some exercise by cross-country skiing. Whichever one you choose, I know you'll agree with me that Northwest Pennsylvania is a beautiful place to live!

Local Development Districts Face Budget Cut
The latest Pennsylvania Budget was released by Governor Ed Rendell and the Local Development Districts of Pennsylvania are facing a budget cut from $6.1 Million to $4.58 Million. I will be working with my counterparts to restore the line item, so that the Northwest Commission can continue to offer its vast array of services to the businesses and municipalities of Northwest Pennsylvania. The money received from the state budget allows the Commission to provide its programs and services free-of-charge to businesses and communities across the region. In order to better serve those within the region, the Northwest Commission will strive to restore this line item.

Check Presentation
The Northwest Commission held a check presentation at Hovis Auto Supply Inc., in Mercer County on Friday, February 13. The check was for a $200,000 EDA/RLF loan.

Cliff and Curtis Hovis received the loan to purchase the former Born 2 Run sports complex in Springfield Township, Mercer County. The complex will be used as a wholesale/distribution center. This acquisition will increase operational efficiency and allow for future expansion of the company.

For a picture of the check presentation, click here.

Annual Dinner Sponsorship Reminder
The Northwest Commission’s Annual Dinner will be held Wednesday, April 1, at Cross Creek Resort in Titusville. For those interested, there are four sponsorship levels: platinum, gold, silver, and bronze. Each sponsorship level helps to support the Annual Dinner and offers an opportunity to gain advertising exposure for your business the night of the dinner. If your business is interested in sponsoring this event, contact Sam Wilson, Public Relations Coordinator at the Commission by email at samw@nwcommission.org, or by phone at 814.297.7158 x101 as soon as possible.

Clarion Office, Open for Business
Over the last few months, we have provided updates regarding the Northwest Commission’s new Clarion Outreach Office located at 627 Wood Street. The office officially opened for business on Monday, February 11, 2009. Randy Rice, Bob Skarada, Travis Siegel, Sam Wilson, Bill Rupert, and Vonda Caldwell are currently working out of this location. The Northwest Commission would like to thank the Board of Directors and the Commission staff for their assistance throughout this process. If you have the opportunity, please stop by and see us in our new location.

Did you know...
On February 22nd of almost every year since 1888, Washington's Farewell Address has been read in the US Senate. While this does not happen on Presidents Day, it is an annual celebration of Washington's Birthday that stems from 1862 when the Address was read as a way to boost morale during the Civil War. This address was and is so important because it warns of political factionalism, geographical sectionalism, and interference by foreign powers in the nation's affairs. Washington stressed the importance of national unity over sectional differences.

Cheers!

Two Loans Closed – Five Loans Approved

In November the Northwest Commission closed two loans:

Geometric Design and Technology, Inc. of Crawford County closed on a $79,800 EDA/RLF loan to purchase a commercial building. The company will retain their current 11 employees.
Innovative Pressure Technologies, LLC of Erie County closed on a $120,000 SBF loan to purchase equipment. The company will retain their current 51 employees.

The Loan Committee approved five loans for four companies in January:

Oil Valley Physical Therapy, Inc. of Crawford County (two loans)
Erie Molded Plastics, Inc. of Erie County
York-Seaway Industrial Products, Inc.
Allen-Carleton Inc. of Erie County

Entrepreneur Training Series
The Commission has scheduled another Entrepreneurship Training Series for March 10, 2009. It will be held in the Howling Dog Cafe in Oil City. Registration begins at 8:45am and the training will take place from 9:00am - 11:00am. Mike Snyder, an attorney with the law firm Gent, Gent & Snyder, will discuss legal structures for small businesses. He will cover the advantages and disadvantages of operating as a sole proprietorship, forming a partnership, LLC or corporation. He will also elaborate on the different types of corporations. Joe Pastor with Barr’s Insurance in Oil City will discuss the insurance needs of small business. The Training Series is held every other month through September 2009 and the topics are chosen by the participants. To register, contact Ethel Rodebaugh.

Please click here for a list of upcoming event available to small business.

March 12^th, 2009
Government 201 – Contracting with Local Government
Conducted by the Northwest Commission, this half-day training event will focus on how to do business with the Venango County local governments. Presenters from local agencies will be present to discuss the methods and requirements for contracting with their respective agencies. This event will be held in the conference room at the Northwest Commission located at 395 Seneca Street in Oil City. Registration will begin at 8:30am and presentations will start at 9am. For more information and to reserve your spot, please contact Lori Kenyon at lorik@nwcommission.org or at 814.677.4800 x104.

March 24^th, 2009
Government 201 – Contracting with PA & MBE/WBE Certification
Conducted by the Northwest Commission, this introductory training will provide an overview of how to do business with the PA state government as well as provide detailed information on how to become a PA certified woman or minority owned business. This half-day event will be for any company who is looking to start working with, or would like to refresh their knowledge on the sites and certifications of the state procurement process. Presenters from the PA Department of General Services (DGS) and the PA Minority Business Enterprise / Women Business Enterprise (MBE/WBE) Program will be in attendance. Topics such as bid leads, registrations, MBE/WBE certifications, and how to work through state government opportunities will be discussed with those companies attending. This event will be held in the 1^st floor conference room at the PennDOT building located at 255 Elm Street in Oil City. Registration will begin at 8:30am and presentations will start at 9am. For more information about this event and to reserve your spot, please contact Lori Kenyon by email at lorik@nwcommission.org or at 814.677.4800 x104.

April 30^th, 2009
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 memories 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. The Commission is taking the Government 101 “on the road” to better accommodate the companies within the region. The April event will take place at the MicroTel Hotel in Marienville, PA. Registration will begin at 8:30am and presentations will start at 9am. For more information and to reserve your spot, please contact Lori Kenyon at lorik@nwcommission.org or at 814.677.4800 x104.

Breaking into the Trade Game – Value Packed Training Series offered
The international program of the Northwest Commission, in close partnership with the US Department of Commerce and the Gannon Small Business Development Center, offers a five-module training series to the exporter. This training system is for new to exporting companies, experienced exporters training new staff, or experienced exporters who wishes to brush up on some of the basics. All are welcomed to attend.

April 14, 2009 - Making the Export Decision
April 28, 2009 - International Market Selection
May 12, 2009 - The Export Transaction & Logistics
May 26, 2009 - Financing and Payment Methods
June 9, 2009 - Legal Aspects of Exporting

The cost to register is $30.00 per person, per session, and $15.00 for each additional registrant per company. Sessions start at 9:00am and conclude at 12:00pm Please contact Claudia Garcia for registration.

PA Trade Offices Spring Visits
The Northwest Commission is excited to announce confirmed visits of the PA overseas trade representatives.

Erie, March 24 – Power Generation & Energy (Mining, Rail, Oil & Gas, Renewable Energy, Life Sciences & Medical, Environmental Technologies)
Meet with the trade representatives from the UK, Australia / New Zealand, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Eastern Mediterranean, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, China- Shanghai.

Clarion, April 29 – Building & Hardwoods (Manufactured Housing, Green Building, Lumber, Construction Materials, Construction Machinery,
Engineering & Design, Architecture)
Meet with the trade representatives from China/Beijing, Russia, Singapore/Vietnam, United Arab Emirates.

West Middlesex (Mercer County), May 13 – Metals & Machinery Electronics & IT (Automotive, Aerospace & Defense, Plastics & Resins, Electronics & IT, Powdered Metals, Industrial Machinery)
Meet with the trade representatives from Germany, India, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Taiwan.

For additional information and registration for one-on-one appointments, please contact Dorte Heffernan.

Transferable Tax Credits Seminar slated
Make sure your company is taking advantage of the available tax credit programs Pennsylvania has to offer. A seminar on two of PA Transferable Tax Credits will be held at the NW Commission on Friday, February 27^th from 9:30 to 11:00. To register for this seminar, please contact Sue Smith by February 20^th at susans@nwcommission.org or 814-677-4800 x131.

LED Traffic Signal Bulk Purchase Discount Deadline Extended
The Hite Company, COSTARS vendor and partner with the NW Commission in the LED Traffic Signal Bulk Purchase Program, has agreed to extend the Program’s 25% equipment discount through June 30^th, 2009. To date, eleven (11) municipalities have placed LED equipment orders totaling $28,002.69 for an equipment cost savings of $9,334.23. Interested municipalities may still participate in the LED Traffic Signal Bulk Purchase program, and order details can be obtained by contacting the NW Commission’s Energy Program.

‘Lighting Efficiency’ Added to 2009 Workshop Schedule
A half-day Lighting Efficiency workshop has been added to the Energy Program’s 2009 workshop schedule. Lighting experts from Graybar Electric will present information detailing advances in lighting technology and efficiency that can help clients reduce electric bills without sacrificing utility or light quality. The workshop will be held at Structural Modulars, Inc. (SMI) in Clarion from 8:30am – 1:00pm on Wednesday, June 3^rd and will include lunch. There is no charge to attend the workshop, but please RSVP by calling Amber Dille by phone at 814.677.4800 x100.

Titusville Truck Study
Whitman Requardt & Associates has completed data collection and will begin intersection and alternative route analysis. The study is due to be completed by the end of March.

Transportation Advisory Committee Meeting
A quarterly Transportation Advisory Committee meeting will be held on March 19, 2009 at the PennDOT District 1 office at 225 Elm Street, Oil City at 10:30am.

Upcoming MTAP Classes

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

· February 26 – Excel 2007 Level III – Precision Manufacturing Institute, Meadville, 8:30am – 4:00pm

· March 9 – Basic Internet Surfing/Tips for Effective Google Searching – FICDA, Franklin, 8:30am – 12:00pm

· March 9 – Microsoft Office 2007 Transition Course – FICDA, Franklin, 1:00pm – 4:30pm

· March 17 – Using XP with an Emphasis on File Management – Mercer

County Community Education Council (MCCEC), Sharon, 8:30am –12:00pm

· March 17 – Adding Visual Appeal to Word 2007 Documents, MCCEC, Sharon, 1:00pm – 4:30pm

· March 23 – Access 2007 Level I – FICDA, Franklin, 8:30am – 4:00pm

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.

We encourage you to share any thoughts or ideas that you may have as to upcoming course topics. If a subject is important to you, we will try to accommodate it. As always, these courses are free of charge.

Business Attraction and Retention Program (BARP) Outreach Announced
PA Act 183 of 2004 provides for a “Business Attraction and Retention Program” (BARP) designed to “facilitate the deployment of advanced or broadband services to qualifying businesses which the [Commonwealth] seeks to attract or retain”. The Commission has received a grant from the Department of Community and Economic Development to conduct outreach and education activities related to BARP. If you are a business that is struggling to obtain satisfactory high-speed Internet service, please contact W. Randy Rice for additional information about this program.

Bona Fide Retail Request Program Continues to Grow
Eleven new requests for map and threshold information were submitted on behalf of Northwest PA communities in January. Four requests for map and threshold information were received during the same period of time. Requests are being honored within approximately 30 days. In addition to the growing backlog of communities seeking deployment there is some indication that Customer Service Area maps are being redrawn to the advantage of the phone companies. This concern has been addressed to the Pennsylvania Office of Consumer Advocate.

Digital Parcel Conversion Progressing
The digital parcel adjustment for Venango County has been completed. WorldView Solutions Inc. has completed the spatial adjustment of their existing parcel coverage and is 75% complete with the parcel development in Forest County.

Regional Collaboration Opportunities Explored
Northwest Commission staff met with a representative from the Environmental Research Systems Institute (ESRI) to discuss strategic implementation options for GIS in the region. This meeting served as a brainstorming session to discuss ideas/ways the Northwest Commission could better assist county/local governments with GIS technology.

The Northwest Commission is providing geographic information systems (GIS) assistance to the Little Italy section of the City of Erie. A map detailing the parcel boundaries was sent to a representative from the Little Italy section who will be color coding each parcel based on its current land use status (vacant, business location, blighted, residence, etc.). This data will then be entered into a GIS for analysis and a more aesthetic map display.

Community Revitalization Workshops:

· Olde Town Grove City, a Pennsylvania Main Street program will be hosting “The $$ and ¢ of Visual Merchandising” on March 11^th.Developed by CD Team staff, this workshop is a timely and common-sense approach for downtown retailers to consider during these challenging economic times. The session includes an hour-long PowerPoint training presentation, followed by a hands-on work session at a downtown business. All workshop details are on Olde Town’s web site www.oldetowngrovecity.com.

· Other available workshops include: “Understanding the Elements” which outlines all of the required elements to apply for the Main Street or Elm Street designations, programs, planning, and project opportunities; and, the “Design Workshop” which details the elements of putting together a Main or Elm Street Façade Program. Both may also be a helpful first-steps presentation for kick starting your community revitalization efforts. If you feel these would be valuable to your community, please contact Suzanne Gagliardo to schedule a workshop.

Connect2Communities Slated for May 6^th The 3^rd annual Connect2Communities Conference is scheduled for May 6^th at Cross Creek resort from 9:00am – 3:30pm. The program agenda is being finalized as sponsors and vendors are confirmed. For additional information regarding the conference, including sponsorship or vendor information, please contact Suzanne Gagliardo.

Upcoming LTAP Courses
PennDOT and the Northwest Commission have confirmed a significant portion of the new schedule of courses for 2009. Confirmed courses are as follows:

3/26/09 – Drainage: The Key to Roads That Last, 8:00am-2:00pm, Clarion Twp Building, Strattanville, PA
4/28/09 – Unpaved & Gravel Roads Common Maintenance Practices, 8:00am-12:00pm, Cross Creek Resort, Titusville, PA
5/14/09 – Stormwater Management, 8:00am-3:00pm, Cross Creek Resort, Titusville, PA
5/20/09 – Roadside Safety Features, 8:00am-3:00pm, Vernon Twp Building, Meadville, PA
5/21/09 – Common Sense Solutions to Intersection Problems, 8:00am-3:00pm, Vernon Twp Building, Meadville, PA
6/10/09 – Principles of Paving, 8:00am-3:00pm, Clarion Twp Building, Strattanville, PA
6/11/09 – Traffic Calming, 8:00am-3:00pm, Mercer County Regional Planning Commission, Hermitage, PA

LTAP class are offered free of charge to municipal officials and employees. To view and register for future courses, you are encouraged to visit http://www.ltap.state.pa.us. Courses will be posted on the LTAP website as they are confirmed. Please check back if you don’t see a date for your topic of interest.

LTAP Program Planning
The LTAP course schedule is constructed based upon the regional demand for a particular topic. If there is a course that you would like to see in your region, please share your ideas with the Commission. The Commission will be meeting with PennDOT representatives on February 18, to discuss LTAP opportunities in the Northwest region. You are encouraged to provide your thoughts, needs, issues to the Commission prior to that date for more immediate consideration.

MOP Meetings
A total of nine municipalities were visited as a part of the Municipal Outreach Program. Two of the municipalities were unable to complete the survey but plan to do so in the near future. As a result of these meetings, 19 referrals to partner agencies were generated.

In addition to survey visits, The Commission attended three meetings with the following organizations:

Knox Area Revitalization Committee – discussed opportunities for the Borough of Knox to promote commerce and growth by developing a plan to effectively market the area.
Recycling & Sustainability Forum for Western PA – discussed the Commission’s MOP Survey and how it can assist with recycling programs and efforts throughout the region. Best practices and relevant updates were shared among the attendees.
Venango Area Community Foundation – discussed opportunities to assist the Venango region through various grants and programs.

Greenway Circuit Rider Options Explored
Northwest Commission staff met with representatives from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) to continue discussions of hiring a greenway circuit rider(s) and discuss applying for an implementation grant to carry out recommendations from the Northwest Pennsylvania Greenway Plan. Also discussed were ideas in how the Northwest Commission could become an eligible applicant for some DCNR funding that is only available to municipal governments. The Commission is exploring the concept of a multi-county intergovernmental agreement that could potentially make us an eligible applicant. This would allow the Commission to apply for funding (on behalf of the counties) to carry out regional projects.

Greenways Planning Ongoing – Nearing Completion
The Northwest Pennsylvania Greenway Planning project is continuing to move forward. Crawford and Warren are in their 45 day review period and will have their plans adopted thereafter. Clarion, Erie, and Forest are finished with draft reviews and will be scheduling a public meeting and their 45 day review period. Venango held their public meeting and will be advertising their greenway plan for the 45 day review period this month. Pashek Associates will be summarizing these six individual county plans and will be creating the Northwest Pennsylvania Regional Greenway & Open Space Network Plan.

Travis Siegel is the Marketing Specialist for the Northwest Commission. His creativity helps maintain a professional image of the Northwest Commission through marketing and graphic design techniques.

Feel free to contact Travis by telephone at 814.297.7158 x102 or email him at: traviss@nwcommission.org

What is your favorite type of food?
I like almost anything but if I had to pick a favorite food, it would have to be anything Italian. It is pretty safe to say if you asked me at some point in the week, "Have you ate pasta within the last 3 days?" the answer would most definitely be "yes."

Do you have any hidden talents?
Hidden? Technically, no. I share most of my talents with anyone who likes to see them. I play guitar every day and love to draw as well and most people know about each. As far as I'm concerned, if you have a talent, you should share it with the world because after all, it may be something someone has never seen before!

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?
I would probably have to go with Garth Brooks on this one. Music plays such a huge role in my life and I've always wanted to be an entertainer on the scale that he was/is. If I could touch and change the life of just one person with my music, it would all seem worthwhile. Seeing several thousand people singing along with a song that I wrote would be pretty moving as well.

What CD is in your CD player right now?
18 Kids - Keith Urban's Greatest Hits.

If Hollywood made a movie about your life, whom would you like to see play the lead role as you?
Hands down, Johnny Depp. I think he is such a versatile actor who can adapt to almost any role that is put in front of him. I think he is incredibly articulate and it would be absolute honor for me if he ever accepted the role. I'm not sure how the rest of his career would fare after playing me, but, oh well!

What is the most satisfying thing about working at the Commission?
I enjoy making a difference in the lives of other people. Seeing northwest PA grow economically is truly a rewarding feeling and it feels really good to say that I have a small part in it.

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