The Northwest News

"Away in a meadow all covered with snow. The little old groundhog looks for his shadow. The clouds in the sky determine our fate. If winter will leave us all early or late."

~Don Halley

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Six more weeks of winter – seriously!? This is the time of year when I get cabin fever and need to get outside and feel the sunshine on my face, but based on the weather we’ve had recently, I won’t be doing that anytime soon. However, I have to say that I’m very thankful that our local, county and state employees are equipped to handle the snow/ice conditions that exist in northwest Pennsylvania. There are other areas in the Commonwealth that have been hit hard by abnormal winter weather conditions and have had a lengthy road to recovery. Hang in there – Spring is just around the corner (Ned tells me it’s a big corner).

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 Bobbi Beightol by email at bobbib@nwcommission.org, or by phone at 814.677.4800 x119 as soon as possible.

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 10 percent budget cut. This comes after receiving a 46 percent cut last year. The LDDs were at $6.1 Million in 08-09 and are at a proposed $2.97 Million in the Governor’s 10-11 budget. I will be working with my counterparts to increase 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.

White House Unveils FY2011 Budget Proposal

On February 1, the Obama Administration unveiled its $3.8 trillion FY2011 budget proposal. According to the Office of Management and Budget, the administration is proposing 120 program terminations, reductions or consolidations to save $20 billion in discretionary spending.

Programs related to the Northwest Commission include:

Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC): $76 Million, equal to current funding, which includes $63.5 Million for area development (a decrease of nearly $190,000) and $6.2 Million for local development districts (equal to current funding)
Economic Development Administration (EDA): $286.1 Million, a reduction of nearly $5 Million, which includes $31 Million for the economic development districts (equal to current funding)

One Loan Closed – One Loan Approved

In January, the Northwest Commission closed one loan:

Buccardo’s Gas/Restaurant & More closed on a $20,000 Microloan to purchase Montana Pat’s in Tidioute. Buccardo’s will offer a full service family restaurant as well as a convenience store and gas station.

In January, the Loan Committee approved one loan:

Sir Clyde & Co. of Erie County

SBF Rate Change
The Small Business First rate is being reevaluated every quarter. The loan rate for January through March 2010 is 4.75%. Please call Daryl Coyne at 814.677.4800 x112 if you have questions or want to discuss the application to this program.

Please Click Here for a list of upcoming events for small business in the area.

Upcoming Training Events

February 18 – US Immigration Service (USIS) Small Business Roundtable
The USIS will hold a Small Business Roundtable on February 18th at the Bayfront Convention Center in Erie. This free event is part of an outreach effort to veteran-owned and other small businesses to discuss opportunities for partnering on government contracts. The event will begin at 8:30 am with the opportunity for coffee and refreshments and networking. The program will then promptly start at 9:00 am with a roundtable discussion featuring Mike Santelli, President, USIS Information Management Division. The roundtable will end by 12:30 pm with one-on-one sessions. For more information and registration info, please Click Here.

February 26 – ARRA Opportunities for Veteran Owned Businesses
The Northwest Commission’s PTAC program will be partnering with Gannon SBDC on February 26th to host the training event, “ARRA Opportunities for Veteran Owned Businesses”. This half day event will focus on the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) and how to find ARRA opportunities through the Commonwealth and other organizations. How to explore other government programs that assist small businesses will also be addressed. This event will take place on Gannon University’s campus in the Yehl Ballroom from 8:30 am-12:00 pm. To register for this free event, Click Here.

Spring Visit 2010 - Fourteen Overseas Trade Representatives travel to Meadville
Join the Commission on March 16 to schedule one-on-one meetings with PA overseas trade representatives. The event welcomes 14 trade representatives from around the world and provides an opportunity for businesses interested in exporting to learn more about global expansion and the services available to them. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania contracts with foreign representatives to aid Pennsylvania companies in obtaining foreign market intelligence, identify overseas agents and distributor candidates, industry, government contacts, as well as provide in-country assistance. The event will take place at the Country Club of Meadville, 15955 State Highway 86, Meadville, PA 16335. Please Click Here to view a listing of the trade representatives and to register for the event.

Pennsylvania Trade Program receives NASBITE International 2010 Program Award
The National Association for Small Business International Trade Educators (NASBITE) has announced Pennsylvania’s trade promotion program as their Program Excellence Award winner for 2010. The Center for Trade Development submitted a proposal titled A Performance Metrics Regimen for State Export Promotion Programs which outlines the methodologies developed to track, measure and manage activities and client impact across the 10 designated PA regions and the 24 PA overseas trade offices. The proposal discusses not only how the program operates, but also the impact it has had to demonstrate bottom-line results for Pennsylvania’s exporting community. It suggests that if more states adopted some or all of these measures, and scaled this program according to their existing resources, it could serve many more states as a means to demonstrate return on state investment and buffer otherwise large fluctuations in funding and support. It would further propose that it could serve as the basis for creation of a national standard for state trade promotion operations to further bolster and accredit individual state programs.

Global Petroleum Show 2010; Calgary, Canada, June 8-10
Canada is a key market for a Pennsylvania service / product supplier to the oil and gas industry because of a shared border, common language, and the huge potential market size. Alberta leads North America in crude oil production with its famous oil sands operations. Canada also has significant, untapped natural gas reserves and is the world’s 3rd largest producer of natural gas. Despite the global economic downturn, the oil sands region continues to operate, needing ongoing maintenance, repairs and upgrades. There are ongoing plans for more development, including projects in carbon sequestration, nuclear generation and ongoing environmental mitigation and remediation.

Pennsylvania’s Center for Trade Development has made participation in GPS a possibility for Pennsylvania companies that might not otherwise be able to invest funds in this costly endeavor, and thus lose out on this great marketing opportunity. The Global Petroleum Show is the most significant petroleum event in the world. More than 60,000 visitors and 2,000 exhibitors will be in attendance. As a Pennsylvania company with products/services in the gas and oil sector, you cannot afford to miss this opportunity. Please Click Here for a copy of the registration form.

The Commission is actively recruiting for the following trade events:

Trade Mission to Australia and New Zealand, March 1-9
IndiaWood 2010, Bangalore, India, March 4-8
Business Development Mission to Turkey, March 15-19
Expomin 2010, Santiago, Chile, April 12-16
Trade Mission to Poland and Russia, May 31 – June 4
Global Petroleum Show 2010, Calgary, Canada, June 8-10

Return On Investment (ROI) Update
One business has contacted the Commission about the possibility of expanding in Pennsylvania.

Canadian Firm Interested in Mercer
The PA Investment Office in Montreal has identified an investment prospect for Mercer County. Penn-Northwest Development Commission and Northwest Commission staff are working with the PA offices to provide information for a decision by the client. Other states are competing for the prospect.

Northwest Commission Energy Workshops
In response to rising energy costs and the increased burden likely to be realized by the municipalities throughout the region, the Commission has scheduled a series of energy workshops to raise awareness and encourage a pro-active response.

To date, the following workshops are scheduled:

Strategic Energy Management

2/12–Venango County: Klapec Auto Body Conference Center, Cranberry, PA 16319
2/17 – Warren County: Holiday Inn, Warren, PA 16365
2/19 – Crawford County: Perkins Restaurant, Meadville, PA 16335
3/17 – Clarion County: SMI, Strattanville, PA 16258
3/22 – Erie County: Tom Ridge Environmental Center, Erie, PA 16505
3/24 – Forest County: Bucktail Hotel, Marienville, PA 16239

Saving Energy Pays

3/04 – Tom Ridge Environmental Center, Erie, PA 16505
3/09 – Plyler’s Family Restaurant, Brookville, PA 15825
3/10 – Cross Creek Resort, Titusville, PA 16354

Can You Benefit From an Energy Assessment?
A recent Energy Assessment of the Mental Heath Association of Northwest Pennsylvania in Erie County has led to the identification of several energy savings opportunities. This was the first assessment completed by the Commission that also made use of its new thermal imaging capabilities to identify weatherization opportunities for a building envelope. The Commission was able to identify the potential for substantial energy savings through a lighting retrofit project. Calculations show an annual energy savings estimate of approximately $4,000 with a brief payback period just over two years in materials.

Remaining Schedule for 2010
The following classes are open for registration to municipal officials and staff.

2/24 – Microsoft Vista, Franklin
3/03 – PC Security and Maintenance Level I, Franklin
3/08 – Social Networking, Corry
3/31 – PC Security and Maintenance Level II, Franklin
4/14 – Excel 2007 Level III, Meadville
4/21 – Word 2007 Level III, Clarion
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

View the official MTAP schedule by clicking Here!

MTAP Computer Equipment Donation Reminder
As a follow up reminder to last month’s announcement, the Commission has several used flat screen computer monitors that it will be donating to municipalities as a part of the MTAP program. If you have a need for one of these monitors, we ask that you send an email to Bill Rupert stating your name, job title, contact info, and municipality. Winners will be chosen at random and then notified as a group. Monitors will be given out by appointment on a first come, first served basis. Limit is one per municipality.

Entries will be accepted through March 31, 2010 and the winners notified shortly thereafter.

MTAP Cancellations
Once again, the Commission would like to emphasize that it now must require a 24 hour cancellation notice if you registered for an MTAP class and cannot attend. This will allow the Commission to fill the spot with someone on the waiting list. Failure to show for a course without notice may result in that person being denied registration for future MTAP courses. This has already been an issue early on in the 2010 schedule so the Commission asks again that you please extend the courtesy of notification so others can benefit from the opening.

Route 62 Smart Transportation Study
The Route 62 Smart Transportation Study is ongoing. Information is being gathered along with land use data. The committee identified goals and objectives, technical issues, and participated in a SWOT analysis of the corridor. Two meetings were scheduled with the Southside Business Association and the Oil City Council to bring them up to speed and to incorporate suggestions and noted issues.

Route 8 Land Use & Transportation Study
The first public meeting was held at the Barkeyville Borough Building on January 19th with 30 members of the community attending and offering input into the study. Comments were reviewed and goals and objectives were determined at the Study Committee meeting on January 29. Data collection has occurred over the week of February 8. The next Study Committee meeting is set for March 26 to review the existing condition analysis and future land use assumptions.

Transportation Advisory Committee
The Northwest Rural Transportation Advisory Committee has set their 2010 public meeting dates for March 29, June 28, September 27 and November 29. All meetings will be held on the first floor of the District 1-0 Office, 255 Elm Street, Oil City, PA at 10:30am.

Commission Board Takes Position on Round II Broadband Stimulus
Based on recommendations from technology staff, the Northwest Commission Board of Directors had taken a position with respect to pursuit of round two broadband stimulus funding, and the ongoing pursuit of broadband connectivity within the northwest region. Based on these recommendations, the Commission will support a regional application contingent on the opportunity of the Commission to review the application; the Commission will pursue a sustainable broadband adoption application in collaboration with the Department of Community and Economic Development and/or other Local Development Districts from across the Commonwealth; the Commission will utilize the Technology Advisory Group (TAG) to work with the economic development, planning, and tourism committees to identify and prioritize high-potential “targets” for broadband demand aggregation and, to facilitate definitive articulation of the processes, terms, and conditions by which last mile solutions may be attached to and/or distributed from existing middle-mile networks within the region.

Commission Supports Action by Office of Consumer Advocate on BFRR Process
The Commission has been effective in representing the concerns of Windstream BFRR participants to the PA Office of Consumer Advocate in that these customers were being required to complete two separate BFRR related forms in order to complete the process to trigger DSL deployment to their communities. This two-step process significantly delayed BFRR implementations within Windstream service areas. Based, in part, on consistent inquiries from the Commission, the Office of Consumer Advocate met with Windstream and requested the process be simplified. As of February 1, 2010, Windstream is employing a one-step process as opposed to the previous two-step process.

Route 6 Heritage Communities
The community Stakeholder Group in Youngsville hosted their final Community Workshop on February 2nd at the High School cafeteria to review major findings and recommendations and receive public input. Conneaut Lake’s Stakeholder Group hosted their final Community Workshop on February 16th at 6:30PM at the fire station. The new 2010 Heritage Community designations will soon be announced. The Commission’s Community Revitalization program is providing assistance to the Route 6 Heritage Corporation, serving as the western Heritage Community Coordinator. Please Click Here for more information on Route 6.

Northwest Regional Managers’ Network
The 6th quarterly session was hosted by community revitalization staff on January 20th at the National Transit Building in downtown Oil City. Eighteen attendees were present at this event. The April meeting will be in downtown Ridgway.

Save the Date
The 4th annual Connect 2 Communities Conference (C2C) will be Wednesday, May 5th at Cross Creek Resort on Route 8, just south of Titusville. There will be 12 different educational sessions to choose from during this day-long event. Topics will include Act 167, technology, energy, greenways and more. Over 20 vendors and exhibitors have already signed up for 2010. PennDOT Engineering District 1-0, District Executive Bill Petit will be the lunch-time keynote speaker. Interested Sponsors and Vendors may contact members of the Commission’s Community Development Team for additional information. C2C registration will be available on the Commission's website beginning on March 15th.

Judy Downs Appointed Planning Committee Chair
The NW Regional Planning Committee meeting was held on January 15th. Judy Downs, Venango County Planning Director will replace Dan Glotz as the new chair of the Planning Committee and Dan Gracenin will serve as the alternate.

Regional Greenways Plan Adopted
The Northwest Commission Board of Directors formally and unanimously adopted the Northwest Regional Greenways Plan during their regular meeting on Friday February 5th. This regional planning document was made possible through a grant from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and represents the culmination of an effort that has been ongoing since 2006. The document provides an inventory of greenways related assets, projects, and resources and will represent the basis for project identification, prioritization, and facilitation moving forward.

Commission Receives $130,000 from DCNR for Greenways Implementation
The Commission has been notified that it will receive a grant award in the amount of $130,000 from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. These funds will be used to implement greenways projects within the region, as specified in the Regional Greenways Plan. The Department of Environmental Protection and the Fish and Boat Commission have provided matching funds for the DCNR grant. Project identification and implementation is currently ongoing.

Greenway Block Grant
Forty applications with requests in excess of $1,200,000 were received for the Greenway Block Grant Rounds One and Two. Seven projects were chosen for funding for $157,000. Those projects chosen include:

Dotter’s Eddy Reclamation and Enhancement, Venango County - $25,000
New Bethlehem Trail Town Plan, Clarion County - $18,000
Cassidy Park Restroom Facility, Erie County - $40,000
McLure Run Restoration, Lawrence County - $10,000
Deer Creek Stream Restoration Project, Lawrence County - $40,000
Bike Trail/Trailhead Engineering, Crawford County - $14,000
Allegheny River Canoe & Kayak Access, Venango County - $10,000

The Greenway Block Grant is funded cooperatively by the Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and the Fish and Boat Commission.

Krystal Pistone is the Government Contracting Specialist at the Northwest Commission. Krystal assists clients with the necessary materials needed to do business with the government.

Feel free to contact Krystal by telephone at 814.677.4800 x107 or email her at: krystalp@nwcommission.org.

What is your favorite type of food?
Italian! My grandma makes homemade whole wheat pasta & meatballs and they are FANTASTIC!

Do you have any hidden talents?
I wish I had something cool that everyone was amazed by…but sadly there’s nothing.

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?
I would love to be a real Princess for a week. I have always dreamed of being one since I was a little girl, and I loved playing the game “Pretty, Pretty Princess”. So…why not!

What CD is in your CD player right now?
Taylor Swift…and I know every word!

If Hollywood made a movie about your life, whom would you like to see play the lead role as you and why?
I would have to say Cameron Diaz. She’s spunky and is always funny in every movie I’ve seen her in. So, hopefully she could play my quirky self well!

What is the most satisfying thing about working at the Commission?
I just started in January and have been so excited to be a part of a wonderful team that truly has their hands committed to ensuring that the regions of northwest Pennsylvania thrive to the best of their abilities. I look forward to becoming a greater part in everything the Northwest Commission contributes!

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