The Northwest News

Can you believe it’s mid-July already? It seems to me we haven’t yet had summer; although, I know better, as I walk out of my house and hear the music – the buzzing of the bees, the humming of the hummingbirds, and the water fountain splashing in my koi pond. Summer is another beautiful season in Northwest Pennsylvania. Take a bike ride on Presque Isle, go for a hike in Cook Forest, visit the region’s wineries, enjoy the local fairs and festivals or participate in the Fourth Annual Kinzua Country Tango! Endless outdoor activities keep northwest Pennsylvania alive with its citizens and tourists making music – the splashing of the water in swimming pools, the roar of the motorcycles, the laughter from children playing and adults engaged in conversation on a quiet summer evening. Listen. Can you hear the music?

Vice President Biden Visits Northwest Pennsylvania
On Wednesday, July 1, Vice President Joe Biden traveled to northwest Pennsylvania to highlight Recovery Act Broadband investments. He was joined by Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski, and Congresswoman Kathy Dahlkemper. A number of other local officials were in attendance as well.

The event took place at Seneca High School in Erie, PA. The Vice President took this opportunity to announce that under the Federal Stimulus Plan, $7.2 billion of funding is available for broadband initiatives nationwide. Under the current notice of funds availability (NOFA), which runs through August 14, $4 billion of the funding is available and open for applications.

We were honored to work with the USDA in helping to facilitate the event in this region, which was chosen by federal officials. It truly shows the potential of northwest Pennsylvania is not only noticed by local residents, but by those that live and work far outside our region. Thank you to everyone that attended and helped make this a successful event!

New Keystone Opportunity Expansion Zone (KOEZ) Awarded
The northwest region will become home to another KOEZ. The commission received notice last week that our application was approved for a new KOEZ that incorporates properties in Corry, Erie County; Marienville, Forest County; New Castle, Lawrence County; and, Farrell and Greenville, Mercer County. Congratulations to all involved!

Northwest Commission Honored
The Northwest Commission was honored with two National Association of Development Organization (NADO) Awards for the Export Compliance Center and the IGET.IT Broadband Awareness Initiative. The Commission will be recognized at NADO’s Annual Training Conference in Chicago, Illinois, held August 29 - September 1.

The Export Compliance Center provides regional businesses with export control regulations counseling and necessary assistance to attain compliance with these regulations in order to export products to foreign buyers. More than ten regional exporters received assistance from this program within the first six months of implementation.

The IGET.IT Broadband Awareness Initiative has turned the old school concept of “aggregating broadband demand,” upside-down and created an exciting, compelling context for promoting aggressive development of regional broadband infrastructure.

“Dirty hands, iced tea, garden fragrances thick in the air and a blanket of color before me, who could ask for more?" - Bev Adams, Mountain Gardening

Happy Gardening!

The Loan Committee approved three loans in June:

Pennlake Corporation d/b/a Conrader Valves of Erie County
PennTecQ, Inc. of Mercer County
Valenza Restaurant of Crawford County

Recent Events
DCED increased the interest rate for the Small Business First (SBF) loan program. The rate is now 5% or based on the 10 year Treasury bill plus one percent, whichever is less. The rate will be fixed for the term of the loan.

The Northwest Commission and SEDA COG were recently featured in the Federal Reserve of Philadelphia online publication for successful operation of their revolving loan funds. In the article LDDS [Local Development Districts] Offer a Window on Rural Pennsylvania, both organizations said that in 2008, the number of applications and loans was below normal for the small business sector, while the volume was substantial in the agricultural sector. But as of this year, the Northwest Commission have seen an increase in businesses looking for working capital loans, refinancing and smaller projects.

Since January 2008, the Commission closed 49 loans totaling more than $5 million with a delinquency rate of four percent. In addition, credit quality in applications and loans had not declined.

Government 101 – On the Road in Lawrence County
The Commission is currently coordinating a Government 101 event for Lawrence County (Ellwood City) in September of 2009. Please watch for updates regarding this event!

Regional Events:

SBA HUBZone and 8(a) Certification & Contracting Workshop
July 29, 2009 - The U.S. Small Business Administration will conduct an 8(a) 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 Marisa Fentzel at 412-395-6560 ext. 109.

DSCC 2009 Land & Maritime Supply Chains Business Conference and Exhibition
August 17-19, 2009 - The location will be the Greater Columbus Convention Center located at 400 North High St., Columbus, OH 43215. Registration is $550 and closes August 7. To view the preliminary agenda, click here. For more information regarding the event, please visit www.ndia.org/meetings/9780.

PTAC Training Events
During these turbulent economic times, businesses throughout the eight county region that the Northwest Commission serves are constantly looking for new markets to sell their goods and services and, like a good swimmer, they want to look before they leap into something as vast as the government contracting market. To assist these companies, the Northwest Commission’s Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) / Government Contracting Office has provided several no-cost courses throughout the past year to regional businesses which have covered a variety of government contracting related topics, ranging from a “beginner’s course” (Govt 101) to more in-depth topics (Govt 201). The response from the regional businesses has been fantastic - over the last 12 months, the PTAC office has seen a 200 percent increase in attendance at these training events along with a 40 percent increase in businesses requesting and signing up to become PTAC clients. These increases are not only indicative of a vibrant business base in Pennsylvania’s northwest region, but they also demonstrate the effectiveness of the Northwest Commission’s PTAC program.

Clarion, Dongguk Universities sign ceremonial agreement
Clarion University President Joseph Grunenwald and IL Chung Kim, Dean of International Programs and Education for Dongguk University in Korea, have participated in a ceremonial signing of an agreement that could result in an exchange program between the institutions. The contact between the universities started when Provost Valentine James and Jocelind Gant, assistant vice president for international programs, represented Clarion University in February during an educational mission to Asia organized through the Center for Trade Development, DCED, Harrisburg. For the full article of the Derrick newspaper, click here.

PIW - Mark your calendars!
The annual event for the international marketing program is vast approaching. Pennsylvania International Week is scheduled for the northwest region for September 9, 2009. It will be located at Allegheny College, Schultz Banquet Hall, in Meadville. Additional details are forthcoming.

India Trade Mission 2009, Mumbai & Bangalore, India December 8 – 11, 2009
Exports from Pennsylvania to India increased by 28% in 2008. During the trade mission, you will benefit from one day of customized, one-on-one, pre-qualified, pre-arranged business meetings in each city. On the second day, you will have the chance to visit your potential partners at their facilities. Networking luncheons in each location will provide you with the opportunity to interact with local businessmen who are members of leading industry associations and chambers of commerce. For additional information and the registration form, please click here.

Global Petroleum Show 2010 Calgary, Canada June 8-10, 2010
Pennsylvania has once again secured a key spot at the Global Petroleum show. The Global Petroleum Show is the most significant petroleum event in the world. As a Pennsylvania company with products/services in the gas and oil sector, you cannot afford to miss this opportunity. For additional information and registration form, please click here.

Region Represented at National Plastics Exhibition Trade Show
A representative from the Northwest Region attended the National Plastics Exhibition Trade Show at Chicago in June. Thanks to First Energy and the Commonwealth the Commission was able to network with the attendees as well as vendors at the show to promote the Commonwealth and the Northwest Region.

Investment Representatives Visit to Northwest PA
The Commission is organizing an itinerary for the PA Foreign Investment Representatives' visit the northwest region on Tuesday, September 15, 2009. The goal of this visit is to expose the Investment Reps to unique features of the northwest region. Tentatively, a visit to Penn State Behrend and tours of the Plastics Technology Center and Port of Erie are planned. In addition, the Investment Reps will have discussions with foreign-owned companies that have located in the region, as well as companies that are producing unique products/services. For more information, contact Janet Anderson at janeta@nwcommission.org or by phone at 814.677.4800 x116.

PA Conservation Works! $22.2 Million Funding Opportunity Available
The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will open a $22.2 million solicitation for energy efficiency and conservation and renewable energy projects for motivated local governments and nonprofit entities.

For purposes of this financial assistance opportunity, eligible projects may include energy efficient lighting, including streetlight or outdoor lighting; energy efficiency retrofits of existing buildings, including high efficiency furnaces, boilers and air conditioners, combined heat and power, energy efficient ventilation systems, windows, sealing and insulation, and automated control systems; energy efficiency upgrades at wastewater treatment plants; installation of geothermal heat pump systems; premium efficiency motors and variable speed drives; and deployment of renewable energy technologies including solar energy, wind energy, fuel cells, biomass, biogas and low-impact hydro. All projects must save or conserve a minimum of 25% of all energy used. Renewable energy projects will be eligible if the project replaces at least 25% of the building or entity's energy use.

Under this solicitation, the Department may award financial assistance in the form of grants of up to $250,000. Multi-municipal projects (two or more units of local government sharing services and working together in the deployment of a project) may request up to $500,000.

All projects must create jobs, be able to start work within 6 months, and be completed within 18 months and prior to September 30, 2011.

For grants under this solicitation, the following entities are eligible to apply: Pennsylvania local governments (a county, city, borough, incorporated town, township, or any other similar general purpose unit of government); bodies authorized to act on behalf of two or more local governments according to section 2316 of the Intergovernmental Cooperation Act; municipal authorities; incorporated 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations that are also registered with the Pennsylvania Bureau of Charitable Organizations; county conservation districts; and colleges or universities.

Applications will be accepted from July 17, 2009, through August 14, 2009.

LDD Energy Program Year Three
The Northwest Commission, along with PA’s other LDDs, is in the process of defining the deliverables for the third year of the Energy Program. In addition to continuing on with Energy Assessments and Utility Bill Analyses, The Commission will be looking to do more with non-profits, schools, and hospitals. The Commission is also looking at opportunities to serve the region through assisting small business with their energy efficiency issues.

Energy Assessment/Utility Bill Analysis
The Northwest Commission is available to assist municipalities, schools, and non-profit agencies by offering Energy Assessments and Utility Bill Analyses. Through these processes, the Commission can help to identify multiple energy conservation and money saving opportunities.

LED Traffic Signal Bulk Purchase Program Has Ended
The Northwest Commission is pleased to announce that the LED Traffic Signal Bulk Purchase Program was a huge success. Fourteen (14) municipalities took advantage of the opportunity with a final purchase of nearly $74,000; an upfront savings of over $17,000 in addition to the estimated 80%-90% energy savings.

2009 Energy Workshops
At the moment there are no workshop dates scheduled. The Commission is looking to reschedule the workshops (Lighting Efficiency and Financing Energy Projects) that were cancelled in June. New dates and times will be made available as soon as possible. Stay tuned!

Additionally, if there are any energy related topics that you feel could potentially comprise a future workshop, please get in touch with Bill Rupert at 814.297.7158 x103 or by email at williamr@nwcommission.org.

Stimulus Spending Continues
Approximately $9,000,000 in stimulus funds were let in the five county Rural Planning Organization. A list of additional projects has been developed that will be paid for with cost savings. At the national level, $16.3 billion has been obligated on 5,283 projects.

State Transportation Commission Hearing Scheduled
The State Transportation Commission hearing for the region will be held on August 5, 2009 at the Bayfront Convention Center in Erie. During this round of hearings the Commission would like to hear about the transportation system condition, resources needed to maintain it and how projects are prioritized.

Data Collection Begins
Twelve traffic counts were completed in Venango County. This information is used by the Federal Highway Administration as part of the formula to determine how much federal funds are appropriated to states. It is also used by developers and to assist in determining maintenance schedules.

Commission Plays Key Role in Biden Visit
Northwest Commission staff played a key role in coordinating an event in Wattsburg that included presentations by U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski, and U.S. Representative Kathy Dahlkemper. The Commission was originally contacted by the USDA on June 17 and asked to assist in recommending locations and developing a guest list. The event culminated with the announcement of $7.2 billion in broadband stimulus funds availability.
W. Randy Rice with
Vice President Joe Biden

Commission Named “Review Partner” for Broadband Stimulus Applications
The Pennsylvania Office of Administration (OA) has selected the Northwest Commission and the six other Local Development Districts of Pennsylvania (LDDs) to serve as “Review Partners” for National Telecommunications and Information Administration broadband stimulus proposals. Information regarding the specific roles and responsibilities of the Review Partners is available via a web page recently added to the Northwest Commission website at http://www.nwcommission.org/broadbandapp.

Bona Fide Retail Request Program Ongoing – Future Directions in Question
The Bona Fide Retail Request Program remains ongoing at the Commission however new inquiries have slowed significantly since April. Program emphasis is increasingly trending toward providing updates on currently ongoing efforts. Technology staff attributes the decline to the successful promotion of the program and the fact that nearly 170 points of contact have been established. As most communities are being placed on “To Be Determined” or two year wait lists for deployment, the Commission inquired about potential new directions and priorities for the program in the funding cycle that was originally anticipated to open in July. Responses to date have not been definitive with uncertainty regarding the State budget and the potential impact of the broadband stimulus funds being cited as the reasons for longer consideration.

Edinboro Public Meeting
The Edinboro Growth Initiative hosted a community forum on June 18 at the Edinboro Comfort Inn & Suites to discuss community revitalization opportunities in the downtown district. Over 60 community members from both Edinboro and Washington Township attended the Commission’s presentation about central business district revitalization utilizing the Main Street methodology. Many signed on to volunteer that evening, and the first Organization Committee meeting will be July 20, with Commission staff again facilitating the process. This is already a strong partnership with the University, Borough, Chamber, and Township participating.

Artisan Hub
The Route 8 region’s artisan trail movement continues to meet and develop a long-term plan for the region that will partner existing arts and artisan activities together including marketing, education, business retention, tourism, and economic development. The committee met again on June 3 and plans to apply for grant funds to augment the planning process.

Northwest Regional Networking meeting
Over 20 Main & Elm Street program coordinators attended the 4th quarterly managers’ meeting on July 9 in downtown Erie, hosted by the downtown partnership at the newly renovated Mercantile Building on State Street. Given the current funding issues faced by the New Communities program participants, Program Sustainability was the main topic of discussion. The day also included a visit with Mayor Sinnott, a trolley tour of the downtown and two neighborhoods, a tour of the waterfront developments, a short “cruise” on the bay, and a visit to the Block Party on State Street. The September meeting will be hosted by Meadville.

Commission Coordinates GIS Training
The Northwest Commission coordinated an Introduction to ArcView 9.3 GIS course in June. The two-day training was open to anyone interested in learning more about ArcView. The Northwest Commission subsidized one half of the registration fee for any non-profit entity (county/local government, conservation district, etc.) in the region. Penn State University provided the training in Oil City thus saving attendees travel costs associated with taking a similar course outside the region. By working with the Northwest Commission, each attendee saved up to $1,000.

Venango County Greenways Plan Adopted
The Venango County Greenway Plan was adopted on June 9, 2009 as an amendment to their County Comprehensive Plan. The Erie County Greenway Plan will be presented to County Council on July 21, 2009 for them to consider approval and adoption. Clarion and Forest County are still reviewing their respective plans with the goal of having a useable document ready for adoption in the near future. Implementation strategies will begin to be developed as these plans are adopted to insure that the recommendations/suggestions in the plans are moved forward.

Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreational Plan Advances
Northwest Commission staff attended a public input session in State College to comment on the 2009-2013 Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP). Every five years, Pennsylvania produces a plan that provides citizens, policymakers, and recreation professionals with a snapshot of current trends and issues in outdoor recreation. The plan also helps set the agenda for state recreation policy, planning, funding, and implementation for the next five years and beyond. Public input to this process is critical—ensuring a broad representation of interests, views and ideas. The SCORP will directly tie in to the greenway planning that has recently taken place in northwest Pennsylvania. The SCORP (along with the greenway plans) discuss economic development opportunities and how they relate to outdoor recreation.

Ned Goucher is the Senior Director of Organizational Development. In his current role, Ned is responsible for supervising the financial, public relations, and marketing activities of the Northwest Commission. He continues to oversee the Appalachian Regional Commission and Economic Development Administration federal grant programs, which assists multi-million dollar community projects in the region.

Feel free to contact Ned by telephone at 814.677.4800 x108 or email him at: nedg@nwcommission.org

What is your favorite type of food?
Anything with tomato based sauces

Do you have any hidden talents?
They seem to be fairly well hidden.

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?
The President. It would be very interesting to see what the job really entails, but for only a week.

What CD is in your CD player right now?
Def Leppard

If Hollywood made a movie about your life, whom would you like to see play the lead role as you and why?
Chevy Chase. I think a comedy would be nice. I really like those vacation movies.

What is the most satisfying thing about working at the Commission?
I like the challenges of being involved in different types of programs. It makes things interesting. I also enjoy my co-workers and am continually amazed at the different skills that they have. They often bring forth ideas and perspectives that would have eluded me. You can learn something new every day.

Thank you for subscribing to this e-publication

If you enjoyed this edition of the NW News or have a suggestion for this e-newsletter, please send comments HERE

To be removed from our mailing list, please e-mail click here.