The Northwest News

Congratulations to Randy Rice for submitting a winning application for the Stronger Economies Together (SET) Program. Two organizations from Pennsylvania were chosen to take part in the USDA Rural Development sponsored SET program. It is designed to help regional teams develop new approaches to strengthen and enhance regional economic development activities. The SET program is an opportunity for current or newly formed multi-county teams to receive the latest tools, training, and technical assistance to help their region move forward and take advantage of positive growth and quality of life opportunities. We are excited about the opportunity this presents for our eight-county region.

Congratulations to Sue Smith for being an Innovation Award Winner for the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO). Sue has developed and is overseeing a Greenways Implementation Plan and Program, which is the first of its kind in Pennsylvania. Participating organizations include the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Department of Environmental Protection and the Fish & Boat Commission.

It gives me great pleasure to work with such progressive individuals that take pride in what they do!

Cheers!

Three Loans Approved

In June, the Loan Committee approved three loans:

North Coast Conduit, LLC – Erie County
Welding Technologies, Inc. – Venango County
Erie East Market, Inc. – Erie County

Entrepreneur Training Series Held
This free event, held at the PennDOT focused on developing networks that inspire innovation and help entrepreneurs create and develop successful businesses. The training ran from 9:00am - 11:00am. There were over 25 attendees in the session and Carl B. Knoblock, District Director, US Small Business Administration, Pittsburgh District Office, was the keynote speaker for the training.

September 21st E-Training Series
The next E Training series is entitled, "Improve your bottom line by hiring and retaining the right employees for the right jobs." This will be held at the Northwest Commission located at 395 Seneca street, in Oil City. Keynote speaker will be Chuck Sujansky, CEO of KEYGroup. Additional details will be forthcoming in future installments of the Northwest News.

Click here for a list of upcoming events available to small businesses in the area!

ITQ Seminar Scheduled
An invitation to Quote (ITQ) seminar will be hosted by the PTAC team on July 30, at the Technology Council of Northwest Pa located on 130 West 8thSt, in Erie. The time of the event is 9:00am to 12:00pm and will feature guest speaker Dennis Fellin of the Department of General Services. Mr. Fellin will speak on opportunities for IT based small businesses in the region.

ARMtech Showcase of Industry and Technology
There are still booths available at the 2010 ARMtech Showcase of Industry and Technology. The event will take place August 19-20 in Kittanning and is a great opportunity to showcase and connect your company to some of the leading Prime Contractors in the nation. For more information or to request a registration form, please contact Lisa Wood at 814.677.4800 x102 or lisaw@nwcommission.org.

Recruitment Begins for Pollutec (Lyon, France, November 30 – December 3 2010)
POLLUTEC is a leading trade show and conference for environment professionals from all over the globe and a premier venue for networking with potential customers, agents, distributors and joint venture partners. More than 2,000 exhibitors and 73,000 industry professionals from around the world attended last year's show. A full range of products and techniques for pollution prevention and treatment, for the protection of the environment, and the promotion of sustainable development are on display at POLLUTEC.

Pollution Treatment -- Air, noise, waste, water, sites and soils decontamination
Resource Optimization -- Recycling, water re-use and savings
Energy & Climate Change -- Energy saving, renewables and bio-energy, sustainable building, combating greenhouse gases
Risk Prevention & Management -- Health and the environment, natural risks, industrial risks, hygiene safety
Sustainable Development -- Bio-products and eco-responsible buying, eco-design and clean technologies, environmental management

The Center Trade Development offers two exhibition options:

Full exhibition with display space in the PA Booth
Catalogue presentation

Space in the PA Booth is very limited and will be filled in the order participation agreements and checks are received. Recruitment deadline is set for Sept. 3rd. The Commission is waiting for confirmation from the event organizers of the closing date for the show catalogue. Please Click Here for the official show website. For additional information, please contact Dorte Heffernan.

US Hardwood Trade Mission to Egypt and Turkey (September 14-21, 2010)
To assist American hardwood suppliers and gain access to growing markets for American hardwoods in the Middle East, the Hardwood States Export Group is organizing a trade mission to Cairo, Egypt, and Istanbul, Turkey. The mission will include two full days of site visits in each city, with a free day for companies to follow up directly on business opportunities. Registration cost is $400. For more information, contact Mike Seidl, U.S. Hardwood Trade Mission Activity Manager, at the Indiana State Department of Agriculture. To contact Mike, please call: 812.634.9140 or e-mail him at mseidl@isda.in.gov.

A Welcome to Dr. Linda von Delhaes-Guenther, ATR for Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy
Effective July 1, 2010, Dr. Delhaes-Guenther of the marketing and research firm, AHP Süd, will handle trade activities in Germany and surrounding markets. Linda is a managing partner in the firm and has more than 10 years of experience in international trade and investment. She has worked with corporate clients across Europe as a consultant in the areas of strategic business development, internationalization, sales and marketing, and economic development. Born in the Italian Piemonte, she grew up in Italy and Germany, and is fluent in German, Italian and English. AHP Süd has offices in Berlin, Leipzig, Münster and Heidelberg.

Welcome Penny Ann Barr, ATR for Arab Gulf Markets
Effective July 15, Barr Management Consultancy will take over trade activities for the Arab Gulf markets (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen). Living with her family in Dubai, Penny is a native of Pennsylvania and a graduate of Penn State University, with over 15 years of combined professional expertise in real estate, finance, economic research, internal audit, and business development. Penny maintains strong ties to the state operating a local office in Tyrone, PA. Penny will participate in September’s Pennsylvania International Week and is enthusiastically anticipating meeting and working with Pennsylvania companies.

ROI Update
Bion Environmental is a potential alternative energy investment for the region; The project is complicated as it involves farming and the PA agricultural department which is not the normal economic development project. Staff is working with the PA Conservation District in Meadville to determine the viability of the project.

Statewide Coordination
The Northwest PA KIZ has submitted all necessary documentation to participate in the $1,000,000.00 EDA I6 Challenge Grant in cooperation with multiple Keystone Innovation Zones across the state and the Team Pennsylvania Economic Development Foundation.

KIZ Companies Registered
Volt Vision of Warren County submitted KIZ registration information to become a KIZ Company. Scribe Printing Technologies of Crawford County will be relocating into a Meadville KIZ node and have submitted KIZ registration information.

Northwest Commission’s Looking for Thermal Imaging Clients
As noted in past Northwest News articles, the Commission’s Energy Program has gained the ability to conduct thermal imaging on buildings to help identify areas of heat loss that may go unnoticed by the naked eye. Ideally the Commission will need a 15-20 degree temperature difference between inside and outside temperatures making fall and winter the best times to conduct thermal imaging, although it can be done in the summer if the building’s air conditioning is set low enough to create the needed temperature differential.

Energy Related Projects
The Commission is currently looking for projects throughout the region that are related to energy production or conservation. Good examples would be alternative energy/fuels (geothermal, wind, solar, bio-fuels, etc), building retrofits, lighting retrofits, recycling programs, and wastewater facility upgrades to name a few. Please contact Bill Rupert with your project suggestions.

LTAP Class Schedule
Please click here for the 2010 LTAP schedule. Doors open at 7:30 for registration and classes start at 8:00 AM. The courses are free of charge but you must register to attend by contacting Sue Smith at 814.677.4800 x131 or online at the LTAP website: https://www.dot7.state.pa.us/LTAP/.

Route 62 Smart Transportation Study
Johnson, Mirmiran, and Thompson (JMT)’s project teams continued the development of the transportation and community solutions associated with the Route 62 Corridor Study. These efforts included the technical and graphical development of the “public space” opportunity along the river banks, as well as the further development of access management improvements along Second Street and Wilson Avenue. Cost estimates are being prepared for all of the proposed solution alternatives. This information, along with a summary of the April public meeting was presented at the third Steering Committee meeting held on June 30.

Route 8 Land Use & Transportation Study
During the month of June, PB Americas finalized the analysis of a range of transportation and land use alternatives, prepared and attended two Study Committee meetings, and conducted the second Public Meeting for the project. The Study Committee will be attending the next Barkeyville Council Meeting to present the multiple options and to get feedback on the direction that should be taken.

Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC)
At the TAC meeting on June 28th, the committee approved the 2011-2014 Transportation Improvement Program, the Northwest Rural Planning Organization (RPO) Bylaws, & the Bridge Maintenance Procedure for District 1-0.

Testimony to the Joint House Transportation Committee
Testimony was presented to the Joint House Transportation Committee on June 17th on the impact of the loss of Act 44 funding to the Northwest Rural Planning Organization (NWRPO). The NWRPO will see a reduction of nearly ten million dollars per year.

Broadband Outreach and Education Funding (BOAF) Work Begins!
In May, the Commission was notified by the Department of Community and Economic Development on (DCED) that the Commission will receive $171,000 to continue work related to broadband outreach and aggregation. Work under the new BOAF contract began in early June with the issuance of relevant subcontracts and mobilization of a diverse range of program partners. The Commission has contacted each of the major phone companies to advise them of the award and assure that relationships and processes established during previous periods of performance would remain the same moving forward. Additionally, correspondence has been addressed to specifically targeted communities notifying them of the award and confirming their desire/intent to move forward. The Commission is targeting communities that have initiated but not completed the Bona Fide Retail Request (BFRR) process to obtain high-speed Internet service. Additionally, the Commission is working with new communities on a first-come first-served basis. Additional information regarding the project is available at http://www.nwcommission.org/bfrr.

Municipal Technology Survey in Development
Each year the Commission conducts a Municipal Technology survey. The survey is designed to gather information about information technology, capacity, and utilization within the 265 municipalities comprising the eight-county service region of the Commission. Originally it was anticipated the survey would be mailed/broadcast in late June or early July. However, the DCED is asking to review all broadband related assessment instruments. It has not been confirmed if this survey will fall into the review category as a decision is still pending in that regard. The survey will be mailed as soon as possible upon approval to proceed by the DCED.

Commission Represented at Conference
Staff attended the annual Pennsylvania Downtown Center Conference in Downtown Lancaster June 13th through the 16th. The theme of this year's revitalization conference was "The Future of the Past: New Economic Realities for Traditional Revitalization." Congratulations to Youngsville! The Revitalization of Youngsville (ROY) received the prestigious state-wide Townie Award for Organizational Excellence at the conference awards dinner on the 15th. Youngsville is one of four Warren County communities participating in the Warren County Regional Main Street program and is also a designated Route 6 Heritage Community. Members of ROY traveled to Lancaster to accept the award.

Staff Visits North East
Bill Callahan, the western PA Community Preservation Coordinator from PHMC and Erin Hammerstedt of Preservation PA and the National Trust for Preservation joined staff for a day-long site visit to North East borough and township. The visit included several downtown building tours, stops at two of the wineries, a tour of the Lake Shore Railway Historical Society’s facilities, and a driving tour of the neighborhoods. Downtown North East Inc. is working towards the purchase and renovation of a downtown property which will include a restaurant and a “company store.” Staff is providing guidance and technical assistance with this project and other community initiatives.

Borough of Edinboro
The Edinboro Growth Initiative (EGI) has completed a downtown and community map showing business, restaurant, and retail sites for both locals and tourists. The map is being produced as a flyer with a community events calendar and is available at key downtown locations. Staff is working with EGI on community revitalization efforts and will be assisting them with their Route 6 Heritage Community project.

The next quarterly Northwest Managers’ Network meeting will be hosted in North East borough on July 29th. A key theme of the meeting will be strategic planning and partnership development.

Northwest community organizations and municipal managers interested in bringing revitalization information and training to your central business districts and neighborhoods, please contact Suzanne Gagliardo, CMSM, Manager, Community Development by phone at 814.677.4800 x122 or by email at suzanneg@nwcommission.org

Planners Committee Meeting
The last Planners Committee Meeting was held on July 16th. Items on the agenda include the Sustainable Communities grant application, stormwater management, and blighted properties.

Third Greenways Block Grant Round
Thirty-two applications with requests in excess of $900,000 were received for the Third Round of the Greenways Block Grant Program. Six projects were chosen for funding to receive the $88,000 remaining in DCNR and DEP funding.

Upper Shenango River Water Trail, Mercer County - $10,000
North County Trail Connector – Chapman SP Portion, Clarion County - $10,000
Development of West Branch French Creek Conservation Area, Erie County - $12,000
Shenango River Water Trail Access Area, Mercer County - $ 1,000*
Redbank Valley Trail Feasibility Study, Clarion County - $25,000
Northwest PA Stormwater Management Implementation, Crawford County - $30,000

*Tentative award contingent on a successful application to the PA Fish & Boat Commission.

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

Suzanne Gagliardo is the Manager, Community Development, for the Northwest Pennsylvania Regional Planning & Development Commission. In this position, she evaluates the needs and opportunities for community revitalization efforts in the region’s 265 municipalities with a focus on both the PA Main Street and Elm Street models and methodologies.

Feel free to contact Suzanne by telephone at 814.677.4800 x122 or email her at: suzanneg@nwcommission.org.

What is your favorite type of food?
Indian

Do you have any hidden talents?
Cooking – I love to cook!

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?
On a personal level it would have to be Sherry Serafini who is a nationally recognized bead artist. Sherry travels and teaches all over the US, is writing several books, and is the person who inspired me to work with beads. It would be amazing to be immersed in that environment for a week! On a professional level it would have to be Donovan Rypkema from PlaceEconomics, who is an internationally recognized real estate and economic development consultant with an emphasis on historic preservation.

What CD is in your CD player right now?
The Joshua Tree by U2

If Hollywood made a movie about your life, whom would you like to see play the lead role as you and why?
Not sure why anyone would make a movie about my life, but if they did I would choose Sandra Bullock just because I like her and her quirky personality and attitude.

What is the most satisfying thing about working at the Commission?
For me it is very satisfying that I am able to work in so many communities and with so many interesting folks and different projects – all trying to make a positive difference in the Northwest region.

Visit The Northwest Commission on Facebook and Become A Fan!

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.