The Northwest News

"When the last child cries for a crust of bread,
When the last man dies for just words that he said, When there's shelter over the poorest head, We shall be free."

~ Garth Brooks

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It's hard to believe it is mid-summer already! It seems not long ago that it was raining everyday in preparation of bringing forth the summer's first flowers. Now the days are warm and long. Northwest Pennsylvania has many great summer opportunities for people of all ages. Families can go to Cook Forest to enjoy mother nature's beauty at its best, take a trip to Presque Isle to bike or swim, attend one of your local county fairs, or just relax at home with a glass of something cold. However you like spending your time in the summer, Northwest Pennsylvania has what you are looking for!

Welcome New Staff
The Northwest Commission is pleased to announce that Crystal (Cris) Pierce will join the agency as the new PTAC Manager. Cris is from the Washington DC area and is relocating to the Northwest Pennsylvania region. Her talent and background experience in the government contracting field will prove to be a great asset to the Commission. Please join me and the rest of the staff in welcoming Cris to the team!

State Budget Passes
The PA State Budget passed on June 30, 2011. The Local Development District line item has been zeroed out of the Governor's FY 2011-2012 Budget. Now there is an initiative in place called the Partnerships for Regional Economic Performance (PREP). PREP provides grants to consortia of economic development service providers in a region including Industrial Development Corporations, Local Development Districts, Small Business Development Centers, and Industrial Resource Centers. The Northwest Commission has been attending meetings regularly to discuss how the northwest region will collaborate to receive this funding. The grants will be awarded on a competitive basis with the most developed partnerships receiving the funding necessary to support their efforts.

Next Board Meeting
Join us August 5, 2011 at 10:00am for the next Board of Directors meeting. The meeting will take place at the Lake Shore Country Club in Erie. If you are interested in attending, please RSVP your attendance to Vonda Caldwell at 814.677.4800 x104 or at vondac@nwcommission.org.

Lastly, please don't forget the men and women who are in the armed services, both here in America, and across seas. They are the ones who we can thank for living in this great country as free citizens. If you see someone in a military uniform, please take the time to thank them for what they do for our country!

Sincerely,

One Loan Approved – Two Loans Closed

In June, the Loan Committee approved one loan:

Thompson Maple Products, Inc.

The Northwest Commission closed two loans:

Tiny Tim’s Fishing Charters, Inc. in Erie County received a $41,000 Microloan to purchase a passenger boat. The company is starting a fishing charter business. The vessel will be named O DANNY O.
Diadem Enterprises LLC d/b/a Queen City Café & Gallery of Crawford County closed on a $20,000 microloan for machinery and equipment. The company is a start up café and art gallery located in Titusville and will offer many different food items as well as showcase art from local artists.

RLF Funds Available
The Commission has funds available in it's Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) program for building or equipment purchase. The RLF program can finance up to 50% of eligible project costs and requires at least 10% equity into the project. The Commission can finance new or used equipment. The current rate on the RLF is 4% fixed for the term of the loan. Machinery & equipment can be financed for a term up to seven years and land & building projects can be financed for a term up to 15 years. If you are planning an expansion and would like information about the RLF program, please call Daryl Coyne at 814.677.4800 x112.

SBF and FIF loan rate decreased to 4%
The Small Business First (SBF) loan program rate is 4% this quarter, July through September. Also, the CFA Board approved setting quarterly rates for the First Industries Fund. The rate through September for First Industries Fund Tourism and Agriculture loans is also 4%. If the Agriculture project is located in an Agriculture Security Area or is enrolled in a farmland preservation program or the project involves an urban or rural supermarket, the project may receive a 1% reduction in the rate to 3% fixed. Both SBF and FIF loan rates are fixed at time of approval for the term of the loan.

Biomass Crop Assistance Program through USDA
Marginal or abandoned crop ground in northeastern Ohio and northwestern Pennsylvania may find new life in a new crop. A $5.7 million USDA grant has been awarded to Aloterra Energy, with local headquarters in Ashtabula County, to establish a biomass crop of giant miscanthus as a renewable biomass feedstock for Aloterra's biomass conversion facility in Conneaut. The conversion plant will process the giant miscanthus stems into pellets to be shipped to other facilities or users for use in bioenergy products.

The grant is part of the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) authorized by the 2008 farm bill. The Oh/PA grant was one of four project awards announced June 15. Other biomass grants were awarded in Arkansas, and in Aurora, Mo., and Columbia, Mo. MFA Oil Biomass, a partnership between Aloterra Energy and MFA Oil Company, will operate these project areas.

The Oh/PA project now has guaranteed funding for 5,344 acres in 2011, which will go to the first farmers to sign up in Ashtabula, Geauga Lake and Trumbull counties in Ohio and Crawford, Erie and Mercer counties in Pennsylvania. The goal is to establish 50,000 acres of miscanthus by 2014. The sign-up period opened June 20th, with a deadline yet to be determined. Farmers interested in participating in the project area should contact Aloterra first, and then finalize enrollment at their local Farm Service Agency office.

Under current guidelines, BCAP will reimburse farmers up to 75 percent of planting costs and pay an annual rent payment (the amount was not announced) for five years while farmers wait for their crops to mature. Once the crops mature, farmers will be eligible to receive two years of matching payments for their tonnage, up to $45 per ton beyond the selling price. The miscanthus crop could be in place for as long as 20 to 30 years.

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

World Trade PA Funding
There is a state budget signed on time with good news for the Office of International Business Development. Indeed, the World Trade PA line item was only slightly cut (by 4%) to $6.125 million, which, especially in the current budget context, is a strong testimony not only of Governor Corbett’s and Secretary Walker’s commitment to international business development, but also of the collective efforts and results over the past few years in increasing both exports and foreign direct investment in Pennsylvania.

Center for Trade Development Program Export Sales Top $500 Million
As of June 10th, year-to-date numbers indicate 1,113 companies have worked with the State’s international marketing program, 251 new companies joined the program and 255 clients reported new sales totalling $501,934,805.

Mark your calendars for Pennsylvania International Week! – September 13, 2011
Pennsylvania’s Authorized Trade Representatives, based in over 20 countries and covering close to 50 export markets, are scheduled to conduct their annual, 10-day tour of the Commonwealth from September 12th-23rd. Events will kick off in Pittsburgh on September 12th and conclude in Philadelphia on September 23rd.

The Northwest Region is scheduled for September 13th at the Bayfront Convention Center in Erie. The trade representatives will be available to meet with PA companies interested in exporting their products and services. Pre-organized appointments that will be coordinated by the international marketing program of the Northwest Commission. The day’s agenda will also offer an up-date on the Erie Inland Port Initiative, five detailed foreign market overviews, and a presentation on Export Credit Insurance. Please stay tuned for further details and registration information.

Training Event in Review - Effective Marketing through Trade Shows
Eleven companies with 13 attendees participated in the June 28th training event in Mercer County. Presented by Mr. Ernie White from Skyline Exhibits, Pittsburgh, the program informed participants as to why to exhibit at trade shows, how to select a trade show, how to target their market, how to choose booth staffers, how to work the booth, and how to follow up with their leads.

“I think Ernie did a good job covering many different aspects of trade shows. He spent the time necessary responding in depth when questions were asked. I found the seminar to be very informative and helpful.” - Greg Wheeling, AlturnaMats / Titusville

Northwest Commission Now BPI Certified
The Northwest Commission Energy Program Manager underwent two Building Performance Institute (BPI) training courses for Certified Building Inspector and Certified Building Shell. By successfully completing these courses, the Commission as an organization is now BPI certified.

This certification will now lend an enhanced level of credibility to the Commission’s Energy Program work (Energy Assessments and Utility Bill Analyses) and allow the results of this work to be used for certain grants and funding opportunities for which the Commission was previously ineligible. Additionally, Commission Energy Staff is now able to offer safety advice during Energy Assessments that was previously out of the scope of work.

First Energy Rebate Programs
First Energy has now rolled out its Year 3 energy rebate programs. There are some significant changes from the prior two years that will need to be taken into consideration for project planning. The programs still cover Lighting, HVAC, Motors & Drives, Specialty Equipment, Energy Audits, and Custom Programs. You can read more about these rebate programs on First Energy’s website.

CHP Energy Workshop Scheduled
The Northwest Commission along with Penn State University and the North Central Commission will be holding a workshop on Combined Heat and Power (CHP). This event will take place at Structural Modulars Inc in Strattanville on Tuesday, September 27th from 9:30am until 12:30pm followed by a free lunch. Partners for the event currently include National Fuel and PENNTAP.

This workshop will be free of charge and available to any potential user of CHP technology (hospitals, schools, prisons, industrial complexes, etc). Marketing materials are still being developed but should be available soon on the Commission's website.

Fall & Winter LTAP Schedule
The 2011 Fall & Winter LTAP schedule has been posted. Below are the dates and topics of the upcoming courses:

9/9 - Bridge Maintenance & Inspections
9/14 - Unpaved & Gravel Roads: Common Maintenance Practices
9/20 - Unpaved & Gravel Roads: Common Maintenance Practices
10/4 - Stormwater Management
10/11 - Asphalt Roads: Common Maintenance Problems
10/18 - Winter Maintenance
10/24 - Winter Maintenance
10/26 - Asphalt Roads: Common Maintenance Problems
11/2 - Drainage: The Key to Roads that Last

To view the entire schedule with times and locations, please click here.

State Transportation Hearing Announcement
The STC Guidelines for Public Participation and the Project Abstract Form for the State Transportation Commission’s (STC) public hearings for the 2013 Twelve Year Program update are now available on the Department of Transportation’s website. All individuals wishing to submit an abstract electronically can do so by clicking here.

The location for the northwest hearing is the Marriott Pittsburgh North, 100 Cranberry Woods Drive in Cranberry Township, Butler County. The time has yet to be determined.

Long Range Transportation Plan
The Updated NW RPO Long Range Transportation Plan has been approved by the Northwest Transportation Advisory Committee. It is available to view by clicking here.

Transportation Advisory Committee
The next meeting of the Northwest Transportation Advisory Committee is scheduled for September 26th at the PennDOT District 1-0 office in Oil City at 10:30am.

Sugarcreek/Franklin Complete Streets PCTI Study
The first meeting of the Sugarcreek/Franklin Complete Streets PCTI Study Steering Committee with the consultant, McCormick Taylor, is set for July 21st at the Northwest Commission's office at 395 Seneca Street, Oil City.

Upcoming Training Opportunity - Save The Date!
The NW RPO will be hosting two training opportunities, Integrating Transportation & Land Use in Comprehensive Plans and Long Range Transportation Training on August 9th as a daylong event at the District 1-0 Office. Arrangements are being made to have both classes qualified for AICP CM credits. The flyer will be distributed shortly.



Knox & Kane Rail Corridor Trail Feasibility Study The K&K project study committee is now planning to host the next round of public comment meetings in August in the 4 corridor counties (Clarion, Forest, Elk, and McKean) to review the draft plan for final comments. The meeting locations and dates will be announced shortly. Forest County Business Alliance Working with the Forest County Industrial Development Corporation, staff has held two public meetings to discuss the development of a county-wide alliance. The main purpose of the meetings was to provide an early opportunity for area businesses to discuss the need for the Alliance, as well as identify areas of concern, the benefits needed, the level of participation, and suggestions to assist in building the Alliance to fit the needs of all Forest County businesses. Staff is now working on the Alliance organizational development and a third, working meeting was held on June 29th. Volunteers will continue to meet during the summer and are planning a county-wide networking event for all interested Forest County businesses.



Announcement of Greenways Block Grant Awards Seven projects received awards for a total of $102,450 in the latest round of funding for the Greenways Block Grant Program. Those projects to receive funding from the partnering agencies (Department of Conservation of Natural Resources, Department of Environmental Protection, & Pennsylvania Game Commission) include: Clarion Borough River Trails Feasibility Study Wildlife Habitat Improvement Project at Two Mile Run in Venango County Lawrence Co. Stormwater Management Implementation Crawford Co. Municipal Education & Outreach: Water Quality Regulations Redbank Valley Trails Development/Clarion County West Road Access Improvement Project – Preliminary Design Phase in Erie County Two Mile Run County Park Stormwater Development Project in Venango County KOZ Application Reminder For those qualifying for KOZ benefits who have not filed their 2011 application, it may be found here. Applications must be filed electronically and approved on a yearly basis.
Point of contact: Sue Smith x131 I Back to top


Jo Cramer is an Administrative Assistant at the Northwest Commission. In this capacity, Jo provides administrative support for the Loan Programs. Jo administers the enrollment, re-enrollment, and the survey process for all Commission programs, serves as the Notary Public for the Commission, and completes other administrative duties as required. Feel free to contact Jo by telephone at 814.677.4800 x113 or email her at: joc@nwcommission.org. What is the last book you read? I read all the time, so I usually am in the middle of two or three. Right now, I am reading “Enchantment” by Orson Scott Card and I just finished “Millennium” by John Varley. I’m on a sci-fi/fantasy kick at the moment. If you were a car, what kind would you be and why? I wouldn’t be a car, I’d be a motorcycle. I’d like to be a Harley (kind of wild & dangerous); but I’m really more of a Honda (steady and dependable). What are the first three things you do when you arrive at work? I turn on my computer, change out yesterday’s backup tapes and get coffee. Which language would you learn if you had to change from your native language? I’d like to learn Italian. It sounds so beautiful when spoken. If you are given a chance to travel to the past, where would you go and why? Medieval Europe, anytime between 900 AD and 1600 AD. My husband and I were members of the SCA, a non-profit, educational, re-enactment group and I love that period of history. How did you become interested in the position you currently hold at the Commission? I was looking for a career change. I had been managing small galleries and creating custom framing and I knew I could translate the customer service and computer skills I had acquired to do an Administrative Assistant job. I was sending out resumes and working through a temp service until I found the right spot. I saw an ad in the paper for this position and sent in my resume. Then two days later my temp agency sent me to interview here; I started the next day. I’ve been with the Commission a little over two years and have continued to learn something new nearly every day. Visit The Northwest Commission and "Like" us on Facebook !

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