The Northwest News

Pasco Tool & Plastics, Inc and Passilla Limited Partnership received a $200,000 Small Business First loan to construct an addition to their facility. Pasco Tool & Plastics currently has 32 employees and will create an additional six jobs within 3 years.

Loan Funds Available
The Northwest Commission’s Revolving Loan Fund has loan funds available to finance business expansion projects of regional private for-profit companies. The program loans up to 50% of project costs or $200,000, whichever is less, and will finance land & building, machinery & equipment and working capital. The current rate is 4%. To learn more about the program, please contact Daryl Coyne at 814.677.4800 x112.

To view the RLF Fact Sheet, Click here.

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

Effective Marketing through Trade Shows
Now, more than ever, your trade show marketing program must generate sales and profits. There is a lot more to creating a successful event than putting up a great display. You need an effective strategy entering your show, excellent execution at your show and proper measurement after your show. Please join us for an informative seminar that will take place on June 28, 2011 in Mercer. This seminar will be presented by Mr. Ernie White from Skyline Exhibits, Pittsburgh. You will obtain knowledge on why to exhibit, how to select a trade show, how to target your market, how to choose booth staffers, how to work the booth, how to follow up with your leads, and more! The seminar will take place at the Penn-Northwest Development Corp. located at 749 Greenville Road, Mercer, PA 16137.

Registration and breakfast will be from 8:30am - 9:00am and the presentation will run from 9am until Noon. Cost is $15.00 per attendee.

To view full the agenda and to register please click here or contact Katarina Ishman.

The Big Tax Break Export Incentive for U.S. Manufacturers and Exporters
The “IC-DISC” (Interest Charge – Domestic International Sales Corporation) is currently providing a permanent 20% tax savings for at least 6,000 qualifying U.S. Manufacturers and Exporters across the United States, including many in Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, there are many more Pennsylvania Manufacturers and Exporters that are eligible and qualified to take advantage of an IC-DISC that are failing to do so. They are failing to do so because the business owners of these Manufacturers and Exporters are not even aware that this IC-DISC incentive exists.

The IC-DISC tax savings benefit is basically tied to the Federal tax rate differential between the current “qualified dividend” rate of 15%, and the current ordinary income rate of 35% - therefore, a 20% tax rate differential. The IC-DISC is not a tax shelter. It is a White House and Congressional incentive which is based upon well established provisions of the Internal Revenue Code (Section 991 et. seq.) and U.S. Treasury Regulations. (…) Please click here for complete article.

Join us for an informative luncheon on July 7th with Frank J. Matune, J.D. LL.M (Tax) – Licensed in Pennsylvania & Ohio.

The luncheon will be held at the Northwest Commission’s Oil City office at 395 Seneca Street. The session will run from 11:00am – 1:00pm and the cost is $10. To register, please contact Dorte Heffernan.

Mark your calendars for Pennsylvania International Week!
Pennsylvania’s Authorized Trade Representatives, based in over 20 countries and covering close to 50 export markets, are tentatively 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 13^th 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, through a program of pre-organized appointments that will be coordinated by DCED’s ten Regional Export Network partners.

Allegheny Power Customers Needed for Energy Conservation Projects
The Northwest Commission is actively looking for customers of Allegheny Power who would like to investigate potential energy conservation projects. The Commission is looking to conduct Energy Assessments and Utility Bill Analyses that will help inform as to what can and should be done in order to conserve electricity and mitigate the associated costs.

First Energy Rebate Issues
It has come to the Commission’s attention that a significant number of First Energy customer’s are having issues with the rebate applications for which they have previously applied. Issues include lost applications, demands for previously supplied information, incorrect rebate amounts, and changing terms on grand-fathered applications. If your municipality or organization has run into any issues, the Commission would like to hear from you. If you are having issues with the First Energy Rebate Program, please feel free to contact Bill Rupert at 814.297.7158 x103 for assistance.

Energy Workshop Topics Underway
The Commission is currently engaged in discussions with Penn State and PENNTAP to bring workshops to the region covering Combined Heat and Power (CHP) and Natural Gas Utilization, the latter of which has an increased significance due to the Marcellus Shale activity in the region. Future workshops will be announced in the Northwest News and also posted on the Commission’s website.

Public Display of Long Range Transportation Plan
The NW RPO Long Range Transportation Plan is currently on public display from May 27^th through June 24^th, Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 4:30 pm at the Northwest Commission, 395 Seneca Street, Oil City. It is also available to view by clicking here, at each of the five county’s (Clarion, Crawford, Forest, Venango, and Warren) planning offices, and the three transit authorities’ (Crawford Area Transportation Authority, Transportation Authority of Warren County, and Venango County Transportation) offices. A public information meeting is scheduled at the Commission’s office on June 24^th from 1:00pm - 3:00pm.

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.

Cranberry Township in Butler County is the general location for the northwest but a specific location has yet to be finalized. The guidelines will be updated with this information as it become available.

Sugarcreek/Franklin Complete Streets PCTI Study
McCormick Taylor has been selected as the consultant for the Sugarcreek/Franklin Complete Streets PCTI Study.

Transportation Advisory Committee
The next meeting of the Northwest Transportation Advisory Committee is scheduled for June 27^th at the PennDOT District 1-0 office in Oil City at 10:30am.



Knox & Kane Rail Corridor Trail Feasibility Study The K&K project study committee met again on May 26^th with the consultants and 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 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. Tina Johns Lorson, the executive director of the Cameron County Chamber of Commerce and PA Wilds Artisan Center was the guest presenter at both meetings and shared with attendees how a county-wide organization has been working and growing in their region. Ta Brant, the PA Wilds Small Business Ombudsman attended the Marienville meeting and provided an overview of the multiple PA Wilds connections. Staff is now working on the Alliance organizational development and a third, working meeting will be held in July. Visual Merchandising Presentation The interactive “$$$ and ¢ of Visual Merchandising” workshop was presented by staff to members of the Ellwood City Area Chamber of Commerce on June 13^th in downtown Ellwood City. During the workshop, attendees had the opportunity to review and discuss their own business’ merchandising issues, starting at the sidewalk and working all the way through to their own back doors. Northwest Regional Managers’ Network The Cambridge Springs Business Alliance will be the host for the next Managers’ Network meeting on Friday, July 22^nd at the Riverside Inn. John Onorato and Alison Schmidt from the northwest DCED office will be joining the group to hear about current community revitalization efforts throughout the region. These networking meetings are open to the managers of designated Main and Elm Street communities as well as those community revitalization organizations moving forward with active programs and projects. Contact Suzanne Gagliardo at x122 for more details. 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 suzanneg@nwcommission.org
Point of contact: Suzanne Gagliardo x122 I Back to top


Planners Committee Meeting The next Regional Planners Committee meeting is scheduled for Noon on July 15th at the Northwest Commission’s Oil City office.
Point of contact: Sue Smith x131 I Back to top


Daryl Coyne is the Manager, Loan Programs for the Northwest Commission. In this position, Daryl is responsible for a nearly $15 million loan portfolio with funds from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), the Economic Development Administration (EDA), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Small Business Administration (SBA), and the State of Pennsylvania. Feel free to contact Daryl by telephone at 814.677.4800 x112 or email her at: darylc@nwcommission.org. What is the last book you read? I read “Rainy Day Fairy” to my two year old granddaughter – actually we read several books before she went to bed. If you were a car, what kind would you be and why? I would be a 1957 Chevy because they are a classic – and worth a lot of money. What are the first three things you do when you arrive at work? Turn on the hall light, start my computer, and read my emails. Which language would you learn if you had to change from your native language? Spanish. It seems like the best language to learn with the southwest States bordering Mexico. If you are given a chance to travel to the past, where would you go and why? I would like to be one of the girls who worked in the Saloons in the Wild west days. They didn’t work as hard as the women on the wagon trains – and had much more fun. How did you become interested in the position you currently hold at the Commission? I worked in the Loan Department at a bank years ago – and it was my favorite job (I worked in several departments, but loans was the most interesting). I like working with the companies in the region. I’ve met a lot of great business owners and learned about items that are made in our region. I had no idea we had such a diverse economy in the northwest region of Pennsylvania. Learning about the companies is the best part of my job. Visit The Northwest Commission and "Like" us on Facebook !

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