It’s the time of year when everyone begins to have cabin fever and yearns to spend some time outdoors.  The warmer weather is approaching and the snow is melting away traces of another winter gone by.  The Northwest Commission is hard at work on the Annual Dinner which is April 3^rd, as well as preparing for spring training sessions, and assisting local governments and businesses in the region.  Take the time to check out the Northwest Commission’s website for an up to date list of trainings and events that are quickly approaching in the upcoming season.

2008 Annual Dinner-REGISTER NOW!
The Northwest Commission will be holding its Annual Dinner at Cross Creek Resort in Titusville on Thursday April 3, 2008.  Please plan to attend, and join us for an evening of networking, and recognition as the Northwest Commission honors the Board Member of the Year, Business of the Year, Partner of the Year, and Local Government of the Year. 

If you have not already registered, make your dinner selection of (prime rib, chicken cordon bleu, or vegetarian).  You can register:

1.       On the website at www.nwcommission.org

2.       By fax (814) 677-7663 (Attention: Sam Wilson)

3.      By contacting Sam Wilson directly at samw@nwcommission.org or by phone at (814) 677-4800 x105.

The registration deadline is March 24^th, please plan to attend!

Government 201 Training
With the success of the Government Contracting Program’s “Government 101-Intro to Government Contracting,” series, the Northwest Commission is pleased to expand upon this educational opportunity by introducing a Government 201 series.  The 201 series is designed to offer advanced contracting topics for companies who are already contracting with the government, or for individuals who have already taken the Government 101 class.  There are a variety of topics in the 201 series, including GSA Schedule Training (details below), contracting with PennDOT, and other specialty topics offered from experts in the industry, including the National Center for Defense manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM) training offered here at the Commission March 26, 2008.  For more information or to register for this event contact Lori Kenyon at 814.677.4800 x104, or by email at lorik@nwcommission.org.

First Annual W.I.L.D. Conference
On Thursday March 13, 2008, the Gannon SBDC presented its First Annual Women In Leadership Development Conference at the Ambassador Conference Center in Erie.  The Conference was unique in that it represented “women presenting to women,” and focused on the areas of wellness, leadership and personal development.  It presented a great opportunity for the Northwest Commission to host a booth and reach out to women owned businesses within the eight-county region.  The Northwest Commission sent Claudia Garcia and Dorte Heffernan from the International Program, Daryl Coyne from the Loan Program, Sue Smith from the Keystone Innovation Zone and Business Attraction Program, and Candace Glover of the Government Contracting Program to attend.  Congratulations to the SBDC on a job well done!

St. Patrick’s Day Trivia
Saint Patrick's Day has come to be associated with everything Irish: anything green and gold, shamrocks and luck. Most importantly, to those who celebrate its intended meaning, St. Patrick's Day is a traditional day for spiritual renewal and offering prayers for missionaries worldwide.

Why is it celebrated on March 17th? One theory is that that is the day that St. Patrick died. Since the holiday began in Ireland, it is believed that as the Irish spread out around the world, they took with them their history and celebrations. The biggest observance of all is, of course, in Ireland. With the exception of restaurants and pubs, almost all businesses close on March 17th. Being a religious holiday as well, many Irish attend mass, where March 17th is the traditional day for offering prayers for missionaries worldwide before the serious celebrating begins.

So, everyone, get out your green clothes, make an Irish dish, rub a shamrock for luck or drink a green beer and join in the celebration of St. Patrick’s Day!!

Cheers!

In February the Northwest Commission closed one loan:

·      Flagship City Hardwoods, Inc. and Tom-Kat Properties, LLC (co- borrowers) of Erie County closed on a $200,000 EDA/RLF loan to purchase a building.  Five jobs will be created within three years and three positions will be retained.

The Loan Committee approved three loans in February. 

                ·       Coal Oil Johnny’s Eatery of Venango County
                ·       Keith A. Reddick of Mercer County
                ·       Rum Runners Cove of Erie County

Rate reduction set for the microloan program
During the months of August and September of last year the Northwest Commission ran a “special” rate on the SBA Microloan Program. The special was so successful that the reduced rate of 6% will be continued until further notice.  It was felt that the program is generating some quality applicants, and that the reduced rate will increase the program’s marketability.

Entrepreneur Training Series explores internet security
The Entrepreneur Training Lunch was held on Tuesday, March 11.  Randy Rice from the Northwest Commission spoke about Internet Security.  The Entrepreneur Training Series is a cooperative effort with the Clarion Small Business Development Center to provide free, informal training for entrepreneurs or people who want to start a business. They are scheduled for the second Tuesday of every other month through 2008. Topics are determined by request of the participants. If you are interested in attending the events please email Ethel Rodebaugh at ethelr@nwcommission.org or call 814.788.4800 x113, or by calling the Clarion SBDC at 814.393.2060 or toll free at 877.292.1843. 

The next event will be held on May 13 at Hoss’s Steak House in Cranberry with the topic To Be Determined.
 

Government 201:  National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM), 8:30 – noon, March 26, Oil City
The Northwest Commission is hosting a Government 201 training seminar at its Oil City location focusing on manufacturers, machine shops, and tool & die shops specializing in the metal and plastics industry. This training event will feature the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM), which supports the broad manufacturing and machining needs of the U.S. Department of Defense and its suppliers. Please visit NCDMM’s website for additional information on this organization, http://www.ncdmm.org/.  The half-day event will provide manufacturers with a valuable resource in contracting with the Department of Defense. For more information and to reserve your spot today, please contact Lori Kenyon at lorik@nwcommission.org or at 814-677-4800 x104. 

Government 201: GSA Schedule Training, 8:30 – noon, May 22, Oil City
Becoming a GSA Schedule Contractor can provide an advantage when pursuing federal contracts. Helena Koch, Office of Small Business Utilization, will be conducting the seminar on this topic and will provide an in-depth overview of the GSA Schedule process. This half-day event, held at the Northwest Commission in Oil City, will include a brief overview of GSA, the process of getting on GSA's Schedule, how to access government solicitations, how to submit an offer, and the evaluation and award process. Under the GSA Schedules Program, GSA establishes long-term government-wide contracts with commercial firms to provide access to over 11 million commercial products and services that can be ordered directly from GSA Schedule contractors. For more information and to reserve your spot today, please contact Lori Kenyon at lorik@nwcommission.org or at 814-677-4800 x104. 

Government 201 – July, 2008:  Doing Business with PennDOT
The Northwest Commission will host a half-day training event focusing on how to do business with PennDOT. This training will include information regarding DGS Contracts and non-DGS Contracts, and will also provide information for women-owned businesses, minority-owned business, and disadvantaged businesses and how they can become PennDOT vendors. More information regarding this training seminar will be available at a later date.
 

Upcoming Event – Pre-register today! 

‘Breakfast with the Pros:’  April 1, Knowledge Park Center, Erie
Register to participate in the Commission's new quarterly breakfast roundtable event. Sign up to have breakfast with some of our professional network partners and receive free updates on intellectual property issues, international logistics, export credit insurance, or exporting to the new emerging market – Russia! The Commission offers five roundtables, each hosted by one expert who is leading the discussion and answers your questions. For a copy of the registration form, click here.

Export statistics for the hardwood industry available
Pennsylvania exported $984 million in hardwood lumber, logs, furniture, and paper products in 2007. Pennsylvania experienced a 9.6% decline of hardwood lumber exports from 2006, but continues to lead the nation in exporting grade hardwood lumber with $302.4 million in sales. Click here for additional information.

Year-end WISER 2007 PA export statistics
Pennsylvania’s top five trading partners are Canada, Mexico, Belgium, United Kingdom, and China. Japan, Germany, Netherlands, Rep. Korea, and Australia round out the top 10. Exports totaled $29.1 billion in 2007, ranking Pennsylvania as the 11^th largest exporting state. Click here for additional information.

U.S. - Australia Treaty on Defense Trade Cooperation
Are you a manufacturer of products with application in the defense sector?
President Bush and Australia’s former Prime Minister Howard signed a Treaty on Defense Trade Cooperation in September 2007. The Treaty opens up new avenues for industrial cooperation between the defense industries of the U.S. and Australia allowing companies in both countries to share technical data without the need for an export license. The Treaty creates a comprehensive framework for two-way trade between the U.S. and Australia in defense articles, including equipment, spare parts, services and related technical data, within an ‘approved community’ of government facilities and private companies.

To see full article click here.
 

Northwest Commission staff continues to meet with municipalities and fire departments to discuss the benefits of GIS.  Since last month, staff met with Conneautville and Springboro Boroughs as well as the Emlenton Fire Department.

The Northwest Commission’s Board of Director’s approved the recommendation from the Parcel Committee to hire WorldView Solutions Inc. to complete the four-county parcel conversion project.

The Northwest Pennsylvania GIS User Group meeting was held on February 29, 2008.  The main topic at the meeting was presented by Brady Stroh (Penn State – Harrisburg).  Brady presented on PAMAP imagery applications.  The Fall 2008 NW PA GIS Conference was discussed along with GIS data sharing practices.  The next GIS User Group meeting is scheduled for May 30, 2008.

The Neighborhood GIS web site (www.nwneighborhoodgis.com) currently has three pilot interactive mapping sites.  Please use the sites to see what GIS applications can be offered through the Neighborhood GIS program.

Please contact Matt Gilara, GISP - Manager, Regional Planning mattg@nwcommission.org if you have any questions regarding GIS/GPS.