The Northwest News

You’re Invited!
The Northwest Commission will be hosting a joint Chamber Mixer on Tuesday June 10^th. The Venango, Franklin, and Titusville Chambers will be joining us here at the Northwest Commission, 395 Seneca Street, in Oil City from 4-7 p.m. for this great networking opportunity. The event will feature displays from Commission clients and an opportunity to learn more about the services of the Northwest Commission. Food and refreshments will be available. Please mark you calendar and join us! If you plan to attend, contact Sam Wilson, Public Relations Coordinator for the Commission at 814.677.4800 x105, or by email at samw@nwcommission.org. All are welcome, and I look forward to seeing you there!

Check Presentation
A check presentation was held at Rapid Reaction, Inc. of Franklin. Rapid Reaction received a loan from our revolving loan fund in order to trade in two older machines and upgrade to two new Mori Seiki Turning Centers multi-axis computer aided lathes.

Rapid Reaction utilizes its 10 CNC machines in working directly with local manufacturing companies in Venango County in the production of specialized parts. The company has also expanded its customer base to a number of companies in the tri-state area. Future projections are to add two more positions within the next three years due to work volume increases with the purchase of the new equipment.

Click here to view a picture of the check presentation!

Congratulations!
Randy Rice, the former Manager, Community Development for the Northwest Commission has accepted the position of Director of Community Development and Planning. While Randy has been with Commission, he has been instrumental in the Bona Fide Retail Request Program and is working on a region wide broadband initiative with the recently reorganized Technology Advisory Group. Randy also managed the Municipal Technology Assistance Program, the Local Technology Assistance Program, and the Energy Program at the Northwest Commission. His management capabilities and passion for the community development of the eight-county region will be a true asset as he leads the Community Development and Planning Team.

Welcome New Staff!
Suzanne Gagliardo has accepted the position of Manager, Community Development for the Northwest Commission. Suzanne will be joining the Commission staff on May 19^th. For the past four years, Suzanne has been the Western Region Program Services Coordinator for the Pennsylvania Downtown Center and prior to that served as the Main Street Manager and Manager of the Washington Business District Authority for Washington, PA. Suzanne’s background in downtown revitalization will be a key asset in the new Community Revitalization Program that the Northwest Commission has been developing. Her work in business and economic development make her a welcome addition to the Community Development and Planning Team!

I hope that everyone enjoys their Memorial Day Holiday. Whether you are enjoying the great outdoors of northwest Pennsylvania or having a barbeque with friends and family, remember to take time to remember the service men and women serving domestically and abroad.

Cheers!

One Loan Closed – Six Loans Approved

In April the Northwest Commission closed one loan:

Al’s Melons Farm Market & Greenhouses of Crawford County closed on
an $180,000 SBF/FIF Ag loan to purchase land to construct a greenhouse and expand the business. Because Al’s Melons is a greenhouse operation, they are not required to create jobs.

The Loan Committee approved six loans in April:

C & J Industries, Inc. of Crawford County
Child Development Centers, Inc. of Venango County
Composiflex, Inc. of Erie County
Harrison Machine Company, LLC of Erie County
Rynd Farm of Crawford County
Troyer Farm of Crawford County

Topics for your next meeting?
The Northwest Commission’s Business Financing Department made presentations recently to events sponsored by the Northwest Industrial Resource Center and the Clarion County Economic Development Corporation, on regional, state, and federal business financing programs. Business Finance Program Manager Daryl Coyne presented updates on the Microloan Fund, the Revolving Loan Fund, Small Business First Fund, and the First Industries Fund loan programs. Interested in hearing more about these topics? Or details on the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority (PIDA), Machinery and Equipment Loan Fund (MELF), and tax-exempt and taxable Pennsylvania Economic Development Financing Authority (PEDFA) programs? The Northwest Commission can bring these presentations to your doorstep for small or large audiences. Contact Daryl Coyne for details.

Resource Spotlight: SBA’s Small Business Training Network (SBTN)
The Small Business Administration offers online training that is a virtual campus providing quality and targeted online training to meet the information needs of prospective and existing small business owners. It is an E-Government initiative, powering a comprehensive menu of business courses designed to serve more customers, more efficiently. The Training Network, offering training on winning federal contracts, is titled, “Business Opportunities: A Guide to Winning Federal Contracts.” The Training Network is a vehicle for knowledge, an expansion of electronic government and an initiative designed to help small businesses successfully compete. All training courses are offered free of charge and most are self-paced. For more information, please visit http://www.sba.gov/services/training/about/index.html.

Northwest Commission Upcoming Events:

Government 201 – GSA Schedule training, May 22
Becoming a GSA Schedule Contractor can provide an advantage when pursing federal contracts. The Northwest Commission will be hosting GSA Schedule training seminar at its Oil City location on May 22. Helena Koch, Office of Small Business Utilization will be conducting the seminar and will provide an in-depth overview of the GSA Schedule process. This half-day event 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.

Please see our Calendar of Events for additional upcoming trainings!

Building a CHINA Strategy – June 10, June 17, June 24
Bayfront Convention Center, Erie

The Northwest Commission in conjunction with the Northwest Industrial Resource Center will be hosting a new initiative focusing on best export strategies to enter the China market.

Learn to see the world through the eyes of the Chinese, after hearing about Chinese business culture, Intellectual Property Rights, best export opportunities, China Compulsory Certification (CCC), Negotiation Skills, Contract Resolutions and more. Listen to regional companies as they share their experiences, good or bad, after making the plunge into this ever growing market!

For additional information, please contact Claudia Garcia.

Market Access Grants closed for FY08
The international program submitted the final round of Market Access Grant applications to the Commonwealth on April 30. The program was able to submit 48 grant applications for FY08, and of those, only two were denied. The total of allocated grant funding to companies in the eight-county region this fiscal year was $152,482.

Designed to enhance the capability of small- and mid-sized Pennsylvania companies in increasing export sales, the Pennsylvania MAG is a valuable tool available to qualifying companies seeking financial assistance and foreign market entry support. Through this matching grant program with a maximum annual award of $5000, MAG can both offset a portion of the qualifying expenses associated with new marketing initiatives as well as provide international business support.

For additional information, or to obtain a grant application, please contact Dorte Heffernan.

Hot off the Press: The Northwest Export Express has arrived!
The international program introduced an exciting and informative semi-annual hardcopy newsletter reporting on activities, events, client testimonials, interviews, job opportunities, and more! If you are interested in being added to our mailing list for the newsletter, please contact Katarina Ishman.

(Click on the image for a larger version)

Intellectual Property Law info now available
Erin Chorney and Sue Smith recently attend a three-day class in DuBois on Intellectual Property Law sponsored by Penn State and the Tri County KIZ. Legal aspects were presented on patents, copyrights, trademarks and trade secrets and the impacts these have on businesses. As a follow-up to this session, the Northwest Commission received some advisory packets from the law firm of MacDonald, Illig, Jones & Britton LLP of Erie, that are available to interested companies or entrepreneurs getting started in the world of innovation. To receive this packet, please contact Sue Smith at susans@nwcommission.org or 814-677-4800 x131.

Tax Credit Seminar slated - Tuesday, May 20, Franklin
Make sure your company is taking advantage of the tax credit programs Pennsylvania has to offer. Pennsylvania has many forms of transferable tax credits which can be used by companies across the state – new or old, big or small – to generate working capital. On Tuesday, May 20, KIZ Tax Resources will be presenting “Pennsylvania Tax Credits” at the ETC facility in Franklin. To register, please contact Sue Smith at susans@nwcommission.org or 814-677-4800 x131.

Entrepreneur Training Workshop offered by PennTAP
A workshop will be presented on “Commercializing Your Idea: Product Development for Entrepreneurs” on Friday, May 16, at the FICDA Center, 191 Howard Street in Franklin. PennTAP presenter Mark Toda will assist companies and entrepreneurs in evaluating whether or not an idea may have commercial potential and to explain next steps. This event is sponsored by the Northwest KIZ program. For more information and to register please contact Vinelle Johnson at vjohnson@psu.edu or at 570-675-9253.

Municipal Bulk Purchase Opportunity
The Northwest Commission has received 32 resolutions in response to the LED Traffic Signal Bulk Purchase. Initial order information totals more than 4,700 traffic lights within Clarion, Crawford, Erie, Lawrence, Mercer, Venango, and Warren Counties. The Commission is now working to secure funding to further reduce the cost of converting to LED technology with the goal of maximizing additional funding. The total estimated energy and maintenance savings related to this project is over $1.2 million dollars over a five year period. For more information about the LED Traffic Signal Bulk Purchase, please contact W. Randy Rice at randyr@nwcommission.org

Training
The Northwest Commission is cosponsoring two energy workshops with the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors (PSATS). The first workshop, “Energy 101” will be held at the Days Inn in Meadville on May 30^th. Senator Mary Jo White will be the Keynote Speaker. The “Energy Management Planning” workshop will be held at the Lawrence County Learning Center in New Castle on June 5^th. For more information about these events, please click here.

Transportation Improvement Program Draft Available
The draft 2009-2012 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) is on display for public comment.

I-79 Work Begins
Work has begun on the I-79 Meadville interchange. Southbound lanes and on and off ramps will be reconstructed this year and northbound lanes and ramps will be constructed in 2009.

Titusville Truck Study Proposals
Nine proposals were received for the Titusville Truck Study and will be reviewed by a committee on May 9, 2008.

Upcoming MTAP Courses:

· 5/16/08: QuickBooks Level I (Meadville) 8:00am-4:00pm

· 5/23/08: QuickBooks Level II (Meadville) 8:00am-4:00pm

· 6/24/08: Setting Up Your Accounts in QuickBooks (Warren) 8:00am-11:30am

· 6/24/08: Next Step in Setting Up Your Accounts in QuickBooks (Warren) 12:30pm-4:00pm

MTAP Fall Schedule
Northwest Commission staff will soon begin developing the fall MTAP course schedule. New topics likely to be offered include Windows Vista, Computer Maintenance and Upkeep, and Advanced Topics in Excel and QuickBooks.

Please contact Thomas Sanchez at 814.677.4800x109 or by e-mail (thomass@nwcommission.org) if you have course requests or suggestions.

To register for any of the upcoming MTAP courses, please visit www.nwcommission.org/mtap or contact Amber Dille at 814.677.4800x100 or by e-mail (amberd@nwcommission.org).

Bona Fide Retail Request Program Evolving to Emphasize K-12 Constituency
According to the PA Department of Education there are 111,000 K-12 students in the Northwest Commission service region. According to the PA Technology Investment Map approximately 20,000 of these students are returning to home in communities where the only option for Internet connectivity is a dial-up connection. Based on this data, the Bona Fide Retail Request Program will seek to advise parents and teachers about the BFRR process for prioritizing their community for DSL deployment. This method of outreach is anticipated to impact on business and industry in the area as well as the information will be reaching the owners, employees, and customers of these businesses.

New Communities Join Bona Fide Retail Request Program
The total number of communities contacting the Northwest Commission for information about the Bona Fide Retail Requests has grown to nearly one-hundred communities. Eighteen communities have obtained or confirmed DSL deployment dates in their communities through the Northwest Commission BFRR outreach program. This represents both an accomplishment and an evolving challenge. According to PA Act 183, the phone companies are only required to have 40 BFRR deployments ongoing at any point in time. Deployment may be – and is – being delayed as more communities successfully meet their deployment thresholds. Verizon and Embarq have both filed certifications with the PA Utilities Commission allowing them to extend deployment dates for an additional year.

TAG Will Seat New Members
The Technology Advisory Group seated nine (9) new members during their most recent meeting on May 2^nd. These new members were selected through a process of nomination designed to enlist technology leaders from key technology demand sectors including healthcare, education, utilities, emergency management, local governments, manufacturing and tourism. The task of the TAG is to advise the Commission with respect to the structure, scope, and scale of technology initiatives within the region.

Neighborhood GIS Site
Northwest Commission staff met with Perry Township (Clarion County) officials to demonstrate the pilot Neighborhood GIS (www.nwneighborhoodgis.com) site that was created for their township. The site shows culvert locations on a stretch of township road. The features are accompanied by latitude, longitude, id number, length, diameter, type, etc. The Northwest Commission wanted to show the township how GIS can be used for asset inventory. The township is deciding if they would like to collect all the culverts in the township.

Northwest Commission staff completed two mapping projects for the Oil Regional Alliance. The first was to update their existing Visitor’s Guide map and the second was to create a map for the Perry Street Station location in Titusville.

Funding Requests Successful!
The Northwest Commission has received notice that our funding requests from PennDOT and DCED have been successful. The money from these two agencies will be used to offset the cost of the four-county parcel project. The Northwest Commission is currently under contract with WorldView Solutions to start the Venango County portion of the project. Now that the other funding has been confirmed, the original contract will be amended to include Clarion, Crawford, and Forest Counties.

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

Please contact Matt Gilara, GISP - Manager, Regional Planning at (814) 677-4800 (x102) or mattg@nwcommission.org if you have any questions regarding GIS/GPS.

Upcoming LTAP Courses

May 20, 2008 – Roadside Vegetation Control, Vernon Township Building (Meadville) 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM

To register, please contact Thomas Sanchez 814.677.4800 x109 or by email (thomass@nwcommission.org). You may also register for these courses online at http://www.ltap.state.pa.us

Northwest Commission staff continues to meet one-on-one with municipalities across the region. Staff has recently been providing information on computer bulk purchase programs, floodplain management, hazardous waste recycling, internet access and website development grants, municipal building renovations, and website development training.

Additionally, staff provided a municipality with a direct referral to USDA Rural Development in order to provide assistance with a sewer expansion project.

Please contact Thomas Sanchez at (814) 677-4800, x109 or thomass@nwcommission.org if you have any questions regarding Municipal Outreach.

The Northwest Commission is continuing to discuss (with DCNR and DCED) the possibility of acquiring funding to create a Greenway Coordinator(s) after the NW PA Regional Greenways & Open Space Network Plan is complete.

The Northwest Pennsylvania Greenways and Open Space Network Plan will be completed by end of July, 2008. The plan will identify areas in the region in which there are needs in relation to greenways and open space. The Northwest Commission and Pashek Associates are coordinating a date for the next steering committee meeting.

The Northwest Commission has submitted two funding requests to DCNR on behalf of Crawford County. The first is an Implementation Grant that basically would grant money to local organizations (conservancies, etc.) for implementing findings in the NW PA Regional Greenway Plan. The second request was to perform a feasibility study on the Erie to Pittsburgh Trail.

SAVE THE DATE - REMINDER TO REGISTER!!
The 5^th Annual BITS event will be held on May 21^st, 2008 at Edinboro University. Online registration IS NOW available at www.technwpa.org; you may also direct questions or event registration to John Keith, Director of Business Development at either john.keith@technwpa.org or 814.451.1172 or Karen Kimet, Office Manager at karen.kimet@twchnwpa.org or 814.451.1174.

A list of speakers is available on the web site.

There will be 13 topic speakers, as well as a morning keynote address from Michael Zafirovsky, CEO of Nortel and a luncheon keynote from Mark Wood, Director of Data Center Infrastructure with Highmark. Other presentations include Cisco, Microsoft and Google.

Refer to www.technwpa.org for further event details and registration.

Business Intelligence & Technology Summit (BITS) Announces Two Dynamic Keynotes
The Technology Council of Northwest Pennsylvania brings you the fifth annual Business Intelligence & Technology Summit (BITS) on May 21, 2008. Hosted by the Technology Council of Northwest PA and Edinboro University of Pennsylvania.

On May 21, 2008, the Technology Council presents an opportunity for IT managers, CEOs,and professionals to gather to discuss, learn about and engage in dialogue on the forces shaping our regions IT industry. This year’s BITS theme will focus on Emerging Technologies for Business.

This one-day event will be host to a full day of seminars, workshops, product demonstrations, and two dynamic keynotes.

Click here to view more information including the press release.

Vonda Caldwell is the Senior Administrative Assistant at the Commission. She works directly with the Organizational Development team as well as assists the Executive Director and the Senior Director of Organizational Development.

Feel free to contact Vonda at 814-677-4800 ext 106 or by email at: vondac@nwcommission.org

What was your nickname as a kid?
I guess you could say it was Sis…having six brothers, I heard this quite often! My Dad calls me Vonda Gal, and my Mom always called me Matilda.

What’s your favorite color?
I love all shades of pink!

Two words most people who know you well would use to describe you?
fun-loving and thoughtful

Hobbies you enjoy?
I enjoy camping with my husband, Tim, and our daughter, Gena, age eight. I also like shopping for bargains, cooking, baking, and photography.

When you’re not at the Northwest Commission you’re…
spending time with my daughter making crafts, attending her sporting or school events, visiting with family and friends, or playing with our dog, Sophie, a Chinese Crested Powder Puff.

What do you like most about being at the Northwest Commission?
I enjoy having the opportunity to work with such a great group of people. Everyone here plays a key role in the overall picture of what the Commission does. The programs and services that the Commission offers not only benefit our region, but reach around the world. How cool is that?

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