Memorial Day Trivia Quiz
Sorry, there isn’t a prize, but test your patriotic knowledge with these Memorial Day Trivia Questions:

1.  Which state was the first to celebrate Memorial Day?
2.  Originally Memorial Day was known as what?  (hint: the day begins with the
     letter “d”)
3.  Why do we celebrate Memorial Day?
4.  Who is General John Alexander Logan, and what role does his memory play
     in our Memorial Day celebration?
5.  On this day of remembrance should the flag fly at half-mast, or fully raised?
6.  What is the nationally recognized flower of Memorial Day?
7.  On what day of the week is Memorial Day held?

*The answers to this trivia quiz can be found at the end of this section!

You’re Invited!
The Northwest Commission will be hosting an Open House and a Chamber Mixer on Thursday, June 18.  The Clarion Area Chamber of Business and Industry and the New Bethlehem Chamber will be joining us at the Northwest Commission’s new Clarion Outreach Office, 627 Wood Street, Clarion, from 4:30pm - 7:00pm for this great networking opportunity.  The Clarion Outreach Office will also have an Open House that afternoon from 1:00pm - 4:30pm.  Food and refreshments will be available.  Please mark your calendar and join us!  If you plan to attend the Chamber Mixer, please contact Sam Wilson, Public Relations Coordinator for the Commission at 814.297.7158 x101, or by email at samw@nwcommission.org.  Everyone is welcome, so stop by during the Open House the afternoon of June 18, or register for the Chamber After Hours Event.  I look forward to seeing you there!

Check Presentation
A check presentation was held at Concrete Services Corporation on Friday, March 27, in Erie County.  Concrete Services Corporation received a loan from the Northwest Commission to purchase a Portable Rubble Hog and a new Pre-Concrete Pulverizer.  This machinery will be used to recycle old concrete that is removed from existing sites.  The old concrete will be transported to the equipment from current job sites or accepted from others, recycled into fill material, and then resold as recycled material that is in high demand in their market.  The crusher will physically crush the concrete and the pulverizer will pre-crush the concrete as a necessary part of the recycling process.

Concrete Services Corporation was founded by James and Nancy Hornyak with the intent of providing a full host of concrete services to the tri-state area.  They have been in business since 1968 and have developed a full line of products to serve the construction industry.  The company’s primary product is the manufacture of Ready Mix Concrete.  They also supply concrete finishing services, sand and stone, stamped concrete, concrete pumping and curbing to Northwest Pennsylvania, Eastern Ohio, and Southwestern New York markets.

Click here to view a picture of the check presentation!

Memorial Day Quiz Answers

1.  Memorial Day was first celebrated in Waterloo, New York in 1866.
2.  Memorial Day was initially called Decoration Day, and was celebrated to
     honor the soldiers who had died while serving during the civil war.
3.  Memorial Day is a commemoration for those that have given their lives
     fighting for America’s freedom.
4.  General John Alexander Logan declared that Memorial Day should be
     celebrated by decorating the gravestones of those that sacrificed their lives for
     the freedoms that all Americans enjoy.
5.  On Memorial Day, Old Glory should fly at half-mast until noon and then raised
     to full mast.
6.  Red Poppies are recognized as the official flower of Memorial Day.  These
     littler flowers were first worn in 1915 to honor fallen soldiers.
7.  This holiday is always celebrated on the last Monday in the Month of May and
     has been since 1971, when the National Holiday Act changed it from May 30,
     to the last Monday in May.

Please take time to remember and honor our service men and women this holiday.  Also, go out and enjoy one of the wonderful outdoor activities like canoeing, kayaking, golf, or hiking, that make northwest Pennsylvania so diverse and unique. 

Cheers,

In April, the Northwest Commission closed two loans:

• Synergy Enterprises, LLC of Erie County closed on a $100,000 SBF loan to purchase commercial real estate.  Four jobs will be created within three years.
   

• Ronald & Janet Troyer of Crawford County closed on a $199,856 SBF/FIF/Ag loan to construct a new dairy barn.  This is an agriculture loan; therefore job creation is not required.

The Loan Committee approved three loans in April:
 

• Jack Parks & Sons, Inc. of Erie County

• Lombo’s Hideaway Café of Erie County

• Treloar and Heisel, Inc. of Lawrence County

Upcoming Events:

Loan Program Workshop 
The Loan Department will host a workshop on May 21 at Cross Creek Resort in Titusville.  Registration will begin at 9:30am and the workshop will run from 10:00am - 12:30pm.  The cost is $25, which includes lunch at the conclusion of the presentations. The speakers and topics for the workshop are:

·       Steve Drozda from the SBA Pittsburgh District Office will present the SBA programs and give updates on the “Recovery Act”

·        Tim Kishbaugh, Loan Officer with SEDA-COG, will present the SBA 504 loan program and will give updates/changes to the program

·        Scott Dunkelberger, Chief Operating Officer at DCED, will present the DCED programs and updates

·        Daryl Coyne, Manager, Loan Programs for the Northwest Commission, will present the Northwest Commission RLF program

To register, contact Daryl Coyne by phone at 814.677.4800 x112.
 

Government 101 – On the Road
The Commission is currently coordinating Government 101 events for Crawford and Lawrence Counties.  The event in Crawford County should take place this June or July and the Lawrence County event will take place in September.  Please watch for updates regarding these events!  Conducted by the Northwest Commission, this introductory training provides an overview of how to do business with the Federal, State and Local governments.  The half-day events will be for any company who is looking to start working with, or would like to refresher course in the sites and certifications of the federal and state procurement process.  Presenters from the Small Business Administration (SBA), Department of General Services (DGS), and COSTARS will be in attendance.  Topics such as set-asides, bid leads, registrations, and how to work through government opportunities are customized for the attending companies during this event. 

Regional Events:

SBA HUBZone, 8(a), and SDB Certification & Contracting Workshop – May 27, 2009
May 27, 2009 – U.S. Small Business Administration will conduct an 8(a), SDB and HUBZone Certification & Contracting workshop from 9 am-12 pm at Riverside Center for Innovation, 700 River Ave., 1 floor Conference Room, Pittsburgh (Northside).  It is free to the public.  MBE/WBE and Veteran-owned businesses are encouraged to attend.  To register contact: Mary Ann Sperling at 412.395.6560  x107.

Showcase for Commerce – May 27-29, 2009
Showcase for Commerce is government marketing event available to businesses.  This event will be held in Johnstown, PA, May 28-29.  This event will allow companies to meet and market to major primes (Boeing, Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics, etc.), as well as provide training seminars.  For more information, visit:  http://www.johnstownchamber.com/showcase/.  This year, there is also an opportunity for local companies to meet with a variety of U.S. and Pennsylvania government agency buyers in one-on-one settings. 
 

TradeRoots Pennsylvania: 2009 and Beyond
The Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership and the Northwest Commission invite you to participate!

Learn about the importance of international trade in the Erie Community. Hear a briefing from the US Chamber of Commerce regarding opportunities and threats to world trade in the Obama administration. This unique, unified group of the state's international trade community sends a powerful message that Pennsylvania is open for business! The event will take place at the Penn State Erie, The Behrend College on May 22, 2009 from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm.

For more information please contact Cathy Noble at the Erie Regional Chamber, or phone 814.454.7191.

Mark your calendars!
Recruitment has started for the PA Booth at Medica 2009 held in Düsseldorf, Germany, from November 18-21, 2009.

Medica is the world’s largest medical trade show.  Whether your company manufactures medical equipment and supplies, develops technology or provides medical services, MEDICA is an ideal source of international market information. It is also a premier venue for networking with potential customers, agents, distributors or joint venture partners. Last year, more than 4,300 exhibitors, and 137,000 industry professionals, from around the globe attended the 4-day event.

The PA Booth will again be in the electro-medical area of the fairgrounds, adjacent to the U.S. Pavilion.  Products on display in this area will include medical devices and equipment, commodities and consumables and medical technologies.

The recruitment deadline is set at June 26, 2009.  Space in the booth is limited to 15 companies and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.  For more information and registration form please click here.

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Bureau of Market Development will be visiting Northwest Pennsylvania June 3 and 4 to meet with regional food and beverage companies to discuss the department’s marketing programs and services. Companies interested in a meeting appointment please contact Dorte Heffernan.
                           

MTAP Survey
The Annual Municipal Technology Assistance Program (MTAP) Survey was deployed to all 265 municipalities within the region on April 28. Conducted annually since 2000, the purpose of the survey is to identify issues and trends related to municipal technology and Internet connectivity. Information gathered from the survey has been used for funding applications and development of training topics and priorities.  Additional information was incorporated this year to address potential opportunities related to Broadband stimulus funding. 167 surveys have been received.  The survey will remain open through the close of business on May 29.

Upcoming MTAP Classes
The Spring 2009 MTAP courses continue to be hugely popular with the District’s municipalities.  The remaining topics to be covered this spring are:

·         June 4:  Excel 2007 Level III, Franklin Industrial & Commercial Development Authority FICDA, Franklin, 8:30am – 4:00pm

·        June 16:  Word I & II Crash Course, Warren/Forest Higher Education Council, Warren, 8:30am – 4:00pm

·         June 26:  What is Access 2007 Database?, Mercer County Community Education Council (MCCEC), Sharon, 8:30am – 12:00pm

·         June 26:  Creating Queries in Access 2007,Mercer County Community Education Council (MCCEC), Sharon, 1:00pm – 4:30pm

To register, please contact Amber Dille at 814.677.4800 x100.  Space is limited and registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. As always, these courses include lunch and are free of charge.

The Commission is actively searching for new topics to include in the upcoming Fall 2009/Spring 2010 MTAP schedule.  If you have a particular topic of interest, please share it so the Commission can continue to make this program both meaningful and relevant.