With the hustle and bustle of the work day, meetings, extra curricular obligations, and everything else in life, it is rare to take time out to reflect.  However, it seems only appropriate with Thanksgiving in less than a week, to think about what the Northwest Commission is thankful for:  our partnerships and all of the wonderful groups that work with the Commission throughout the year, a dedicated staff of professionals that go above and beyond to provide quality service to the region, and the fact that we continue to serve the Northwest Region of Pennsylvania year after year in an attempt to economically develop and improve the quality of life for all of those that live there.

Save the Date
The Northwest Commission’s Annual Dinner will be held on Thursday April 3, 2008, at Cross Creek Resort.  Make sure to mark this date on the calendar!  We are looking forward to this event, and invite you to watch for more information coming in the near future.

You’re invited to a “Meet the Staff & Northwest Commission Orientation”
Like all growing organizations we have changed over the past year.  We have new staff members, and new board members who will be joining us soon.  In order to get to know one another and provide a brief presentation on our services, the Northwest Commission is holding an orientation session on Monday December 10^th beginning at 10am at Cross Creek Resort.  The orientation will run until noon, at which point lunch will be served.  If you are interested in attending this event, please contact Lori Moore (x104) or at lorimo@nwcommission.org.

KIZ Approved
Last month, the newsletter mentioned that Erin Chorney, the Business and Economic Development Director for the Northwest Commission, was working closely with a variety of partners to make a pitch to the Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority on October 25, 2007.   After presenting the information on Northwest Pennsylvania, the Ben Franklin Technology Authority approved the classification of Northwest Pennsylvania as a Pennsylvania Keystone Innovation Zone.  The KIZ was awarded a grant of $250,000.  To learn more about this accomplishment, read our new KIZ Section below!

Check Presentation
On October 26^th the Northwest Commission presented Romolo’s Chocolates of Erie with a $35,000 check from the microloan program.  This loan will be used toward inventory expenses for the holiday season.  Romolo’s Chocolate’s of Erie has been in business since 1994.  It encompasses a chocolate shop, gift shop, café, and outdoor piazza, and is located across from Erie’s frontier park.  The owner Tony Stefanelli is one of only 26 master confectioners in the United States.

                                             
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Welcome New Staff
Amber Dille has accepted the position of Administrative Assistant for the Community Development Division of the Northwest Commission.  Amber joined us in September on a temporary basis, and after an invitation for full time, she has accepted.  We are glad to have Amber on board; she has been a great addition to the staff and helps us to efficiently deliver quality services to the local region.

John Klinger has accepted the position of Loan Specialist, and will be joining us on November 19, 2007.  John has an extensive background in financing and lending.  He has been an accounting clerk, a credit analyst, has 6 years of loan underwriting experience, and more than a year of finance and insurance experience.  Everyone at the Northwest Commission is happy to welcome John on board.

Please join me in giving thanks to each and every one of the United States citizens who put their lives at risk on a daily basis, so we can continue to enjoy our freedom.

Happy Thanksgiving,

 

Five Loans Closed – Three Loans Approved                                               

In October the Northwest Commission closed five Microloans:

·      A $10,260 microloan closed for Candy’s Notary Services of Erie County.  The loan was used to start a mobile notary service. 

·      A $35,000 microloan closed for Jason Howles Landscaping of Crawford County.  The loan was used to purchase a dump truck. 

·      An $11,500 microloan closed for Dennis Farms, Inc. of Venango County.  The loan was used to purchase equipment.

·      A $35,000 microloan closed for Red Roo Catering of Mercer County.  The loan was used to start a café/catering business.

·      A $15,000 microloan closed for Sandcille, Inc. of Erie County.  The loan was used to purchase equipment.

·      A $175,000 SBF/FIF Agriculture loan and a $128,000 EDA/RLF loan closed for Log Hard Premium Pellets, Inc. of Crawford County.  The loans will be used to purchase land and construct a building to manufacture wood pellets for wood stoves.  Seven full time jobs will be created within three years.

The loan Committee approved three loans in October: 

• Moon Tool & Die Company, Inc. of Crawford County

• Flagship City Hardwoods, Inc. of Erie County

• Rapid Reaction, Inc. of Venango County

For the months of August and September the loan department focused a marketing campaign on the Microloan Program that resulted in 14 applications and nine approvals for funding. The Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) sent several referrals from clients who were in the process of writing a Business Plan. The business is then able to take advantage of technical assistance available to them from trainings offered by the SBDCs or other classes that would be beneficial to their business. We provide listings of the classes offered and pay for the class.  Other technical assistance is also available to the small business if necessary for the term of the loan. 

Check out SCORE expertise
Daryl Coyne met with the local Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) chapter to discuss the Commission’s loan program and ascertain how our clients can benefit from the services that SCORE offers. It was a very enlightening exchange. There were several SCORE persons in attendance with skills from such positions as CEO of a major manufacturing company, accountant, attorney, marketing professionals, etc. If your company has a specific need that you feel could be addressed by our local SCORE chapter, please visit their website at www.score193eriepa.com to complete a short application for assistance. A SCORE volunteer will contact you and set up a meeting to discuss how they can be of assistance. SCORE consists of volunteers with skills learned over time that could prove to be beneficial to small businesses, and there is no cost to you. Please take advantage of the skills these volunteers have gained from their years of experience. Our local SCORE chapter covers Erie, Crawford, Venango, Forest and Warren Counties.
 

Resource Spotlight: Procurement Reference Library
Hosted by NASA, the Procurement Reference Library is a great portal of information and references.  This page links to all known federal procurement information sites which contain federal rules, regulations, agency specific manuals, etc.  There are also links to government and commercial business assistance sites.  Please visit: http://ec.msfc.nasa.gov/msfc/procref.html

Information Update for PA Veterans
As previously reported back in September, the Pennsylvania State Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 87 which will require the Department of General Services to establish policies so that each purchasing agency shall have an annual goal of not less than 5% participation by veteran-owned businesses in all contracts.  This Bill is currently in the Pennsylvania State House Committee for Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness.  If the Bill is approved by this Committee, it will then go to the House for a vote and then go on to the Governor for his signature.  For more information on this Bill, please go to:
http://www.legis.state.pa.us

Buy American Act, Berry Amendment discussed
The Northwest Commission recently attended the Fall 2007 Association of Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (APTAC) Conference in Alexandria, Va.  A variety of topics were discussed including the "Buy American Act" and "Berry Amendment" and how these Acts can impact American manufacturers and government contracting officers alike.  The "Buy American Act" restricts the purchase of supplies that are not domestic end products for use within the United States.  However, a foreign end product may be purchased if the contracting officer determines that the price of the lowest domestic offer is unreasonable or if another exception applies, including certain trade agreements (example: NATO Countries.)  In these acquisitions, end products, and construction materials from certain countries receive non-discriminatory treatment when compared with domestic offers.  The "Berry Amendment," on the other hand, specifically requires the Department of Defense to give preference in procurement to domestically produced, manufactured, or home grown products, most notably food, clothing, fabrics, and specialty metals.  For more information about these Acts, please contact Wayne Williamson at:
waynew@nwcommission.org or at 814.677.4800, x 121.

Northwest Commission Upcoming Events:
Jan. 9, 2008: Government 101 Training - Mark Your Calendars!
This introductory class is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2008.  Conducted at the Northwest Commission, this training will provide an overview of how to do business with the Federal, State, and Local governments.  This half-day event will be for any company who is looking to start working with, or would like to refresh their memories on the sites and certifications of the federal and state procurement process.  Topics such as set-asides, bid leads, registrations, and how to work through government opportunities will be discussed at this half day training event.  For more information and to reserve your spot today, please contact Lori Moore at lorimo@nwcommission.org or at 814.677.4800 x 104.  Watch the Commission's website for further details!  Just go to the Government Contracting section and click on the upcoming trainings link!
 

What do you know about Export Credit Insurance?
Exporters may be asked by their customers for extended credit terms such as payment 30 to 60 days after shipment. Given the risks involved such as the buyer’s credit and country, you may not feel comfortable doing so. Export credit insurance, available through the Export-Import Bank and private insurance companies, can alleviate most or all of your risks. With the use of an insurance policy, you can be more comfortable offering extended payment terms to your buyers rather than requiring a letter of credit or cash-in-advance. Your buyers will probably be able to buy more from you with time to pay and will not have to use expensive bank financing such as letters of credit. The insurance will also allow you to sell to customers and countries that are beyond your risk appetite. You will also be competitive with other companies that are willing to extend credit terms. For more information call Dorte Heffernan.

Trade Mission to Poland and the Czech Republic: March 31 – April 4, 2008
Poland’s and the Czech Republic’s location in the heart of Europe makes them the perfect gateway to the EU market of 455 million consumers as well as to the Eastern European markets. Targeted sectors include: Automotive Industry; Environmental Products & Technologies; IT & Telecommunications’ Steel Industry; Construction Materials & Equipment; Manufacturing Machinery and Transportation Equipment; Medical Equipment; Security, Safety and Defense Equipment; Aerospace Industry; Furniture Industry; Metal Treatment. The PA Center for Trade Development, in cooperation with the World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia and the U.S. Commercial Service welcome your participation in the business to business trade mission to Central Europe. Deadline to register is February 1, 2008. Companies are responsible for all travel and business related expenses including translators and drivers. Participation fee: USD $1150 for the first person per company, $250 for every additional person.

For additional information please click here.

Take advantage of the Euro versus Dollar exchange rate!
In the world of foreign trade and international commerce, market changes continually provide changing business opportunities for U.S. companies.  Currently, the strength of the Euro compared to the U.S. dollar puts U.S. companies at a competitive bidding advantage that did not exist just five years ago.

Peter O’Neill, Executive Director of the Center for Trade Development (CTD), elaborated. “With the Euro up 20 percent in value relative to the U.S. dollar over the last five years, Pennsylvania companies need to re-examine how this creates or enhances their competitive position versus European and Global competition. The weak dollar may now provide compelling opportunities that shouldn’t be ignored. This equates to a 20 percent discount for European buyers when purchasing U.S. goods.”

“Given the changing dynamics of E.U. markets due to the Euro’s rise, the CTD is shifting resources to provide added on-the-ground assistance to PA firms with interest in European markets,” O’Neill said. “In this case, Governor Rendell’s recent proposal to boost CTD’s capabilities could not have come at a better time. In addition to long-standing trade representatives serving PA firms in London and Frankfurt, the CTD has established a new representative in Paris, and we plan to have additional reps in Madrid and possibly the Netherlands by the end of 2007.”

Four (4) trade offices are covering the European Union:

• Czech Republic (Czech Republic, Poland and the Slovak Republic)

• France (Belgium and France)

• Germany (Austria, Germany, Italy, Switzerland)

• United Kingdom (Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, and the UK)

Contact your international marketing team at the Northwest Commission for utilizing any of the above mentioned trade offices!            
 

Meetings have been held with PennDOT Districts 1 and 10 to begin revision of the Northwest Commission’s Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). This has been complicated due to a Federal Highway Administration requirement that a 4% inflation factor be included for all project phases.  This requirement by FHA is in itself a good thing but does further constrain funds available for programming projects.

A quarterly Transportation Advisory Committee meeting was held on November 15, 2007 at the Business Innovation Center in Oil City at 10:30 AM. McCormick Taylor, consultant for the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, presented on tolling I-80.
 

The Northwest Commission co-sponsored the 2^nd Annual Northwest Pennsylvania GIS Conference held on October 19^th at Clarion University of Pennsylvania.  The conference was made up of presentations from a variety of GIS and geospatial fields.  There were over 100 guests with 11 exhibitors in attendance. 

                                              
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A Request for Proposal (RFP) was distributed on November 5^th for a Regional Parcel Project.  The Northwest Commission has applied for PA Department of Community and Economic Development, Shared Municipal Services (SMS) funding and is looking at PennDOT for funding.  To request a copy of the RFP, please contact Matt Gilara. 

Northwest Commission staff was invited to attend the first Pennsylvania Geospatial Policy Symposium on October 4, 2007 at the State Capital.  The main purpose of the symposium was to discuss policies that currently exist or that should exist for sharing and creating geospatial data.  The session was recorded, and all proceedings were prepared and distributed to the PA State Legislature.

Please visit the new and improved Neighborhood GIS by going to www.nwneighborhoodgis.com.  The site is now being powered by ArcGIS Server, a new Internet map server software provided by ESRI.  The Neighborhood GIS site is an interactive mapping web site that is available to all 265 local governments in northwest Pennsylvania.

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 services.