The Northwest News

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them."

~John Fitzgerald Kennedy

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Although Election Day has passed, it is important to remember the great privilege we have in the United States to vote for leaders that will represent our interests at all levels of government. The Northwest Commission would like to congratulate all of the elected officials and express our eagerness to work with them on the many projects ahead. Cooperation is the key to retaining and expanding quality jobs throughout northwest Pennsylvania. The hard work comes with the reward of a higher quality of life for all of the residents in the eight-county region.

Welcome New Staff
The Northwest Commission is happy to announce a new leader of our own! Janet Anderson has accepted the position of Director of Business and Economic Development. At the beginning of her career Janet worked for the Northwest Commission as an International Trade/Finance Specialist. Since then, Janet has taken on a number of leadership roles at the state and local level directly related to promoting business and economic growth for Pennsylvania. She has experience in Northwest Pennsylvania serving as the Assistant Director of the Gannon SBDC, the Deputy Director of the Governor’s Northwest Regional Office, Director of Industrial Development for the Crawford County Development Corporation, the Director of Economic Development and Planning for Erie County, and the Director of Business Retention & Expansion for the Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership.

In Janet’s most recent position she served as the Community and Economic Development Coordinator for Senator Jane Earll. The Northwest Commission is thrilled to bring Janet on board. Her extensive knowledge of business and economic development initiatives and her commitment to the northwest region of Pennsylvania are a welcome addition to the staff. Welcome back, Jan!

Check Presentation
Conair manufactures auxiliary equipment for the plastics industry and also has a plant, Rapid Granulator, in Illinois. About a year ago, the company began investigating a consolidation to reduce expenditures. In an effort to retain the business in the Franklin area, which has operated there over 50 years, local economic development agencies put together a $200,000 package to assist Conair’s consolidation and expansion efforts. Operations from Rapid Granulator will be moving to the Franklin area, and 10 employees from the Illinois facility will relocate to the area, and 10 additional positions will be created. The Northwest Commission contributed $50,000 toward the grant package.

For a photo of the check presentation please click here.

Northwest Commission Board Meeting
The next Board Meeting of the Northwest Commission will be held Friday, December 5, in Mercer County at Thiel College located in Greenville, PA. If you plan to attend, the meeting will be held at the Howard Miller Student Center in the Lutheran Heritage Room on the first floor. A continental breakfast will be available at 9:30 a.m. and the board meeting will begin promptly at 10 a.m.

If you are interested in attending please contact Vonda Caldwell at 814.677.4800 x106. She will have information on parking and additional details.

Northwest Commission’s Annual Dinner: Mark Your Calendar!
The Northwest Commission’s Annual Dinner will be held Wednesday, April 1, 2008 at the Cross Creek Resort in Titusville. The Annual Dinner will consist of a cocktail reception followed by dinner, and an awards presentation. Please mark your calendars to attend and watch for further details!

Let’s Talk Turkey
This month we celebrate Thanksgiving Day and many of us will eat a large meal that includes turkey! Did you know:

Turkeys are native to Eastern United States
Wild turkeys can run as fast as 25 mph and fly up to 55 mph
45 Million turkeys are eaten each Thanksgiving
Wild turkeys’ heads change colors when they become excited
Gobbling turkeys can be heard one mile away on a quiet day
In 1947, the first Presidential pardon was ceremoniously given to a turkey

As you’re celebrating this year, be sure to thank all the men and women who are defending our freedom around the world!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Four Loans Closed – Three Loans Approved

In October the Northwest Commission closed four loans for three companies:

· Actco Tool & Mfg. Co. of Crawford County closed on a $120,264 EDA/RLF loan to purchase equipment. Twenty-nine jobs will be retained.

· Clifton Automatic Screw Machine Products, Inc. of Erie County closed on a $110,000 EDA/RLF loan and a $90,000 ARC/RLF loan to purchase equipment. Two jobs will be created within three years and twenty positions will be retained.

· DK Industries, Inc. d/b/a Precision Profiles, Inc. of Crawford County closed on a $66,165 USDA/RLF loan to purchase equipment. One job will be created within three years and eleven employees will be retained.

The Loan Committee approved three loans in October:

Andrew Grove Farm, FLP of Crawford County
KPS Industries, LLC of Crawford County
Radio Adventures Corp. of Venango County

Please click here for a list of upcoming events available to small business in the area.

The Commission’s Procurement Technical Assistance Center / Government Contracting staff attended the Salute to Veteran Entrepreneurs (STV) 2008 on Monday, November 10^thheld in Pittsburgh, PA. This business expo and matchmaking event, which was open to veteran and non-veteran owned companies, provided an opportunity for attendees to market their products and services to government agencies and prime contractors. Attendees included several local companies who are clients of the Northwest Commission’s Government Contracts Program. This event was well attended by many companies from all over the US, several service organizations, business leaders and local politicians. When we learn of these types of events, we notify our clients so that they can try to make plans for attending. We encourage all companies in the northwest region of PA to utilize events like the STV to better market themselves to potential customers, key government agencies and major government prime vendors.

December 17, 2008
Government 201 – Contracting with PA & MBE/WBE Certification
Conducted by the Northwest Commission, this introductory training will provide an overview of how to do business with the PA state government as well as provide detailed information on how to become a PA certified woman or minority owned business. This half-day event will be for any company who is looking to start working with, or would like to refresh their knowledge on the sites and certifications of the state procurement process. Presenters from the PA Department of General Services (DGS) and the PA Minority Business Enterprise/ Women Business Enterprise (MBE/WBE) Program will be in attendance. Topics such as bid leads, registrations, MBE/WBE certifications, and how to work through state government opportunities will be discussed with those companies attending this half-day training event. This event will be held at the Northwest Commission in Oil City. Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. and presentations will start at 9 a.m. For more information and to reserve your spot, please contact Lori Kenyon at lorik@nwcommission.org or at 814.677.4800 x104.

The Northwest Commission’s PTAC staff would like to recognize and honor all of our veterans and those currently serving our nation for their courage, sacrifices and service to our great country.

Please see the Calendar of Events for upcoming Government Contracting events in our region!

Upcoming events:

Trade Mission to AUSTRALIA and NEW ZEALAND
On November 12th at 4:00 PM, the U.S. Commercial Service will be hosting a FREE Webinar to discuss exporting opportunities in these two countries. The Webinar will feature specialists from Australia and New Zealand that will talk about the markets in each country and how to reach potential clients, sales representatives, and distributors. The webinar is hosted to support recruitment efforts for the State of Pennsylvania’s PA Trade Mission to Melbourne, Sydney, and Auckland (Australia) scheduled for March 2-10, 2009. To register for this Webinar, click here for the registration form or contact Erin McBride with the US Department of Commerce at 412.644.2815.

Trade Mission to MEXICO
On Friday November 21^st, at 9:00 AM, the Small Business Development Center at Duquesne University will be hosting a Business Opportunities in Mexico Seminar (featuring a video conference with Mr. Efren Flores, Authorized Trade Representative in Mexico for the Commonwealth of PA) to discuss best export opportunities, industry analysis, how to find manufacturing Reps, Trade Finance and the benefits of participating on a trade mission! This seminar is hosted to support recruitment efforts for the State of Pennsylvania’s PA Trade Mission to Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey (Mexico) scheduled for March 23-27, 2009. Please click here for the trade mission registration form or call Brent Rondon with the Duquesne University SBDC at 412.396.6233 to register.

CoreNet Orlando Fall Summit 2008
Working in partnership with the Department of Community & Economic Development the Northwest Commission represented the Northwest Region and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania at the CoreNet Fall Summit 2008 in Orlando Florida during the week of November 7-11. This event focused on leading-edge innovations and new ways of creating the next generation of workplaces.

KIZ Pipeline Companies Identified
The NWPA KIZ is working with three pipeline companies: Woods Technology, Ernst BioMass and Plant Advancements in hopes of including them in the KIZ program. A Pipeline company is a company willing to consider making changes whether it is in the location or otherwise so that they meet the state's qualifications. this could be a spin-off company for a new process or product which would then make it eligible if they were previously too old (over 8). It could also be a company interested in relocating into a designated area and they meet the other qualifications.

First Year Success Reported
The Energy Program has completed its first year-end report and shows state-wide results that exceeded nearly all program goals. The report boasts particular success in the areas of client training, workshop delivery and technical assistance. Additionally, program staff helped clients realize energy-related cost savings of more than $400,000 through bulk purchase discounts and energy efficiency recommendations.

Goal Session Held for Energy Program Planning
Northwest Commission Energy Program staff facilitated a Goal Session October 30^th and 31^st at the St. Joseph’s Institute in Port Matilda, Pennsylvania. Energy Program staff from around the state convened with their Executive Directors and funding partners to discuss tactical ways to improve service delivery and outcome measurement in the Program’s second year. A consensus was reached to standardize base levels of service to ensure consistency across Local Development District (LDD) borders, especially in the delivery of Utility Bill Analysis services, for which multiple delivery methods exist. Joe Walk, Manger of Penn State University’s Management Development Technology Center, led a computer-aided discussion that allowed Energy Program staff to compile 27 pages of brainstorming data and improvement ideas during a single afternoon session. The ideas born out of the Goal Session will be incorporated into ongoing Energy Program improvement and development efforts.

I-79 Construction Completed
Work on the southbound lanes of the I-79 Meadville interchange has been completed. Northbound lanes will be under construction next spring with traffic limited to one lane in each direction.

Titusville Truck Study
Whitman, Requardt & Associates, consultant for the Titusville Truck Study, is currently collecting data through surveys of Titusville businesses which generate truck traffic. This study will lead to identification of projects that will improve traffic flow and enhance safety.

Transportation Advisory Committee
There will be a quarterly Transportation Advisory Committee meeting on November 20, 2008 at the Business Innovation Center in Oil City at 10:30 AM

MTAP Fall & Spring Schedule
The Northwest Commission is pleased to announce the Fall 2008/Spring 2009 MTAP course schedule. Topics covered in the new schedule include Internet Surfing/Search Engine Use, Basic Computer Maintenance and Upkeep, Access Usage, and advanced topics in Excel, Word, and QuickBooks. The schedule of 26 courses begins on November 14^th and runs through June 26, 2009. To register for any of the classes, please contact Amber Dille at 814.677.4800 x100 or by e-mail at amberd@nwcommission.org. Space is limited and registration is on a first-come, first-serve basis. A free lunch will be offered with all classes!

Please contact William Rupert at 814.677.4800 x109 or by e-mail at williamr@nwcommission.org if you have course requests or suggestions.

Broadband Program to Provide Tools for Getting DSL Access
The Commission will sponsor a meeting on November 19^th to assist communities in obtaining DSL access through the Bona Fide Retail Request (BFRR) Program. Participants will be provided a “BFRR Tool Kit” they can use to “petition” their phone company for DSL service. Information on the status of current BFRR communities, the strengths and weakness of the BFRR program, and future needs and opportunities will be provided as well. The event is being held at Cross Creek Resort in Titusville. For additional information or to register for the event please contact Amber Dille at 814.677.4800 x100 or amberd@nwcommission.org.

Commission and Union City Pride Collaborate for K-12 Access
The Northwest Commission and Union City Pride are collaborating to emphasize the importance of DSL access to K-12 students in Northwest PA. The Commission estimates that nearly 20,000 K-12 students in the region currently lack DSL connectivity. Union City Pride is sponsoring three outreach and education programs to teach parents and students how to use the Bona Fide Retail Request (BFRR) program to obtain DSL service.

Commission Seeking Businesses in Need of Broadband Connectivity
The Commission is seeking businesses who are being adversely impacted by the lack of access to affordable broadband service. Assistance may be available to these businesses through the Business Attraction and Retention Program (BARP) provisions of PA Act 183. For additional information please contact W. Randy Rice at randyr@nwcommission.org or 814.677.4800 x101.

Neighborhood GIS Site Launched for North East Township
Northwest Commission staff completed a Neighborhood GIS site for North East Township (Erie County). The interactive Internet mapping site will allow North East Township to view property boundaries, aerial photography, and other GIS data at their office. The technology will make their jobs more efficient and save time by reducing field visits.

GIS Conference Success
The 3^rd Annual Northwest Pennsylvania GIS Conference was held at Clarion University on October 24, 2008. The conference was attended by well over 125 people from around the region and across the state. GIS topics ranged from Google Sketch Up to determining whitetail deer patterns to the use of GIS technology at the municipal level.

Please visit www.nwneighborhoodgis.com. The Neighborhood GIS site is an interactive mapping web site that is available to all 265 local governments in northwest Pennsylvania. If you would like a custom Neighborhood GIS web site for your organization, please contact the Northwest Commission.

Oil City Informational Session Held
A follow-up meeting to the Oil City community revitalization informational session in September was held on October 7^th in the Great Room of the Transit Building. Over 40 interested community members attended this work session. Commission staff detailed all of the required steps and work elements for completion of a successful Main Street program application and outlined several organizational options. The group selected a steering committee of 15 members to begin the process of considering the best organizational strategy to follow. Additional community members signed up to serve on the required 5 Main Street committees: organization, design, promotion, economic restructuring, and safe, clean & green.

North East Informational Session Well-Attended
On October 20^th a similar Main Street follow-up meeting was held in North East. 38 interested community members attended the informational session. Commission staff again detailed all of the organizational steps required and most attending signed up for board and committee positions.

Regional Networking Meeting Held in Warren
Feedback from the northwest regional networking meeting that was held on October 15^th in downtown Warren at the site of the Allegheny Center for the Arts continues to be extremely positive. The northwest managers from the DCED funded Main & Elm Street community programs plan to continue meeting on a regular basis, focusing on more targeted subjects such as sustainability, arts related development, town & gown relationships, and best practices.

Corry and Union City Revitalization Efforts Continue
Corry and Union City revitalization efforts are continuing as a follow-up to the September 30^th joint work session. Community members have begun working on gathering the data for the required elements of completing and submitting a Downtown Profile to DCED as part of the first steps towards applying for participation as a Pennsylvania Regional Main Street Coordination program.

Visual Merchandising Workshop Available
“The $$ and ¢ of Visual Merchandising” was conducted by staff on October 8^th in downtown Erie. The workshop was coordinated by the Erie DID and Gannon SBDC. CD Team staff will be happy to work with your central business district to bring this workshop to your merchants.

For additional community revitalization information for your own community or region, please contact Suzanne Gagliardo, CMSM, Manager, Community Development at 814.677.4800 x122 or suzanneg@nwcommission.org

Upcoming LTAP Courses
PennDOT and the Northwest Commission are pleased to offer the following training course listed below to municipal official and employees. Remember, there is no cost to the municipality to attend these courses.

December 4 – Posting and Bonding of Local Roads, Cross Creek Resort (Titusville, PA) 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM

To register for this and future courses, you are encouraged to go online at http://www.ltap.state.pa.us. Inquiries and/or registration requests may also be made by contacting William Rupert at 814.677.4800 x109 or by email at williamr@nwcommission.org

Municipal Outreach Interviews Resume
The new round of Municipal Outreach Survey visits is now underway. Staff are pleased with the positive response that they have received so far and truly appreciate the cooperative spirit evident in the municipalities.

The Commission's goal is to meet with each of the 265 municipalities in Northwest PA individually. The collected information is being populated into a database where it can then be used to identify issues and trends throughout the region. These findings may then prove instrumental in the development of future programs and initiatives that will benefit not only the individual municipalities, but the region as a whole. The following list are municipalities the have been visited recently:

Knox Borough
Emlenton Borough
City of Oil City
Strattanville Borough
Clarion Borough
Shippenville Borough
Tionesta Borough
Foxburg Borough
Volant Borough
New Wilmington Borough
City of Franklin
Cherry Tree Township
City of Titusville

If you have any questions, concerns, or ideas regarding the Municipal Outreach Program, would like to see a copy of the survey, or would like to set up a time for a visit, please feel free to contact William (Bill) Rupert. Bill can be reached at 814.677.4800 x109 or by email at williamr@nwcommission.org

The Northwest Pennsylvania Greenway Planning process is continuing to move forward. The counties have received their draft plans and all but two counties have made initial comments on those plans. County greenway sub-committees have reviewed the drafts in two of the six counties. After the county greenway sub-committees review the plan, it will be made available for the Municipal Planning Code's (MPC's) required 45 day review period. At the end of the 45 day review period the plans will be adopted as an amendment to the participating counties' Comprehensive Plan.

$100,000 Business Plan Contest
KIZ Partner, Ben Franklin Technology Partners, is sponsoring a business plan contest that will award one winning company with $100,000 to start or develop a technology-oriented business. The application deadline is December 17, 2008. More information on the details of this contest may be found by visiting 100k.benfranklin.org

Darlene Plyler, is the Fiscal Manager for the Northwest Commission. Her position demands that she manage all of the accounting and budgeting functions of the entire organization.

Feel free to contact Darlene at 814.677.4800 x119 or by email at: darlenep@nwcommission.org

What is your favorite type of food?
Truthfully, any food that is cooked for me. I am tired of cooking (34 years of figuring out what people want to eat) and if I do not have to do it myself, I really feel I’m in Heaven no matter what I’m eating.

Do you have any hidden talents?
Well, if I do they are very hidden because I have yet to find them. As a child and a teenager I was very active in music. My hope was to take vocal lessons but my parents could not pay for both piano and vocal so I continued with piano.

If you could trade places with any other person for a week, famous or not famous, living or dead, real or fictional, with whom would it be?
I would trade places with Reba McEntire. I admire her talent – she has a beautiful voice. I also admire her faith in God and her work with Habitat for Humanity.

What CD is in your CD player right now?
Alabama

If Hollywood made a movie about your life, whom would you like to see play the lead role as you?
I honestly can not think of anyone who is boring enough to play my role – people are much more interesting than me. I’d have to play me!

What is the most satisfying thing about working at the Commission?
I like the results of the work done by the Commission within the region. Seeing businesses which are operating or expanding because of the help we were able to provide them makes me feel that I am working for an organization which is doing good for the economy.

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