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Year in review:
2005 Annual Report
The Northwest Commission’s 2005 Annual Report is ready for
distribution and
is also available online
for your review. The theme selected for 2005 was “A
Framework for Success”, because the Northwest Commission
realized success regardless of the challenges it faced in
2005. This success was all due to of the framework that has
been built over many years.
Three
very
important components to that framework are programs,
partners and opportunities. When you have all three in
place, success comes rather easily and ultimately leads to
positive regional impact. Read the Annual Report to see how
we utilized our framework in each of the programs and
services we offer.
Our programs contributed to 3,766 jobs being created,
retained or promised region-wide.
If you would like to request a copy of the 2005 Annual
Report, please email Emily at
emilyg@nwcommission.org
with your name and mailing address. You can also
view and print our online version.
Celebrate!
The Northwest Commission hosted its first Annual Dinner at
Cross Creek Resort in Titusville, PA on Thursday, January
26, 2006. Almost 250 of our partners and stakeholders
attended this event as we celebrated the people who
contribute to our success as an organization and region.
We honored individuals or organizations in the following
four categories:
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Acutec Precision Machining Inc.
(Crawford County)
Business of the Year
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Erie
Regional Chamber & Growth Partnership (Erie County)
Partner of the Year
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Commissioner John Bortz (Warren County)
Board Leadership Award
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Bill Joseph of First National Bank of
Pennsylvania
Banker of the Year
Congratulations to all award recipients!
Legislative Bulletin Launch
The first edition of our quarterly e-newsletter, “The
Legislative Bulletin”, will be distributed to all state and
federal legislators serving northwest Pennsylvania.
Legislators and their staff will receive the first copy
mid-February.
This additional communication will help legislators better
understand our programs and create better opportunities for
them to be proactive with our organization.
We look forward to working more closely with our legislators
to enhance the region!
Sincerely,
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"The
American, by nature, is optimistic. He is experimental, an
inventor and a builder who builds best when called upon to
build greatly."
-John F. Kennedy |
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Point of contact: Denise
McCloskey, Acting Executive
Director x123 |
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Secretary Dennis Yablonsky of the PA Department of
Community and Economic Development announced that
Woodcraft Industries, a St. Cloud, Minnesota-based
hardwood parts manufacturer, is opening a plant in
Pymatuning Township, Mercer County and will employ up to
185 people within three years. It was confirmed by the
Hart Corporation, a site selection firm from
Philadelphia, that the Commission's regional business
attraction website (www.SelectPAgreatlakes.com)
was used to help identify the facility in which
Woodcraft is opening their new plant. Woodcraft will be
settling in a 88,000 square foot facility on nine acres
in the Greenville-Reynolds Industrial Park. The wood
components maker will be operating in March.
The
Northwest Commission held a Sites and Buildings Workshop
on January 18th to provide a refresher course to the
County EDCs on how to add, edit, and delete properties
on the website. There was also discussion on ways to
enhance the website. Twelve staff from the EDCs were in
attendance.
A letter was
sent on January 19th to Deputy Secretary John Lori of
the PA Department of Community and Economic Development
requesting funding for regional branding, website
enhancements, marketing, and trade show activities. The
funding request was signed by the Northwest Commission
and each of the eight county economic development
directors.
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Point of contact:
Denise McCloskey x123,
Lisa Hamrick x103, or
Chris Beichner x101.
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1 Loan
Closed in January |
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A $162,000 SBF
loan closed for Advanced Pressure Technologies, Inc. of Erie
County. The loan was used to purchase machining assets.
Advanced Pressure Technologies will create 42 jobs.
Daryl Coyne attended the Erie County Annual Dinner at the
Ambassador.
The Northwest Commission sponsored a QuickBooks Class for
our microloan clients.
Upcoming training events:
2/16/2006 The Basics of Selling on eBay Titusville,
Towne Sq Conf Center Basics of eBay selling
2/20/2006 Beyond the Basics of Selling on eBay
Clearfield Campus Lock Haven Univ. Techniques for Serious
eBay sellers
2/23/2006 Common Sense Selling Skills Gannon Univ
SBDC Conf Room Knowing buyers, confidence & present ideas
2/25/2006 Beyond the Basics of Selling on eBay Erie,
Knowledtge Park Jordan Rm Techniques for Serious eBay
sellers
3/1/2006 Beyond the Basics of Selling on eBay Clarion
Univ. 110 Still Hall Techniques for Serious eBay sellers
3/13/2006 eBay Stores & ProStores Clearfield Campus
Lock Haven Univ. Grow your business on eBay
3/16/2006 Federal Research Grant for Small Business
and Research Institutions Gannon Univ, Yehl Ballroom
Identify funding sources, apply for grants & more
3/16/2006 Smart Women Finish Rich Titusville, Towne
Sq Conf Center Simple steps to improve the quality of
financial life
3/18/2006 The Basics of Selling on eBay Corry, Corry
Higher Ed Council Basics of eBay selling
If you are interested in attending any of the events,
contact
Ethel
Rodebaugh
at 814.677.4800 x113. |
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Point of contact: Daryl
Coyne x112
Lynn Rough
x109 |
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Government 101
The first Government 101 training was on Wednesday, February15,
2006. We had 16 attendees totaling 9 companies. Thank you to all who
attended, we look forward to working with you.
We will continue holding Government 101 training every other month
to introduce state and government contracting opportunities,
registrations, certifications, and websites that are valuable tools.
The next scheduled training will be held here at the Northwest
Commission office on Wednesday, April 5, 2006 from 9:00am until
noon. Space is limited so please register in advance by calling
Lori
Moore
(814) 677-4800 x104.
RFID Training
The PA PTAC's are continuing to host training events throughout the
state. The next scheduled event will be on March 29th near
Pittsburgh. Registrations will be taken until March 22nd and the
cost is $35.00 per person. For more information please visit the
Northwest Commission's event page to view the brochure or contact
Aubri Minerd
x121.
Defense Supply Center Columbus
Eleanor Holland from the Defense Supply Center Columbus, Small
Business Office will be visiting and presenting to our Northwest
region companies on June 27, 2006 in Meadville at the Regional
Conference & Training Center. Please be on the lookout for further
information as it becomes available.
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Point of contact:
Aubri Minerd x121,
Dianne Chelton x106,
Lori
Moore x104 |
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Go to webpage |
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A draft 2006-2007
Unified Planning Work Program was prepared. Work on development
of the 2007-2010 TIP continued through meetings with Districts 1
and 10. Meetings on the Mobility Plan, Interstate Projects and
Transportation System Maintenance and Operations were attended. |
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Point of contact: Bob
Skarada x111 |
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The Clarion County Broadband
Summit was held at Clarion University on January 19th.
The Summit will serve as a kick-off of a major
county-wide broadband project in Clarion County. Over
110 business, community, and political leaders were in
attendance. The audience heard presentations from
Senator Mary Jo White, Mary Bula of the Center for
eBusiness, Bob Huemmrich of Clarion University, and many
other excellent presenters.
The Northwest Commission met
with several members of the Farrell Area School District
to discuss their technology needs and the possibility of
establishing a broadband project in Mercer County. A
follow-up meeting with others from Mercer County will
take place in March.
The Northwest Commission's
Technology Advisory Group (TAG) met on January 20th at
the Commission office in Oil City. Please click here to
view the
meeting minutes.
The Northwest Commission
staff also participated in the monthly meeting of the
Venango County Technology Task Force which was held on
January 20th.
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Point of contact:
Chris Beichner
x101 |
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Go to webpage |
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Three regional companies
(two Erie county, one Venango county) are participating in the
up-coming trade mission to Mexico, scheduled for March 2-9, 2006.
This trade mission is a collaborative effort in between the First
Energy, the USDOC, and the State. The mission trip consists of two
full days of company meetings in Mexico City, followed by one day of
company meetings in Monterrey and three days of participation in the
Manufactura in Monterrey. Qualifying companies will receive
subsidized booth space at the Expo Manufactura trade show in
Monterrey, Mexico, courtesy of First Energy.
The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development
(DCED) will lead a business development mission to Singapore,
Thailand and Vietnam in June 7 – 17, 2006. Singapore, Thailand
and Vietnam are among the fastest growing economies in the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region. U.S. exports
to ASEAN last year were $ 47 billion, making the region the 5th
largest export market behind only Canada, the EU, Mexico and Japan.
The registration fee for the Trade Mission to Southeast Asia is $
950.00. Airfare, hotel costs and other expenses are the
responsibility of each participant. Reduced rates at selected hotels
are available. The registration deadline is February 24, 2006. For
additional information, please contact: Debra Lenker, Office of
International Business Development, (717) 720.7365.
“I will be sending a formal note to Robin Fisher, OIBD/DCED
Harrisburg, indicating our satisfaction with the India trip - quite
good indeed. Thanks, and we look forward to the next PA Trade
Mission.” - Peter Kraus, General Manager, MFG Water
Treatment Products Co., Union City.
Register to participate in the USA Pavilion at FurniTek/WoodBuild
China 2006, June 27-30, 2006 coordinated by the Hardwood States
Export Group & AHEC. Qualifying American companies may choose 6,9,12
or 15 square meters at the discounted cost of $ 225/sq meter payable
directly to the show organizer. FurniTeck/WoodBuild China 2006 is
the largest woodworking trade-show held in China. The show will
focus on wood machinery and technology, wood supply including
lumber, veneer, flooring and wood products, furniture components,
and other building resources. For additional information please
contact Jim Green, Virginia Dept. of Agriculture & Consumer Services
(804) 371 8991, or jim.green@vdacs.virginia.gov.
~ Please mark the date: Breakfast for Champions, Crawford County,
April 28, 2006!
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Point of contact: Dorte
Heffernan x110
or
Claudia Garcia |
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LTAP offers safety and
maintenance courses (transportation related) to local
governments across the state at little or no cost. The
courses make the work that municipalities do more
efficient, which saves money and makes the transportation
network safer.
Upcoming LTAP courses:
March 7, 2005
Spring Road Maintenance (full
day)
Towne Square Conference Center
110 W. Spring St
Titusville, PA
March 14, 2005
Municipal Bidding (full day)
Towne Square Conference Center
110 W. Spring St.
Titusville, PA
These classes are FREE for local municipal officials to
attend. Contact Matt Gilara, LTAP Coordinator, to
register. |
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Point of contact:
Matt
Gilara x102 |
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Northwest Commission staff created the following mapping products:
- Shopping Guide map for the Erie Area Convention & Visitor’s Bureau
- Bed & Breakfast map of the Mercer County Convention & Visitor’s
Bureau
- Golf Trail map for the Mercer County Convention & Visitor’s Bureau
- Oil Heritage Region map for the Oil Region Alliance
Northwest Commission staff is continuing to work with the North
Central Pennsylvania Region Planning and Development Commission to
put a pilot project proposal together for the Pennsylvania State
Snowmobile Association (PSSA).
The PSSA is seeking funding from DCNR to, among other things;
create a map showing all the snowmobile trails, services, gateway
communities, etc from the Ohio/Pennsylvania line to approximately
the Pocono region.
A GIS User Group meeting is scheduled for March 3, 2006 at the
Franklin Industrial and Commercial Development Authority from Noon –
2 p.m. Potential agenda items include presentations from user group
members on geodatabases and sewer/water GIS applications.
Northwest Commission staff has been invited to attend a GIS meeting
at the Meadville Area COG. Members of the COG (City of Meadville,
West Mead & Vernon Township) are exploring ways on how GIS can be
utilized to make their day to day routine more efficient. This
meeting is a follow up to previous meetings attended in the fall of
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Point of contact: Matt
Gilara x102
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