 |
|
In anticipation…
I believe that 2006 is going to be a year filled with
opportunity and success for northwest Pennsylvania! We want
to do our best to ensure that this happens and ask that you
work with us as partners in playing a crucial role in
advancing our region.
.................................................................................................................................
Share the News
January has already gotten off to a great start. We have
many exciting events planned for 2006 that will be of value
to the region’s business community. This newsletter is
developed to share those things with you. If you have
appreciated the information shared in the Northwest News,
please encourage your colleagues to subscribe. Our goal is
to have all business and community leaders across the region
on the subscriber list.
.................................................................................................................................
Legislative Bulletin Launch
We will soon launch our new “Legislative Bulletin” for
state and federal legislators.
This will give them detailed information about projects,
successes and issues in their districts. We have begun
several initiatives focused on educating our legislators and
will continue to invite them to take part in our events and
share in our successes throughout the year. Their support
of our organization is truly valued and critical to our
success.
.................................................................................................................................
In appreciation…
Although 2005 was a challenging year, we have a lot of
reasons to celebrate! Our programs had great impact on the
region, as we pushed for more aggressive results; We
identified five new strategic initiatives to research and
determine whether we should pursue or not; We implemented
several new human resource initiatives; and, We had the
opportunity to work with many talented people.
Thank you for your support!
.................................................................................................................................
Annual Dinner
The Northwest Commission is hosting its first Annual Dinner
at Cross Creek Resort, Titusville, PA on Thursday, January
26th from 5:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
We want to thank everyone we work with and pay special
honors to some individuals and organizations who have been
particularly dedicated to assisting us this past year. We
will honor individuals or organizations in the following
four categories:
-
Business of the Year
-
Partner of the Year
-
Board Leadership Award
-
Banker of the Year
We are expecting an excellent attendance, and if you have
not already signed up to attend, you can still do so by
contacting Robyn at 814-677-4800, ext. 100 by January 21st.
We look forward to seeing you there!
.................................................................................................................................
Annual Report
The Northwest Commission’s 2005 Annual Report will be ready
for distribution at the end of this month. We will also
make it available online for your review. Every year we
develop a theme that represents what the year was about.
The theme selected for 2005 was “A Framework for Success”,
because the Northwest Commission realized success regardless
of the challenges it faced in 2005. The reason we were able
to do so is because 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.
.................................................................................................................................
Wishing you all a safe, healthy and prosperous New Year,,
|
|
“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the
things that matter.”
-Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. |
|
Point of contact: Denise
McCloskey, Acting Executive
Director x123 |
Top |
|
 |
|
The Northwest Commission Board approved
the following EDA priorities for Fiscal Year 2005 - 2006:
- Keystone Regional Industrial Park
Water Project-Crawford
- Linden Pointe Technology
Center-Mercer
- Clarion University Biotechnology
Center-Clarion
- Cooper Energy Project-Erie
- Winner Project-Mercer
- Millennium Industrial
Park-Lawrence
- Meadville Industrial
Complex-Crawford
- Greenville Reynolds Industrial
Park-Mercer
|
|
Point of contact: Ned
Goucher x108 |
Top |
|
 |
|
The Northwest
Commission has received 82 local government surveys as part of the
MTAP program. This information will be compiled and used to
determine technology training courses and other technology
programs.
Broadband Internet
and Website Development Grant
Applications are now available!!
The Northwest Commission is offering Internet Access Grants, and new
this year, Website Development Grants to local governments that
require a broadband Internet connection or a new website for your
local government. We are offering Internet Access Grants of $500
and Website Development Grants of $500. If you are interested in
these grants, please contact Robert Nurss at the Northwest
Commission. The deadline for Internet Access and Website
Development Grant applications is January 27, 2006. |
|
Point of contact:
Robert Nurss, x122 |
Top |
|
 |
 |
|
The
Northwest Commission would like to welcome Dan Bickel, a senior
business management major from the University of Pittsburgh -
Titusville Campus, as part of the business attraction team. Dan will
be working at the Commission part-time during the spring semester
collecting and analyzing data for the region. This data will be
added to the regional business attraction website. |
|
Point of contact:
Denise McCloskey x123,
Lisa Hamrick x103, or
Chris Beichner x101.
|
Top |
|
|
|
|
2 Loans
Closed in December |
1. A $93,600 SBF loan closed for
Shorts Tool & Mfg., Inc. of Crawford County. The loan was
used to purchase a building in Saegertown, PA. Shorts Tool &
Mfg. will create one job.
2. A $50,000 SBF loan closed for Archi-Texture Finishing,
LLC of Erie County. The loan was used to purchase machinery
& equipment and working capital. Archi-Texture Finishing
will create four additional jobs.
Loan staff attended two check presentations in December:
Child Development Centers, Inc. of Venango County was
presented a check by Denise McCloskey, Acting Executive
Director, for
the $200,000 loan they were awarded to assist in the
construction of their new day care facility in Cranberry.
Galbreath Motor Company was presented a $125,000 check by
Denise McCloskey, Acting Executive Director for the loan they were awarded for the
construction of their building in Neshannock Township,
Lawrence County.
Out and about...
Emily Gill, Manager of Public
Relations, assisted the Loan Department with the Women’s
Economic Development Outreach (WEDO) tour in Crawford
County. Emily spoke to women entrepreneurs about funding
options for their businesses.
Daryl Coyne, Associate Director, Loan Programs, spoke to a group at a breakfast sponsored by Oil
Region Alliance at the Business Innovation Center in Oil
City. Her presentation was focused on low-interest
financing.
Business Financing, Government Contracting and International
Marketing Department staff made
presentations on their prospective programs to the new
Business Retention and Expansion Program (BREP) providers in
Mercer County. The presentations gave the BREP interviewees
the ability to ask questions about the programs offered by
the Commission.
Upcoming training events:
If you are interested in attending any of the events,
contact
Ethel Rodebaugh or call
814.677.4800 x113.
1/24/2006 Fundamentals of QuickBooks Meadville Area
Industrial Complex
1/24/2006 Accident Investigation Cause Analysis
Structural Modulars Inc. Trng Ctr Strattanville, PA
1/28/2006 The Basics of Selling on eBay Erie, Gannon
University, Yehl Ballroom
1/31/2006 QuickBooks Advanced I Clarion Univ. Still
Hall
2/2/2006 QuickBooks Advanced II Clarion Univ. Still
Hall
2/8/2006 Business Value to Fund Retirement Clarion
Univ.
2/15/2006 Creative Thinking – Learn How to Create
Knockout Newspaper Advertising Erie, Gannon University, Yehl
Ballroom
2/16/2006 The Basics of Selling on eBay Titusville,
Towne Sq Conf Center
2/23/2006 Common Sense Selling Skills Gannon
University, SBDC Conf Room
2/25/2006 Beyond the Basics of Selling on eBay Erie,
Knowledge Park Jordan Room
3/18/2006 The Basics of Selling on eBay Corry, Corry
Higher Ed Council
"Finding
Financing for Agricultural Producers" Workshop
February 7th
Clarion
County Cooperative Extension announces a new financing
workshop, “Finding Financing for Agricultural Producers” to
be held February 7, 2006, beginning at 10:00 a.m. with
registration. The program will be held at Structural
Modulars Community Room located in Strattanville, PA at 101
Southern Avenue.
Cooperative
Extension in conjunction with Clarion Economic Development
Corporation (CCEDD), PA Grows, Northwest PA Regional
Planning and Development Commission, and the Clarion
University Small Business Development Center have put
together a program to provide agricultural producers with
information on the new PA Grows loan and grant programs,
such as the First Industries Fund, Machinery and Equipment
Loan Fund, and Next Generation Farmer Loan Program.
Producers will have the opportunity to learn how to combine
this information with securing loans for agricultural
businesses such as roadside markets, dairy farmers, or other
agricultural enterprises. There are plenty of
opportunities that exist in the industry. This is a
chance for agricultural producers to hear from the experts
what opportunities exist and how to use this information to
their financial advantage.
Call the
CCEDC to register at 814-223-9028 (February 1st deadline) |
|
Read more about this workshop |
|
Point of contact: Daryl
Coyne x112
Lynn Rough
x109 |
Top |
|
|
 |
|
Government 101
For many businesses just the thought of working with the government
is overwhelming, but your regional PTAC team would like to help make
things a little clearer while guiding you through the process.
Starting February 15th an introductory course will be offered every
other month on the different opportunities, websites, registrations,
and certifications to help you understand the processes and create a
plan for your business. Each seminar will be customized to fit the
different companies that are in attendance while keeping the floor
open for discussion, questions and interaction. The trainings will
be held at the Northwest Commission office in Oil City on the
following dates.
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Wednesday, April 5, 2006
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Wednesday, August 9, 2006
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Registration will begin at 8:30am and training will run from 9:00am
– 12:00pm. Please register in advance by contacting Lori Moore at lorimo@nwcommission.org or by phone at (814) 677-4800
x104.
|
|
|
|
Point of contact:
Aubri Minerd x121,
Dianne Chelton x106,
Lori
Moore x104 |
.................Top |
|
|
 |
Go to webpage |
|
The Northwest
Commission's Transportation Technical Committee has recommended
that nine TE/ Hometown Streets applications be funded, five will
be forwarded to Harrisburg for consideration for funding from
the Secretary's discretionary fund and two were not funded.
These will be reviewed by the State Transportation Commission
and hopefully given final approval at their April meeting. |
|
Point of contact: Bob
Skarada x111 |
Top |
|
|
 |
|
|
Commission
staff met with DES Communications, the Erie County
Redevelopment Authority, and the City of Corry to discuss
the development of a fiber optic and wireless network
throughout Erie, Crawford, and Warren counties. While
still in the early stages, the Commission is committed to
assisting this effort to expand broadband networks to
businesses, communities, schools, hospitals, business
parks, and governments.
Please visit
www.ebizitpa.org/Broadband/
for your Broadband Education and Resource Center. |
|
|
|
Point of contact:
Chris Beichner
x101 |
Top |
|
|
 |
Go to webpage |
|
Breakfast for Champions January 27,
2005
7:30 a.m.– 9:00
a.m. Conference Room, Port Authority
Intermodal Transportation
Center
208 East Bayfront Parkway, Erie 16507
click to view brochure
We
encourage you to attend an informal and relaxed breakfast roundtable
to learn about our services and how companies can benefit from
working with us. This new, quarterly event is in support of
the international marketing program of the Northwest Commission and
the services we provide throughout the region. Please join us to
listen to our client’s comments and market insights as they share
their experiences in working with the State’s foreign offices and
our international marketing program.
Please RSVP with
Dorte
Heffernan at 814.677.4800 x110.
Pennsylvania Trade Mission to Spain, March 20-22, 2006
Spain is one of the five largest economies in the European
Union and the 10th largest in the world. Spain enjoys a
long-standing and wide-ranging bilateral relationship with the
Unites States and is a strong market for U.S. exports.
Pennsylvania’s Representative Office in Brussels, Belgium, in
conjunction with the American Chamber of Commerce in Spain, will
arrange for a full schedule of business appointments with
pre-screened potential partners. The Spanish market is made up of a
number of regional markets, anchored by Madrid and Barcelona. The
itinerary for this trade mission includes stops in these two cities
and in Valencia. Registration fee $ 250.00, airfare, hotel costs,
transportation and other expenses are the responsibility of each
participant. For
additional information please contact Jen Black at the Office for
International Business Development, phone (717) 720 7472.
|
|
Point of contact: Dorte
Heffernan x110
or
Claudia Garcia |
Top |
|
|
 |
|
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:
Spring Road Maintenance (full day): March 7, 2006
(Towne Square Conference Center – 110 W. Spring St.,
Titusville, PA)
Bidding, Leasing, and Purchasing of Equipment (full day):
March 14, 2006 (Towne Square Conference Center –
110 W. Spring St., Titusville, PA)
These classes are FREE for local municipal officials to
attend. Please contact Matt Gilara, LTAP Coordinator, to
register.
|
|
Point of contact:
Matt
Gilara x102 |
Top |
|
 |
|
|
Northwest Commission GIS
staff are diligently working at moving forward with the new Expanded
GIS Services initiative in our strategic plan. Staff met with
Southern Tier West (a Local Development District in New York that
provides GIS services to municipalities and other entities) to see
what type of GIS/GPS they offer and how they go about sustaining the
program.. The Northwest Commission also met with Penn State
University to discuss web based mapping solutions.
The Northwest Commission was also asked to attend the Tourism
Committee meeting in December, 2005, to show how GIS/GPS could be
used in the tourism industry. GIS services requests generated from
this meeting include creating a shopping guide map for the Erie
County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau and creating a new Oil
Heritage Region map.
Northwest Commission staff is working with 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.
Northwest Commission staff continues to meet with the Northwest
Terrorism Task Force GIS Sub-committee on a monthly basis to work on
the Regional GIS Enterprise System. The enterprise system is being
developed so the five counties (Crawford, Erie, Forest, Venango, and
Warren) can share vital GIS data in times of emergency. |
|
Point of contact: Matt
Gilara x102
|
Top |
All
publication links have been created as PDF files.
If you do not have the most current version, you may
access your free version at:
www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html
|
