Congratulations!
Congratulations to our International Trade Manager, Dorte Heffernan, who has recently achieved Certified Global Business Professional (CGBP) status.  Dorte is one of only two people in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania with the certification, which is offered by the North American Small Business International Trade Educators (NASBITE) association.

Information Sharing
Our organization is constantly in pursuit of information that we can use to better our programs and our referral system.  We have coordinated meetings where ideas and energy can flow between groups for the common good.  The goals of the meetings are to eliminate duplication, foster better communication, and strengthen relationships among organizations. 

Below are summaries of the newest group meetings that have been established to meet on a regular basis:

Service Provider Directors’ Meeting
Every quarter the directors of the region’s service provider organizations will meet face-to-face to discuss what each organization is working on, issues they individually and collectively face and how they can work together to remedy those issues. 

Travel and Tourism Committee Meeting
On June 12, 2006 the Northwest Commission hosted it’s first quarterly Travel and Tourism Committee meeting to discuss ways the region’s Tourism Promotion Agencies and the Northwest Commission can work together and strengthen communication.

The Northwest Commission also has an Economic Development Committee, Transportation Advisory Committee, Technology Advisory Group, and Planning Committee. These have been a very useful forum to share information between us and our partners.

Budget Update
The Governor has proposed approximately $4 million for the Local Development Districts in his budget for FY 06-07.  The House of Representatives has proposed $6.1 million, and it now has to go through the Senate for their appropriation. 

The Appalachian Regional Commission FY 06-07 budget has taken a proposed $35 million decrease from the US House of Representatives, but we are working with the Senate to restore the funding.

Celebrate our Freedom!
After celebrating Memorial Day and with the Fourth of July just around the corner, I’d like to thank all of our men and women who are serving in the military.  We appreciate all the hard work and dedication that they put forth daily to see that our freedom isn’t compromised.

The Commission is currently working with the Erie Chamber and Growth Partnership and the Economic Development Corporation of Erie County to add Erie County sites and buildings to the region's business attraction website (SelectPAgreatlakes.com). The Economic Development Corporation is working with two interns to collect and transfer property data to the SelectPA site.  Currently, the website has approximately 300 properties.  With the commercial sites from Erie County, that should boost the number to close to 400 in the database.

Lisa Hamrick traveled to NYC June 6-8 for the Medical Design and Manufacturing (MDM East) Trade Show.  There were aprox. 1,500 exhibitors and 30,000 buyers present. Three county partners from the region (Crawford, Erie and Venango) joined the Commission in exhibiting under the partnership through First Energy. Together we collected aprox. 60 leads, met one-on-one with two site selector consultants, as well as had a successful reception at the Javits Center (conference location) Wednesday after the show ended. The event was for PA companies, our partners and the newly established contacts we had made. Follow up from the show's leads has already begun and will continue into next week.

Commission staff walked the floor at the Windpower Conference at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh on June 6th.  The purpose was to determine the types of companies participating in the show and to see if it would be worthwhile exhibiting as a region at future Windpower shows.

Commission staff will also be heading to Chicago for the NPE Plastics Show to be held at McCormick Place.  The week long show will feature national and international plastics companies serving the automotive, packaging, medical and appliance sectors.  The Commission is partnering with First Energy.  The NWPA region is the only region from PA participating in the trade show.
 

In May the Northwest Commission closed four loans:

• A $20,000 SBA microloan closed for Horsepower, Inc. of Erie County.  The loan was used to purchase inventory.  

• A $200,000 SBF loan closed for DHSteel Products, LLC of Erie County.  The loan was used to purchase machinery & equipment and inventory.  Twenty-five jobs will be created within the next three years.

• A $20,000 SBA microloan closed for Pinckney’s Towing & Service of Erie County.  The loan was used to purchase purchase equipment.

• A $200,000 EDA/RLF loan closed for CSI Industries Inc. of Erie County.  The loan was used to purchase machinery and equipment.  Twelve additional jobs will be created within the next three years.

The loan Committee approved three loans in May:  Overtime Tool, Inc. and Thornton Industries, Inc. of Erie County and Spa Dental, P.C. of Crawford County.

Successful Small Business Finance Seminar!
The Northwest Commission hosted a Small Business Finance Seminar on May 31, 2006 at Cross Creek Resort in Titusville where 103 people attended.  Scott Dunkelberger from DCED presented various DCED financing programs.  Steve Drizos from DCED presented bond programs through DCED. 

Scott Dunkelberger also presented the new Building PA Program.  The Building PA Program is a program that was created to fill the “gap” for building projects that are unable to obtain the mezzanine financing. Building PA provides mezzanine capital for developers of real estate assets in small to mid-sized Pennsylvania communities. The program will focus on three areas: Industrial Buildings, Commercial Buildings, and Multi-Use Buildings.

Donna Riling from the Department of Banking & Economic Development spoke on how they   can assist with making financing projects work using the various loan programs through the state.  Gene Cirka from National City Bank spoke on the value of public financing to banks.

Daryl Coyne and Lynn Rough also spoke at the seminar. 

Testimonials from the seminar:
“I was pleased with the questions and discussion we had on the various programs. Good show!”
- Scott Dunkelburger, DCED

"The Northwest Commission-sponsored business financing seminar provided valuable information on the programs that are available to assist businesses as they grow in our region. It also provided a nice forum for networking with state officials and business colleagues." 
-Shane W. Rosenfelder, Penn-Northwest Development Corp./MCIDA/SVIDC

“Just thanking you and Northwest Commission for hosting the Small Business Financing Seminar yesterday at Cross Creek. It's always a good idea to get together with your peers and go over program changes/enhancements.  The information and networking are invaluable and helps us all deliver programs effectively to customers in the region. Good job. Thanks.”
- Mike McNierney, Corry Redevelopment Authority

Upcoming training events:  
June 17, 2006             
Techniques for Serious eBay Seller               
Corry Higher Education Council      
Experienced eBay selling techniques

July 20, 2007             
Soni Diamond Seminar    
Gannon University              
Interviewing; promoting yourself; changing jobs or considering new careers

If you are interested in attending any of the events, contact Ethel Rodebaugh at ethelr@nwcommission.org  x113.
 

Defense Supply Center Columbus (DSCC) Training June 27th!
Attention all Machine Shops and Electronic Manufacturers! Eleanor Holland of the DSCC Small Business Office will be joining us  on June 27th at the Regional Training and Conference Center in Meadville to provide companies with a crash course on their Training, Knowledge and Opportunities through the DSCC. Learn how to find opportunities, find drawings and submit quotes through their DSCC Internet Bid Board System (DIBBS).  Registration will begin at 8:30 and the training will run from 9:00a.m until noon. Please register in advance by contacting Lori Moore x104.
Click for brochure/registration information.

RFID Conference
May 31st the PTAC team and members of the other PTAC’s from across the state participated in eBizITPA’s Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) conference. This one day event included presentations on the status of the technology and how it is working in some larger companies. As the Department of Defense (DoD) continues to mandate more and more commodities that are delivered to the depots be in compliance with the RFID technology, the NW PA PTAC along with the PTACs across the state will be working together to train and guide contractors on the technology and the requirements by the DoD.

Please check our events page for our September training event in Warren or call Aubri at ext.121 with any questions.

Government 101 Training August 9th
This introductory class gives you a brief overview in how to do business with the government. Topics such as set-asides, bid leads, registration, and how to work through the government opportunities are customized for this half day training event. Please feel free to join us for our next training on August 9, 2006 here at the Northwest Commission office from 9a.m until noon. Please register in advance by contacting Lori Moore x104.

The draft 2007-2010 TIP was approved by the Northwest Commission's Transportation Advisory Committee on June 15th. It will be on display for public comment in the county planning offices through June 26th and will also be available on the Commission's website this week.

Spanish First Aid Kit for International Business Travelers
June 28, July 5, 12, 19, and 26 in Erie!
Business travelers interested in learning basic conversational and cultural skills are invited to this series of language training and cultural skills coaching. Travel, dining, business meetings and socializing will be topics discussed, and there is no previous language experience necessary! This is our second series and this time we are able to offer it in Erie! Location: Intermodal Transportation Center, Erie. Cost is $ 150.00 for all five training modules. For brochure/registration, click here.

Seth Vogelman, the State’s overseas contractor for Israel and the Middle East will be in the region on July 17, 2006 to meet with companies to discuss their market opportunities in his respective countries. If you are interested in a meeting appointment please contact Dorte Heffernan

Trade Mission to Canada, September 10 – 15, 2006

Your business objectives for this mission are our primary concern. The itinerary will be personalized for your company so that you meet potential business partners who are best suited for your company.  The large majority of PA’s exports go directly to the province of Ontario but the next biggest market is Quebec. Ontario is a well-balanced economy with high concentrations of manufacturing and financial and business services. Quebec is primarily dependent on manufacturing with a strong focus on computer, electronic, and aerospace products and parts. There is no participation fee for the trade mission. Companies will be responsible for interpreters, hotels, and any other travel expenses. For additional information please click here.
 

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. 

The follow LTAP courses were held during May 2006:

• Asphalt Roads: Common Maintenance Problems Vernon Twp. (Meadville) (13 registered)

• Unpaved and Gravel Road Maintenance
  Corry Higher Ed (16 registered)

• New Signage and Work Zone Rules for Local Government – Vernon Twp. (Meadville) (37 registered)

This concludes the LTAP courses for FY 2005-06.  Local municipalities will be surveyed starting July 1, 2006 to gather their interest in what courses they would like to see scheduled.

The Northwest Commission will be installing the 3rd donated computer (refurbished) of ’06 at the office of East Lackawannock Twp, Mercer County. East Lackawannock was determined by survey not to have an official township computer for exclusive government use and had relied on the use of the township secretary’s own personal home computer.

The MTAP computer training program is underway after a longer than expected but comprehensive scheduling process. The program includes 18 classes covering many popular business applications all to benefit local government electronic document efficiency and integrity. All elected officials and government employees are urged to attend the FREE day-long classes to be held throughout the region. These classes and the annual MTAP program are made possible in-part to a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.

Click here to view the MTAP training schedule.

The Technology Advisory Group last met on May 19th with discussions mainly focusing on the region’s broadband and telecommunications projects which are all now in full swing.
 
At the time of the meeting Venango County (with it’s year old task force) were in the final phases of negotiation with TelCove and were waiting on a federal funding source to initiate actual construction of a ninety (90) mile Fiber Ring. Clarion County had appointed their technology task force to oversee and guide their broadband projects and Warren County was in the process of creating a Task Force roster after a successful broadband summit. 
 
To date Warren County successfully held their first task force meeting with over 25 members present at a very productive session. The immediate outcomes of that particular meeting were several specific goals and a proposal to subdivide into action teams to meet the challenge of those goals. In hind sight of the other processes occurring in neighboring counties, Warren County is taking names and setting dates so that the initial momentum will continue and the entire project is less likely to stagnate. Of particular interest in this program the county is proposing to build and own towers in key but difficult and remote locations and will provide leasing space for other telecommunications companies to hang equipment and provide services. The county however, by law, cannot provide commercial communications services.
 
Clarion County’s project is in a nexus of analyzing the proposed IU Consortium broadband project in relation to the needs, desires and anticipations of all sectors outside of the realm of public education and has not yet specifically targeted any broadband provider to assess those needs or project scope. Clarion’s task force has identified many assets that could be used in the effort to offset infrastructure cost and is currently promoting project awareness while aggregating commercial demand for primarily internet related broadband services.
 
Venango County’s task force is awaiting news from TelCove representatives concerning the recent acquisition by Level3 telecommunications. Representatives were very confident that the project is still on time and awaiting federal monies to match build costs. TelCove is currently operating and foresees its future operation in a ‘business as usual’ mode.
 
Other topics presented at the meeting included possible legislation promoted by Verizon to revoke state level franchising regulations so that Verizon could provide cable style television services in communities without having to negotiate with each individual municipality, which they believe is a major hindrance to providing cost effective, affordable and modern service. In addition it challenges monopolistic practices of typical cable television providers and aims to promote competition and bring down consumer cost.

The Northwest Commission was successful in obtaining a Shared Municipal Services grant in the amount of $38,000 from DCED.  The monies will be used for initial start up cost to begin a Community GIS program.  The purpose of the Community GIS program will be to allow municipalities to access GIS data and maps online without having to incur the costs of hardware, GIS software, training and staffing in house.  The Competitive Bidding Guidelines will be followed to purchase the equipment for this project.

The Northwest Pennsylvania GIS User Group meeting was held on May 26, 2006 at the Franklin Industrial and Commercial Development Authority from Noon – 2 p.m.  Twenty one (21) people attended the meeting.  There was an Enterprise GIS presentation from Matt Martini (ESRI), an update on the PAMAP project, and a discussion on regional GIS data standards/policy.  There were also a Northwest Commission update and member updates from attendees.

The Northwest Commission coordinated an Introduction to ArcView 9.x GIS training course on May 31 and June 1, 2006.  Half the registration cost was covered by the Northwest Commission and twenty one people (full attendance) attended.  The Northwest Commission also coordinated a free “GIS for Elected Officials” Seminar the evening of May 31, 2006.

Processing of the 2006 imagery and LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) data, collected in March and April, has begun (Clarion, Forest, Lawrence, Mercer, and Venango). The PAMAP Program needs to determine a production and delivery schedule for the 21 counties that are part of the 2006 project area.  We will be discussing potential upcoming projects, which orhtophotography would be a benefit, at our County Planners meeting.  If we make a good case to DCNR, then we can be higher on the delivery schedule for new imagery.  2005 imagery should be provided to Crawford, Erie, and Warren County by the end of June.