This month we have a lot to celebrate! Great things are happening at the Northwest Commission as we end another fiscal year. We’ll be busy reviewing and recommending new strategic initiatives to implement during the new fiscal year, as well as revising our strategic plan.

As you’ll read below, we have a lot of staff achievements to recognize as well as another talented new hire to introduce to you.

Staff Achievements
On August 15, 2006 the National Association of Development Organizations’ (NADO) President, Kenneth Jones, made the national appointments to the Rural Planning Organization (RPO) of America's National RPO Council of Peers for the 2006-2007 term. The Northwest Commission’s Manager, Infrastructure Development, Bob Skarada, was selected to serve as the Pennsylvania representative.

Jones stated, “As a program affiliate of NADO RPO America will serve as the national professional association of rural transportation planners and practitioners. The group will provide a national forum for peer information exchanges, training, research and other professional development activities. In addition, a primary mission of RPO America will be to promote and showcase the value and benefits of rural transportation planning organizations to federal, state and local officials.”

Congratulations Bob!
For additional information on RPO America, visit:
http://www.ruraltransportation.org/rpo-america/index.shtml

National Recognition
We were also the recipient of four 2006 Innovation Awards from the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO). The Northwest Commission received this national honor for the following four innovative projects:  NW PA GIS User Group, Municipal Technology Assistance Program, 2004 Trade Mission to Chile/Brazil, and National Fuel Interest Reduction Program.

Northwest Commission project staff and board members joined other NADO Innovation winners at the 2006 NADO Annual Training Conference held August 26-29, 2006 in Reno/Sparks Nevada. At the conference Northwest Commission project winners were showcased and staff shared best practices with economic and community development professionals from across the country.

NADO awarded 74 innovation awards this year for a variety of projects in areas such as aging, entrepreneurialism, emergency management, environment, healthcare, literacy, workforce, technology, tourism and transportation planning.

According to NADO President Ken Jones, “A common thread among these awards is the idea that well planned expansion is a corner stone to successful regional development and integral to sustaining and preserving a community’s environment, economy and heritage.”

Over 1,000 Innovation Awards have been made since the program was started in 1986. Only NADO member organizations are eligible to apply for the award.

Welcome New Staff
We are pleased to announce the hiring of Kelly Augustine as the agency’s new Manager, Government Contracting. She is responsible for identifying opportunities for businesses in northwest Pennsylvania to procure local, state, and federal government contract opportunities. She also provides procurement technical assistance to clients walking them through the entire procurement process.
A large portion of her work is devoted to visiting with current and prospective clients to discuss opportunities and marketing strategies. She manages a team of two as they develop the program and work toward marketing the government contracting program throughout the region via seminars and training events.

“I’m looking forward to the opportunity to assist the regional business community. The Northwest Commission’s Government Contracting program offers quality procurement assistance services and we have plans to strengthen the program and develop more value-added services, says Augustine.”

Prior to her employment at the Northwest Commission, Ms. Augustine worked as the Director, Public Affairs for the Allegheny Conference on Community Development as well as the Community Development Specialist for Congresswoman Melissa Hart.

Businesses in northwest Pennsylvania interested in procurement assistance may contact Ms. Augustine at 814.677.4800 x121 or at kellya@nwcommission.org. These services are provided at no cost to all businesses in northwest Pennsylvania.  Welcome Kelly!

Economic Development Administration Roundtable
On September 5, I attended a roundtable in Pittsburgh with the US Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development, Sandy Baruah. There were representatives from Economic Development Districts (EDD) across three states: Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. It was an informal roundtable that gave the EDDs the opportunity to discuss EDA successes, projects, concerns and the future of EDA. The Northwest Commission serves as the EDD, which has requirements of completing a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) and prioritize economic development projects for EDA funding for the 8-county region of northwest PA.

Sincerely,

The Commission's Business Attraction Team, as well as the county EDCs, are actively preparing for the arrival of eleven of Pennsylvania's foreign direct investment representatives to northwest Pennsylvania on October 9-10, 2006. Our business attraction partners, board members, and other stakeholders are invited to a reception for the investment representatives the evening of October 9th at Drake Well Museum. On October 10th, the investment representatives will hear presentations from the county EDCs, Jim Kurre of the Economic Research Institute of Erie (ERIE), a demonstration of the www.SelectPAgreatlakes.com website, an alternative energy roundtable discussion, as well as a foreign-owned business roundtable discussion. The representatives will be traveling to the Pennsylvania Economic Development Association (PEDA) conference after spending time in our region.

Since October 2005, our business attraction website (www.SelectPAgreatlakes.com) added over 400 sites and buildings and has been visited by individuals in 49 states and 47 different countries. The website has received over 400,000 hits since October 2005 with over 360,000 viewing the sites and buildings database.

EDA/RLF Check presentation:
CSI Industries Inc., Erie County
On September 5th, 2006, the Northwest Commission presented a $200,000 EDA/RLF check to Tony Gomo, General Manager of CSI Industries Inc. This loan was used to purchase machinery and equipment. CSI Industries is a precision metal fabricator.

SBA Microloan Check Presentation
Pinckney’s Towing & Service, Erie County
On September 5th, 2006, the Northwest Commission presented a $20,000 SBA Microloan check to Wendell Pinckney, owner of Pinckney’s Towing and Service. This loan was used to purchase a heavy duty wrecker. Pinckney’s Towing & Service tows and repairs vehicles.

Two Loans Closed – Three Loans Approved in Aug.
1. A $160,000 ARC/RLF and $40,000 EDA/RLF loan closed for Thornton Industries, Inc. of Erie County. The loan was used to purchase equipment. Six jobs will be created within the next three years.

2. A $24,200 SBF loan closed for Tri County Fabrication, Inc. of Lawrence County. The loan was used to purchase equipment, leasehold improvements and working capital. One job will be created.

The Loan Committee approved three loans in August: First Machine and Manufacturing, Inc. (SBF and RLF) and TM Industrial Supply, Inc. both of Erie County.

Entrepreneur Club Event September 20th
The next Entrepreneur Club Event will be held on September 20, 2006 at the Oil City Library (basement) from 6-8pm. This month, the informational speakers will be Mike Snyder, a local attorney, and Mike Klapec, a local small business owner. The Entrepreneur Club is for regional businesses to network and discuss issues and concerns with other business owners and professionals. Informational presentations at each event focus on topics chosen by the participants. Please mark your calendar and plan to join us! To register, contact Ethel Rodebaugh at 814.677.4800 x113

09/12/06 Power Networking Gannon University - Yehl Ballroom Techniques to grow you business with networking
09/26/06 Preventing Workplace Harassment Gannon University - Palumbo Room 1200 Explore workplace harassment Do's and don'ts
10/19/06 Getting Started with an Online Store Titusville YMCA Titusville PA Learn how to get started with an online store
11/01/06 Internet Marketing Strategies Gannon University - Erie PA Promote your business, generate leads, and acquire new customers online.

If you are interested in attending any of the events, contact Ethel Rodebaugh at 814. 677.4800 x113.

Kelly Augustine has joined the Northwest Commission as the new Manager, Government Procurement. She joins the Commission coming from the Allegheny Conference, where she served as liaison to our sister agency, Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission. She will identify opportunities for businesses in our region to procure local, state and federal government contract opportunities. Businesses in northwestern Pennsylvania interested in procurement assistance may contact her at 814.677.4800 x121, or by e-mail at: kellya@nwcommission.org.  (-more/photo-)

Doing Business with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Workshop - October 18th
Gayle Nuppnau from the Department of General Services will be joining us on October 18th at the Howard Johnson Hotel of Mercer to present this half-day workshop on how to do business with the State of Pennsylvania. Get answers to questions like… Does the state buy what you sell? How does the state government buy goods and services? How can you find state bid opportunities? What information is available on the internet to help? How can you receive state certification as a minority- or woman-owned business?
The Northwest Commission Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) team will host this workshop to familiarize companies with state government contracts. There is no cost for this event but you must register in advance as space is limited. Please contact Lori Moore to register at extension 104.

Government 101 Training November 8th
The Northwest Commission's PTAC team will be holding this introductory training at the Northwest Commission on November 8th from 9:00am until noon for any company who is looking to start working with or would like to refresh their memories about the sites and certifications of the federal and state procurement process. Topics such as set-asides, bid leads, registration, and how to work through government opportunities are customized for this half day training event.
There is no cost for this event but you must register in advance as space is limited. Please contact Lori Moore for further details or to register at extension 104.

Pennsylvania International Week (Bringing the World to YOU!), October 3 and 4, 2006 - click for complete brochure/registration form



Join us for this exciting annual event! The Commonwealth’s 16 overseas contractors from around the world will visit Titusville (Cross Creek Resort) on Oct. 3 and 4, 2006.

In combination with this wonderful cultural potpourri of the overseas contractors and networking opportunities with exporting clients from the region, we are going to expand the program for the first time this year and offer export technical training for Oct. 3. Bob Imbriani, Team Worldwide, a frequent and acknowledged speaker on Export Controls is going to be presenting a half-day training session in the morning of Oct. 3. For the afternoon, we have been able to invite the Center for International Regulatory Assistance (CITRA) with Duquesne University to provide a session on European CE marking and environmental directives and standardization. Ted Daigneault, President of the Sharon based company WinTronics is going to follow with an excellent presentation on the new ROHS standards for export shipments to Europe (restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment). These certification systems are mandatory for certain products sold in and to the European Union and other countries following EU directives.

On Oct. 4, 2006 our clients are going to meet one-on-one with the 16 overseas contractors to discuss their market potential in their respective countries.

Please join us for the welcome reception in the evening on Oct. 3 at Cross Creek Resort at 6:00 p.m.! Meet in a relaxed atmosphere with the foreign trade reps, enjoy to cultural exposure and networking opportunities.

EuroMold 2006 Frankfurt, Germany; Nov. 29-Dec. 2, 2006
We are proud to announce that three regional tool and die, molding companies have registered to participate with the NW Commission in this international trade show! The EuroMold is a world fair for mold making and tooling, design and application development and a perfect match for our existing industry cluster in the region. Bon Voyage, and we look forward to sharing our experiences from our first exhibit at this show!

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.

A new year (FY 2006-07) is starting in LTAP. A survey and cover letter was sent to each municipality in all of our counties except Lawrence County. Lawrence County LTAP is coordinated through the Southwest Planning Commission.

The Northwest Commission received approximately 81 out 238 surveys back (35%) and has identified the top five classes they have requested. That information has been sent to PennDOT and will be used to schedule courses for the upcoming year.

Classes cover many popular business applications and benefit the efficiency, integrity and in some cases requirements of local government electronic documents. 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.

A new MTAP fall training schedule will be mailed out the week of September 11th. Training topics appearing on the schedule will include a ‘free for all’ question & answer for MS Office software limited to Access Database, Excel Spread Sheets and Word for word processing. We’ll also be bundling Computer Security and Small Office / Home Office networking.

eCommerce Seminar October 4th
The Northwest Commission is also co-sponsoring a Broadband Internet for eCommerce Seminar. Businesses, legislators and municipal leaders are invited to attend a free seminar on broadband deployment and its impact on business on Wednesday, October 4 at the Meadville Country Club from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. A continental breakfast will be served.

This seminar will highlight regional activities aimed at promoting broadband deployment, policies and legislation that will spur deployment and providers of critical broadband dependent business applications. Attendees will learn about technologies in the region; current and planned broadband deployments; and future steps for economic expansion.

The seminar is sponsored by the Pennsylvania E-commerce Association. For more information or to register visit www.paecomm.org.

The Technology Advisory Group last met on July 21st.

Topics for the upcoming meeting will include organizing or facilitating a regional telecommunications authority that will promote publicly owned wired and wireless infrastructure. The authority may buy, erect, own and maintain infrastructure but will not provide services and will look to entice service providers such as wireless broadband and cellular phone companies to lease space on the infrastructure also saving monies by not having to build the infrastructure and recoup those costs later, especially in areas that are typically seen as ‘not economically feasible.’ The purpose would be to provide infrastructure and the impending service to mostly rural areas that the service would not have ‘naturally’ have migrated to.

The next Technology Advisory Group meeting is scheduled for Friday, October 4th beginning at Noon at the Meadville Country Club.

Northwest Commission acquired Global Positioning System (GPS) and ArcIMS training during the month of August. The training will be utilized for the Neighborhood GIS program. The purpose of the Neighborhood GIS program will be to allow municipalities and other organizations to access GIS data and maps online without having to incur the costs of hardware, GIS software, training and staffing in house. Please contact the Northwest Commission if you are interested in any of the GIS/GPS services they have to offer.

The Northwest Commission hosted a Northwest Pennsylvania GIS User Group meeting on August 25, 2006 at the Franklin Industrial and Commercial Development Authority (FICDA). Representatives from Snyder Brothers Oil & Gas gave a presentation on how GIS is used in their industry and how much time and money it has saved their company. The Northwest Commission provided an update on GIS activity and members attending provided updates on what’s going on with GIS at their organization.

ArcView 9.2 training opportunity: October 2-3 (Introduction to ArcView 9.2) and October 23-24 (Intermediate ArcView 9.2). Training will be held at FICDA and the Northwest Commission will cover half the registration fee for each course bringing the total to $175 for each two-day course. Contact Matt Gilara at 814.677.4800 x102 to register.