Business Service Center Coming to Crawford Business Park
At the December meeting of the Economic Progress Alliance Board of Directors, the Board authorized the creation of a new “business service center” to be constructed at the Crawford Business Park. This center, which has yet to be formally named, will serve as a small business incubator and will accommodate up to seven small businesses needing quality office and conference room space.
Located immediately adjacent to the Bainbridge Center at the Crawford Business Park, the business service center will include a suite of seven privately secured offices available at very low rates and on flexible terms. The center will focus on supporting new business start-ups or small businesses and professionals in need of space on a short-term basis. A formal “graduation policy” which will mandate the maximum length of occupancy will be reviewed and adopted by the Alliance board in the immediate future.
Occupants of the business service center will also enjoy shared facilities including a fully equipped kitchen and lounge, and services such as fax machine, copy, printing and internet service. Additionally, as we are currently discussing corporate sponsorship in return for naming rights for the center, it is our hope that each of the offices will be furnished with quality furniture and fixtures.
Our construction crew is now busy preparing this center for occupancy and we expect to be able to accommodate tenants beginning in March. Bob Stone, current member of the Alliance staff will be relocating to the business service center and will, along with his other duties, manage its operations on a day-to-day basis.
If you know of anyone doing business out of their garage or needing a quality place to start and grow their business, please think of us and have them contact the Economic Progress Alliance at 333-2299.
Until next time..
Mark Turner
Recently released national and state population estimates for 2007 show Pennsylvania continues slow growth with international migration providing the most significant source of change. Pennsylvania's estimated population grew by 29,975 between July 1, 2006 and July 1, 2007 to12,432,792 a growth rate of 0.2%. The Commonwealth ranked 24th in numeric change and 41st in percent change in population. However, Pennsylvania remains the 6th largest state in the nation behind California, Texas, New York, Florida and Illinois.
Pennsylvania's slower growth rate mirrors that of the Northeast region which was last in both the numeric increase and percent increase of the four regions of the United States (Northeast, South, West and Midwest). Between 2006 and 2007, the Commonwealth was tied for the second-lowest annual rate of total natural increase along with Maine. Pennsylvania also had the fifth-lowest birth rate and the second-highest mortality rate, consistent with trends seen in the Northeast.
In recent years, migration, particularly international migration, has fueled much of Pennsylvania's population growth, a trend that continued into 2007. Domestic migration showed more people moving out of the Commonwealth while international migration resulted in an increase of 16,829 people.
source: Pennsylvania State Data Center
The nation's unemployment rate rose from 4.7% in November to 5% in December, the highest since November 2005 when the country dealt with the effects of the Gulf Coast hurricanes. Employers in December added the fewest new jobs to their payrolls in more than four years, according to a report released by the Labor Department.
Total payrolls, both government and private employers, grew by 18,000 last month as the government added 31,000 jobs in December while private employers cut employment by 13,000. Manufacturers, construction companies, financial services and retailers all cut jobs in December.
Average hourly earnings rose to $17.71 in December, a 0.4% increase from November. For all of 2007, wages increased by 3.7%, down from a 4.3% gain in 2006.
For all of 2007, the economy added 1.33 million jobs and the unemployment rate averaged 4.6%, the same as in 2006. Employment growth averaged 111,000 a month in 2007, down from 189,000 in 2006.
source: The Associated Press
The Northwest Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Tooling and Machining Association will hold its Blue Collar Bash honoring all the Top in the Shop nominees from the past year on Saturday, January 26, 2008 starting at 6:00 p.m. at the Eagles Club, 868 Water Street, Meadville. The evening includes adult beverage, food and entertainment with classic rock and blues music by Full Force, and is capped off with the announcement of the Top in the Shop employee.
This program was initiated by the Meadville Tribune and the NWPA NTMA Marketing Committee to create awareness within the industry while promoting the success of its top employees. Starting in January and running every other Monday throughout the year, a Top in the Shop nominee is featured in a half-page ad in the Tribune. The company nominating their employee also becomes eligible to be awarded educational dollars provided by the Meadville Tribune.
Tickets for the Blue Collar Bash are $20 each and may be obtained by registering online or calling 814-702-0094.
The Meadville Area Chamber of Commerce's Business After Hours for this month will be held at A.G. Edwards, 886 Market Street, Meadville on Tuesday, January 15th, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Join A.G. Edwards at their new location in the Kepler Hotel Complex for hors d'oeuvres, free mementos and informative literature on a variety of money management topics. Bring your business card to be eligible for a door prize drawing. Cost for the Business After Hours is $7 for members and $9 for non-members
The Chamber will also host a small business seminar presented by Hill, Barth and King along with McGill, Power, Bell and Associates on avoiding tax bloopers and blunders from 7:00-8:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 17, 2008 at Edinboro University in Meadville, 789 Bessemer Street.
Kellie Hanas and Chris Anderson of Hill, Barth and King and Dean Fair and Kevin Oviatt of McGill, Power and Bell will discuss such topics as tax planning vs. financial considerations, cash bonuses vs. gift to employees, travel and entertainment expenses, employee fringe benefits, Pa Use Tax issues, PA unclaimed property reports, overtime issues, and subcontractor vs. employee issues. Cost for this seminar is $20 each for members and $25 each for non-members.
To make reservations for either of these events, email the Chamber or call them at 814-337-8030.
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Economic Progress Alliance of Crawford County
764 Bessemer Street, Suite 101
Meadville PA 16335
814-333-2299
01/17/2008