First, a sincere apology to Mr. Greg Antoun, owner of ChipBLASTER Corporation, for misspelling his name in the last edition of the Economic Insider. As reported earlier, we are nearing completion of renovations to about 16,000 s.f. of space formally utilized by Andover Industries for occupancy by ChipBLASTER on June 1, 2008.
At it’s meeting on May 15, 2008, the Board of Directors of the Economic Progress Alliance authorized the renewal of leases for Dad’s Pet Care and Universal Well Services at the Crawford Business Park, as well as approving a new lease with Associated Contractors for 8,282 s.f. of storage space at the Park.
The board also authorized submission of a competitive application to the United States Department of Agriculture to secure funding under its Intermediary Relending Program. If successful, this effort will involve a borrowing of up to $500,000 from the USDA for relending to eligible area businesses. To date, we have been successful in securing two such loans from the USDA and have had considerable success in utilizing it to support 27 loans to area businesses. This effort is necessitated by a strong demand from area businesses and a serious shortage of local capital available to lend. While we are hopeful that our successful track record with USDA will prove beneficial in our efforts to secure additional funding, the application will be evaluated on a national competitive basis.
Until next time...
Mark Turner
News and Developments . . .
The Pennsylvania Material Trader is a free on-line service established a few years ago by the Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers' (SBDC) Environmental Management Assistance Program (EMAP) that has proven to be a successful and useful tool for business to find users for materials they have traditionally discarded and/or to find materials they need for their own business. Listings in eighteen material categories include agriculture by-products, ash, cardboard, chemicals, electronics and computers, construction and demolition materials, equipment, glass, metals and metal sludge, oils and waxes, paper, paints and coatings, rubber, plastic, shipping material, sand, textiles and wood. They do not accept listings for live animals, illegal goods, hazardous materials or new (unused) items. There are numerous pages to browse with both available and wanted products.
The site also includes regulatory information, useful links, a glossary of waste related terms as well as contact information and assistance with permits and approvals, and determining requirements that relate to your business.
The Pennsylvania SBDC's are a network of eighteen college and university-based centers dedicated to helping Pennsylvania entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses. The EMAP is a statewide program providing no cost, confidential consulting assistance to small business representing a broad range of industries including the agricultural sector.
Preparations are underway for this year's Greater Meadville Area Day, the 40th anniversary of the event. Mark your calendars - GMAD, Thursday, July 31st.
The NW Commission in conjunction with the NW Industrial Resource Center will be hosting a seminar series in June focusing best export strategies to enter the China market. The three half-day series will be held on June 10th, 17th and 24th, 2008 at the Erie Bayfront Convention Center, Room 100, 1 Sassafras Pier, Erie.
The series will offer valuable insights and information for businesses interested in developing opportunities in greater China. Sessions will address such topics as the Chinese business culture, protecting intellectual property in China and the global marketplace, Chinese market access, negotiation skills and contract resolutions, compulsory certification, and developing an effective China strategy and business plan. The Bank of China liaison with Citizen's Bank of Pennsylvania will be present one session to discuss the bank's capabilities to assist clients in the China market.
Cost to attend the China strategy series is $30 per series per attendee. If you are interested in attending or would like further information, contact Claudia Garcia at the NW Commission, 814-454-7191.
The Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 1194's Eleventh Annual Fly-In and Drive-In Breakfast at the Crawford County Regional Airport will be held Sunday, June 8, 2008. Breakfast will be from 8 - 11 a.m. at a cost of $6.50. Lunch will be a la carte from 12 noon - 2 p.m. In addition to good food, there will be ultralight, experimental and production aircraft, warbirds and helicopters on display and flying. Classic and antique cars will also be on display. The event is free and open to the public.
Of special interest this year will be the presence of a 1942 Douglas DC-3 which will be flying on and off during the event and will be available for tours between flights. The DC-3, familiar to even non-airplane buffs, is recognized as one of the greatest aircraft ever built, as well as the first affordable and reliable air transport from its introduction in 1935 through the mid-1950s. It was used as a military transport aircraft during WW II and the Korean War, hauling supplies over "the hump" in China, and evacuating wounded and moving troops and supplies around the globe. The particular DC-3 coming to Meadville was built for the U.S. Army Air Force in 1942 as a C-47 cargo plane.
For more information on the event, contact Tim Hunter at 333-1799, Rich Starn at 382-9080, or email eaa1194@allegheny.edu.
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Economic Progress Alliance of Crawford County
764 Bessemer Street, Suite 101
Meadville PA 16335
814-333-2299
06/05/2008