Economic Insider — July 31, 2009

Director's Focus
Credit Where Credit is Due

Sometimes I’m afraid we take great things happening in our community for granted.

It seems we are often distracted by events of the day and overlook the extraordinary, particularly when it involves good news. Years ago when I worked in Buffalo, New York there was a saying that if a 747 landed on Delaware Avenue (main street) and didn’t catch fire, local media wouldn’t cover the story. Its a mystery to me why this is, but if its simply part of the human condition its not a productive part.

Case in point … Vantage Heath Network’s rehabilitation of the former Talon 7 plant on Main Street in Meadville. Wow, what a fantastic job they are doing, while addressing a myriad of issues most wouldn’t even consider. Let’s not just passively observe this development as something of little consequence and fail to recognize the extraordinary commitment and effort made by CEO Jerry Alonge, his board and professional team to transform this brownfield site into a truly iconic facility for Meadville and Crawford County.

While the Economic Progress Alliance has played no significant role in the Vantage project, we were involved early on when they were analyzing alternative sites and locations. I know first hand that a number of alternatives would have proven much less daunting and likely less expensive than selecting a preexisting building located on a brownfield site subject to extensive environmental remediation and regulation. While it doesn’t seem that Vantage necessarily needs the community’s recognition for having made the right decision, a little appreciation, particularly public appreciation, can go a long way to encourage similar future commitments by those we need to make investments in our community.

So, in addition to the good work being done each day in the region by Vantage Health Network, our community in particular is rewarded by their extraordinary vision and commitment. If they don’t read it or hear it anywhere else, at the very least Vantage needs to hear it from us. Thank you for your commitment to Meadville and to Crawford County!

Until next time…

Mark Turner

Chamber on the Move

The move of the Chamber of Commerce from Chestnut Street to the Founder's House on the Diamond in earnestly underway. It has become a community effort as volunteers from Allegheny College, the Economic Progress Alliance, Adult Community Service for the city and Flick's helped move furniture and boxes. The Chamber's phone calls are being covered by the Crawford County Convention and Visitors Bureau for a few days while they are out of commission. The Chamber expects to be in their new location by Monday morning although they won't be completely settled for a while longer. The Fugagli paintings and the other pictures donated by local artists will be hung throughout the new location.

Allegheny College has renovated the Founder's House and will be locating their leadership offices in the building, including the Davies Leader and Bonner Leadership teams. There are also two small apartments on the upper floor which will be occupied by graduate students.

At the same time with the Chamber, Charlie Anderson has announced his "moving on, not a retirement" effective in October, although that is flexible to ensure a smooth transtion. He is winding down his schedule and looking forward to having more time to spend with his family but we know he will still be actively involved with the community. To date, the Chamber has received about forty applications for his position including one from western U.S., one from Florida and one from New Zealand. There are also many promising local and regional applicants. The search committee, headed by Ken Lindberg, has started reviewing these applications to begin the long interview process.

Local Company Initiates Antidumping Cases Against China

Fisher & Ludlow of Saegertown along with Alabama Metal Industries Corp.(AMICO), one of their competitors, recently filed antidumping and countervailing duty petitions against steel grating imported from the People's Republic of China. The petitions, filed at the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. International Trade Commission, allege that the domestic industry and its workers have been materially injured due to dumped and subsidized Chinese imports.

The petitions allege that Chinese producers are dumping steel grating in the Unites States at antidumping margins of more than 90%, and that Chinese producers are also benefiting from a wide variety of subsidies granted by the Chinese government. Chinese imports of steel grating have skyrocketed more than 500% in the last two years, from 9.3 million kilograms in 2006 to 59.6 million kilograms in 2008. During the same time, China's share of all steel grating imports into the United States has risen from 25% in 2006 to more thant 80%, capturing a substantial market share from U.S. producers as well.

Two weeks after filing the petitions, Fisher & Ludlow company representatives Brian Rutter, president; Michael Fernic, vice-president; and union representative Mark McElhainney from the Saegertown plant, spent two days in Washington D.C. to address the Congressional committee along with counsel, Willey Rein LLP of Washington. The committee's decision 6-0 in favor of the petitioning producers was received earlier this month and will probably take about sixty days to become effective.

AMICO and Fisher & Ludlow have manufacturing operations across the United States and Canada, including Alabama, Illinois, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Texas and Utah. Fisher & Ludlow is part of the Harris Steel Group which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nucor Corporation. If you are interested in learning more about this initiative, please contact Mark Diehl, plant manager of the Saegertown plant, at 814-763-5914.

Pennsylvania Trade Representatives to Visit Meadville

As part of the International Trade Representative Week, Pennsylvania trade representatives will visit Meadville on Wednesday, September 9th at the Shultz Banquet Hall, Allegheny College, 520 North Main Street, Meadville. Registraion and breakfast will be from 8-8:30 a.m, welcome and introductions from 8:30-9:00 a.m., and one-on-one appointments from 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon. Appointments are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis and are 30 minutes in length.

Pennsylvania trade representatives can assist with detailed market research reports; agent/distributor searches; foreign company background checks; identifying and assisting with international trade shows; providing in-country logistical assistance; and meeting itinerary development in foreign markets. These trade experts represent numerous countries from Asia, the Americas and Oceania, Europe, and South Africa and the Middle East.

There is no charge for this event but registration is required. Registration is available online or contact the Northwest Commission at 814-667-4800. For additional information, contact Katarina Ishman at the Northwest Commission. This event is sponsored by the Northwest Commission and the Pennsylvania Center for Trade Development.