Economic Insider — June 18, 2010

Director's Focus
Tires-To-Energy Update

The Erie Renewable Energy project, scheduled for development at the Keystone Regional Industrial Park in Greenwood Township, continues on its announced path to secure air quality permits and other authorizations necessary to construct the 90 megawatt tires-to-energy Meadville Power Station. Soon to be known as Meadville Renewable Energy, LLC, the developers of this project anticipate locating an office and an executive team in the Meadville area to ensure proper project coordination and to interact and communicate with the community at large.

I am advised that site specific air quality modeling has been completed for the project proposed at the Keystone Regional Industrial Park; and that this information, in addition to other information required to evaluate the potential environmental impact of this project, will soon be delivered to the Department of Environmental Conservation for review.

We are all hopeful that this project will meet or exceed environmental quality standards, and that the required permits will be issued in a reasonable period of time.

In the meantime, we continue to work closely with the developers to coordinate the provision of infrastructure (water, sewer, roads, rail, etc.) to accommodate the project.

Until next time...

Mark Turner

Greater Meadville Area Day

Please mark your calendars for the 42nd Annual Greater Meadville Area Day, which will be held on Thursday, August 5, 2010, at The Country Club. Plans are already well under way for the yearly golf outing and Winslow Award Dinner. If you have any questions about the event or would like to be an event sponsor, please contact Tracy Swihart at (814) 333-2299 x224 or via email at tswihart@economicprogressalliance.com.

Lean Manufacturing Workshops

The NWIRC will present a workshop entitled The Principals of Lean Manufacturing at three different locations over the next few months. The workshop attendee will participate in simulation exercises focusing on lean concepts to include batch size reduction, visual signals and standardized work, among others. By the end of the workshop, students can expect to have gained the knowledge necessary to assist with the conversion of a convoluted job shop environment into an environment that reacts to the demands of each customer while improving quality, delivery, eliminating waste, and improving the profit margin. Howard Wilson, a lean services facilitator for the NWIRC will be the workshop instructor. Cost for the workshop is $295 and includes lunch. For more information or to register, contact Jean Miller at (814) 456-6299 or via email at jmiller@nwirc.org.

Workshop Dates and Locations

June 29, 2010 - 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. at the Penn State Shenango Campus, 147 Shenango Avenue, Sharon, PA

September 28, 2010 - 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. at the NWIRC, 1250 Tower Lane, Erie, PA

October 14, 2010 - 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. at the CEC, 4 Erie Street, St. Mary's, PA

Alliance Closes $25,000 RLF Loan

The Economic Progress Alliance recently awarded a $25,000 loan from its Alliance Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) to assist Heil Control, LLC, with the purchase of equipment for the upgrade and expansion of its post-harvest, sprout inhibiting service.

Heil Control has been in operaton since 1965 and is an agricultural services business, which currently provides sprout inhibiting treatment services to potato growers throughout Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, and Michigan. Joseph Smith, owner, purchased the company in January 2010. He has worked in the business for several years and has a thorough understanding of its operation with a strong plan for expanding the business. The Alliance RLF loan will be used to purchase new equipment for conversion to an updated system for the potato treatment process and will also be used to purchase new equipment to add a similar treatment service for apple growers in the same geographical area. This upgrade and expansion will allow the company to grow and create several new jobs within the next few years; so we wish Joe much success in his endeavors.