Broadcast News — February 2010

2009 Mercer County Industrial Directory is Available

The Penn-Northwest Development Corporation is pleased to announce that the 2009 edition of the Mercer County Industrial Directory is available. 

The directory contains the names and contact information of manufacturing and industrial establishments within Mercer County.  The cost for the printed directory is $15.00 per copy, plus postage.  The directory is also available on a CD at a cost of $25.00, which includes the directory in both .pdf and .csv file forms.  The Penn-Northwest Development Corporation extends its thanks to all the companies that have provided information for this annual publication. 

Visit www.penn-northwest.com or call 724-662-3705 to order your copy.  Members of the Penn-Northwest Development Corporation are eligible to receive a complimentary copy upon request.

$4.2 Million Grant for the Regional Technology Center of Excellence/Incubator & Green Skills Learning Laboratory Project at LindenPointe Innovative Business Campus in Hermitage, PA

The City of Hermitage has been notified that U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke announced a $4.2 million EDA grant to the City of Hermitage to assist in financing the constuction of the Leadership in Energy and Evnironmental Design certified Technology Center at the LindenPointe Innovative Business Campus in Hermitage, Mercer County, PA.  The $5.5 million project includes a $1.25 million Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program grant previously announced by Governor Edward G. Rendell.   The EDA and Commonwealth investments will fund the construction of a 15,000 square foot "Technology Center of Excellence/Incubator and Green Skills Learning Laboratory" at LindenPointe which is located just north of the junction of Interstates 80 & 376.

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2009 a Challenging Year Economically

Penn-Northwest Elects Officers

Mercer, PA -January 18, 2010: 

Regarding 2009 economic development activity Larry Reichard, Executive Director of Penn Northwest, said “Without a doubt 2009 was a gut wrenching year economically throughout Mercer County”.   Despite the economic conditions Penn Northwest worked on 15 industrial projects, some of which are ongoing with company decisions pending in 2010.  “With the economy now showing some modest improvement and inquiries increasing we look forward to project activity expanding and employee call backs occurring over the next 6-9 months”, said Reichard.   

During FY 2008/2009, the Business Retention and Expansion Program (BREP) team of chamber of commerce directors completed 263 calls, of which 34% resulted in specific company Customer Action Plans.  Going forward in 2010 the Business Retention and Expansion Program returns in house to Penn Northwest with calls to be implemented by Penn Northwest staff.   “This change is largely driven by a 52% cut in the PA Department of Community and Economic Development programs for the fiscal year and particularly significant cuts in BREP funding” said Reichard.  Targeted calls for 2010 will be a minimum of 100 manufacturers with a specific focus on identifying company needs and subsequently providing value added support services.

Despite the economic challenges, and funding constraints, service levels remained high with all one-stop affiliate organizations including the Gannon Small Business Development Center, the Northwest Industrial Resource Center, and the Northwest Commission International Trade and Development office producing positive results. “The One Stop center now with eight agencies is functionally and cost effectively working very, very well” said Ken Faulconbridge, newly elected Chair of the Corporation.  “The Mercer County Soil Conservation District is the newest agency to locate within the Center”, added Faulconbridge.

The Penn-Northwest Development Corporation (PNDC) also held its annual meeting of the corporation in October 2009.   Officers elected for FY 2009/2010 were: Chair, Kenneth Faulconbridge, Northwest Savings Bank; Vice Chairs,  Lew Kachulis, Gilberts Insurance and Consulting, and Ken Ammann, Mercer County Commissioner; Secretary, Robert Wilson, Roll Forming; Treasurer, John Mastrian,  Strimbu Memorial Fund; and Assistant Secretary/Treasurer, Tony Zucco, Penn Power.

Stepping down as Chair after four years as Chairman of the Corporation was Bill Perrine.  “I’m most grateful for the opportunity to serve as Chair of Penn Northwest and feel we accomplished a lot over my tenure the last four years” said Perrine. 

Accomplishments among others during Mr. Perrine’s tenure as Chair included the completion of Stateline Industrial Park, the establishment of Precision Manufacturing Institute, PMI, in Sharon, capitalization of the PMI educational fund, streamlined loan participation process with the Shenango Valley Enterprise Zone and Penn Northwest, and most notably the formal establishment of the economic development “One –stop” professional center at 749 Greenville Road, Mercer.

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