About Us Our Organization Established in 1967, the Northwest Pennsylvania Regional Planning & Development Commission is an Oil City-based, public, non-profit regional resource for economic and business development as well as community development and planning. Funding for the Northwest Commission comes from local, state, and federal levels of government. We are pleased to provide quality services at no cost to our clients. Our Team The Northwest Commission is comprised of skilled professionals dedicated to sustaining economic vitality and growth in the northwest Pennsylvania region by fostering local, state, and federal partnerships across public and private sector lines. The Board of Directors represents county governments, private business, county planners, tourism, and economic development corporations throughout the region. Our Services The Northwest Commission strives to produce private sector job creation and retention through its economic and business development programs such as government contracting, business financing, international marketing assistance, keystone innovation zones, and business attraction. The Northwest Commission also provides community development and planning services such as grants, transportation, energy, community revitalization, and technology assistance to help communities stay progressive. Our Region We are proud to serve eight counties in northwest Pennsylvania including: Clarion, Crawford, Erie, Forest, Lawrence, Mercer, Venango, and Warren. 1 nwcommission.org Mission & Vision mission statement Provide leadership and assistance as well as collaborate and cooperate with our partners in strengthening business and job growth and improving the environment for economic and community development across the northwest Pennsylvania region. vision statement Northwest Pennsylvania will grow in its business and economic vitality, its residents will become more prosperous, and the quality of life will be enhanced in the region’s counties and communities. Adopted by the Board of Directors in October 2004 Developed by Staff and Board of Directors with Legislator input nwcommission.org 2 Chair Message A look back to the year 2009……Boy, what a year!!! With the beginning of a new year, everyone’s best intentions are to adopt some sort of personal weight-control program. Well, instead of personal attempts, the Northwest Commission will be doing their own program that will give a unique direction for every one of us doing more with less. Last year, accounts of bad economic news foretold a dire budgetary picture for the state of Pennsylvania and es- pecially for the northwest region. Loss of state and federal dollars, mixed with economic news that affected every segment of our world, gave everyone the clear message and realization that we all will be conducting business in a different manner. 2010 will bring another year of uncertainty! All indications are that it will be worse than last year. Chairperson, Donna R. Hartle If that is the case, we must be able to adapt to those changes and continue to be a leader providing the high-quality, value-added services to the businesses and industries in our region, with the result of improving the region’s economic climate. Our Vision and Mission Statements must guide us through these troubled times. Unique challenges will be there for us in 2010, but with the talent found in the Northwest Team, Board of Directors and Partners, we will continue to weather whatever storm confronts us. Our mission to grow, prosper and enhance our region’s businesses and industry members are the necessary components that we will need to remember as we chart the proper course in providing services to those in our northwest region. 3 nwcommission.org Executive Message As I look back and reflect on all that happened in 2009, I am proud of what the Commission has accomplished. Because board members provided leadership during a tough budget year and partners continued to support our programs and training events, Commission staff was able to remain focused on providing assistance to businesses and communities across northwest Pennsylvania. It was a year of uncertainty as the economy took a turn for the worse and companies struggled to maintain status quo, while local governments worked hard to balance their budgets. The Commission was also affected by the down-turn in the economy, as the Local Development Districts received a forty percent cut in the Commonwealth budget. Tough decisions had to be made, and I would like to specifically thank the Board of Directors for their guidance and support in transitioning the Commission to a more efficient organization. Executive Director, Denise G. McCloskey Staff remained positive and focused on their goals, which led to several achievements that deserve acknowledge- ment: the completion and adoption of the Regional Greenways Plan; the submission and approval of second- round Keystone Innovation Zone funding; a successful and well-attended Connect-2-Communities Conference; the completion of the 4-county Digital Parcel Conversion Project; the designation of the Route 6 Western Pennsylvania Heritage Coordinator; and, the establishment of an Export Compliance Center. As we look toward 2010, one thing is certain: the Commission rose to the occasion in 2009 by meeting the chal- lenges that were handed down. A special thanks to those who supported the Commission and helped make 2009 a successful year. nwcommission.org 4 Clarion County Impacts Clarion University Makes Connections with Asia Loan Dollars: $8,996 Clarion Oaks/Paint Boulevard Bridges In early spring of 2009, Clarion University participated in the Pennsylvania Educa- International Sales: $3,450 Limestone NCABB Bridge tion Mission to Japan, South Korea & Taiwan. The University met with the Dean of Government Sales: $52,000 Billings Station Phase 1 International Programs and Education at Dongguk University in Korea and signed a KIZ Grants: $6,000 2009 Clarion Bridge Preservation KIZ Tax Credits: $100,000 Stroup NCABB Bridge Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to develop a foreign student Transportation Funding: $15,366,695 2009 Clarion Guiderail exchange program. Also, Hawthorn Bridge #4 as a result of the Mission, Companies Assisted Clarion ADA Curb Ramps Clarion University received Lawsonham Bridge #2 Allegheny Wood Products West Brinkerton Bridge an on-site visit in October Car Mate Trailers, Inc. from the ISI Global Group Charles Machine, Inc. Communities / of Japan. Clarion University Clarion Bathware Organizations Assisted and ISI Global Group enjoyed Clarion Boards Clarion Laminates Ashland Township a productive meeting and Clarion Research Group Beaver Township are currently discussing a Clarion University of PA Clarion Borough potential MOU. In a letter of Commodore Homes of PA Clarion County appreciation, Dr. Gant, Delta Technology Solutions Clarion County Planning Divani Chocolate Boutique Clarion Hospital Assistant Vice President for International Programs, explains “many college Donald L Shirey Lumber, Inc. Clarion County Technology Task Force leaders are coming to understand, that in a global economy, they need to Himes Sales and Service Central Electric Cooperative produce graduates and develop faculty members with strong international skills.” Hydro Enclosures, Inc. Farmington Township M and B Services Knox Township Nature’s Blend Wood Products, Inc. Knox Borough Limestone Township Receives Broadband Assistance Structural Modulars, Inc. Limestone Township The Northwest Commission has provided technology and broadband-related assistance Terra Works Millcreek Township through various programs since 1999. Prominent among these programs is the Bona Visual Logic Paint Township Fide Retail Request (BFRR) program. Funded since 2007, the program recognizes that Zaber & Co., Inc. Redbank Township many rural communities do not have adequate access to high-speed Internet services. Transportation The program allows communities to “petition” their respective phone company for high-speed Internet service and, when an adequate number of petitions are received, Piney Dam Road NCABB Bridge the phone company must install high-speed Internet service within one year. 2009 Clarion County SIA One community in Limestone Township thought they had completed the process in 2008. However, as the deadline for installation approached, people in the community began receiving conflicting information from the telephone company, and the installation was in question. The primary point of contact at the phone company responded to one inquiry with information that seemed to contradict earlier specifications of the number of petitions required, and that additional forms would need to be completed. Frustrated, these individuals contacted Representative Donna Oberlander’s office who referred them to the Northwest Commission. The Commission worked with the community to confirm and clarify BFRR information. This information was compiled and presented to company officials. On November 3rd, 2009 the Commission and community were notified that they would be recognized as having met the program requirements retrospectively, and that service would be installed by August 2010. 5 nwcommission.org Crawford County Impacts Penn-Sylvan International, Inc. SR 408 over Muddy Creek Loan Dollars: $1,265,106 Plant Advancements SR 1020 over Clark’s Run ECR $400,000 in KIZ Tax Credits Awarded to International Sales: $21,074,596 Platts Mill, Inc. Crawford Group 191/2009 Northwest Pennsylvania KIZ Companies Government Sales: $13,426,519