Week of: February 5, 2018
OUR MISSION:
JARI will be the collaborative force that enhances all aspects of our region to grow a diverse economy and build vibrant communities.
Augustine Die & Mold Receives HUBZone Certification
Lenora Leasure
PTAC Program Manager
 
Congratulations to Augustine Die & Mold (ADM) on their recent HUBZone certification. Due to designation updates in July 2017, ADM was able to take advantage of the Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUBZone) program. The program helps urban and rural small businesses gain additional access to federal procurement opportunities. Benefits of being HUBZone certified include competitive contracting, a 10% price evaluation preference, and even sole sourcing. The federal government has a goal of awarding 3% of prime contracts to HUBZone certified small business and prime contractors also have a 3% subcontracting goal.

Although there are several eligibility requirements including the business be physically located in a HUBZone, companies often have trouble meeting the employee residence requirement.  A minimum of 35% of a company’s employees must live in a HUBZone in order for a business to be eligible to apply for HUBZone certification. Prior to July 2017, only a few census tracts within Somerset County were eligible. Now, the entire county is designated as a HUBZone, thus opening the program up to more Somerset County businesses.   

Congratulations, again, to Augustine Die & Mold. If you would like to learn more about the HUBZone or have any government contracting assistance needs, please contact the JARI PTAC at (814) 254-4022 or (814) 254-4023 or via email at jariptac@jari.com .
Announcing the New Maker-to-Manufacturing Commercialization Center
Catalyst Connection

Catalyst Connection is partnering with JARI and the University of Pittsburgh to provide both physical and virtual support to small entities seeking to commercialize their products. These organizations will work as a single virtual center to mentor entrepreneurs, support the scaling of start-ups to more robust economic expansion and job creation, connect innovators to the manufacturing supply chain, provide access to maker spaces, connect entrepreneurs to the region’s high-powered academic institutions, and provide access to seed capital.

The new virtual Maker-to-Manufacturing Commercialization Center (M2M) connects entrepreneurial makers and small businesses to a larger ecosystem of manufacturing. M2M offers services and resources including:

  • Technical Assistance - Assistance with prototype development, market research, business case development, sales and marketing strategies, production strategies, distribution strategies, and access to early stage capital.
  • Makers-to-Manufacturers Peer Network - to provide guidance, an education and training program that includes workshops and webcasts on topics including innovation and commercialization, and access to emerging Maker Spaces in the region.
  • Supply Chain Buyers Network Startup companies can engage with supply chains in various industry clusters to make connections and gain entry into new markets.

If you would like to discuss your business needs and eligibility, contact Mike Evans at (412) 918-4283 or mevans@catalystconnection.org .
Creating Customer Delight and Enhancing Relationships
Michele Clapper
VP, Economic Development
 
Dr. Randy Frye, Saint Francis University, will present “ Creating Customer Delight and Enhancing Relationships ” on Tuesday, February 20th, at a JARI Lunch & Learn event. Workshop participants will learn the salient principles of customer service/satisfaction and relationship building and maintenance; understand the difference between customer service and the customer experience; and will be inspired to do their best to create the finest customer experience in their respective organizations. Customer service and relationship management concepts are explicitly applied to their organization settings.

This Lunch & Learn will be held at JARI Center (160 Jari Drive, Johnstown, PA) from 12:00 PM to 1:15 PM. The cost to register is $5 per person and lunch will be provided. Click here to register. Please register by February 19th. No shows on the day of the event that have registered will be billed.
Craft Business Thursday @ Creator Square
Community Arts Center of Cambria County

The Community Arts Center of Cambria County will be hosting the fourth Craft Business Thursday @ Creator Square on Thursday, February 22nd from 6:00-8:00 pm at the Community Arts Center’s Goldhaber-Fend Fine Arts Center gallery (1217 Menoher Boulevard, Johnstown). The Craft Business Thursday @ Creator Square is a series of monthly lectures featuring a special artist guest speaker. This month’s lecture will include entertainment by local acoustic musician, along with wine, beer, and refreshments. Kim Fox, an artist in the medium of tins and salvaged wood, as well as art teacher, designer and illustrator, will be the fourth speaker in the Creator Square, Craft Business Thursday Speaker Series. 
 
The goals of this series for Craft Business Thursday’s @ Creator Square are to: update the community on Creator Square’s progress in anticipation of the building’s renovation and program roll out in 2018-19; discuss concepts like ‘craft business,’ ‘makers movement,’ and entrepreneurialism; feature a talented and accomplished craft business person/maker during each evening’s lecture/workshop.

For more information, please click here .
February 8, 2018
JARI Center for Business Development
160 Jari Drive, Johnstown
12 PM to 1:15 PM
JARI
Showcase for Commerce
JARI PTAC
Contact Us:
(814) 535-8675 | info@jari.com | www.jari.com