November News

Johnson College Receives Grant

NEPA presented Johnson College with a $76,974 Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) grant. NEPA, in coordination with Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED), Office of Appalachian Development, assisted Johnson College in preparation of the grant and recommended the project to ARC for approval. The goal of this project is to update the technical training systems that Johnson College students utilize in obtaining an educational experience that reflects the latest developments in materials, tools, machinery, equipment, methods and techniques; ultimately allowing for quicker response to industry labor needs.

The $76,974 grant, combined with $76,974 in matching funds from Johnson College, will be used to purchase 12 different "Training Systems" which guarantee the students practical experience with high-technology tools and resources that employers expect them to show proficient use of during their first professional positions in industry. Johnson College was ranked #10 on Forbes "Top 25 Two-Year Trade Schools: Colleges That Can Solve The Skills Gap." This grant opportunity will help ensure Johnson College students have the opportunity to master the skills needed to enter high priority occupations in the ARC region in a way that meets the most current industry standards and provides a family sustaining wage.

International News

Thank you, Michael Horvath!

The NEPA Alliance would like to recognize Michael Horvath who will be retiring on November 30, 2018 after nearly 30 years in the International Business Development Program. Thank you for your service and dedication to the program, our organization, and the region.

Webinar: Exporting Food Products to Canada

Safe Food for Canadians Act

Please join us on Tuesday, December 11 to take a timely and closer look at the latest Safe Food for Canadians Act and what it means for Pennsylvania food exporters to Canada, 2:30 - 3:15 pm EST.

Following your RSVP, we will send webinar details in advance of the online meeting. We plan to discuss the following for about 30 minutes followed by an open period of Q & A:

Safe Food For Canadians Act Introduction; summary of the legislation
What's similar to the U.S. Legislation and what's different
What are some of the key changes for Pennsylvania food exporters
Licensing Requirements - do I need to register and when?
PCP - Preventative Control Plans overview
Canadian Food Inspection Agency CFIA Tools to help discern what your company and broker need to do to move forward

You will also have the opportunity to follow-up after the call with PA's Authorized Trade Representative in Canada via your Regional Export Network partner, NEPA Alliance's Debbie Langan . To RSVP click here.

Local Technical Assistance Program

The Northeastern Pennsylvania Alliance (NEPA) and PennDOT have partnered to offer the Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) training series in the NEPA Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) region, which includes Carbon, Monroe, Pike and Schuylkill counties, as well as the Lackawanna-Luzerne MPO region and Wayne County.

Speed Limits and Speed Management

Thursday, November 8, 2018

8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Pike County Training Center

135 Pike County Blvd.

Lords Valley, PA 18428

(570) 296-1960

Project Oversight- Monitoring Quality By Asking the Right Questions

Tuesday, November 13, 2018

8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Chestnuthill Township Building

271 Route 715

Brodheadsville, PA 18322

(570) 992-7247

www.chestnuthilltwp-pa.gov

Road Safety Audit

Tuesday, November 27, 2018

8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Northeastern Pennsylvania Alliance

1151 Oak Street

Pittston, PA 18640

(570) 655-5581

www.nepa-alliance.org

To register, visit www.ltap.state.pa.us and log on using your username and password. First time users must set up an account by clicking on "Create Account." For technical assistance when registering, call 1-800-FOR-LTAP (1-800-367-5827) or contact Kate McMahon, Senior Transportation Services Manager, NEPA Alliance at 570-655-5581, ext. 249 or kmcmahon@nepa-alliance.org.

PennDOT Multimodal Transportation Fund Grant Program Now Open!

Application Deadline is November 15, 2018

PennDOT is currently accepting applications for funding through its Multimodal Transportation Fund. Applications are due by November 15, 2018. Funding can be used to coordinate local land use with transportation assets to enhance existing communities; for projects related to streetscapes, lighting, sidewalk enhancement and pedestrian safety; for projects improving connectivity or utilization of existing transportation assets; and for projects related to transit-oriented development. Municipalities, counties, school districts, economic development organizations, public transportation agencies, ports, rail freight and passenger rail entities are eligible to apply. A local match of 30% is required. More information can be found on the PennDOT website here .

Please contact Kate McMahon , Senior Transportation Services Manager at 570-655-5581 ext. 249 with any questions.

PennDOT Green Light-Go Program Now Open

Application Period Closes January 11, 2019

PennDOT is currently accepting applications for funding through Green Light- Go Program. Applications are due by January 11, 2019. Funding can be used for a range of operational improvements to existing traffic control signals located in Pennsylvania. These improvements include LED replacement; traffic signal retiming; study and removal of existing traffic-control signals; monitoring; and innovative technologies. Any county, city, borough, incorporated town, township or home rule municipality or any metropolitan planning organization or rural planning organization may apply. A 20% match is required. More information can be found here.

Please contact Kate McMahon, Senior Transportation Services Manager at 570-655-5581 ext. 249 with any questions.

Business Finance News

NEPA Alliance has several loan products available for small businesses in Carbon, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Schuylkill and Wayne counties.

These low cost, low interest loans offer reduced down payments and standard loan term maturities for machinery and equipment, land and building acquisition, construction and renovation. Loan rates are fixed and generally below the prime lending rate.

Eligible businesses include Manufacturers, Industrial, Agriculture/Agribusiness, Hospitality & Tourism Related Enterprises, Recyclers, Day Cares, Computer Related Services, Advanced Technology, and Retail and Service Related Businesses. Other business sectors may also qualify.

To learn more about these loan programs, contact Stephen Ursich, Dave Nat or Ken Doolittle at 570-655-5581 or 866-758-1929.

NEPA Alliance Business Finance Corporation has Small Business Administration (SBA) 504 loans available for eligible small businesses in Carbon, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Schuylkill and Wayne counties.

Financing Structure

A bank or other lender finances 50% of the project cost and takes a first lien position on the assets financed. The SBA 504 loan NEPA-BFC Tree

finances 40% of the project cost up to $5.5 million and takes a second lien position. The borrower then contributes a down payment of as little as 10%.

Small Businesses can Receive:

Subordinate Financing
40% Funding
Up to $5.5 Million in Financing Available
Market Based Fixed Rate Financing

SBA 504 Loans Offer:

Low Down Payments
Long Term Maturities (10 & 20 Years)

*Eligibility Criteria Apply*

To learn more about this loan program, contact Stephen Ursich, Dave Nat or Ken Doolittle at 570-655-5581 or 855-266-9021.

Visit www.nepabfc.org

PTAC Announces Staff Return

Jeffrey Box, President & CEO of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Alliance, is pleased to announce that Frank Migneco has returned to the Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC).

Frank, a Government Procurement Manager, will be networking with clients and providing technical, marketing and informational assistance to businesses regarding government contracting opportunities. In addition to helping these companies with their expansion or entry into contracting with federal, state, and local governments, he will be assisting in the administration of the PTAC program.

Frank resides in Carbon County with his wife, Linda. His background is in program design, planning, implementation, reporting, marketing, and evaluation, in addition to having significant contract and procurement management experience. Frank received his Bachelor's Degree from Southampton College of Long Island University and Master's Degree from Montclair State University.

The PTAC at the Northeastern Pennsylvania Alliance is the only PTAC covering Carbon, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Schuylkill & Wayne counties in Northeastern Pennsylvania. The PTAC serves as a liaison to help local companies, usually small businesses increase sales and growth for our regional economy. NEPA's PTAC staff provides marketing and technical assistance to qualified, competitive companies who wish to bid on government contracts and works with government agencies to help locate suppliers in the region. The tools available from NEPA's PTAC can help companies market their products and qualify their business to be a leading contender in winning a contract with a local, state or federal agency.

For personal and confidential PTAC assistance, please contact Karen Ostroskie , PTAC Senior Government Procurement Manager; Frank Migneco , PTAC Government Procurement Manager; Paula Terpak , PTAC Government Procurement Specialist, or call 570-655-5581.

AFP NEPA's National Philanthropy Day

Registration is now open for AFP NEPA's 2018 National Philanthropy Day celebration. The luncheon will be held on Friday, November 16th at 11:00 AM at the Radisson

Lackawanna Station Hotel.

Each year AFP NEPA honors individuals and organizations that, through their tireless work and dedication to philanthropy, have improved the quality of life in our community and around the world. Recipients of the awards are nominated for demonstrating outstanding commitment and leadership in all aspects of philanthropy.

This year's honorees include:

DeLuca Frigoletto Advertising, Outstanding Small Business
Quandel Construction Group, Inc., Outstanding Corporation
Mike Wood, Outstanding Fundraising Professional
Jude Zayac Foundation, Outstanding Foundation
Students Today, Alumni Forever (Misericordia University), Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy
Linda Keene, Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser
McCarthy Family, Lifetime Achievement

For more information, sponsorship opportunities or to register, click here , or contact Athena Aardweg at 570-655-5581 ext. 251.

NEPA & NCAC Fall Interns

Kate O'Meara is a senior at Marywood University, pursuing her Bachelor's degree in Multimedia Journalism and a Master's degree in Media Management. Her time at the Nonprofit & Community Assistance Center is dedicated to developing specialized funding packages to help nonprofits through the grant seeking process, coordinating capacity building programs, facilitating nonprofit events and further enhancing the outreach and programmatic efforts related to our region's charitable giving sector. Kate plays for Marywood's softball team amongst many other hats such as Assistant News Editor for The Wood Word (Marywood's student-run news outlet), deejay for the on-campus radio station and representative for Student Government Association. When she has a few minutes to spare, you'll find her catching up with friends and family, cooking and binge watching episodes of her all-time favorite show, The Office. We're absolutely delighted with the interest, passion and creative talents Kate's brought thus far and cannot wait to see where this internship takes her!

Donovan Klem is a Senior at Misericordia University pursuing his Bachelor's in Business Administration with a Specialization in Management. His time is spent working on researching and incorporating new business and economic development funding streams into NEPA Alliance's service portfolio, ensuring our region has access to low cost, economic development capital. Donovan will also focus on further developing the Business Finance Center's SBA 504 loan program, as well as the "Bringing the World to Northeastern Pennsylvania" event under the International Business Department. In his spare time, he holds an officer position in the Business Professionals Association at Misericordia University and spends time fishing, camping and with his family in Sullivan County! We're amazed at the energy, insight and knowledge Donovan has brought to NEPA Alliance in this short time and look forward to seeing what the future holds.