Monday, March 11, 2024

10:00 AM – 3:00 PM

“The Venue” Culinary Creations by Metz

28 Concorde Drive, Dupont, PA 18641

Join us for Bringing the World to Northeastern Pennsylvania! Meet one-on-one with Pennsylvania’s 13 Authorized Trade Representatives (ATRs), learn about the business resources available to your company, and network at this unique event.  

Covering 44 international markets worldwide, the ATRs are professional business consultants contracted by the state to help Pennsylvania companies export by providing:

• Customized foreign market intelligence

• Agent and distributor candidates

• Trade show identification

• In-country appointment setting 

• And much more!

There is no cost to attend, but registration is required. Space is limited! Participants may register to meet up to 5 ATRs. Individual meeting schedules will be prioritized on a first-registered, first-served basis. Please register by Monday, March 4, 2024.

For more information or to register contact Debbie Langan at 570-891-4645.

Funded in part by DCED’s Office of International Business Development

U.S. Small Business Administration

Disaster Assistance Loans

(September Severe Storms & Flooding)

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that Disaster Assistance Loans are available in Lackawanna County; and the contiguous counties of: Luzerne, Monroe, Susquehanna, Wayne, and Wyoming, for small businesses, homeowners, and renters affected by the severe storms and flooding that occurred on September 9, 2023.

SBA has opened up a temporary Disaster Loan Outreach Center to offer assistance with the SBA disaster loan application:

Lackawanna County Center for Public Safety

30 Valley View Drive

Jessup, PA 18434

Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm

Saturday - 10:00 am - 2:00 pm

Closing permanently February 15, 2024 @ 4:00 pm

Please refer to the fact sheet (English) (en_Español) for additional information and application deadlines.

NEPA Assists Ashley Machine & Tool Company

NEPA worked with Ashley Machine & Tool Co. owners, John & Michele Mulhern to help the business purchase and renovate the facility. The business is located in West Wyoming, PA.

Ashley Machine & Tool Company provides customers with the highest quality aerospace components which are developed, manufactured, and delivered according to custom specifications. They specialize in the engineering, machining and quality control of a wide variety of aerospace parts. The company was founded in 1945 and quickly established itself as a quality tool and die machine shop. By 1950, Ashley was serving such customers as the U.S. Navy and the American Chain and Cable Company. They are currently suppliers for some of the largest Aerospace companies in the world such as Northrop Grumman, Daher Aerospace, Goodrich Aerospace and more.

NEPA assisted the business in purchasing the building, which contains over 43,000 of usable square footage and sits on approximately seven acres of land. NEPA provided two loans: one loan from NEPA’s internal Economic Development Administration (EDA) COVID-19 Relief funds and one loan from the PIDA loan program through the Department of Community & Economic Development (DCED) administered through NEPA. NEPA also worked with FNCB Bank as the partnering bank lender on the project.

Pictured from left: Ian Madigan, Senator Bob Casey’s Office; Cody Forgach, Senator John Fetterman’s Office; Paul Macknosky, Department of Community & Economic Development (DCED); John Mulhern Jr., Ashley Machine & Tool; Senator Lisa Baker; Jeffrey Box, NEPA Alliance; Lee Ann McDermott, Luzerne County Council; Zachary Mulhern, Ashley Machine & Tool; Patti Monahan, Senator Bob Casey’s Office; Jack McNulty, NEPA Board of Directors and John Blake, Congressman Matt Cartwright’s Office.

Member Spotlight

Penn's Northeast

This month, our Membership Spotlight is Penn's Northeast. The organization is a regional economic development agency for site selection consultants, real estate brokers, developers, and businesses eyeing expansion or relocation in the 8-county region of Carbon, Columbia, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Schuylkill, and Wayne counties.

At the core of Penn's Northeast is a dedicated commitment to making the process of expanding or relocating businesses as seamless as possible. Acting as a one-stop-shop, they provide invaluable support for businesses aiming to thrive in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

John L. Augustine III, President/CEO of Penn's Northeast, emphasizes the region's unique advantages. "Northeastern PA is fortunate to be within a one day’s drive to 1/3 of the U.S. population and 1/2 of the Canadian population," he states. "Coupled with a dedicated workforce, excellent education systems and a reliable utility system, our region has become a premier choice for businesses looking to grow and be successful."

Penn's Northeast's mission is clear - to enhance the region's economy through new investments, job creation, and increased business opportunities. They achieve this by promoting the assets of Northeastern Pennsylvania to regional, national, and international businesses, brokers, and site selectors. Their unique lead generation activities and targeted business recruitment efforts are propelling the region towards new heights.

For more information visit www.pennsnortheast.com

Job Opening - Economic Development Director

The Carbon Chamber & Economic Development Corporation is seeking an Economic Development Director. The full job description can be found here.

Applicants can submit resumes to Kathy Henderson.

Recently Funded Loans

Stone Saw Shop – Kingsley

• This NEPA BFC SBA 504 loan project was completed in partnership with Wayne Bank for the purchase and renovation of commercial real estate and equipment.

Cleaners – Dallas

• This NEPA BFC SBA CA loan was completed to provide the borrower with working capital.

Accounting Firm – Pottsville

• This NEPA BFC SBA CA loan was completed to provide the borrower capital to purchase an existing business.

Barber Shop – Tamaqua

• This NEPA BFC SBA CA loan was completed to provide the borrower with working capital.

Hospitality Services – Hawley

• This NEPA BFC SBA CA loan was completed to provide the borrower with working capital.

Screen Printing – Duryea

• This NEPA BFC SBA CA loan was completed to provide the borrower with working capital.

Landscaping Services – New Philadelphia

• This NEPA BFC SBA CA loan was completed to provide the borrower with working capital.

Construction – Throop

• This NEPA BFC SBA CA loan was completed to provide the borrower with working capital.

Restaurant and Bar – Plains

• This NEPA BFC SBA CA loan was completed to provide the borrower capital to purchase a liquor license and goodwill.

Drilling Services - Greentown

• This NEPA BFC SBA CA loan was completed to provide the borrower with working capital.

Funeral Home – Slatington

• This NEPA BFC SBA CA loan was completed to provide the borrower capital to purchase an existing business.

Restaurant and Bar – Wilkes Barre

• This NEPA BFC SBA CA loan was completed to provide the borrower capital to purchase a liquor license.

Rapid Access to Products in Development (RAPID) Virtual Industry Day

On January 24, 2024 the U.S. Army announced plans to host the Rapid Access to Products in Development (RAPID) Virtual Industry Day on February 16, 2024. Registration closes on February 12, 2024.

The Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Defense, Enabling Biotechnologies (JPEO-CBRND-EB), develops, manufactures, and delivers safe and effective Medical Countermeasures (MCMs) for preparedness, prevention, protection, response, and recovery from CBRN threats.

Today’s chemical and biological threat landscape is diverse, dynamic, and regionally distinct. Agile and flexible defense systems are required to provide Combatant Commands (CCMDs) and other stakeholders throughout the Chemical and Biological Defense Program (CBDP) with actionable information regarding MCM availability at the speed of relevance. The Rapid Access to Products in Development (RAPID) program is an integrated defense system composed of both physical MCM storage and fielding capabilities and a readily accessible information warehouse and sharing system (the RAPID Database).

Collectively, these components of RAPID work synergistically provides CBDP decision makers information for determining portfolio investment strategies and CCMDs with direct access to safe and effective, developmental prophylactics and therapeutics that can be advanced and fielded in response to credible intelligence or chemical/biological surprise.

Review the RAPID virtual industry day invitation.

Source: Intelligence Community News & SAM

Proposed CMMC Rule Spells Out Liability Risks For Noncompliance

Given the repeated delays in rolling out CMMC, it remains to be seen whether the department will be able to keep up with its aggressive timetable. 

By Roger Abbott and Adam Bartolanzo

Read more . . .

Release of DoD Industrial Strategy Shows ‘Time for Action is Now’ 

The defense industrial base is facing a number of challenges, and the release of the National Defense Industrial Strategy signals the government is ready to tackle these problems, a senior official said.

Read more . . .

RAISE Grant Program Now Open!

Application Deadline is February 28th

The U.S. Department of Transportation is currently accepting applications for funding through the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) discretionary grant program for FFY 2024. Applications are due by February 28, 2024. 

The RAISE Program provides investments in surface transportation that will have a significant local or regional impact and projects that improve equity and environmental justice by addressing transportation-related disparities and climate change related consequences. Selected projects will improve safety, environmental sustainability, quality of life, mobility and community connectivity, economic competitiveness and opportunity, state of good repair, partnership and collaboration, and innovation. States, local governments, transit agencies and transportation authorities are eligible to apply. Funding can be used for a variety of capital projects and planning projects. More information can be found here.

The Northeastern Pennsylvania Alliance (NEPA) has partnered with PennDOT to offer the Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) training series in all seven NEPA counties: Carbon, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Schuylkill and Wayne. 

Asset Management

Tuesday, March 5, 2024

8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Schuylkill Community Education Council

1 West Centre Street

Senator James J. Rhoades Downtown Center

Mahanoy City, PA 17948

(570) 773-1270

Website

Geosynthetics

Tuesday, March 12, 2024

8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Wayne Township, Schuylkill County

10 Municipal Road

Schuylkill Haven, PA 17972

(570)739-2629

Website

Winter Maintenance Planning

Tuesday, March 26, 2024

8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Schuylkill Community Education Council

1 West Centre Street

Senator James J. Rhoades Downtown Center

Mahanoy City, PA 17948

(570) 773-1270

Website

NEPA is scheduling Winter and Spring 2024 classes. Please contact Daniel Yelito, Transportation Services Manager, at 570-655-5581 ext. 264 or email [email protected] if you are interested in holding an LTAP class in your area. 

LTAP will also continue offering online classes, webinars and virtual drop-in sessions. To learn more about upcoming virtual offerings, visit the PennDOT LTAP website.  

PA Historical and Museum Commission Announces Keystone Historic Preservation Grant Program

The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission invites nonprofit organizations and local governments to apply for the Keystone Historic Preservation Grant Program. Grants support projects that identify, preserve, promote, and protect historic and archaeological resources in Pennsylvania for both the benefit of the public and community revitalization. Applications are due March 1, 2024. For more information, click here.

Northeastern Pennsylvania trails the nation in terms of households with broadband internet access. According to new data released by the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 88.3% of American households have broadband internet access. In Pennsylvania, 87.1% of households have broadband internet access, while only 84.4% of households have access. Monroe and Pike Counties are the only two counties in Northeastern Pennsylvania with greater broadband access than the national average.

Households with Broadband Internet Access

United States - 88.3%

Pennsylvania - 87.1%

NEPA Region - 84.4%

Carbon County - 83.9%

Lackawanna County - 84.8%

Luzerne County - 83.0%

Monroe County - 89.5%

Pike County - 88.5%

Schuylkill County - 81.7%

Wayne County - 82.8%

For additional information, contact Tyler Day, Community & Economic Development Manager, at 570-891-4656 or 866-758-1929.