NEPA Alliance was pleased to host the Ben Franklin Technology Partners Northeast Advisory Board on Friday, October 21, 2022. Thanks to our friend and partner, Ken Okrepkie for bringing the group to NEPA Alliance. To learn more about Ben Franklin Technology Partners, click here.

Governor Tom Wolf recently signed into law a budget that puts Pennsylvania on a path to lowering our

corporate net income tax (CNIT) to 4.99 percent. This will effectively cut the CNIT in half from its

current rate – a move that will improve Pennsylvania’s business climate, make us more competitive for

business projects, and give businesses even more reason to expand or relocate to Pennsylvania.

For more information, click here.

This month’s Membership Spotlight is Maternal & Family Health Services (MFHS). NEPA spoke with Communications & Digital Marketing Specialist Jean Holmgren.

MFHS is a private non-profit health and human services organization that works to meet the health and nutrition needs of Northeastern Pennsylvania’s women, children and families with information, education, and quality care. Founded in 1971, MFHS oversees and supports a network of health and nutrition centers in 16 Pennsylvania counties, serving over 90,000 women, men and children annually.

MFHS provides accessible healthcare services through six core programs: the Reproductive Health Family Planning Program; the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC); the Healthy Beginnings Plus Prenatal and Maternity Care Program; the Nurse-Family Partnership Home Visitation Program; Behavioral Health Integration and Substance Abuse Screenings; and the SafeTeens Reproductive Health Initiative.

Their main goal is giving the community an opportunity to thrive. They do this by providing the necessary resources for those in need in Northeast PA. MFHS collaborates with other non-profits and health organizations to help break down health barriers in the community. The recent efforts are focused on combating opioid abuse, specifically in pregnant women in the service area.

The two words most associated with MFHS by customers is “helping” and “caring.” MFHS champions these values by committing to quality work and service, being accountable for their actions and interactions, respecting all individuals and showing excellent performance.

Ms. Holmgren says, "The NEPA Alliance provides MFHS the resources to help grow and strengthen our capacity.”

To learn more about Maternal & Family Health Services, visit their website at www.mfhs.org

NEPA is soliciting capital projects that are need of New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC). Specifically, we are seeking projects from eligible distressed census tracks within the Commonwealth of PA that have capital estimates that range from $6-$60M. NEPA will be applying to the U.S. Treasury seeking a NMTC allocation for 2023. Contact Kurt Bauman or Steve Ursich. For more on New Market Tax Credits, click here.

The Get Connected Program, an eCommerce program for small businesses to improve their website presence and increase online sales, is actively seeking applications for businesses in Lackawanna County. Information about the program and an application intake form are available here.

As part of the eligibility requirements, candidate firms must complete two online trainings that were developed by the Small Business Development Centers at The University of Scranton and Wilkes University. Registration for the first training is here. To be considered for the first-come first-serve program, please complete the application intake form and the first training. NEPA is grateful to the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development and the Lackawanna County Board of Commissioners for their continued financial support of this Program. 

For additional information, contact Kurt Bauman at 570-891-4665 or Steve Zaricki at 570-891-4671 or 866-758-1929.

Our general annual membership starts at $275.

Need more information visit our membership hub or contact Donna Hritz at [email protected] or call 570-891-4666.

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

Financing Structure

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

The easy answer: CPARS is the Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System. It is an online web application that is used to collect and manage Contractor Performance Assessment Reports, which are also known as contractor evaluations or report cards.

What does it mean to government contractors? Past performance is relevant information, for future source selection purposes, regarding a contractor’s actions under previously awarded contracts or orders. It includes the contractor’s record of conforming to requirements and to standards of good workmanship; forecasting and controlling costs; adherence to schedules, including the administrative aspects of performance; reasonable and cooperative behavior and commitment to customer satisfaction; reporting into databases; integrity and business ethics; and business-like concern for the interest of the customer. [Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 42.1501]

There are three components within CPARS. The first component is CPARS, used to report on contracts for Systems, Operations Support, Services, Information Technology, Architect-Engineer Services, and Construction. The second component is the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System, or FAPIIS. FAPIIS is used to record adverse actions on contracts and grants, such as Terminations for Default and Defective Pricing. The third component is View Performance Records. View Performance is used to provide source selection officials with the contractor past performance information they use to make best value contract award decisions.

For the three components, we can see government officials use multiple sources of information when making award decisions. Agencies are instructed to use CPARS to create and measure the quality and timely reporting of awarded contractor performance information.

What can Government Contract Officers and Buyers document in CPARS?

What can Contractor Government Award Recipients do here?

Note – Contractor Government Award Recipients may view only their own data. To do so, you must be registered in the “System for Award Management” (SAM) and must have created a Marketing Partner Identification Number (MPIN) in the SAM profile to access this information.

Source: https://www.cpars.gov 

The Pennsylvania Global Access Program (GAP) 10 is officially open! GAP is designed to help small to mid-sized PA businesses increase export sales. Eligible businesses can receive a maximum award of $10,000 per grant, and up to two awards per award period. The funding reimburses business up to 75% of qualifying expenses for specific export promotion activities.

Eligible activities Include:

Click here or contact Debbie Langan to learn more.

PennDOT is currently accepting applications for funding through its Multimodal Transportation Fund. Applications are due by November 14, 2022. 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.

To register, visit https://gis.penndot.gov/ltap/ 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 Daniel Yelito at [email protected] or (570) 891-4652.

LTAP will also continue offering online classes, webinars and virtual drop-in sessions. To learn more about upcoming virtual offerings, visit https://gis.penndot.gov/ltap/.  

Gina Svoboda is interning with NCAC as a non-traditional student from Misericordia University in Dallas, PA. Ms. Svoboda has a unique and diverse background to include military and government, business, the arts, and a return to school.

Click here to learn more.

Don’t forget that NCAC Members receive access and assistance in accessing the Foundation Directory Online, the most comprehensive foundation database. With access to informative profiles of over 235,000 U.S. foundations, you’ll know exactly which foundation fits your programmatic needs, how much to ask for and where to go for more information. NCAC members can receive access to the Foundation Directory Online by visiting our in office workstation any time during normal business hours. Don’t forget that we’re here to help with all your nonprofit needs! For more information on this service, as well as membership benefits, contact Betsy Ardizoni, Community Services Manager for NCAC, at [email protected] or 570-891-4662.

Did you know that the Pennsylvania State Data Center has available 2010 and 2020 Census Actual Count Population Data for all Pennsylvania counties and municipalities? To access the information, click here and then click the Excel file, which has two Tabs: County and Municipal.

For additional information, contact Steve Zaricki at 570-891-4671 or 866-758-1929.