NEPA Alliance is committed to working with regional small businesses and nonprofits during the continued uncertainty surrounding Coronavirus (COVID-19). In cooperation with state and federal agencies, NEPA is offering loan assistance programs to businesses and nonprofits.
NEPA is currently partnering with federal and state agencies to ensure small businesses and nonprofits in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania have available resources accessible to them through the coronavirus crisis. This includes help with the U.S. Small Business Administration low-interest federal disaster loan program for working capital to small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the Coronavirus. In addition, NEPA also has numerous business loan programs that offer low fixed interest rates to businesses in the seven-county region of Northeastern Pennsylvania.
For the latest information, please contact NEPA at 866-758-1929 or visit NEPA's COVID-19 Response site. Information is continually changing, and the assistance programs that are being offered may change. NEPA will continue to evaluate all available options to best serve the Northeastern Pennsylvania business community.
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This month's Membership Spotlight is On&On. NEPA spoke with owners Meegan Possemato and Andrew Planey.
On&On is a vintage, handmade and repurposed retail marketplace. They sell one-of-a-kind homegoods, gifts and vintage items that you just can’t find anywhere else.
On&On started in 2015 with a series of Pop-Up markets in downtown Scranton, eventually moving to their current location at 1138 Capouse Avenue. The building has over 5,000 square feet with plenty of parking.
They have 60+ local artists and vendors who sell items through the business. On&On rents out spaces to local small creators, artists and collectors and provides the marketing and platform to sell their products. On&On has an ever changing inventory of one-of-a-kind items ranging from things you didn't know you needed to things you just are unable to live without.
The owners stated, “We could not have bought our current location without the help of NEPA financing.”
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NEPA Alliance has several loan programs available for small businesses located 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.
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Recently Funded Loans
Brewery – Mountain Top
- This NEPA BFC SBA 504 loan project was completed in partnership with Mauch Chunk Trust Company for the purchase and renovation of commercial real estate and equipment.
Veterinary Office – Honesdale
- This NEPA BFC SBA 504 loan project was completed in partnership with The Honesdale National Bank for the purchase of commercial real estate, building construction, equipment and related legal fees.
Toy Sales and Distribution – Tamaqua
- This NEPA BFC SBA 504 loan project was completed in partnership with Community Bank, N.A. for the purchase of commercial real estate.
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NEPA Alliance Business Finance Corporation is a state-wide CDC allowing for NEPA BFC to lend SBA 504 Loans to eligible small businesses located in the state of Pennsylvania.
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 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
- Up to 90% Loan to Value
- Up to $5.5 Million in SBA Financing
- Unlimited Total Project Cost
SBA 504 Loans Offer:
- As Little as 10% Equity Injection
- Terms up to 25 Years
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Guaranteed Fixed Interest Rate
*Eligibility Criteria Apply*
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The NEPA Alliance Procurement Technical Assistance Center would like to take this opportunity to introduce you to The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Procurement Assistance Division. DOT's role is to ensure small businesses have an equitable opportunity to participate in DOT's direct procurement and federal financial assistance programs. Specific responsibilities include:
- Working closely with DOT's Office of Senior Procurement Executive, Operating Administrations (OAs) and their Small Business Specialists to ensure small businesses have an opportunity to compete for and obtain a fair share of DOT contract and subcontract awards.
- Analyzing procurements for small business preference and set asides, as set forth in federal regulations.
- Serving on DOT's Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) policy group.
- Counseling small businesses and mediating/resolving procurement-related issues.
- Providing administrative oversight and tools to increase small business participation including developing the annual DOT Procurement Forecast, providing resources to encourage subcontracting on DOT opportunities, setting and administering DOT's goals for small businesses, and implementing Partnership Agreements.
Did you know, by the first day of the fiscal year (October 1st), the Department publishes an annual DOT Procurement Forecast. The Forecast provides information on anticipated procurements over the simplified acquisition threshold ($250,000). Maintained as a dynamic database, the Procurement Forecast can be searched by quarter, industry category, agency, and keywords. This is an essential tool for any small business interested in contracting with the U.S. DOT.
- You can find the 2021 searchable forecast HERE.
- You can find the 2022 searchable forecast HERE.
The Procurement Assistance Division is also responsible for compiling and publishing the DOT Subcontracting Directory. This is a list of vendors a small business can provide subcontracting services. This directory includes vendor contacts information.
For support working with the DOT or other federal or state agencies, call the NEPA Alliance PTAC at 570-655-5581 and select option 2.
Source: US DOT Website.
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Global Access Program Webinar with the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce
Thursday, March 18, 2021
10:00 – 11:00 am
Attention Schuylkill County businesses! Join us as we discuss the Global Access Program (GAP). GAP is designed to enhance the capability of small to mid-sized Pennsylvania companies to increase export sales. GAP is administered by the Pennsylvania Office of International Business Development (OIBD) and provides up to $10,000 per award period to qualifying Pennsylvania companies to reimburse up to 75% of eligible expenses associated with specific export promotion activities. The program is funded in part through a grant with the U.S. Small Business Administration. |
Freight Management Webinar
Wednesday, March 24, 2021
10:00 – 11:30 am
The transportation of goods and material is critical to a company’s growth and even survival. To insure that goods and material get to where they need to be, when they need to be there, and at an acceptable price, it is important that a company manages the process. To accomplish this, it is necessary to understand the options, benefits and disadvantages, and price structures of the various transportation options. This program will review all modes of transportation and provide an understanding of the key elements of each.
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Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP)
Drop-In Sessions
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The NEPA Alliance has partnered with PennDOT to offer the Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) training series in all seven NEPA counties. Due to COVID-19 meeting concerns, LTAP has suspended in-person LTAP classes until further notice.
Instead, LTAP is offering classes virtually through the end of the year. To view the current virtual class listings and register for a class, visit the LTAP website.
LTAP is also offering a series of monthly LTAP Virtual Drop-ins centered on various safety and maintenance topics. These sessions are not virtual classes; they are informal hour-long live sessions focused on networking and sharing information with other municipal roadway personnel.
Information about the virtual drop-in sessions can be found on the LTAP website under the Bulletin Board section here.
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Looking for New Nonprofit Grant Opportunities? |
Don’t forget that NCAC Members receive remote 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 Foundations fit your programmatic needs, how much to ask for and where to go for more information. 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 Athena Aardweg, Community Services Manager for NCAC, at [email protected] or 570-891-4662. |
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Did you know that by clicking here, wage information by occupation is available from the Pennsylvania Center for Workforce Information & Analysis? A description of the occupations by Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) is available here. Since the wage information is dated May 2019, they can be adjusted to current dollars by using the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index Inflation Calculator, which is available here.
For additional information, contact Steve Zaricki at 570-891-4671 or 866-758-1929.
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"This institution is an equal opportunity employer." |
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