NEPA Alliance Membership Campaign |
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NEPA Alliance is conducting its annual membership campaign.
The NEPA Alliance values the opportunity to work with all stakeholders in our seven-county region. Our goal is to provide the best possible community and economic development services to create and retain jobs in Northeastern Pennsylvania.
Membership Benefits
- FREE Networking Reception Invite for 1 Person
- FREE Use of Meeting Space
- FREE Member Spotlight
- Discount on NEPA event costs
- Discount on Business Loan (.5%)
- Discounted Economic Impact Analysis/Research
- Sponsorship & Marketing Opportunities
NEPA Alliance serves businesses, communities and governments throughout seven counties and we need your assistance!
Our general annual membership starts at $275.
You can complete your membership online, including payment by clicking the button below.
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Member Spotlight
Mercury Public Affairs
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This month’s membership spotlight is Mercury Public Affairs. NEPA spoke with Senior Vice President Vincent Galko.
Mercury is a global, high-stakes public strategy firm, who with the help of experts, execute winning campaigns for singular brands across diverse industries. They have 22 offices worldwide with 190 experts on board helping 550 clients.
The firm carries out a multitude of capabilities such as Government Relations/Lobbying; Public Affairs and Community Relations; Branding and Market Research; Digital, Mail and Electronic Advertising; Campaign Management and Digital Auditing; and Crisis Management.
Mercury has a culture of excellence that is driven by creating exceptional results for their clients. Their team’s commitment to innovation, collaboration, and creativity helps their clients succeed in high-stakes situations. They are a full-service consulting firm that offers personalized attention and expertise to their clients.
Having a diverse group of experts who excel in areas of business, government, media, technology and politics gives them a global reach and an opportunity to give back to the community.
Mr. Galko says, “The insight and collaboration from NEPA members are not only valuable to the growth of our business, but also essential to our connection to the region.”
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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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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
Day Care – Eynon
- This NEPA SBA 504 loan project was completed in partnership with Fidelity Bank for the purchase of commercial real estate
Construction Contractor – Stroudsburg
- This NEPA SBA 504 loan project was completed in partnership with M&T Bank for the purchase of commercial real estate
Boarding Stable – Lehighton
- This NEPA SBA 504 loan project was completed in partnership with Jim Thorpe Neighborhood Bank and Carbon Chamber & Economic Development Corporation 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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PennDOT Green Light-Go Program Now Open
Application Period Closes January 14, 2022
PennDOT is currently accepting applications for funding through Green Light-Go Program. Applications are due by January 14, 2022. Applicants are required to complete a project scoping form by December 3, 2021 to ensure that the project scope is consistent with the program goals and requirements, and will allow PennDOT to assist applicants with refining the scope to ensure a successful project
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.
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Update On CMMC
In November, the Department of Defense (DoD) announced an update to the strategic direction of the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Program, marking the completion of an internal program assessment led by senior leaders across the DoD.
As a result, companies are no longer required to obtain certification under CMMC 1.0 since the entire framework was suspended. The DoD intends to replace it with release CMMC 2.0.
The enhanced CMMC 2.0 Program will maintain the original goal of safeguarding sensitive information while:
- Simplifying the CMMC standard and providing additional clarity on cybersecurity regulatory, policy, and contracting requirements;
- Focusing the most advanced cybersecurity standards and third-party assessment requirements on companies supporting the highest priority programs; and,
- Increasing DoD oversight of professional and ethical standards in the assessment ecosystem.
Together, these enhancements will:
- Ensure accountability for companies to implement cybersecurity standards while minimizing barriers to compliance with DoD requirements;
- Instill a collaborative culture of cybersecurity and cyber resilience; and,
- Enhance public trust in the CMMC ecosystem while increasing overall ease of execution.
“CMMC 2.0 will dramatically strengthen the cybersecurity of the defense industrial base,” said Mr. Jesse Salazar, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Policy. “By establishing a more collaborative relationship with industry, these updates will support businesses in adopting the practices they need to thwart cyber threats while minimizing barriers to compliance with DoD requirements.”
Because the Defense Industrial Base (DIB) is the target of increasingly frequent and complex cyberattacks by adversaries and non-state actors, dynamically enhancing DIB cybersecurity to meet these evolving threats, and safeguarding the information to support and enable our warfighters, is a top priority for the DoD. CMMC is a key component of the DoD’s expansive DIB cybersecurity effort.
What is the timeline for CMMC 2.0? The DoD has specified while the publication of CMMC 2.0 materials can be understood to reflect strategic intent, there will be no contractual requirements for CMMC 2.0 until formal rulemaking is complete. This process can take 9-24 months. The time from the first published draft of CMMC 1.0 to Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement 7021 was 22 months.
If you have any questions on CMMC 2.0 and how it applies to your business in the federal contracting arena, please do not hesitate to call 570-655-5581 and select option two to speak with a PTAC staff member.
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PA International Joint Venture Partnership Information
Pennsylvania's Department of Community & Economic Development (DCED) Office of International Business Development regularly receives economic development lead opportunities from its authorized international representatives concerning businesses that have expressed interest in locating in, investing in, trading with, contracting with, or partnering with businesses located in PA. Visit DCED's Joint Venture Partnership Program Opportunities website to view the latest opportunities from international companies interested in working with a Pennsylvania-based company. |
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 counties.
Currently there are no In-Person LTAP Classes scheduled for December. However, there are 19 recorded LTAP webinar classes available on the PennDOT LTAP website ranging from “Stormwater Management” to “Speed Limits on Local Roads.” In addition, there is one virtual Drop-In session available on GIS for Municipal Assets this December which is called Introduction to GIS for Municipal Asset Management Drop-In Session on December 2, 2021 - 11:00 A.M. to 12 P.M. These Drop-In sessions are not virtual classes; they are informal one hour live sessions focused on networking and sharing information with other municipal roadway personnel. Along with this GIS Drop-In session, there are 26 pre-recorded sessions ranging from “Common Issues in Alleys” to “Sight Distances Issues at Intersections” and everything in between. Stay tuned for upcoming In-Person classes in 2022.
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, Transportation Services Manager, NEPA Alliance at 570-891-4652 or email dyelito@nepa-alliance.org. |
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 foundation fits 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 Aaardweg@nepa-alliance.org or 570-891-4662. |
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Did you know that new Demographic & Economic Analytic Data Sheets have been completed for the nation, state, region and each of the seven Northeastern Pennsylvania counties? Click here to access the information.
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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