Cambria and Somerset County Technology News Posted to Your Inbox

September 20, 2007 

TPI Double Feature:

Harnessing Technology for Microenterprise

MicroMentor is an online service that helps emerging entrepreneurs to grow their businesses by matching them in  mentoring relationships with experienced business professionals having specific industry-based expertise. The group's mentors volunteer their time to meaningfully impact the lives of those new to the world of small business.

My Own Business is an online business planning course for current and aspiring micro and small business owners that teaches the fundamentals of business planning.

Upcoming Enterprise Forum:  The Greater Johnstown KIZ, Johnstown Area Regional Industries, and Pennsylvania Highlands Community College will sponsor the first Enterprise Forum of the academic year on October 9, 2007.  Dr. Chuck Brandt from The Technology Collaborative will be the featured speaker.   Dr. Brandt coordinates the Technology Commercialization Initiative administered by TTC and funded in part by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and a consortium of 52 member firms along with Lehigh University, Carnegie Mellon University, University of Pittsburgh, and Penn State University. 

The TTC, a statewide economic development organization that supports the growth of Pennsylvania's world-class agile robotics, cyber-security and advanced electronic technologies industries, expects to award $1.5 million in technology commercialization funding to university researchers/groups, start-up companies, and established companies based in Pennsylvania on or before April 1, 2008. Through a competitive selection process, TTC intends to award funding to one or more projects that address key engineering design challenges, show a high degree of innovation and most importantly, identify a clear path to commercialization with the potential to significantly impact digital and/or robotics technologies.

Attendees will learn details about the submission process, matching requirements proposal format and evaluation criteria; TTC technology interests; possible corporate sponsorship opportunities; and how to structure program plans, commercialization plans, and IP rights.

Dr. Brandt will also be available to provide preliminary feedback on proposal concepts.  Specific info about the this round of funding can be found at http://www.techcollaborative.org/default.aspx?id=tech_commercialization.  For info about the previous round of awards, click here.

The Enterprise Forum will begin promptly at 5:30 PM in the downtown Johnstown Central Park Complex auditorium at the intersection of Franklin and Locust Streets.  Free parking is available on and around the front of the Complex or in the rear parking lot. Use the Locust Street entrance and take the elevator to the 2nd floor.  Light refreshments and hors d'oeuvres will be served.  The Enterprise Forum is free of charge.

Enterprise Forum, Part II:  JARI will announce the official deployment of a new, regional, economic development Web Portal at the Enterprise Forum.  (The site is currently in Beta release at www.jari.com)  As part of the release, JARI has revamped its online Business Capability Locator.  The Locator is an online marketplace for local companies to list their products, services, and capabilities, and has been used by countless organizations over the last decade to find potential partners, supply chain candidates, and customers among the 200+ companies already listed in its database, which includes all current GJKIZ Companies.

JARI staff will be on hand beginning at 5:30 to assist companies to input their data and to learn how to use the search tools. Please go directly to the Pennsylvania Highlands Community College computer lab on the 2nd floor if you do not wish to attend The Technology Collaborative presentation.

NCMA Meetings:  The Johnstown chapter of the National Contractor Management Association will hold their next meetings on September 20 and October 18.  Joe Nocerino of Century Planning Associates will present Proposal Perfect - Essential Elements for Winning Contracts at the September meeting.  John Polacek of JWF Defense Systems will present From Commercial to Government Contractor, What is Involved? at the October Meeting.

All NCMA meetings begin at 5:30 PM at the Mirage in Richland.  For a complete schedule or more info, contact Tim DiGuiseppe at 814.535.7046.

Kongsberg Kudos:  Kongsberg Defence

JARI Welcomes New Entrepreneurial Development Director: Former JARI President and Board Member Jim Edwards is adding to his illustrious career by becoming the new JARI Director of Entrepreneurial Development.  Among his duties and responsibilities, Jim manages the JARI Center for Business Development and works with the Self Employment Assistance (SEA) program.  Jim can be reached at 814.266.3844 or jedwards@jari.com.

Kermit Schmermit! It's Easy Being Green:  The first annual Pennsylvania Green Growth Partnership Forum will be held September 27-28, 2007 at the Hershey Lodge. This is your chance to mingle with university researchers, green product manufacturers, private investment firms, and others to become more educated about the green building marketplace.  In addition, funding opportunities available through the PAGGP will be highlighted.  Visit www.paggp.org for registration and more info.



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ChemImage Corporation Adds Employees:   Chemimage's Johnstown facility has expanded its permanent workforce beyond its initial hires for the first time.  Matthew Harbart and Jennifer DeCoskey were hired as Application Scientists.  Both are 2007 graduates of St. Francis University with degrees in Chemistry.  Matt was a GJKIZ Innovator Intern prior to his hiring.

ChemImage, headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA develops chemical imaging equipment that combines molecular spectroscopy and digital imaging to deliver analytical information with unprecedented speed and clarity,  targeting pharmaceuticals, biomedicine, forensics, polymers, chemical and biological detection, food safety and environmental remediation.  For more info visit www.chemimage.com

Governor Rendell Announces Mount Aloysius College and Saint Francis University Keystone Innovation Grant Award:  Mount Aloysius College was awarded a $100,000 Keystone Innovation Grant on April 11 to further its technology transfer efforts.  The funds will be shared with Saint Francis University.  Read the full announcement here.

Ed Huttenhower from Saint Francis University (left) and Sister Mary Ann Dillon (2nd from right) and Scott Coulson (right) from Mount Aloysius College receive a $100K KIG check from Rebecca Bagley of the PA Department of Community and Economic Development.

Entrepreneurial Retreat for Professors:  Juniata College is sponsoring an entrepreneurial "bootcamp" June 3 through June 5 in Huntington.  The GJKIZ endorses this training for all GJKIZ college and university faculty.  For more info, to register, or to apply for a scholarship, click here.

Community Partnerships RC&D is hosting a grant workshop June 11 through 15 at the Union County Government Center in Lewisburg.  For info, contact Lori Mitzel at 717.248.4901 or midstatercd@yahoo.com.

Government Contracting Symposium Held in Somerset:  JARI, the Somerset County Economic Development Council, and the Somerset County Chamber of Commerce hosted a state and federal government procurement symposium on April 25.  Over 40 attendees participated in presentations about doing business with the Pennsylvania and U.S. Governments.

Gayle Nuppnau (left) from the Pennsylvania Department of General Services takes time to chat with a symposium participant.

This Month's "In Case You Missed It":  Kuchera Defense and DRS Laurel Technologies announced multi-million dollar contract awards.  Read the Tribune Democrat stories here and here.

DRS Laurel Technologies:  Electro-Mechanical Assemblers, Circuit Card Assemblers, Molders, Production Planner, Circuit Card Assembler Quality Engineer, Quality Inspectors, Circuit Card Assembly Test Engineer, Sr. Manufacturing Engineers, Manufacturing Molding Engineer, Executive Assistant.  Email greatjobs@lrltech.com or visit www.drs.com or fax resumes to 814.534.8731.

North American Höganäs:  Project Engineer.  Fax resume to 814.479.3602 or email resume@nah.com.

Submit your resume for a technology or related position to info@jari.com for posting in Tech Post-Its.

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