/ By Lauren Thompson / Cambria County • Event • Workforce Development/ 0 Comments

ATTENTION EMPLOYERS!

Connect to hundreds of qualified job candidates by participating in the Cambria County Job Fair on Tuesday, May 1st from 1 PM – 5 PM at the Frank J. Pasquerilla Conference Center in downtown Johnstown.

The 2017 Fair showcased over 80 employers and served over 500 job seekers.

Register by April 6, 2018 for the Early Bird discount of only $95! All registrations after April 6th will be $120.

For exhibitor registration and sponsorship information, click the link below, visit our website or contact Debi Balog, director of workforce development, at (814) 262-8366 or via email at .

Click here to download the Flyer and Vendor/Sponsor Form.

/ By Lauren Thompson / Cambria County • PTAC/ 0 Comments

RNDT Receives WBENC Certification

RNDT Inc., provider of nondestructive testing and weld inspection services, just received certification as a woman-owned small business from the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC). Jimma Raco, President, previously served on the JARI Board and recently became a member of the Women’s Presidential Organization Greensburg Chapter.

The WBENC certification can open government contracting and subcontracting doors for RNDT. The Federal government has statutory goals established by the Federal Executive Agencies, including a 5% prime and 5% subcontracting goal for women-owned small businesses. Various states and local government have similar programs, including Pennsylvania’s Small Business and Small Diverse Business Contracting Programs. Contracting opportunities can be “set-aside” for women-owned businesses.

If you would like to learn more about woman-owned business certifications or have any government contracting assistance needs, please contact the JARI PTAC at (814) 254-4022 or (814) 254-4023 or via email at .

/ By Lauren Thompson / Cambria County • PTAC/ 0 Comments

Registration Open for BUILDing Connections

Registration for BUILDing Connections is now open. The free workshop is a special session for small to medium sized construction contractors interested in government contracting or subcontracting and will feature presentations from the PA Department of General Services, the PA Department of Transportation, and JARI PTAC staff. Attendees will get the opportunity to speak to representatives from both the PA Department of General Services, Bureau of Diversity, Inclusion and Small Business Opportunities and the PA Department of Transportation, Bureau of Office Services. Plenty of time will be available for networking and Q&A.

The workshop will be held on Thursday, March 1, 2018, at the JARI Center for Business Development, 8:30 AM to 11:30 AM. Registration is required and can be completed here or by emailing . Seating is limited, so register early. A special thank you to our event sponsor, Bantly Hardware, who will be providing light refreshments.

If you would like to learn more about this workshop or have any government contracting assistance needs, please contact the JARI PTAC at (814) 254-4022 or (814) 254-4023 or via email at .

/ By Lauren Thompson / Cambria County/ 0 Comments

Announcing the New Maker-to-Manufacturing Commercialization Center

Catalyst Connection is partnering with JARI and the University of Pittsburgh to provide both physical and virtual support to small entities seeking to commercialize their products. These organizations will work as a single virtual center to mentor entrepreneurs, support the scaling of start-ups to more robust economic expansion and job creation, connect innovators to the manufacturing supply chain, provide access to maker spaces, connect entrepreneurs to the region’s high-powered academic institutions, and provide access to seed capital.

The new virtual Maker-to-Manufacturing Commercialization Center (M2M) connects entrepreneurial makers and small businesses to a larger ecosystem of manufacturing. M2M offers services and resources including:

  • Technical Assistance – Assistance with prototype development, market research, business case development, sales and marketing strategies, production strategies, distribution strategies, and access to early stage capital.
  • Makers-to-Manufacturers Peer Network – to provide guidance, an education and training program that includes workshops and webcasts on topics including innovation and commercialization, and access to emerging Maker Spaces in the region.
  • Supply Chain Buyers Network – Startup companies can engage with supply chains in various industry clusters to make connections and gain entry into new markets.

If you would like to discuss your business needs and eligibility, contact Mike Evans at (412) 918-4283 or .

/ By Lauren Thompson / Cambria County • Event • Somerset County/ 0 Comments

Creating Customer Delight and Enhancing Relationships

Dr. Randy Frye, Saint Francis University, will present “Creating Customer Delight and Enhancing Relationships” on Tuesday, February 20th, at a JARI Lunch & Learn event. Workshop participants will learn the salient principles of customer service/satisfaction and relationship building and maintenance; understand the difference between customer service and the customer experience; and will be inspired to do their best to create the finest customer experience in their respective organizations. Customer service and relationship management concepts are explicitly applied to their organization settings.

This Lunch & Learn will be held at JARI Center (160 Jari Drive, Johnstown, PA) from 12:00 PM to 1:15 PM. The cost to register is $5 per person and lunch will be provided. Click here to register. Please register by February 19th. No shows on the day of the event that have registered will be billed.

/ By Lauren Thompson / Cambria County/ 0 Comments

Craft Business Thursday @ Creator Square

The Community Arts Center of Cambria County will be hosting the fourth Craft Business Thursday @ Creator Square on Thursday, February 22nd from 6:00-8:00 pm at the Community Arts Center’s Goldhaber-Fend Fine Arts Center gallery (1217 Menoher Boulevard, Johnstown). The Craft Business Thursday @ Creator Square is a series of monthly lectures featuring a special artist guest speaker. This month’s lecture will include entertainment by local acoustic musician, along with wine, beer, and refreshments. Kim Fox, an artist in the medium of tins and salvaged wood, as well as art teacher, designer and illustrator, will be the fourth speaker in the Creator Square, Craft Business Thursday Speaker Series.

The goals of this series for Craft Business Thursday’s @ Creator Square are to: update the community on Creator Square’s progress in anticipation of the building’s renovation and program roll out in 2018-19; discuss concepts like ‘craft business,’ ‘makers movement,’ and entrepreneurialism; feature a talented and accomplished craft business person/maker during each evening’s lecture/workshop.

For more information, please click here.

/ By Lauren Thompson / Cambria County • Event/ 0 Comments

Millennials and Other Generations – Insight into Working Together

Corey Christman, Vethos LLC, will present Millennials and Other Generations – Insight into Working Together on Thursday, February 8th. Attendees will learn about introverted versus extroverted leadership, how to motivate millennials in the workforce and at home, and how to incorporate millennial employees and other generations into the company succession plan.

The workshop will be held from 12 PM to 1:15 PM at JARI Center for Business Development. The cost to register is $5 per person and lunch will be provided.

If you are interested in attending, please fill out the registration form and email it to Lauren Brewer at .

/ By Lauren Thompson / Cambria County • Media Releases • Workforce Development/ 0 Comments

JARI Announces 2018 NAP Tax Credit Program

JARI leaders announced their Neighborhood Assistance Tax Credit Program (NAP) for 2018. Administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, the details were released during a press event at JARI Headquarters in Downtown Johnstown on Tuesday, January 30.

JARI will receive $67,000 to provide a 200-hour welding training program to 25 unemployed/underemployed individuals residing in 4 neighborhoods located in the City of Johnstown: Cambria City, Coopersdale, Morrellville and Oakhurst.

Manufacturing companies require workers who complete some type of post-secondary education that includes industry-specific credentials. Five manufacturing companies in Cambria and Somerset Counties currently have openings for more than 150 welders. One of those companies, J&J Truck Bodies, is currently seeking 40 welders according to Shawn Kaufman, Director of Human Resources. The program will enable participants to acquire the skills needed to obtain employment in jobs that pay a family-sustaining wage.

Contributors to the 2018 NAP program include: 1st Summit Bank, First National Bank, Northwest Bank and Somerset Trust.

For more information, contact Debi Balog at the JARI office 814-535-8675.

/ By Lauren Thompson / Cambria County • Entrepreneurship • Financing & incentives/ 0 Comments

JARI Funds Entrepreneur in Downtown Johnstown

JARI is pleased to announce Microloan funding for a business in downtown Johnstown. Rocco’s Sub Shop, a sub and pizza restaurant located at 345 Main Street, is now owned and operated by Jordan Schroll.

Rocco’s originally opened in 2013 and quickly became a popular destination in Johnstown. When it was time to turn the business over to a new owner, Schroll decided he was ready to own and operate his own shop. “I’m very excited to be my own boss and take on this new challenge with the assistance of JARI,” noted Schroll. Linda Thomson, JARI President, commented “JARI is excited to be working with another small business in the City of Johnstown providing an excellent restaurant option to the downtown community. ”

If you would like assistance in starting or financing your business please contact Michele Clapper, VP of Economic Development, at (814) 262-8368 or via e-mail at .

/ By Lauren Thompson / Cambria County • Financing & incentives • Media Releases • Somerset County/ 0 Comments

Over 4 Million Awarded in Tax Credits!

JARI is pleased to announce that $4,934,707 in tax credits have been awarded to local companies through the Greater Johnstown Keystone Innovation Zone (GJKIZ) since the inception of the program in 2005. In 2017, $118,190 in tax credits were awarded to five companies. The Commonwealth has a total annual pool of up to $15 million available to eligible companies.

KIZs are designed to foster innovation and create entrepreneurial opportunities. To qualify for the GJKIZ program, a company must be a for-profit located within the territory of the GJKIZ, be fewer than eight years old, and have its primary business within one or more of the following industry sectors:

  • Advanced Manufacturing
  • Environmental/Renewable Energy Technology
  • Information Systems Technology
  • Life Sciences

A KIZ company must have an innovative process or have patents, licensing agreements, trademarks and/or copyrights on products or processes created in-house. A company may receive up to $100,000 in tax credits annually if they meet the criteria and the tax credits are available. If there is no tax liability for the company, the credits may be sold for cash.

For more information or to obtain a KIZ application, contact Joette Watson at  or (814) 262-8372.