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

Cracking the Interview Code

Manpower Inc, Vice President/Managing Director, Brock Kull, will present on how to interview candidates and how to attract the best applicants. Attendees will learn what types of interview processes exists and what can work best for their companies. Also, find out what questions should and should not be asked during an interview.

This Lunch & Learn will be held at the JARI Center (160 Jari Drive) on Thursday, April 20. The cost to register is $5 per person and lunch will be provided.

Registration is required. If you’re interested in attending, fill out the registration form and sent it to Lauren Brewer at .

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

Arotin’s Hummingbird Estate Holds Grand Opening Ceremony

Michele Clapper
VP, Economic Development

Left to right: Linda Thomson, JARI; Cambria County Commissioner Tom Chernisky, Jim Vasilko, Johnstown Construction; Carolyn Arotin, Arotin’s Hummingbird Estate; Donna Dunegan, Patton Borough Secretary; Representative Frank Burns; Dave Pompa, Patton Borough Councilman; Annette Chunko, St. Francis SBDC

Arotin’s Hummingbird Estate held a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on Friday, March 10. The event drew approximately 65 people, including elected officials who spoke of the new facility and offered their best wishes to Carolyn in her business venture.

Carolyn Arotin, Owner/Administrator of Arotin’s Hummingbird Estate, has always dreamed of owning her own Personal Care Home. She has worked for almost 20 years in this industry. “It took a long time, we didn’t give up and here we are…It’s a very safe, beautiful, loving place and I don’t want anyone to be afraid to bring their loved ones here”, says Carolyn.

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

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

Importance of Cyber Security and User Training

Michele Clapper
VP, Economic Development

Michael Stohon, In-Shore Technologies, will be presenting “The Importance of Cyber Security and User Training” at JARI’s March 30th Lunch & Learn event.

Attendees will learn how serious cyber risk is and what can be done to prevent it. In this interactive session, Stohon will also provide information on what types of scams and hacks are most common today and the best way to prevent prevent them.

The cost for this event is $5 and registration is required. Please send registration forms to Lauren Brewer by mail or via e-mail at .

/ By Lauren Thompson / Cambria County • Event • Financing & incentives • News • Somerset County/ 0 Comments

Prime Design Solutions Presenting at Upcoming Lunch & Learn Events!

Brian Law and Shelley Johansson from Prime Design Solutions will be presenting at two of JARI’s upcoming Lunch & Learn events.

Tuesday, March 21, Shelley will be presenting information on the topic “How (and When) to Write a Press Release.” Those who attend this Lunch & Learn will learn what goes into writing a good press release, as well as, publishable topics and the difference between promotion versus PR copy.

Brian will be presenting Thursday, April 6, with the topic of “Content Marketing.” Attendees at this Lunch & Learn will learn what content marketing is and what it can do for their business while also setting expectations for predictable results.

The cost for each event is $5 and registration is required. Please send registration forms to Lauren Brewer by mail or via e-mail at .

/ By Lauren Thompson / Financing & incentives • News/ 0 Comments

Employee Stock Ownership Plan

center-for-employee-ownership

What if you were told that you could sell some of your company to your employees for fair market value and enjoy the fruits of your hard work now?

An ESOP is an “Employee Stock Ownership Plan”. In 1996, the federal government created a program that allows owners of businesses to sell some or all of their companies to their employees. For more information on ESOP, please click here.

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

Over 4 Million Awarded in Tax Credits!

kiz

JARI is pleased to announce that $4,816,517 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 2016, $248,342 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.  If there is no tax liability for the company, the credits may be sold for cash.

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

JARI’S NAP Tax Credit Application Approved!

pa-economic-development

The Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development has approved JARI’s Neighborhood Assistance Tax Credit (NAP) application for $58,200.00.

The funding from the tax credit contributions will be used to eliminate blight through a number of approaches: creation of public space; streetscapes; planters; trees; lighting; reuse study; architectural and engineering assistance; and marketing of underutilized properties in a portion of the Central Business District and Old Conemaugh neighborhood.

The JARI NAP/SPP project will focus on developing a greenspace conceptual plan; implementation of identified components; coordinating a Community Work Day; an assessment of the commercial properties; marketing of the available space; provide assessment data to City of Johnstown for facade program.

Special thanks to the following business contributors whose tax dollars will be “put to work” supporting residents of our local community: First National Bank, 1st Summit Bank, Northwest Savings Bank, Somerset Trust and In-Shore Technologies.

If you are interested in learning more or are a business that would like to participate in the JARI NAP Tax Credit Program, please contact Michele Clapper, VP of Economic Development, at 814-262-8368 or via e-mail at .
/ By Lauren Thompson / Cambria County • Event • Financing & incentives • News • Vision 2025/ 0 Comments

Greenway and Trail Hub Planning Project

15219386_595950500589442_4255165371080662140_n
Vision 2025 and Discover Downtown Johnstown Partnership are accepting proposals for a one-time contract to perform professional consulting services! These services involve the preparation of planning documents for a proposed greenway and trail hub along Main Street in downtown Johnstown.
Goals include expanding recreation opportunities, celebrating cultural and historic heritage, bolstering economic development, increasing pedestrian and bicyclist mobility and promoting healthy lifestyles.
Interested consultants should visit our website.
/ By Lauren Thompson / Financing & incentives • New business • Somerset County/ 0 Comments

“Financing Your Business in 1, 2, 3” a Success!

The Somerset County Commissioners and JARI hosted the Financing Your Business in 1, 2, 3 seminar on November 16, 2016 at the Somerset Country Club.

Attendees learned about the financial opportunities available from the SBA, St. Francis SBDC, SCEDC, Community Foundation for the Alleghenies, Keystone Innovation Zone (KIZ), SBA Microloan Program, JARI Growth Fund, the Progress Fund, Southern Alleghenies Loan Programs and SBA 504 Program.

Thank you to our event sponsors: Wessel & Company, Ameriserv, Somerset Trust, SCEDC and The Somerset County Chamber of Commerce.
For more information on the various financing options available, please contact Michele Clapper, VP of Economic Development at (814) 262-8368 or via e-mail at .
/ By Lauren Thompson / Event • Financing & incentives • New business • News • Somerset County/ 0 Comments

Financing Your Business in 1, 2, 3!

financial_seminar
The Somerset County Commissioners and JARI will be hosting a financing seminar on Wednesday, November 16, from 12:00 PM to 2:30 PM at the Somerset Country Club. Attendees will learn about different financing options.
For more information and registration details, please click here. Please RSVP by Friday, November 11th to reserve your seat