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

2017 Small Business Advantage Grant

On behalf of Governor Wolf and DEP Secretary McDonnell, the Department of Environmental Protection is pleased to announce the opening of the 14th round of the Small Business Advantage Grant.

The program is designed to assist small businesses in deploying pollution prevention or energy efficiency measures into their operations.  Pennsylvania-based small businesses with less than 100 employees are eligible. Businesses are able to receive a 50% reimbursement match on new equipment or processes which save a minimum of $500 and reduce their energy or waste by 25% per year. The grant maximum is $9,500 for energy efficiency or pollution projects or $7,000 for lighting-only upgrades.

New this year is an on-line application process, making it easier to apply and allowing grants to get into the hands of small businesses faster. Paper applications will no longer be accepted. Grants are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

The full 2017 Grant Guidance, including all requirements, step-by-step instructions and other necessary forms can be found on the DEP’s Small Business Advantage Grant webpage. Applicants are advised to carefully review the guidance document, which has been updated for 2017.

If you have questions regarding your application submission, please contact Ed Boito, Small Business Ombudsman, at (717) 783-0909.

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

Registration Open for Bringing the World to PA Event

Registration is now open for the annual Bringing the World to PA event. The event will be held again this year in Cambria County, at the Sunnehanna Country Club. BTW2PA is a once a year opportunity for area business in the region to meet one-on-one with 14 Pennsylvania Authorized Trade Representatives covering over 46 markets.

Please see the full flyer and registration by clicking the corresponding links. Registration is due by August 31, 2017.

If you have any questions, please contact Tina Taylor via email at  or (814) 949-6517.

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

Calling All Vendors, Sponsors and Participants!

We are back again this year for the 15th Annual Alleghenies Regional Safety Conference. This year’s event is scheduled for October 3, 2017 and will once again be held at the Frank J. Pasquerilla Conference Center in downtown Johnstown. Our keynote speaker will be Wylie Davidson from Dival Safety with a presentation, “Safe 4 the Right Reasons”.

Vendors, sponsors and participants help to keep the conference strong year after year. It has proven to be a good opportunity for companies to display products, make new contacts with local businesses and visit with existing clientele. Vendors are able to connect with new and existing customers while participants can gain useful information on the latest resources to keep the workplace safe and secure.

Below you will find more information as well as the vendor/exhibitor registration form, the sponsorship form and the participant form.

If you have any questions or would like more information on the Safety Conference, contact Debi Balog at  or at 814-262-8366.

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

Need Money For Your Business?

The JARI Microloan Program recently launched an online application to apply for business funding!

The program is open to any small business in Bedford, Blair, Cambria or Somerset Counties and can be used for equipment, inventory, working capital and a variety of other purposes.  Following successful application and review, companies can receive a loan of up to $50,000! Depending on project locations, JARI’s sister corporation, JIDC, can also assist businesses with identifying additional sources of revenue for larger projects.

To fill out the Microloan application, visit our website. If you are looking for more information, contact Michele Clapper at (814) 262-8368 or via email at .

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

Preparing Your Personal Financial Statement

Tuesday, July 18th, Patti Hudson, CPA of Wessel & Company and Jeff Cramer of 1st Summit Bank, will present Preparing Your Personal Financial Statement. Attendees will be able to learn how to complete a personal financial statement, understand what the bank is looking for to get a loan and how to meet their bank’s individual reporting compliance requirements. This financial statement would include the proper reporting of assets, liabilities, income and expenses.

The event 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 attended, please fill out the registration formand email it to Lauren Brewer at .

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

JARI PTAC Receives Outstanding Rating

Congratulations to the JARI Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) program on receiving an outstanding rating during the most recent annual review. Each year the PTAC program is evaluated by the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) in four core categories including Performance, Management, Technical and Financial. The rating of “Outstanding” is the highest possible rating and is defined as “The recipient has an exemplary program that complies with the cooperative agreement’s terms and conditions and contains multiple strengths. The PTAC could serve as a model for other recipients.”  The JARI PTAC received the outstanding rating in each category as well as overall.

Congratulations once again to Lenora Leasure, PTAC Program Manager, and the entire JARI PTAC team.

If you are interested in doing business with the government, contact Lenora Leasure at (814) 254-4022 or via email at .

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

15th Annual Alleghenies Regional Safety Conference

The 15th Annual Alleghenies Regional Safety Conference will be held on Tuesday, October 3, 2017 from 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM at the Frank J. Pasquerilla Conference Center, Johnstown, PA.

This year’s opening session, Safe 4 the Right Reasons, will be presented by Wylie Davidson, Motivational Speaker and Trainer with Dival Safety. Safe 4 the Right Reasons breaks down basic human nature, wiring and instincts and delivers a personal motivation to each attendee to value their own safety. It is personal for every attendee and can be incorporated into all of your safety messages.

Attendees will have the opportunity to visit the vendor booths and take part in the workshops that will be going on throughout the day.

Workshop topics, keynote speaker and registration information will be released soon.

If you are looking for more information about the Safety Conference contact Debi Balog, Director of Workforce Development, at (814) 262-8366 or via email at .

/ By Lauren Thompson / Annual Luncheon • Cambria County • Entrepreneurship • Financing & incentives • Media Releases • New business • News • Somerset County • Workforce Development/ 0 Comments

JARI Releases 2016 Annual Report

The 2016 JARI Annual Report “Building Economic Momentum: Creating a Strong Foundation for Growth” is now available for review on the JARI website.  The report documents improved economic activity over the past year, with more jobs created and retained, more financing secured, and less displaced workers served. Eleven new businesses were started with JARI’s assistance, while 725 people received training to enhance job opportunities. Highlights include the creation of the JARI Growth Fund, assistance to companies locating or growing in the region, and diversification strategies for small defense firms.

The support that is received from our partners, financial contributors, directors and committee members is paramount to the collaboration that ultimately assists our regional employers and our communities

Please contact me at  if you have questions or would like additional information about this report.

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

Upcoming Lunch & Learns

 

Protecting Your Intellectual Property 

On Tuesday, June 27th, Attorney John Haschak of Leventry, Haschak and Rodkey, LLC, will be discussing what it takes to protect your intellectual property. Attendees will receive an introduction to patents, trademarks and copyrights and an overview of licensing. They will also learn about protecting trade secrets and employee considerations. Attorney George Gvozdich will serve as the moderator.

Basic Accounting for Small Business

On Thursday, June 29th, Patti Hudson, CPA and Shareholder of Wessel & Company, will present Basic Accounting for Small Business. Attendees will learn about the importance of the chart of accounts, bookkeeping principles and understanding financial reports. The presentation will also cover information on reconciling bank accounts and record retention practices.

These Lunch & Learn events will be held at the JARI Center (160 JARI Drive) from 12 to 1:15 PM. The cost to register is $5 per person and lunch will be provided.

If you are interested in attending, please fill out the registration forms above and e-mail them to Lauren Brewer at .

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

Payroll Taxes

On Tuesday, May 16th, Lynn Rovan, Barnes Saly & Company, will be presenting information on payroll taxes and deductions, what forms are needed when hiring an employee and the current withholding tax rate. Attendees will also learn about quarterly and annual payroll tax reports and recording payroll transactions in a book keeping system.

This Lunch & Learn will be held at the JARI Center (160 JARI Drive) from 12 to 1:15 PM. The cost to register is $5 per person and lunch will be provided.

Registration is required. If you are interested in attending, please complete the registration form and e-mail it to Lauren Brewer at .