2004 Board of Directors

County CommissionerRepresentatives

Commissioner Brian Beader

Mercer County

Commissioner John Bortz

Warren County

Commissioner Steve Craig

Lawrence County

*Commissioner Donna Hartle

Clarion County

*Commissioner Basil Huffman

Forest County

Commissioner Sue Smith

Venango County

*Commissioner Morris Waid

Crawford County

County Executive Representative

*County Executive Rick Schenker

Erie County

Private Sector Representatives

Charlie Anderson

Meadville-Western Crawford County

Chamber of Commerce

Tim Kelly

Old Country Feed & Supply

Greg Koledin

Wesex Corporation

Neil Todhunter

UPMC Northwest

Maryann Yochim

National Fuel Gas

Industrial Development Corporation(IDC) Representative

Farley Wright

Forest County Economic Development

Corporation

County Planning Representative

Dan Glotz

Warren County Planning Commission

Councilperson Representative

Councilperson Joy Greco

Erie County Council

Minority Representative

Olive Brown

Minority Health/ERASE Anti Drug

Coalition

Melvin Witherspoon

Penelec

A FirstEnergy Company

Tourist Promotion AgencyRepresentative

Juanita Hampton

Crawford County Convention

& Visitors Bureau

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*Officers of the Board

Chairperson: Morris Waid

Vice Chairperson: Rick Schenker

Treasurer: Basil Huffman

Secretary: Donna Hartle

* Officers of the Board

From the Executive Director

A new approach to leadership…A new approach to the way our organization reached out to the businesscommunity and our partners was needed, and through many dynamic changes theNorthwest Pennsylvania Regional Planning & Development Commission achievedconsensus on who we are, who we should service, and how we should provide thatservice.

This new approach resulted in the restructuring of our board of directors, staff, anda new strategic plan. Our board was minimized from 86 to 19, our staff wasorganized to better accommodate the growing need for business attraction, andthe board of directors and staff actively worked toward the completion of a newstrategic plan, unlike anything we’ve had before. The strategic plan will guide the

organization in an engaged and committed leadership model.

A new approach to performance…This year was one of many changes, and new approaches allowed the organiza-tion to develop into something really unique and better equipped to meet the needsof regional communities, businesses, and our partners. We have organized intothree segments dedicated to a specific regional need: Economic and BusinessDevelopment, Community Development and Planning, and OrganizationalDevelopment.

Every staff member is held accountable for the work they do, and has now receivedtools that will guide them as they develop new goals and measure the results oftheir work. The strategic plan will help the Northwest Commission achieve better

results, and to use its resources more efficiently.

A new approach to partnerships…This year’s annual report reviews each program under each segment and how theprogram worked with others to achieve positive results for our region utilizingvarious partners and funding sources.

This organization will continue to meet the growing number of needs our regionfaces, as well as to help keep northwest Pennsylvania competitive and proactive inresponding to challenges as they arise. The strategic plan will allow staff to workmore collaboratively.

The Northwest Commission values the many partners it has at the local, state, and

federal levels and looks forward to working with each partner again in 2005!

Provide leadership andassistance as well ascollaborate with our part-ners in strengtheningbusiness and job growthand improving the envi-ronment for economic andcommunity developmentacross the NorthwestPennsylvania region.

Northwest Pennsylvaniawill grow in its business andeconomic vitality, itsresidents will become moreprosperous, and thequality of life will beenhanced in the region’scounties and communities.

V I S I O N S T A T E M E N T

M I S S I O N S TA T E M E N T

Morris Waid, Board Chairman

Crawford County CommissionerJack Allston, CEcD, FM, IOMExecutive Director

Jack Allston

Morris Waid

Table of Contents

Board of Directors..................................................................................................................1

Community Development and Planning.................................................................................... 2Economic Development Association/Appalachian Regional Commission........................ 3Transportation............................................................................................................4Keystone Opportunity Zones.......................................................................................5Geographic Information Systems.................................................................................6PennSTEP/Grant Writing............................................................................................7Technology................................................................................................................ 8

Business and Economic Development..................................................................................... 9Financing................................................................................................................ 10Government Contracting............................................................................................ 11International Marketing............................................................................................. 12Business Attraction.................................................................................................. 13

Organizational Development.................................................................................................. 14Organizational Development Projects......................................................................... 15

Additional New Approaches...................................................................................................16

2004 Funding Sources..........................................................................................................17

What people are saying about the Northwest Commission....................................................... 18

Committee Listings.............................................................................................................. 19

Staff Listing/Organizational Chart.................................................................... Inside Back Cover

2004 Board of Directors

County CommissionerRepresentatives

Commissioner Brian BeaderMercer County

Commissioner John BortzWarren County

Commissioner Steve CraigLawrence County

*Commissioner Donna HartleClarion County

*Commissioner Basil HuffmanForest County

Commissioner Sue SmithVenango County

*Commissioner Morris WaidCrawford County

County Executive Representative

*County Executive Rick SchenkerErie County

Private Sector Representatives

Charlie AndersonMeadville-Western Crawford CountyChamber of Commerce

Tim KellyOld Country Feed & Supply

Greg KoledinWesex Corporation

Neil TodhunterUPMC Northwest

Maryann YochimNational Fuel Gas

Industrial Development Corporation(IDC) Representative

Farley WrightForest County Economic DevelopmentCorporation

County Planning Representative

Dan GlotzWarren County Planning Commission

Councilperson Representative

Councilperson Joy GrecoErie County Council

Minority Representative

Olive BrownMinority Health/ERASE Anti DrugCoalition

Melvin WitherspoonPenelecA FirstEnergy Company

Tourist Promotion AgencyRepresentative

Juanita HamptonCrawford County Convention& Visitors Bureau

1

*Officers of the Board

Chairperson: Morris WaidVice Chairperson: Rick SchenkerTreasurer: Basil Huffman

Secretary: Donna Hartle

* Officers of the Board

“”

The Northwest Commission actively engaged in supporting community development andplanning within the northwest Pennsylvania region. The majority of our community developmentand planning efforts relate to supporting regional infrastructure needs and community vitalityprovided by our Transportation, Technology, Geographic Information Systems, and Grantprograms.

The Northwest Commission believes strongly in coordinating efforts and sharing resources toimprove our communities, making them ready for new residential and business growth. Wehope to continue the vital work that keeps northwest Pennsylvania communities, of all sizes,growing successfully for years to come!

Ned GoucherDeputy Director, Community Development & Planning

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Community Development and Planning: EDA/ARC

Crawford County

Project: Crawford County Industrial ParkGrantee: Crawford County Development CorporationCounty: Crawford CountyFunding: EDA $420,000

State $280,000Total $700,000

The following projects were funded with Economic Development Administration (EDA) and Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) funds in 2004.

Project: PMI Technology and Education CenterApplicant: Precision Manufacturing Institute (PMI)

Technology and Meadville Area IndustrialCommission

County: Crawford CountyFunding: EDA $1,000,000

ARC $ 100,000Rural Development $1,344,000CDBG $ 75,000State $ 100,000Northwest Commission $ 25,000PMI $ 250,000Total $2,894,000

Venango County

Project: Route 62 Corridor StudyApplicant: Venango Economic Development CorporationCounty: Venango CountyFunding: ARC $50,000

State $50,000Total $100,000

Erie County

Project: Erie/Gannon Technology IncubatorApplicant: City of ErieCounty: Erie CountyFunding: ARC $150,000

City of Erie $50,000Gannon $235,000HUD $405,000Total $840,000

Description: Project funds will be used to provide infrastructure for a28 acre industrial park located in Vernon Township. Infrastructure tobe provided includes: roadway construction, sanitary sewer, storm wa-ter management facilities, waterline, gas and electric, and general land-scaping. It is projected that the project will result in the retention of 600jobs, and the creation of 100 jobs.

Description: Buildings along Route 62 will be studied for adaptivereuse. The corridor, which is eleven miles long, traverses the City ofFranklin, Sugarcreek Borough, and the City of Oil City. It is lined withapproximately 350 properties including many outdated commercialand industrial facilities of all types. Though some of these facilitieshave potential for reuse, building code restrictions and the lack ofcoordinated redevelopment efforts has hampered that potential. Thisproject will inventory all buildings on the corridor and select twenty formore in-depth evaluation of reuse potential, building code limitations,and physical condition.

Description: This project will renovate a building formerly occupiedby the Boys and Girls Club in order to convert it into a technologyincubator. The building is on the campus of Gannon University, whichwill play a significant role in the development of the incubator. Includedin the renovation efforts will be the replacement of the mechanical andelectrical systems, and the building will be brought into compliancewith the Americans with Disabilities Act. When completed the buildingwill house high-tech, start-up companies.

Description: Funds will be used to renovate a 32,000 square footbuilding to create a three story cutting edge technology skills trainingand education center. At the site, PMI will offer post secondary educa-tional opportunities and high technology programs for employers, theunderemployed, and unemployed. Students will have the opportunityto earn credits, which can be used for Associate or Baccalaureatedegrees at regional universities.

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Community Development and Planning: Transportation

The Northwest Commission, in conjunction with the PennsylvaniaDepartment of Transportation (PennDOT), coordinates transporta-tion planning and programming for Clarion, Crawford, Forest,Venango, and Warren counties. This partnership results in the de-velopment of a Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), which isa prioritized list or projects planned over a four-year period.

The Northwest Commission’s Transportation Advisory Commit-tee developed a 2005-2008 TIP. This document was approvedby the Northwest Commission Board, the State TransportationCommission, and Federal Highway and Federal Transit Admin-istrators and includes $156,000,000 in highway, bridge, transit,rail, and enhancement projects.

2004 Transportation Activities Included:

Route 322 and 208 intersection, Shippenville

Route 8 and 417 intersection: To be completed in Spring 2005

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� The Hometown Streets/Safe Routes to School program is anew initiative to promote reinvestment and redevelopment indowntowns and to establish safe walking routes to schools.Eligible activities include streetscape improvements andphysical changes that promote safe walking and bicycling toschool. The Northwest Commission received six applica-tions in the first round ending August 1, 2004. Two weredetermined to be ineligible. Project sponsors for the re-maining four made presentations to the NorthwestCommission’s Transportation Advisory Committee on Sep-tember 16, 2004. Applications from Franklin, Oil City, andCochranton Borough were recommended for funding fromthe Northwest Commission’s allocation. An application fromthe city of Warren was forwarded to PennDOT-Harrisburg forconsideration for discretionary funding.

� A Congested Corridor Improvement Program study on theRoutes 8/27 corridor in the city of Titusville was completed.The purpose of the study is to find ways to improve traffic flowthrough the corridor. Recommendations for short-term im-provements include installation of a modernized traffic sig-nal system. Immediate improvements include eliminationof several parking spaces, which will allow for better truckturning movements.

� The Northwest Commission began coordinatingPennDOT’s Local Technical Assistance Program(LTAP) this year. A variety of road/bridge main-tenance courses are offered to municipalofficials to broaden their knowledge,which ultimately saves their municipal-ity money. Three courses were offered thisyear, and they are as follows:

� Winter Maintenance� Posting and Bonding Local Roads� Drainage

� Major projects let or completed this year include the following:

� Route 8/417 Intersection� Route 257 Phase 1� Route 257 Phase 2� Hickory Street Bridge, Warren� I-80 Clarion County� Deep Valley Tunnel Enhancement Project� Route 322/208 Shippenville Intersection

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Through credits and waivers, tax abate-ments are available to those locatedwithin a Keystone Opportunity Zone(KOZ) as an incentive to businesses.

The Department of Community andEconomic Development (DCED)approved an additional KeystoneOpportunity Zone (KOZ) expansionapplication. This included six sites, onein Mercer, one in Crawford, and four inVenango County. There are 82 acresin this expansion bringing the regionaltotal to 6,208 acres and 72 sites.

Annual benefit applications can now befiled electronically by regional subzonemanagers or applicants. Once filed, theNorthwest Commission will be notifiedby DCED to verify that local approvalhas been obtained.

A website is being developed tomarket KOZ sites in the region, wheresite selectors and businesses can viewthe latest additions and news regard-ing regional KOZ sites. Information onthe website will be updated by North-west Commission staff, who will alsotrack web visitors and traffic.

Picture (left): Numerous KOZ sites are avail-able to those interested in relocating, expand-ing, or starting a business, like this one inCrawford County.

Community Development and Planning: KOZ

Community Development and Planning: GIS

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Hazard Mitigation Program:� Provided a skeleton All Hazard Mitigation Plan to all the

counties involved in the Commission’s regional mitiga-tion plan development process.

County Needs:� Assisted Warren County in the efforts to develop a county

GIS system by working through the initial phases of anenhanced 911 project. This process included the devel-opment of a Request for Proposal and the initial hiring of avendor to begin the “Addressing Project”. The NorthwestCommission’s GIS staff will continue to be a resource forthis ongoing project.

� Provided on-site GIS support to the Venango and CrawfordCounty Planning Departments, and the Venango CountyConservation District.

� Created emergency response maps showing traffic controlpoints/fire departments/SARA Title III facilities were pro-duced for Lawrence County.

� Participated on the Regional GIS Enterprise System Com-mittee made up of five counties in the Northwest TerrorismTaskforce Region. GIS data will be shared between thesefive counties for emergency responses.

Training:� Hosted three (3) two-day “ArcView GIS” classes at the

Northwest Commission. An instructor from the Penn StateLand Analysis Lab provided the GIS training courses. At-tendees included employees of county planning and as-sessment agencies, local municipalities, economic de-velopment agencies, and transit agencies.

Organizational Support:� GIS was used to show expansions and deficiencies in

regional telecommunication infrastructure, show poten-tial sites to businesses thinking of relocating in the region,map Keystone Opportunity Zone (KOZ) sites for a regionalweb site, as well as to analyze and display the results ofthe Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) surveys.

� Maps were created and provided to legislators showingthe boundaries of all the legislative districts in northwestPennsylvania.

Geographic InformationSystems (GIS) can bethought of as the high-tech equivalent of a mapcontaining attached data-bases that can be used forquerying and analysis.GIS represents the meansof locating ourselves inrelation to the worldaround us. Maps are usedin diverse applications,from locating infrastruc-ture (telephone wires, gasmains, sewer/water lines)to displaying the extent ofvoter turnout by censusblock, municipality, county,state, etc. GIS is a pow-erful tool that can be usedfor many applications ofcommunity and economicdevelopment. The North-west Commission contin-ues to strive to enhancetheir GIS program alongwith promoting the use ofGIS to regional users.

The Northwest Commission used GIS to assist avariety of activities during 2004.

(left and above) GIS training Sessions at the NorthwestCommission.

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Community Development and Planning: PennSTEP/Grant Writing

The Northwest Commission continuesto offer grant writing assistance to non-profit organizations and governmentswithin the eight county region. Thegrant writer works with the organiza-tion to prepare the application and findappropriate funding sources. TheNorthwest Commission works withvarious organizations and fundingsources, including USDA, ARC, DCED,and various foundations.

A key focus this year was the Assis-

tance to Firefighters Grant Program,which is part of the Department ofHomeland Security and the Office forDomestic Preparedness. The North-west Commission participated in aworkshop to help fire departments withthe application process in collaborationwith Congressman John Peterson (R-5th District).

Through the Assistance to Firefighters

Grant Program, the Grand Valley Vol-unteer Fire Department received agrant for $147,418. With this grant, andsome additional money the fire depart-ment raised, the Grand Valley Volun-teer Fire Department was able to pur-chase a 2004 International Pumper/Tanker. This new vehicle replaced twoold vehicles, including a pumper from1972 and a tanker from 1968.

Grand Valley Volunteer Fire Department 2004International Pumper/Tanker

Farmington Township (Warren County) supervisors requested PennSTEPassistance to partially offset the cost for a building that they wanted toconstruct over their sewage facilities to protect equipment from damagingweather. Residents of the township were willing to volunteer their time andeffort to erect the building. In doing so, the residents would save on the highcosts of hiring a contractor.

Through the assistance of the Northwest Commission’s PennSTEP program,Farmington Township saved thousands of dollars through a small grant thatpartially off set the cost of the building material and by volunteering theirtime and talents to construct the building over their sewage treatment facility.

Over the past year, a few communities in northwest Pennsylvaniahave consulted the Northwest Commission about using thePennSTEP program to reduce the costs of drinking water and waste-water projects. The Northwest Commission offered support andinformation (options and ideas for completing a drinking water and/or wastewater project) to the interested communities.

It is a great privilege for the Northwest Commission to be able toassist in this process.

The PennsylvaniaSmall Towns Envi-ronment Program(PennSTEP) is asmall communityassistance programfrom the PA Depart-ment of Environmen-tal Protection, theRural DevelopmentCouncil and the

Center for Rural Pennsylvania. PennSTEP uses self-help techniques toreduce the cost of drinking water and wastewater projects.

Many small communities in northwest Pennsylvania are unable to afford highconstruction costs often associated with a drinking/wastewater project with-out raising rates to unmanageable levels. Without long-term loans or grants,how can projects be completed? There is often only one solution - lower thecost of the project. One way to do this is to use the self-help process. Self-help requires communities to assess what parts of a project they can com-plete on their own. Self-help projects typically reduce construction costs30 to 70 percent!

The Northwest Commission’s PennSTEP program provides guidance and sup-port to local communities that are involved in, or thinking of beginning, adrinking water and/or wastewater project.

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Community Development and Planning: Technology

The Technology Advisory Group (TAG) is a regional telecommunications coali-tion formed in December 2001 to concentrate on telecommunications infra-structure and education throughout northwest Pennsylvania. Clarion CountyCommissioner Donna Hartle is chairperson of the TAG.

The mission of TAG is to advocate regional technology initiatives in northwestPennsylvania by partnering with technology and economic development enti-ties/businesses to stimulate regional economic conditions for the twenty-firstcentury.

Spotts, Stevens, and McCoy, Inc. of Reading, PA developed a strategic actionplan called CONNECT NW PA with the objective of enhancing broadband ser-vices in the region. The final report was released publicly on January 14, 2004.Copies of the report can be found on the Northwest Commission’s web site.As a result of the report, several task forces were created to concentrate on theidentified problems. Task forces included education, local deployment, near-term action, and local barriers.

Concentrating on local deployment is a major focus of the Northwest Commission and our partners. Using funds from the Appalachian RegionalCommission, the Forest County Industrial Development Corporation, Forest County, Worldconnx, and the Northwest Commission, we success-fully implemented a broadband wireless network in Tionesta Borough, Forest County. The wireless service was available to all businesses andresidents on July 26, 2004. Tionesta Borough is only the second known “wi-fi”” hot spot in northwest Pennsylvania (City of Erie is the only otherknown hot spot). Because of this wireless project, Tionesta businesses now have broadband competition by the telephone, cable, and wirelesscompanies.

1. The Northwest Commission hosted a workshop forschool district superintendents called “SchoolDistricts and Your Community: How Collaboration,Creativity, and Cost Sharing Can Create BetterConnections.”

2. TAG facilitated meetings with Time Warner Cable tobegin offering affordable, high-speed cable modemservice in Venango County, which would help toaugment the Franklin Community Information Network(CIN) being developed by the Franklin Industrial andCommercial Development Authority and CommunityInformatics.

3. TAG continues to work with state and federal legis-lators on drafting telecommunications legislation thatwill benefit current and future businesses in urban,suburban, and rural areas.

4. TAG members have provided broadband educationto several local civic groups like Rotary and KiwanisClubs and recently presented at the InternationalEconomic Development Councils (IEDC) annualconference in St. Louis, Missouri.

Municipal Technology Assistance Program:

The Municipal Technology Assistance Program (MTAP) is a grassroots, commu-nity-oriented initiative to assist local governments in bridging the digital divide.MTAP provides local governments in the region the flexibility and increased effi-ciencies of the information age like electronic spreadsheets for annual budgetsand cost projections, simplified mailings based on easily maintained residentialdata, and use of the Internet to get information and learn from other communities.

Through MTAP, local elected officials have access to new, discounted computerhardware and software. Municipal personnel are being trained and learning touse new valuable tools. Internet Access Grants are also available to local govern-ments throughout the region.

The Northwest Commission has placed two (2) computers into the region’s localgovernments this past year in Elk Township, Clarion County and Slippery RockTownship, Lawrence County. MTAP also assisted in connecting three (3) localgovernments to the Internet and had 136 municipal personnel register for basic,intermediate, and advanced level computer classes.

Technology Advisory Group Committee MembersFor a complete listing of the TAG Committee Members see page 19

A new initiative that will concentrate on community broadband deployment, edu-cation, and public-private partnerships is eCOMMonwealth. Supported with astate investment championed by Senator Mary Jo White (R-21), the NorthwestCommission will work with community leaders and broadband service providersto offer affordable broadband services in rural Pennsylvania communities.eCOMMonwealth is proposed as a four-year program with much emphasis oneducating local businesses and community leaders.

TAG continues to stay activeat the local, regional, state,and national levels: