A comprehensive report on the Business Calling Program in Central Pennsylvania

Transcription

1 U N D E R S T A N D I N G T H E N E E D S O F O U R C U S T O M E R S A comprehensive report on the Business Calling Program in Central Pennsylvania ennsylvan! TEAM Pennsylva a! Prepared by SEDA-Council of Governments June 2000

2 CONTENTS Executive Summary 2 Team Pennsylvania Overview 3 The Central Marketing Region 4 What s Changed in Pennsylvania? 5 Quick Facts 8 Data Analysis 9 Referrals 18 Addendum A 19 Extended Network of Service Providers Addendum B 25 Survey Form

3 U N D E R S T A N D I N G T H E N E E D S O F O U R C U S T O M E R S A comprehensive report on the Business Calling Program in Central Pennsylvania TEAM! ennsylvan! Pennsylva a

4 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Team Pennsylvania is a public/private partnership to promote job retention and creation in the Commonwealth through a number of unique and innovative initiatives including the Business Calling Program. SEDA-Council of Governments is the regional coordinator for Team Pennsylvania activities in Central Pennsylvania. Over 17,000 interviews have been completed throughout the state since the inception of the Business Calling Program (BCP) in The BCP provides Pennsylvania's businesses with access to an array of local, regional and state resources that can help them increase sales, decrease costs, expand markets, grow capacity, and become more productive. By recognizing that the region s businesses are customers of state and local government, a quality mix of services can be provided to meet their expectations. In the ten counties of the Team Pennsylvania Central Marketing Region, a team of 12 economic development professionals conducted more than 1,500 on-site interviews with firms to assess their immediate and long-term business needs. Of these, 457 interviews were conducted in FY , 513 in FY 98-99, and 547 in FY In the summer of 1999, the BCP interview form was changed significantly to improve the process and make the data more consistent. The improved form focuses more directly on important issues such as access to workforce and training. The main objective of the BCP is to determine the needs of regional firms. Based on each company s comments and specific needs, referrals are made to a network of 54 local, regional, and state service providers. Of the companies interviewed to date, 53% are manufacturers, 29% are in the service sector, and 18% are in the wholesale/retail trade. Seventy-eight percent have been in business more than 10 years. Median sales are $1 million to $5 million. Thirty-seven percent employ less than 10 people, while 15% employ more than 125. Of the companies interviewed in FY , 18% requested assistance, generating 130 referrals to our service provider network. Access to a qualified workforce, employee training, and financial assistance were among the most pressing issues facing companies in Central Pennsylvania. However, new to the list of most requested services this year is assistance with e-commerce. One of every eight companies interviewed in this fiscal year asked for help with developing or expanding e-commerce capabilities. Overall, 32% of the referrals were made to the SEDA-Council of Governments, 24% to the Industrial Modernization Center, and nearly 10% to the Central Pennsylvania Workforce Development Corporation. As we continue to speak with our regional employers, we learn more about the qualities that make Central Pennsylvania so unique. We have come to understand the issues facing these companies, and become more effective at responding to their needs. Each year provides more detail as we begin to identify trends and build long-term strategies for future success. We very much appreciate the tremendous cooperation received from the business community, and ask for its continued support of the Business Calling Program in the coming years. Together, we can improve Central Pennsylvania s business environment and ensure strong and healthy communities in the 21st century. 2

5 TEAM PENNSYLVANIA OVERVIEW Team Pennsylvania is a public-private partnership formed to bring business, government, economic development, and community leaders together. The goals of Team Pennsylvania include: To stimulate the growth of Pennsylvania s businesses, To retain jobs in Pennsylvania by understanding our customers needs, To promote Pennsylvania as the best place for businesses to create jobs, To create innovative opportunities for new and expanding markets, technology-related industries, entrepreneurial growth, and workforce development, and To advance best customer service practices among all community and economic development organizations. To meet these goals, a number of business assistance programs have been initiated under the Team Pennsylvania umbrella including: Workman s comp rates used to be a problem" but now our firm saves $$%"%%% per year as a result of changes in the law! working to make Pennsylvania a leader among states and a competitor among nations! Governor Tom Ridge announcing the Team Pennsylvania initiative the Business Calling Program, the Business Resource Network, the Entrepreneurial Assistance Network, the Export Assistance Network, and CareerLink. Customer satisfaction is the underlying objective of the Business Calling Program. It is a proactive business retention strategy designed to identify business needs and concerns. The success of the program is based on a partnership comprised of the Commonwealth, private industry, and economic and community development professionals. The Business Calling Program provides critical knowledge about the needs of regional firms, which helps service providers extend assistance quickly and efficiently. Through immediate and comprehensive follow up, the regional network of business assistance providers can continually improve the level of service provided to Central Pennsylvania businesses with a focus on achieving customer satisfaction. Charles Klatt, Plant Manager Columbia Industries, Berwick Truck Bodies Manufacturer 3

6 THE CENTRAL MARKETING REGION Pennsylvania has great natural resources! quality of life! and good schools" David Knox, Owner John C. Knox & Sons, Lewistown Contractor The ten Team Pennsylvania Marketing Regions have been formed to provide the framework for developing and expanding partnerships among those professionals providing assistance to Pennsylvania s businesses. SEDA-COG coordinates activities in the Team Pennsylvania Central Marketing Region, which consists of Centre, Clinton, Columbia, Juniata, Lycoming, Mifflin, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder, and Union counties. Team Pennsylvania initiatives are carried out at the county level by professionals from local chambers of commerce and industrial development groups. These include: Chamber of Business and Industry of Centre County Clinton County Economic Partnership Berwick Industrial Plan, Inc./Spirit, Inc. Columbia Alliance for Economic Growth Juniata Business and Industry, Inc. The Williamsport/Lycoming Chamber of Commerce Mifflin County Industrial Development Corporation Danville Area Chamber of Commerce The Milton Area Chamber of Commerce Northumberland County Industrial Development Corporation Central Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce Union County Chamber of Commerce Northwest Northcentral Northern Tier LYCOMING CLINTON Central COLUMBIA Northeast CENTRE UNION SNYDER MONTOUR NORTHUMBERLAND Lehigh Valley Southwest MIFFLIN JUNIATA Southern Alleghenies Southcentral Southeast 4

7 WHAT S CHANGED IN PENNSYLVANIA? You are probably wondering how the way companies do business in Pennsylvania has changed. The Business Calling Program has provided the Commonwealth with an incredible amount of information timely, relevant information that can be used to improve Pennsylvania s business environment. The Business Calling Program is just one of several tools that has helped reshape policy and create a more business-friendly environment. Over the past several years, many changes have taken place, with a focus on business needs and how state government can help meet those needs. Team Pennsylvania and the Business Calling Program have been the basis for many of those changes. Workforce The recently created Guaranteed Free Training Program assists manufacturing and technology-based companies in training new employees. Through a network of 30 universities and colleges, qualified companies can receive free job training in basic and entry-level work skills. Team Pennsylvania CareerLink is a one-stop delivery system for employment and training services. The system links education and training with economic and workforce development efforts to provide a quality workforce. Currently, more than 173,000 active job seekers and nearly 500 employers have registered with CareerLink. Pennsylvania is one of the first states to implement the federal Workforce Investment Act. The Commonwealth has designated 23 Workforce Investment Areas, and has certified 22 Workforce Investment Boards. The Sci-Tech Scholar program provides scholarships of up to $3,000 each year for up to three years for students enrolled in specific, high technology fields of study. Students are required to complete an internship with a technology-intensive Pennsylvania company and must commit to working for a Pennsylvania firm one year for every year of scholarship assistance they receive. Academic standards have been adopted, establishing student objectives through the completion of grades three, five, eight, and eleven. Read to Succeed, a three-year, $100 million program, provides Pennsylvania s youngest students with specialized reading instruction. Pennsylvania has the third largest concentration of colleges and universities in the nation, and the fourth largest number of doctoral scientists and engineers. Taxes Unemployment Compensation taxes were reduced by $19 million in 1999, and by $20 million in Pennsylvania will phase-out the Capital Stock and Franchise Tax (CSFT). The rate will be reduced from mills to 8.99 mills for tax year 2000; then, further reduced to 7.49 mills in tax year 2001, with additional 1 mill cuts each year thereafter until the tax is eliminated for tax year

8 WHAT S CHANGED IN PENNSYLVANIA? from page 5 The CSFT Minimum Tax of $200 has also been eliminated. The Research and Development Tax Credit allows employers qualifying for the federal R&D tax credit to receive a 10% tax credit for new research and development investments in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania is becoming more business!friendly" Don Houser, Co-owner Davis and Houser Financial Services, Lock Haven The Job Creation Tax Credit provides a tax credit of $1,000 per job for technologyrelated businesses that agree to create jobs in the Commonwealth within three years. Pennsylvania s personal income tax of 2.8% is one of the lowest in the nation. Technology A comprehensive telecommunications acquisition strategy is being developed to leverage the state s buying power and support further development of Pennsylvania s information technology infrastructure. The Digital Atlas, first of its kind in the nation, provides a detailed profile of the state s technology infrastructure, including fiber optic networks and microwave links. PA PowerPort is a first-in-the-nation partnership with Microsoft to power up Pennsylvania's award-winning website into a 21st century resource that will give Pennsylvania employers a clear advantage over the competition. The new site, PA PowerPort, organizes information and services in a manner that is more convenient and easy to use. No other state in the nation has a portal offering information and services as comprehensive as the features planned for PA PowerPort. The website will offer traditional services like news, weather, traffic, stock reports and a powerful search engine. However, it will also break new ground by creating customized Internet opportunities for companies across the state. According to the American Electronic Association s third annual Cyberstates Update, Pennsylvania is the nation's eighth cyberstate, employing nearly 160,000 high-tech workers and adding nearly 8,600 high-tech jobs between 1996 and As a national leader in biomedical research, Pennsylvania is home to one out of every eight biotechnology companies in the country. Pennsylvania s economic development programs have been an asset to our company" Dr. Jay Patel, President Licom Industries, State College Research and Development Firm 6

9 Our company enjoys being in Pennsylvania! We get good cooperation from state and local agencies! John Savoy, President John Savoy & Son, Inc., Montoursville Furniture Manufacturer Business Incentives The Keystone Opportunity Zones (KOZ) initiative has been established to revive economically distressed communities throughout the Commonwealth. Offering tax abatement as the incentive, the program fosters private and residential reinvestment areas, assisting these communities in regaining their economic stability. There are more than 120 KOZs throughout the State, providing up to 12 years of tax relief. The Pennsylvania Technology Investment Authority (PTIA) was created to help businesses and communities thrive in the digital economy. It offers financing, grants, and other investment tools to spur growth at the local and regional levels. Funding through PTIA will assist businesses in becoming e-commerce enabled, will support community based Internet activities, and will leverage university research and collaborative efforts. Streamlined Government PA Open for Business ( is the result of the Commonwealth's goal to make Pennsylvania the easiest place in the world to start, sustain, and expand a business. This website provides entrepreneurs with one door to access business information, explore financial options and download or complete the forms necessary to start and grow a business. Businesses will be able to register for all applicable Pennsylvania tax programs, including Unemployment Compensation, via the Internet at Process improvements in the Unemployment Compensation programs have reduced the time to have a UC rate assigned from 150 to 30 days and to get a refund from eight months to six weeks. Pennsylvania s business climate has gotten much better over the past three years! Yvonne Miller, Manager TDS Telecom, Herndon Telephone Company The Entrepreneurial Assistance Network encourages the creation, expansion, and retention of small businesses. It provides training programs and other tools, and has spawned a network of economic development professionals working together to enhance entrepreneurial vitality. 7

10 QUICK FACTS Over 1,500 interviews have been completed in the Central Region... Fifty-nine percent of the companies interviewed have less than 25 employees. Twenty-seven percent of all companies responding predict annual sales growth of 10% or more. Nearly 25% of all companies interviewed did not exist before Approximately onethird of the companies are years old. Only 5% are more than 100 years old. Sixty percent of all companies have a facility less than 25,000 square feet. Less than 15% of the facilities are over 100,000 square feet. Two-thirds of all companies interviewed have annual sales less than $5 million. Seventeen percent have annual sales of greater than $20 million. For the 241 companies that were interviewed twice, total employment increased by 847 from 22,263 to 23,110. Professional/technical workers are the most difficult positions to fill. Assemblers and line workers are the most difficult to retain. Sixty percent of the companies surveyed either currently participate or would be willing to participate in education/industry partnerships. Forty percent were not interested. Twenty percent of companies surveyed said securing adequate childcare for their workers is a problem. The interviewed companies' primary use of public resources has been to address issues related to workforce. Local utilities received the highest satisfaction rating 97%. Local airports received the lowest rating 80%. Nearly one-half of all companies can t find enough qualified workers. Low wages is viewed as the biggest problem in retaining employees. Ninety-five percent of the referrals made in FY were for services delivered by local, county, and regional organizations. Only 5% were for services delivered by state agencies. Of the companies interviewed in FY , 44% have a website and 13% are actively selling through the Internet. Workforce and taxes were the most significant issues facing businesses in the Central Region. When asked how the state could help make Pennsylvania companies more competitive, the top three suggestions were create better access to workforce training, provide more loans and grants, and lower taxes. Of the 450 companies responding, 49% had job openings. This was a total of 1,139 jobs an average of 5 jobs per company. Most companies had 10 openings or less. Ten companies had more than 25 openings each. 8

11 DATA ANALYSIS SURVEYS BY COUNTY AND INDUSTRY According to the September 1999 issue of the US Census Bureau s County Business Patterns, the Team PA Central Marketing Region is home to more than 13,500 businesses employing more than 200,000 workers. The Business Calling Program is reaching out to these firms to assess their views about doing business in Central Pennsylvania. To date, our regional partners Chambers of Commerce and Industrial Development Organizations have completed 1,517 interviews. Of these, 241 companies have been surveyed twice since we began interviewing in October While it is important to speak Pennsylvania gives our company good access to many strong! well"stocked suppliers# with as many companies as possible over time, it is also important to periodically re-interview some companies to see how things have changed. A breakdown by industry shows that a majority of firms interviewed are in the manufacturing sector. Once again, this can be attributed to our efforts to reach the largest employers having the greatest impact on the regional economy typically, manufacturers. The mix of firms, by industry, should change significantly in the next year or two. More emphasis will be placed on reaching smaller, family-owned and operated firms, as this may be where the greatest potential exists to expand and create jobs. Overall, the 1,276 first-time interviews represent approximately 9% of the firms in our region. In last year s report, we had only reached about 6% of our firms. Dean Daiz, General Manager 21st Century Signs, Montoursville COMPLETED INTERVIEWS BY COUNTY COMPANIES BY INDUSTRY Clinton 9% Mifflin 8% Juniata 6% Montour 5% Columbia 16% Wholesale/Retail 18% Service 30% Snyder 9% Union 10% Northumberland 14% Centre 11% Lycoming 12% Manufacturing 52% 9

12 DATA ANALYSIS SALES GROWTH AND SALES GROWTH CHANGE Good news for the Central Region sales growth expectations remain strong. Consistent with last year s report of the Business Calling Program, optimism prevailed. Nearly 50% of all firms project sales growth of five percent or more, 27% project sales growth of ten percent or more, and a surprising one out of every eight firms projects sales growth of more than 20%! Only 7% of firms project a decline in sales. Looking only at firms that have been interviewed twice, we find that sales growth expectations from one interview to the next generally remain unchanged or decreased slightly. Twenty-nine percent of this subset of firms, when interviewed the first time projected sales growth of 10% or more. When these same firms were interviewed a second time (at least one year later), twenty-five percent projected sales growth of 10% or more. However, there were more significant changes at the county level. In Centre County, for example, at the time of the first interview 67% of companies projected sales growth of ten percent or more. Of these companies interviewed a second time, the rate dropped to 49%. In Juniata County, 10% of firms projected sales growth of ten percent or more at the first interview, but none of these same firms projected this level of sales growth after the second interview. Only two counties showed an increase in the optimism rate from the first interview to the second with Union County showing the greatest increase of companies (from 20% to 25%) projecting sales growth of ten percent or more. COMPANIES PROJECTING SALES GROWTH OF 10% OR MORE Percent of Companies Responding 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% County Centre Montour Lycoming Clinton Mifflin Columbia Snyder Northumberland Union Juniata Central Region CHANGE IN COMPANIES PROJECTING SALES GROWTH OF 10% OR MORE Percent of Companies Responding 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% County Centre Clinton Columbia Juniata Lycoming Mifflin Montour Northumberland Snyder 1st Interview 2nd Interview Union Central Region 10

13 DATA ANALYSIS EMPLOYEES The Central Region is made up primarily of small companies. Even though the initial focus of the Business Calling Program has been the larger employers, nearly 40% of the companies interviewed employ less than 10 people, and another 35% employ between 11 and 50 people. The results indicate that 15% of firms interviewed employ more than 125 people. This may not accurately represent the Central "The number one advantage to the local area is the workforce! excellent work ethic and trainability"" Region because of the early emphasis on interviewing larger firms. Of the companies interviewed a second time, there has been a total increase of nearly 847 full time employees. This is an average of 3.5 workers per company. Currently, the Central Region has an extremely tight labor market. The Central Region s 3.4% unemployment rate in May 2000 was below that of both the state (3.9%) and the US (4%). In fact, the three counties in the state with the lowest unemployment rate are right here in the Central Region (Union County at 1.9%, Centre County at 2.0%, and Snyder County at 2.1%). Also making the top ten list is Montour County, ranked fifth at 2.3% unemployment. Richard Schmidt, Past Chairman and Owner Excel Homes, Inc., Liverpool Manufactured Homes and Buildings PEOPLE EMPLOYED AT SITE 40% Percent of Companies Responding 30% 20% 10% 0% < >125 Number of Employees 11

14 DATA ANALYSIS RECRUITING AND RETAINING EMPLOYEES Like last year s report, workforce is once again the number one concern among the companies we interviewed. The biggest issue is recruiting qualified workers. In FY , nearly half the companies had job openings at the time of the interview. This translated into more than 1,100 jobs! Of those companies having problems finding good workers, 65% said the lack of qualifications and skills is the number one problem. It is often said this region has a strong work ethic. Although lack of work ethic did appear on the list of problems recruiting employees, it was nearly last with a response rate of only 6%. At the other end of the spectrum, some companies are having a difficult time keeping the employees they already have with wages being the primary reason. Overall, about 22% of the firms surveyed said they are having a problem retaining employees. OBSTACLES TO EMPLOYEE RECRUITMENT 70% Percent of Companies Responding 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Issue/Reason Qualifications/ Skills Tight Labor Market Salary Shifts Location Work Environment Work Ethic Management OBSTACLES TO EMPLOYEE RETENTION Percent of Companies Responding 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Issue/Reason Wages Work Schedules Benefits Work Ethic Work Conditions Work Environment Childcare Location 12

15 DATA ANALYSIS DIFFICULT POSITIONS TO FILL AND RETAIN AND USE OF PUBLIC RESOURCES Recruiting workers, in general, has been a problem. However, some positions are more difficult to fill than others. According to the survey results, professional and technical positions are the most difficult to fill, while assembly and line positions are the most difficult to retain. Sales positions are also difficult to fill and retain. The survey considered sales positions in service and retail separately but found that, when combined, sales positions are the second most difficult jobs to fill. Salespeople are also as difficult to retain as professional and technical workers. Consistent with these findings, more companies have used public resources to address workforce issues than for any other reason. In fact, of the companies surveyed, 17% said they have used public resources for this purpose. If we look at just those companies that have used some type of public resource, nearly one-half have used resources related to workforce development. Other public resources of significant importance include financing for machinery and equipment, identification of sites and facilities, and assistance with sales and marketing. POSITIONS DIFFICULT TO FILL VERSUS DIFFICULT TO RETAIN 20% Difficult to Fill Difficult to Retain Percent of Companies Responding 15% 10% 5% 0% Position Professional/ Technical Assemblers/ Line Workers Sales/Service Mechanics IT/Programmers Machine Operators Administrative/ Clerical Sales/Retail USE OF PUBLIC RESOURCES Percent of Companies Responding 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Resource Workforce Machinery/ Equipment Site Facilities Marketing/ Sales Infrastructure 13

16 DATA ANALYSIS LOCAL SERVICES The companies we interviewed generally gave local services high marks. Local utilities received the highest overall rating, with 97% of all companies responding rating them as good or excellent. Consistent with past findings, local airports were not rated as high as other services. Only 80% of respondents rated them as good or PPL s off!peak electric rates have kept us competitive and in the floral production business" excellent, in fact, only 3% indicated an excellent rating. The most interesting finding, relative to local services, is that for companies interviewed for a second time, the overall rating dropped for every service. Not surprisingly perhaps, the biggest drop in ratings was for local airports. At the first interview, local airports received a favorable rating from 77% of firms, but at the second interview the favorable rating dropped to just 52%. Robert W. Dillon, President Dillon Floral Corporation, Bloomsburg Wholesale Flowers and Plants COMPANIES RATING LOCAL SERVICES AS GOOD OR EXCELLENT All Companies 1st Interview 2nd Interview Percent of Companies Responding 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% Local Service Airport Public Water Roads Telecommunications Utilities Zoning 14

17 DATA ANALYSIS E-COMMERCE Following the national trend, regional e-commerce is on the move. Of the companies we surveyed in FY , 44% have a registered website. While a website alone does not define e-commerce, many of our regional companies are using the Internet to buy and sell products and services. In fact, one out of every 10 companies surveyed is actively selling over the Internet, and twice as many are buying through the Web. As more and more firms move to the Web, there is an increased need for assistance with e-commerce issues. As a result, both the State and other local economic development organizations are gearing up to meet this need. Supporting the move to more technical assistance for e-commerce are the following facts: Forrester Research Inc., of Cambridge, Mass., predicts the value of goods and services traded between companies will shoot from $8 billion in 1999 to $327 billion in Forrester also estimates that U.S. B2B (business-to-business) e-commerce will grow to more than $1 trillion by 2003 about 10 percent of all business sales. GartnerGroup Inc., of Stamford, Connecticut, predicts more than $7 trillion in worldwide B2B e-commerce activity by Money spent on B2B transactions already surpasses consumer transactions 10 to 1 (Aberdeen Group). U.S. B2B is expected to experience 41% compound annual growth over the next five years (Yankee Group). Meta Group Inc. predicts that by 2003, most of the world's 2,000 largest companies will be using Web-based software to automate supply chain processes, such as procurement, and linking those systems to existing ERP (enterprise resource planning) systems. COMPANIES USING E-COMMERCE TO CONDUCT BUSINESS 50% Percent of Companies Surveyed 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Website Internet Purchasing Internet Selling Type of E-Commerce Activity 15

18 DATA ANALYSIS TOP ISSUES, CHANGE IN TOP ISSUES, AND SUGGESTIONS Not surprisingly, the top issue facing companies in the Central Region is workforce. And not far behind, in second place, are taxes! Of the companies interviewed, when asked what their number one concern is, 26% said workforce. Eleven percent identified taxes as their top issue. Local zoning and road conditions were also mentioned often. For those companies interviewed a second time, concern over workforce had the most significant change from one interview to the next. Only 11% of companies identified workforce as an issue at their first interview. This number increased to a surprising 44% at the second interview. Concern over taxes also increased slightly. On the other hand, zoning, roads, and water were of less concern at the time of the second interview. When asked to make suggestions to improve their companies competitiveness, the most common responses were better access to workforce and training programs, more loans and grants, and lower taxes. TOP ISSUES FACING BUSINESS Percent of Companies Responding 30% 20% 10% 0% Issue Workforce Taxes Zoning Roads Water Environmental Regulations CHANGE IN TOP ISSUES FACING BUSINESS Percent of Companies Responding 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Issue Workforce Taxes Zoning Roads Water 1st Interview 2nd Interview Environmental Regulations 16

19 DATA ANALYSIS TOP ISSUES, CHANGE IN TOP ISSUES, AND SUGGESTIONS from page 15 The state should offer more business assistance with website development! Joel Gum, Executive Director Enhanced Management Services, Danville Emergency Services SUGGESTIONS TO MAKE BUSINESS MORE COMPETITIVE Percent of Companies Interviewed 12% 10% 8% 6% 4% 2% 0% Better Access to More Loans/Grants Lower Taxes Workforce/Training Suggestion Too many local taxing authorities this is a hidden cost of doing business! Gary Tweedlie, President DFS Company, Mifflintown Steel Fabrication 17

20 REFERRALS To date, the Business Calling Program has generated nearly 600 referrals to the Central Region s network of more than 50 business assistance providers. Without question, this is the most important outcome of the program. Although the majority of referrals are for financing, training, access to workforce, and technical assistance, our service providers have worked with companies on all kinds of issues from e-commerce to ISO certification, from business plans and product design to road improvements and traffic lights, from moving a telephone pole to opening a museum. While many referrals are simply for basic information, others can have an important impact on the companies we serve. The Team Pennsylvania Business Calling Program has contributed to the success of these and other projects: High Steel Structures $16 million expansion in Williamsport. State financing for Polymics new building and expansion in the State College area. The downtown Lewistown campus of South Hills School of Business and Technology. International contracts and sales for Lomic, Inc. of State College. State financing for improvements at Deluxe Homes in Berwick. SERVICE PROVIDERS RECEIVING THE MOST REFERRALS FY and FY Total SEDA-Council of Governments Industrial Modernization Center Technology Transfer Center Penn College Ben Franklin Technology Partners Central Pennsylvania Workforce Development Corporation Pennsylvania Technology Assistance Program Small Business Development Centers Other Service Providers Total Referrals In conclusion, SEDA-Council of Governments and its regional partners will continue to serve Central Pennsylvania through the Business Calling Program to direct firms to the business services that can help them grow and create jobs. We will also continue to publish this annual report, keeping our regional companies and economic and community development organizations informed of our progress and activities. If you have thoughts or comments on this report, or would like to speak with someone about a business need, please refer to the Team Pennsylvania partners listing at the back of this report for your local point of contact. 18

21 ADDENDUM A EXTENDED NETWORK OF SERVICE PROVIDERS Ben Franklin Technology Center - Central and Northern Pennsylvania 115 Technology Center University Park, PA Contact: Bob Booz, Director Phone: Fax: bobbooz@cnp.benfranklin.org Counties served: Centre, Clinton, Juniata, Lycoming, Mifflin Ben Franklin Technology Partners Northeastern PA PO Box 9, 440 High Street West Milton, PA Contact: Larry Seibert, Regional Director Phone: Fax: lseibert@nep.benfranklin.org Counties served: Columbia, Montour, Berwick Industrial Development Association, Inc. 120 East Third Street Berwick, PA Contact: Darl Kleimbach, Executive Director Phone: Fax: bida@sunlink.net County served: Columbia, Montour Bloomsburg University Continuing and Distance Education 700 West Main St., Magee Center Bloomsburg, PA Contact: Michael Vavrek, Dean Phone: Fax: mvavrek@bloomu.edu Juniata, Lycoming, Mifflin, Montour, Bucknell University Small Business Development Center Dana Engineering Building Lewisburg, PA Contact: John Politis, Director Phone: Fax: politis@bucknell.edu Counties served: Juniata, Montour, Central Pennsylvania Workforce Development Corporation Three Kelly Square Route 15 North Lewisburg, PA Contact: William C. Brock, Executive Director Phone: Fax: wbrock@mail.csrlink.net Lycoming, Mifflin, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder, Union Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit PO Box 213 Lewisburg, PA Contact: Robert Witten Phone: , ext Fax: bwitten@csiu-pa.org Counties served: Columbia, Montour, Centre County Convention and Visitor s Bureau 1402 S. Atherton St. State College, PA Contact: Betsey Howell Phone: Fax: beh@visitpennstate.org County served: Centre 19

22 Child Care Resource Developers 2138 Lincoln Street, PO Box 3568 Williamsport, PA Contact:John La Rose, Director Phone: Fax: Juniata, Lycoming, Mifflin, Montour, Columbia-Montour Tourist Promotion Agency, Inc. 121 Papermill Road Bloomsburg, PA Contact:Sally Edling, Executive Director Phone: Fax: Counties served: Columbia, Montour Department of Agriculture - Region 2 Regional Headquarters and Specialized Facilities 524 County Farm Road, Suite 102 Montoursville, PA Contact:Wayne Yorks Phone: Fax: sholtzman@agric.state.pa.us Counties served: Clinton, Columbia, Lycoming, Montour, Department of Agriculture - Region 5 Regional Headquarters and Specialized Facilities th Street, Cricket Field Plaza Altoona, PA Contact:Ken Mowry Phone: Fax: Counties served: Centre, Juniata, Mifflin Department of Community and Economic Development - Center for Local Government Services 325 Forum Building Harrisburg, PA Contact:Jim Lombardo Phone: Fax: jim_lombardo@dced.state.pa.us Juniata, Lycoming, Mifflin, Montour, Department of Community and Economic Development - Central Region 577 Forum Building Harrisburg, PA Contact:Jerry Spangler, Regional Director Phone: Fax: jspangler@dced.state.pa.us Juniata, Lycoming, Mifflin, Montour, Department of Community and Economic Development - Governor s Action Team 100 Pine Street, Suite 100 Harrisburg, PA Contact:Tracey Vernon, Deputy Director Phone: Fax: tracey_vernon@dced.state.pa.us Juniata, Lycoming, Mifflin, Montour, 20

23 Department of Environmental Protection Northcentral Regional Office 208 West Third Street, Suite 101 Williamsport, PA Contact: Bill Parsons, Asst. Regional Director Phone: Fax: Lycoming, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder, Union Department of Environmental Protection Southcentral region 909 Elmerton Avenue Harrisburg, PA Contact: Karen Bassett, Assistant Director Phone: Fax: Counties served: Juniata, Mifflin Department of Labor and Industry Regional Job Center Office 8 North Grove Street, Suite F Lock Haven, PA Contact: Jerry Braucht, Manager Phone: Fax: lhjobs@cub.kcnet.org Juniata, Lycoming, Mifflin, Montour, Department of Revenue Executive Office Lobby, Strawberry Square Harrisburg, PA Contact: Jodi Reed Phone: Fax: jreed@revenue.state.pa.us Juniata, Lycoming, Mifflin, Montour, Department of Transportation District Daisy Street Clearfield, PA Contact: George Khoury, District Engineer Phone: Fax: padot_dist2@clearfield.clearnet.net Counties served: Centre, Clinton, Juniata, Mifflin Department of Transportation District Jordan Avenue Montoursville, PA Contact: Gary Connelly, Plan. & Prog. Eng. Phone: Fax: connell@dot.state.pa.us Counties served: Columbia, Lycoming, Montour, Focus Central Pennsylvania c/o SEDA-COG RR 1, Box 372 Lewisburg, PA Contact: Teri MacBride, Director Phone: Fax: locate@focuscenpa.org Counties served: Lycoming, Northumberland, Snyder, Union Greater Danville Area Industrial Development Corp. PO Box 116 Danville, PA Contact: Art Peters Jr., Chairman Phone: Fax: County served: Montour 21

24 Industrial Modernization Center Business & Technology Resource Center PO Box 3066, 2401 Reach Road, Suite 450 Williamsport, PA Contact: Jim Shillenn, Executive Director Phone: Fax: Juniata, Lycoming, Mifflin, Montour, Juniata-Mifflin Counties Tourist Promotion Agency 152 East Market Street, Suite 103 Lewistown, PA Contact: S. Gerald Hummel, President Phone: Fax: Counties served: Juniata, Mifflin Lock Haven University Small Business Development Center 105 Annex Building Lock Haven, PA Contact: Dawn Datt, Director Phone: Fax: Counties served: Clinton, Lycoming Lycoming County Visitors Bureau 100 West Third Street Williamsport, PA Contact: Derek Lochbaum, Director Phone: Fax: County served: Lycoming Mifflin County Planning and Development Department 20 N. Wayne Street Lewistown, PA Contact: William Gomes Phone: Fax: County served: Mifflin Mount Carmel District Industrial Fund 28 West Ave. Mount Carmel, PA Contact: Robert W. Lutz, President Phone: Fax: County served: Northumberland Penn State University Small Business Development Center 117 Technology Center University Park, PA Contact: Donna Holmes, Director Phone: Fax: Counties served: Centre, Mifflin Pennsylvania Environmental Assistance Network Pennsylvania State University/Eastgate Center 1010 North Seventh Street Harrisburg, PA Contact: Dana Stuller Phone: Fax: Juniata, Lycoming, Mifflin, Montour, 22

25 Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority 22 South Third Street Harrisburg, PA Contact: Paul Natale, Director Phone: Fax: Juniata, Lycoming, Mifflin, Montour, Pennsylvania Technical Assistance Program 117 Technology Center University Park, PA Contact: Ralph Caretti, Sr. Technical Specialist Phone: Fax: Juniata, Lycoming, Mifflin, Montour, PPL 4810 Lycoming Mall Drive Montoursville, PA Contact: Don Stringfellow Phone: Fax: Counties served: Clinton, Lycoming PPL RR 2 Box 544B Northumberland, PA Contact: Robert Ruffaner Phone: Fax: reruffaner@pplweb.com Counties served: Snyder, Union, Northumberland PPL 4001 Sawmill Road Bloomsburg, PA Contact: Rodney Keller Phone: Fax: rbkeller@pplweb.com Counties served: Columbia, Montour PPL 1801 Brookwood Street (HARSC) Harrisburg, PA Contact: Kathleen Wildauer Phone: Fax: kawildauer@pplweb.com Counties served: Juniata SEDA-COG RR 1, Box 372 Lewisburg, PA Contact: Tom Venditti Phone: Fax: venditti@seda-cog.org Juniata, Lycoming, Mifflin, Montour, Shamokin Area Industrial Corporation 51 E. Lincoln St. Shamokin, PA Contact: Dr. Edward Twigger II, President Phone: Fax: bvc@sunlink.net County served: Northumberland 23

26 Susquehanna Employment and Training Corp. 100 N. Cameron St. Harrisburg, PA Contact: Richard Kopecky Phone: Fax: County served: Juniata Susquehanna Valley Visitors Bureau 219D Hafer Road Lewisburg, PA Contact: Harriet Bresenhan, Director Phone: Fax: Counties served: Technology Transfer Center, Pennsylvania College of Technology One College Avenue Williamsport, PA Contact: Larry L. Michael, Associate Dean Phone: Fax: Juniata, Lycoming, Mifflin, Montour, 24

27 The Business Calling Program Survey Form included here in the original report has been removed due to file size constraints. This survey portion of the report can be downloaded separately.

28 TEAM PENNSYLVANIA PARTNERS CENTRAL MARKETING REGION CENTRE COUNTY Dave Tyler, Vice President of Economic Development Chamber of Business & Industry of Centre County 200 Innovation Boulevard, Suite 201 State College, PA (814) (phone) (814) (fax) ( ) CLINTON COUNTY Michael Flanagan, Director of Development Clinton County Economic Partnership 212 North Jay Street Lock Haven, PA (570) (phone) (570) (fax) ( ) COLUMBIA COUNTY Stephen E. Phillips, Executive Director Berwick Industrial Plan, Inc./Spirit, Inc Salem Boulevard Berwick, PA (570) (phone) (570) (fax) ( ) Ed Edwards, President Columbia Alliance for Economic Growth 238 Market Street Bloomsburg, PA (570) (phone) (570) (fax) ( ) JUNIATA COUNTY Fred Naylor, Secretary Juniata Business and Industry, Inc. PO Box 70 Mifflintown, PA (717) (phone) (717) (fax) ( ) LYCOMING COUNTY Robert W. Engel, Director, Economic Development The Williamsport/Lycoming Chamber of Commerce 100 West Third Street Williamsport, PA (570) (phone) (570) (fax) MIFFLIN COUNTY Robert Postal, Executive Director Mifflin County Industrial Development Corporation MCIDC Plaza 6395 SR 103 North, Building 50 Lewistown, Pa (717) (phone) (717) (fax) ( ) MONTOUR COUNTY Jim Zubler, Executive Director Danville Area Chamber of Commerce 206 Walnut Street Danville, PA (570) (phone) (570) (fax) ( ) NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY The Milton Area Chamber of Commerce One South Arch Street Milton, Pa (570) (phone) (570) (fax) ( ) James E. King, Executive Director Northumberland County Industrial Development Corporation Courthouse Annex Second and Chestnut Streets Sunbury, PA (570) (phone) (570) (fax) ( ) SNYDER COUNTY Kurt Kissinger, President and COO Central Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce PO Box 10 Shamokin Dam, PA (570) (phone) (570) (fax) UNION COUNTY Joe Detelj, Executive Director Union County Chamber of Commerce 219D Hafer Road Lewisburg, PA (570) (phone) (570) (fax)

29 This report was funded through ennsylvan! TEAM Pennsylva a and was prepared by SEDA-Council of Governments RR 1 Box 372 Lewisburg, PA Phone (570) Fax (570)