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front + Centre is designed to highlight the full scope of the CBICC's economic development work, while showcasing the companies and business professionals that comprise the fabric of the local economy.
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CBICC INSIGHT INTO THE ISSUES, INDIVIDUALS, AND ACTIVITIES THAT ARE SHAPING ECONOMIC GROWTH IN CENTRE COUNTY
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in this issueDECEMBER 2014 | VOLUME 1, EDITION 10
1 CBICC set for increased economic development activity in 2015
2 2014 3B33 Support Partners
2 Dialogue with DCED focuses on partnership opportunities
2 Ad deadline nearing for I-99 Corridor Economic Development
3 Idea to ease oil and gas industry traffic congestion selected as winner of TechCelerator Boot Camp
3 Economic Developments in Brief
membership and the Chamber’s 3B33 Support Partners, Centre County is gaining traction in its business recruitment activity, and is raising Centre County’s profile.
Moving forward, the Chamber and its partners will build on that momentum.
The CBICC’s 2015 economic development strategy. The Chamber will:
• Increase its engagement/participation with the PA Department of Community and Economic Development
• Place increased emphasis on marketing, developing economic development materials that position Centre County as an attractive place for business location and investment
• Follow through with CBICC committee work undertaken in 2014 to strengthen the existing business base
• Continue to strengthen its relationship with Penn State University, a valuable economic development ally
• Implement a robust regional marketing strategy to promote development along
CBICC set for increased economic development activity in 2015More robust activity and programming, and branding Centre County and the region as a business location destination will be centerpieces of the CBICC’s economic development mission in 2015. Chamber President and CEO Vern Squier highlighted the organization’s plans for the new year, as well as the economic development accomplishments of the past year, at the CBICC’s Annual Vision Luncheon on Dec. 16.
Squier said 2014 witnessed the business community and local government leaders working together like never before to lay the groundwork for a strengthened private sector. The Chamber also continued its ongoing dialogue with Penn State University leadership on how best to work collaboratively in order to promote shared economic growth and entrepreneurial development goals.
With the support and backing of CBICC
CBICC Mission
One of the largest chambers/economic development organizations in Pennsylvania, the Chamber of Business
& Industry of Centre County is the unified voice of businesses of all sizes and industry
sectors in Centre County. The CBICC’s mission is to promote the well-being and growth of commerce and industry, while
striving to maintain a high quality of life for those who live, work and do business in
Centre County.
Ted McDowell Senior Vice President, AmeriServ Bank
Chairman of the Board
Bill Joseph Senior Vice President, First National Bank
Vice Chairman of the Board
Vern SquierPresident and CEO
Nearly 250 CBICC members attended the Chamber’s Annual Vision Luncheon on Dec. 16. WHM Group/BAI Group, Inc. and Pennsylvania Chamber Insurance sponsored the event, which featured PA Chamber President Gene Barr as keynote speaker.
“We’ve started getting comments from the (PA Department of Community and Economic Development), telling us that we’re on their radar. We’ve worked hard. We’ve earned that.”
-- Vern Squier, President and CEO, CBICC, Centre Daily Times
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DECEMBER 2014 | VOLUME 1, EDITION 10
the I-99 Corridor
• Engage in active business recruitment, seeking industries best suited for Centre County
• Build a stronger 3B33 support base necessary to advance the Chamber’s economic development mission
Media coverage of the Annual Vision Luncheon:
CBICC to focus on partnership with Penn State, Centre Daily Times, Dec. 17, 2014
Chamber of Business and Industry hopes for a bright future for local economy, StateCollege.com, Dec. 16, 2014
Pension crisis top priority, CBICC says, Centre County Gazette, Dec.
The CBICC thanks the following government entities, financial institutions and businesses for their support of the Chamber’s economic development mission and their commitment to work collaboratively to move Centre County’s economy forward. Beginning in 2015, front + Centre will profile support partners that are working to make a difference in the local economy.
AmeriServ Bank
Baker Tilly
Borough of State College
Capperella Furniture
Centre County Government
Ferguson Township
First National Bank of Pennsylvania
Fulton Bank
Geisinger Medical Group
Glenn O. Hawbaker, Inc.
Halfmoon Township
HFL Corporation
Kish Bank
M&T Bank
McQuaide Blasko Attorneys at Law
presence in this arena is an agreement with DCED to be a partner of the Pennsylvania Pavilion at the International Plastics Expo in March, and a role as a PA host partner at an industry-specific event late in summer 2015. In addition to its ongoing individual efforts, the Chamber will continue to look for state partnership opportunities in order to increase contact with key site selectors and companies looking to relocate or expand.
Ad deadline nearing for I-99 Corridor Economic DevelopmentAd sales will soon close on Pennsylvania’s I-99 Corridor Economic Development, a high-quality print publication that will be distributed to talent prospects, site selectors and key economic development and government partners. The publication is the centerpiece of a regional economic development marketing strategy being undertaken by the CBICC, the Altoona-Blair County Development Corporation and the Bedford County Development Association, in conjunction with Journal Communications, to promote the I-99 Corridor as a new business location.
The print magazine is accompanied by a companion website and digital version of the magazine viewable online and on mobile devices. This provides magazine advertisers with year-round exposure on multiple media platforms.
The magazine and related components will be excellent tools to help promote the region’s industry strengths and sell Centre County and the surrounding region as an ideal place for businesses to locate, grow and expand. It will be a key part of the CBICC’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the private-sector economy and achieve the
Mount Nittany Health
National Penn Bank
Northwest Savings Bank
Patton Township
The Pennsylvania State University
PennTerra Engineering, Inc.
PNC
Poole Anderson Construction, LLC
PSECU
Reliance Bank
Sovereign Santander US
Spring Township
S&T Bank
Torron Group LP
Videon Central, Inc.
Dialogue with DCED focuses on partnership opportunities A CBICC economic development goal moving forward is to be a more active, visible partner in the state’s efforts to attract business investment in the Commonwealth. CBICC President and CEO Vern Squier reiterated this message during a Dec. 17 meeting with Mary Bethea, Marketing Manager with the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. The CBICC invited Bethea to Centre County for a tour Penn State’s CIMP-3D lab and to discuss 2015 partnership opportunities. The Chamber’s participation in recent statewide partners meetings with DCED prompted the follow-up visit.
For the Chamber, interactions like these are opportunities to talk one-on-one with state officials about economic development efforts locally to strengthen the existing business base, foster greater entrepreneurial opportunities and actively engage in new business recruitment.
The CBICC’s focus over the past few years, including the building of a growing base of 3B33 Support Partners, has positioned the organization to move forward with its economic development mission. Increased collaboration with the state is a natural next step.
Examples of the Chamber’s increased
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DECEMBER 2014 | VOLUME 1, EDITION 10
goals of 3B33.
The publication is expected to be published in spring of 2015.
DeShaun Goodrich is the ad sales representative for I-99 Corridor Economic Development; he can be reached at [email protected] or by calling 800 333-8842, ext. 292.
For additional information about the project, email [email protected].
Idea to ease oil and gas industry traffic congestion selected as winner of TechCelerator Boot CampSince the TechCelerator@StateCollege started two years ago, 28 companies have been or are being formed, creating 75 full or part-time jobs.
On Dec. 9, six new companies in the making – representing the sixth TechCelerator Boot Camp Class – gave their final presentations to guest judges. Those companies are Acres Drones, BlueSpin, deZXEN Technologies, HICO
Tech, Digital Measurement Partners and OurFleet.
Boot Camp participants have eight minutes to describe their products and/or services, followed by a seven minute Q&A from the judging panel.
The winner of $10,000 provided by Ben Franklin Technology Partners was OurFleet, founded by Doug Carnahan. The technology Doug developed will be used initially in the gas and oil industry as a method to solve traffic congestion concerns, which are time-consuming, costly and frustrating to the companies in those industries, and adversely impact local communities.
The Centre County Industrial Development Corporation is a supporter of the TechCelerator@StateCollege along with Ben Franklin Technology Partners, Innovation Park at Penn State, Penn State Small Business Development Center, Venture Investment Forum and Ben Franklin Transformation Business Service Center.
Economic Developments in Brief
Nominations being accepted for Governor’s ImPAct Awards
Nominations are now open for the Third Annual Governor’s ImPAct Awards. The program seeks to recognize Pennsylvania companies that embody the American
Dream by taking risks, working hard and achieving success. The nomination period is open through Jan. 15, 2015. Additional information is available here. 2014 winners included CBICC members Videon-Central and Websters Bookstore Café. If you know of a company that is making an impact on the region, consider nominating them in one of five categories. Companies are also encouraged to self-nominate for the awards. For questions, contact CBICC Economic Team Specialist Mary Resides at [email protected].
CBICC Communications Director Lesley Kistner joined other economic development agency marketing professionals in Harrisburg on Dec. 1 at a statewide editorial board meeting for Keystone Edge, a weekly electronic newsletter that covers growth and what’s next across Pennsylvania with a particular focus on the entrepreneurial ecosystem and the people, places and companies driving the state forward. The newsletter’s editors are looking to increase emphasis on central PA driven-content. The dialogue with Keystone Edge is another example of the how the CBICC is exploring expanded opportunities to message about economic development efforts in Centre County and throughout the I-99 Corridor region.
Publisher Vern Squier
President/CEO, Chamber of Business & Industry of Centre County
Writer Lesley Kistner
Communications Director [email protected]
