CBICC INSIGHT INTO THE ISSUES, INDIVIDUALS, AND ACTIVITIES THAT ARE SHAPING ECONOMIC GROWTH IN CENTRE COUNTY

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in this issueOCTOBER 2014 | VOLUME 1, EDITION 8

1 National forum engages smaller businesses in adoption of additive manufacturing

2 I-99 Innovation Corridor: Promising hub for additive manufacturing

2 New building project begins at Innovation Park at Penn State

3 CBICC, I-99 Corridor groups to begin regional marketing effort

3 Economic Developments in Brief

5 CBICC in Action

research partnerships.

Among those speaking at the opening ceremony were Dr. Neil Sharkey, Vice President of Research, The Pennsylvania State University; The Honorable Glenn T. Thompson, Congressman, 5th District; Robert DeSousa, Chief of Staff, U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, who introduced a special video message from the senator; and Roger Kilmer, Chief Manufacturing Officer, National Institute of Standards and Technology.

Penn State’s 3D-CIMP Lab is generally regarded to be in the top 3 leading centers in the country, with a goal of being the top R&D center in the U.S. for engineered additive manufacturing components within the next 3 years to 5 years.

The Pennsylvania Cable Network provided coverage of the forum.

National forum engages smaller businesses in adoption of additive manufacturingPenn State President Dr. Eric J. Barron, federal elected officials and other dignitaries welcomed nearly 300 business leaders and entrepreneurs to a National Forum on SME Adoption of Additive Manufacturing on Oct. 23 at the Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center.

The Center for Innovative Materials Processing through Direct Digital Deposition (CIMP-3D) at Penn State, in conjunction with America Makes, the nation’s leading and collaborative partner in additive manufacturing and 3D printing technology, hosted the forum, which focused on implementation opportunities for small- to medium-sized businesses. The CBICC and Innovation Park were forum sponsors.

The forum helped define the current capabilities of additive manufacturing in metals and explored opportunities for small- and medium-size companies to adopt this important technology. Forum topics spanned from challenges and considerations facing smaller businesses considering adopting the technology to best practices and latest industry trends, to funding options for business/academic

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

County Commissioners Chris Exharchos and Chairman Steve Dershem, Penn State President Dr. Eric Barron, Vern Squier, and Congressman Glenn Thompson prior to the start of the forum.

Forum attendees learned about the latest additive manufacturing technologies and products during the networking reception.

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Forum media coverage

Penn State welcomes businesses to State College for national forum on 3D printing, StateCollege.com, Oct. 23, 2014

Penn State Center hopes to lead manufacturing revolution via 3D printing, Centre Daily Times, Oct. 24, 2014

I-99 Innovation Corridor: Promising hub for additive manufacturingPenn State’s national forum on additive manufacturing gave the CBICC and

university faculty and research support. KIZ’s also offer incentives to launch faculty based enterprises. Ten KIZ’s have been established along the I-99 Innovation Corridor.

The Corridor also offers numerous tax-free business locations called Keystone Opportunity Zones. KOZs are geographically defined areas with greatly reduced or often no tax burden for property owners, residents and businesses locating within a KOZ.

New building project begins at Innovation Park at Penn State

“The new building will be a great addition to Innovation

plenary session – “A Regional Additive Manufacturing Enterprise Concept” – on the final day of the three-day forum. The presentation focused on the benefits of a regional approach to growing the industry, citing similar, successful efforts with other industries in other states.

Penn State has one of the nation’s leading research facilities for additive manufacturing, specifically with regard to metallic materials.

“Our region has a long history of successful collaboration amongst the three counties, their businesses and Penn State University’s leading students, faculty and research,” Marasco said. “We are excited about the University’s advancements in additive manufacturing and what this unique opportunity here in the I-99 Corridor will provide our current and future companies.”

Squier added that University leadership’s focus on economic development, the cutting-edge research occurring here and a dramatic improvement in the University’s intellectual property policy are all strong selling points that make the region attractive to business and industry interested in capitalizing on the economic potential of additive manufacturing and 3D printing.

While the national forum was focused on AM implementation for smaller businesses generally, I-99 Corridor officials hope to generate interest in what central Pennsylvania has to offer in terms of business location and expansion related to this industry.

The I-99 Innovation Corridor offers Pennsylvania’s largest concentration of Keystone Innovation Zones (KIZ), specialized locations designed to link technology-based companies with

CBICC President Vern Squier closes the forum with a presentation on how businesses can work with their local economic development association and work regionally to benefit from the technology.

economic development officials from Blair and Bedford counties as chance to market the I-99 Innovation Corridor as a promising hub for the additive manufacturing industry.

Encompassing Centre, Blair and Bedford counties, the I-99 Corridor is home to Penn State and numerous precision manufacturers, life science firms, technology-based companies and materials-related industries.

CBICC President and CEO Vern Squier; Altoona-Blair County Development Corporation President and CEO Marty Marasco and Bedford County Development Association President and CEO Bette Slayton were on hand at the forum to showcase the Corridor and its site-selection advantages.

Squier served as a guest speaker at a

CBICC President and CEO Vern Squier and Bedford County Development Association President and CEO Bette Slayton showcase the I-99 Corridor at Penn State’s national forum on additive manufacturing

Park. It will provide valuable next-stage accomodation

options for Technology Center incubator companies in need

of additional laboratory or office space in order to continue their growth.”

-- Vern Squier, President &

CEO, CBICCOn Oct. 21, ground was officially broken

on 331 Innovation Boulevard, a four-story facility with 82,000 square feet of leas-

able office space – the first LEED-certified building in Innovation Park. The building is scheduled for completion in late August

2015. “The new building will be a great addition to Innovation Park. It will provide valuable next stage accommodation options for Technology Center incubator companies in need of additional laboratory or office space in order to continue their growth,” said CBICC President and CEO Vern Squier in an Innovation Park press release announcing the ground-breaking. “More importantly, the building will be an important asset in the effort to bring

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new economic opportunities to Centre County. Site selectors repeatedly stress that having move-in ready space is critical to business recruitment efforts. We applaud Innovation Park leadership and GLP Development for making a significant investment in the construction of a multi-use building that will be an important addition to the county’s facilities inventory.”

Penn State Vice President of Research Neil Sharkey said, “The build-out of the new 331 building at Innovation Park fits perfectly with Penn State’s renewed emphasis on economic development as described in President Eric Barron’s address to the Board of Trustees at its most recent meeting. I have every confidence that the building will become another beehive of innovative activity that will serve to further the outgrowth of Penn State’s formidable intellectual capital into the Centre Region and beyond.”

As the first LEED-certified building in Innovation Park, Barron expects Building 331 will meet the U.S. Green Building Council’s requirements for Silver level certification.

Parties interested in leasing space in 331 Innovation Boulevard should contact either Dan Leri at 814 865-5925 or leasing agent Tom MacDonald at 412 434-1028.

CBICC, I-99 Corridor groups to begin regional marketing effortThe Chamber of Business & Industry of Centre County, the Altoona-Blair County Development Corporation and the Bedford County Development Association are partnering with Journal Communications on the production of an I-99 Corridor economic development magazine designed to help promote the region as a new business location.

To be published annually in print and online in association with BusinessClimate.com, the publication will be actively used by the Corridor partners as they work to recruit companies to Central PA.

CBICC President Vern Squier said the economic development publication will be a valuable marketing tool to showcase the assets of the I-99 Corridor

and the businesses and industry driving the county and regional economies.

The magazine will have targeted distribution to reach influencers, including site location professionals and C-level decision makers in key industry segments.

The publication is in the ad sales and content development stages, with plans to go to print in spring of 2015.

DeShaun Goodrich is the ad sales representative for the publication; he has begun calling businesses in the region. To learn more about advertising opportunities, email sales@jnlcom.com or call 800 333-8842, ext. 292.

For additional information about the project, email lkistner@cbicc.org.

Oct. 29 at VFW Post 9575, along Route 322 in Potters Mills. The project included in Act 89 of 2013, Pennsylvania’s comprehensive transportation funding law. The project is the first of three to address safety and access issues for “Potters Mills Gap” between Seven Mountains and the 322/144 intersection. The CBICC advocated for passage of Act 89, in part due to the economic development importance of an efficient transportation system.

“This transportation improvement project is just one of many on tap for Centre County thanks to Act 89,” said CBICC President and CEO Vern Squier, who attended the bill signing last year. “The possibility of business growth along new and improved transportation corridors, along with the preservation of transportation-related businesses and jobs, and the potential for new jobs were all reasons the Chamber supported and advocated for this important funding law.”

SEDA-COG to hold ‘Introduction to Government Contracting’ seminar

SEDA-COG’s Procurement Technical Assistance Center will present an “Introduction to Government Contracting” seminar from 10 a.m. to noon Thursday, Nov. 6 at the Williamsport/Lycoming Chamber of Commerce. The free seminar will explain how the government purchases products and services, and the beginning steps businesses need to take to become a government contractor. Additional topics covered include certification and registration requirements, locating bidding opportunities, and much more. Online registration is available here or by contacting Kristen Moyer at Kristen@seda-cog.org.

Economic Developments in BriefGround broken for key Route 322 transportation project

PennDOT Secretary Barry Schoch was keynote speaker at a symbolic groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday,

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CBICC among presenters at SBA loan seminar

On Monday, Oct. 24, SEDA-COG held a seminar highlighting advantages of using the Small Business Administration’s 504 Loan Program as a valuable tool in financing projects.

John Reichard, Director of SEDA-COG’s Finance Program, provided information about the benefits to both the lending institution and client. SEDA-COG, as an Area Loan Organization and Certified Development Corporation with 31 years of experience in providing SBA 504 loans, will work one-on-one with the bank and small business client to make the process as smooth as possible. More than 20 commercial lenders and others who regularly deal with small businesses seeking financing were in attendance.

The seminar opened with Linda Feltman, Penn State SBDC and Coordinator of Global Entrepreneurship Week, and Mary Resides, CBICC’s Economic Development Team Specialist, giving brief presentations about their respective organization’s work and accomplishments. Residens focused her presentation on the CBICC business incubator, loan fund and the state Keystone Innovation Zone Program.

The two organizations are partners in the Ben Franklin TechCelerator@StateCollege, located in Innovation Park and assist

entrepreneurial start-ups and established businesses to develop and succeed.

Penn State to hold grant workshop on SBIR/STTR program

Penn State University’s Office of Technology Management announced an upcoming free workshop designed to provide an understanding of the federal Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer program, and give attendees important information they should know when preparing to submit an SBIR / STTR proposal.

The workshop will be held from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. March 26, 2015 at the Nittany Lion Inn. Registration for the free event is open now.

The STTR program expands funding opportunities in the federal innovation research and development arena. STTR’s most important role is to bridge the gap between performance of basic science and commercialization of resulting innovations.

Workshop attendees will hear from a panel of small business owners who have been successful winning such awards, as well as be introduced to the regional network of services available to support entrepreneurs.

The agenda includes a panel discussion comprising local companies such as

Actuated Medical, KCF Technologies and Novasentis (currently operating in the CBICC business incubator). Additional speakers include Don McCandless, Director, Ben Franklin Technology Partners; Peter Linder, Managing Director, Fund for Innovation; and Todd Erdley, President and CEO of Videon Central.

The two organizations are partners in the Ben Franklin TechCelerator@StateCollege, located in Innovation Park and assist entrepreneurial start-ups and established businesses to develop and succeed.

2014 3B33 Support Partners

The Centre County Economic Development Partnership and the CBICC recognize and thank the following organizations for their support of the Chamber’s 3B33 initiative:

- First National Bank

- Fulton Bank

- Northwest Savings

- M&T Bank

- Reliance Bank

- Kish Bank

- Sovereign Bank

- Penn State University

- Ferguson Township

- Centre County

- Halfmoon Township

- Patton Township

- State College Borough

- Capparella Furniture

- Videon-Central

- HFL Corporation

- Mount Nittany Health

- ParenteBeard

- PennTerra Engineering

- Glenn O. Hawbaker

- Poole Anderson Construction

- McQuaide Blasko

- Torron Group

- Geisinger Medical

Add your company’s name to the growing list of 3B33 partners. Contact aharman@cbicc.org.

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operations. Act 89 of 2013 made the expansion possible by providing the state capital funding share that was needed to turn the plan into reality. The project has a 31-month construction time frame.

NHS school celebrates new location

The CBICC was there on Sept. 30 when officials from NHS School State College hosted an open house and ribbon cutting for its new location at 1400 Fox Hill Road. The new facility features bigger classrooms, state-of-the-art playground equipment and a larger sensory room to better service students’ needs. The NHS School State College provides educational programming in full-time Autistic Support and full-time Emotional Support classrooms to students five through 21.

CBICC helps Goin’ Postal open its doors

On Oct. 10, the CBICC hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony for Goin’ Postal, 1341 South Atherton Street, Unit 3, State College. The ribbon cutting coincided with Goin’ Postal’s public open house. Goin’ Postal is a chain of retail shipping and receiving stores with hundreds of locations throughout the United States. The State College franchise is owned and operated by Dennis and Rebecca Brittain. Guest speakers at the ribbon cutting include State College Borough Councilman Tom Daubert and CBICC representatives.

CareerLink® Centre County opens at Match Factory Place

PA CareerLink® Centre County held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new location at 240 Match Factory Place in Bellefonte. CBICC officials were on hand at the Oct. 20 event, which was attended by Centre County Commissioner Chairman Steve Dershem and other dignitaries. The PA CareerLink provides one-stop delivery of employment,career planning, and training services to job seekers, employers, and students.

TOP: Moderator Kevin Nelson engages in spirited discussion with TJ Rooney and Alan Novak during the “PA’s Political Odd Couple” Luncheon on Oct. 28

CBICC in Action2014 election in the spotlight at CBICC events

As part of its 2014 election event series, the CBICC welcomed several well-known political experts to provide CBICC members with insights into the gubernatorial election, changing political landscape at the state and federal levels, and the 2015 legislative agenda.

Dave Patti, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Business Council and PEG-PAC, provided a policy and political overview at a membership luncheon in early October.

This week, Republican and Democratic Party operatives Alan Novak and TJ Rooney took part in a lively, insightful bipartisan debate moderated by WRSC-FM 103 host Kevin Nelson. The “Political Odd Couple” event was sponsored by WHM Group/BAI Group Inc.

CBICC attends groundbreaking for CATA’s facility expansion

Earlier this month, CATA and state transportation officials, along with local elected officials, officially broke ground on CATA’s facility expansion. The new facility will enable CATA to house all of its natural gas-powered buses under one roof and create room for more efficient fueling

Publisher Vern Squier

President/CEO, Chamber of Business & Industry of Centre County

Writer Lesley Kistner

Communications Director LKistner@cbicc.org