The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

Business

October 30, 2009

Penn-Northwest finds bright spots in gloomy year

By Michael Roknick

MERCER COUNTY —



With the national and local economy getting hammered by the recession over the past year, it was an uncomfortable time for developers.

“Without a doubt this has been a very challenging year economically throughout the county,” said Larry Reichard, executive director of Penn-Northwest Development Corp.

Speaking at the organization’s annual breakfast meeting at Penn State Shenango Campus on Friday, Reichard said Mercer County’s lead economic development agency has worked on 15 industrial projects with decisions still pending in the upcoming months.

As part of the meeting, the agency provided its members with financial statements which showed Penn-Northwest employees took a 10 percent salary or wage cut in May as a way to reduce costs. But financial statements also showed the agency has more than $1.8 million available through its revolving loan fund.

During the meeting outgoing Penn-Northwest chairman Bill Perrine was honored for his four years of service as the agency’s leader. Dr. Fred Leeds, chancellor of Penn State Shenango, gave an overview of the campus and its future goals.

Among the initiatives Penn-Northwest was involved in include: Opposition to tolling I-80, creating new and expanded Keystone Opportunity Zones, a workforce training initiative, cooperating with Shenango Valley Chamber of Commerce on commercial and industrial development, and supporting the opposition to the Tri-County Landfill.

Other achievements included the Gannon Small Business Development Center providing nearly 1,200 consulting hours to 123 local clients which helped to generate $1.547 million in funds for projects. Also, the Northwest Industrial Resource Center’s Mercer County office participated in 20 projects which generated more than $8.5 million for area projects.

Elected officers of Penn-Northwest for fiscal year 2009-10:

• Chairman: Kenneth Faulconbridge, Northwest Savings Bank

• Vice chairman: Lew Kachulis, Gilbert’s Insurance and Consulting

• Secretary: Robert Wilson, Roll Forming Corp.

• Treasurer: John “Chip” Mastrian, Strimbu Memorial Foundation

• Assistant secretary/treasurer: Tony Zucco, Penn Power

Directors for three year terms expiring in 2012:

Kenneth Cloud, CCL Container; Dr. Richard Dorman, Westminster College; Frank Gargiulo, Shenango Valley Enterprise Zone; George Gerhart, Shenango Valley Chamber of Commerce; David Grande, Huntington Bank; Eric Graven, Custom Stone & Tile; Gary Gulla, Hermitage Economic Development Corp.; David Hock, Lakeview Area Industrial Corp.; Scott Kalmanek, Joy Cone Co.; John Mastrian, Strimbu Memorial Foundation; John Morris, Pymatuning Telephone/PT Communications; Douglas Riley, Mercer County Industrial Development Authority; Steven Warner, Novocell Semi-Conductor; Edward Winslow. Winslow Engineering; Tony Zucco, Penn Power.

Director for two-year term expiring in 2011: Robert Jackson, Grove City Medical Center.

Directors for one-year terms expiring in 2010: Frank Nagy, Black, Bashor, Porsch, replacing John Mastrian; James Kushner, Slippery Rock University, replacing Dr. Robert Smith.

Nominees for senior directors, one-year term: Charles Bestwick, James Feeney, Joseph George, Olivia Lazor, Philip Marrie, Gene Smith, Richard Stevenson.

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