PEDA - Pennsylvania Economic Development Association

News

  • 12/01/2015 3:10 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    SB 756 aims to continue the ability of farm credit institutions to participate in the First Industries Program, and enable the Commonwealth Financing Authority to continue providing guarantees of 51% to 90% of the loan principal to finance an agricultural project.  Additionally, it continues a provision reducing the private investment minimum to $500,000.00.  These provisions were amended into Title 64 in 2007, and in 2011 legislation extended farm credit institutions participation in the program with an expiration date of July 15, 2015.  Effectively, this legislation will extend the farm credit institutions' participation beyond the July 15, 2015 sunset date and there would be no pending sunset dates in the future.

    PEDA has received member input from many areas of the state where the program has been utilized to the benefit of the agribusiness community.  Please contact your legislator today to voice your support for this bill which will be considered by the House tomorrow.


  • 10/29/2015 8:55 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    AGY, manufacturer of fiberglass yarns, was once the largest manufacturing employer in Huntingdon.  Economic changes, corporate incentives, changing supply chains and much more led to the eventual decline of the company’s footprint in Huntingdon County.  AGY, headquartered in Aiken, S.C., began operations in Huntingdon in 2007 after purchasing the building that formerly operated as Owens-Corning Fiberglass. Over time, many components of the plant’s operations have been sent to the AGY headquarters in Aiken, S.C.  On July 25, 2012 corporate executives for AGY announced their plans to sell the Huntingdon facility and its operations.  At this point the plant employed only 55 people.

    The staff of Huntingdon County Business and Industry jumped in to action with the assistance of the Governor’s Action Team to aid in the process of finding a buyer.  Fearful that the wrong buyer would lead to the loss of the final 55 jobs, the process was slow and painful at best. 

    Eventually a serious buyer emerged – Stonewood Capital Management of Pittsburgh.  Research showed the firm had significant experience in owning and operating manufacturing facilities. “Stonewood is excited to invest in the continuous filament mat (CFM) business and assist the Huntingdon management team in its efforts to capitalize on growth initiatives.” – Ken Moritz, Stonewood Capital Management. They also opted to partner with former AGY plant manager – Paul Geist.  Paul would eventually become part owner and president of the organization.  He played a vital role in keeping this business operational in Huntingdon. 

    The 55 plant employees retained their jobs, as they were hired by the new company, and Moritz said the facility hoped to add an additional 15-20 employees within the following six to eight months.  Geist said the support of the governor’s Action Team, Walker and Huntingdon County Business and Industry (HCBI) were “key in allowing us to acquire this business” and that their support will be instrumental in future expansion projects.

    “My partners at Stonewood Capital and I have been very pleased with the support we’ve received from the community, but also from the governor’s Action Team to make sure we keep these jobs here in Huntingdon,” Geist said.

     At a time when many manufacturers are leaving the region, Huntingdon County Business and Industry executive director Amy Wise said the company’s intention to retain and build jobs is refreshing.  “We have been working with the company and they have said how pleased they are to be able to keep jobs here,” Wise said. “I think this is a boost to the economy at a much needed time.”


  • 10/29/2015 8:53 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    CAROL L. KILKO

    Carol joined the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) in June of 2015 as the Special Assistant, Agency Development Initiatives for the Executive Office.  In this capacity, Carol serves as the agency liaison for all workforce development issues and is the training coordinator for all DCED staff professional development.  Carol is responsible for the strong working relationship with all DCED partners to ensure business workforce development needs are identified and addressed. 

    This is Carol’s second term with DCED as she worked with the Governor’s Action Team and DCED’s Business Retention Program from 2000-2006.

    But most recently, from April 2006 until June of 2015, Carol served as the Director of Training Services for the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors (PSATS).  As the Director, Carol managed an extensive training program providing local government officials education in all aspects of their daily responsibilities.     

    Carol holds a Master’s in Public Administration and a Bachelors of Public Policy from Penn State University.  


  • 10/29/2015 8:46 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)
    Click here for a recap of the 2015 Fall Conference in Altoona.


  • 09/23/2015 8:36 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Stephen P. Mullin is a President and Principal of Econsult Solutions, an economic consulting firm based in Philadelphia. His consulting practice concentrates on state and public finance and policy analysis, economic and real estate development and impact analyses, and business-government strategies.

    Mr. Mullin was a Senior Vice President and Principal at Econsult Corporation. Mr. Mullin also served from 1993-2000 as Philadelphia’s Director of Commerce, chairing the Mayor’s Economic Development Cabinet and coordinating activities of the City’s development agencies and the Division of Aviation. He served on many boards and commissions, including the City Planning Commission, the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation, the Philadelphia Commercial Development Corporation (Chair), the Airport Advisory Board, the Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Historic Commission, the Port of Philadelphia and Camden, and the Penn’s Landing Development Corporation. Mr. Mullin also served as Philadelphia’s Director of Finance from 1992-93, during the City’s fiscal turnaround. He chaired the Municipal Pension Board and was a member of the PICA Board and the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority Board.

    He was Budget Director for the City of St. Louis (82-88) and Director of Corporate Development for the Laclede Gas Company (88-90), where he developed merger and acquisition strategies for the investor-owned utility. From 1990 to 1992, he served as Deputy Director of the St. Louis Development Corporation, where he was responsible for commercial and industrial development programs in St. Louis.

    Mr. Mullin is active in Philadelphia corporate and civic activities. He currently serves as an independent trustee of the Optimum Fund Trust Mutual Fund, a Director of the NASDAQOMX Futures Exchange, a co-Chair of the Urban Institute Forum for ULI, and on the advisory boards of the Haverford Trust Company and the Arden Real Estate Funds. He also serves on the boards of CultureWorks, the Independence Visitor Center Corporation, the Community College of Philadelphia Foundation, the Pennsylvania Ballet, the Library Company of Philadelphia, the Lambda Alpha International, and the Presbyterian Foundation. He also serves on the Preservation Alliance Advocacy Committee, the Design Advocacy Group Steering Committee, the Philadelphia Sports Congress, and the Philadelphia World Trade Center Advisory Council. He formerly served as the Regional Director of the Harvard Alumni Association, as Finance Committee Chair of the University City Science Center Board, as Treasurer of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, as President of the Harvard Club of Philadelphia, as Chairman of the Commercial Realty Review Corporate Advisors, and on the Boards of the Union League, the Fairmount Park Conservancy, the Editorial Board of the AIA’s journal Context, the Mural Arts Advisory Board, and many other civic and cultural boards.

    Mr. Mullin is a 1973 cum laude graduate of Phillips Exeter Academy, a 1977 magna cum laude in Economics graduate of Harvard University, and earned an M.A. in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania in 1982. He has taught economics and public finance courses at Drexel University, UPenn’s Fels School, The Wharton School of Business, UPenn’s City Planning Department,  Bryn Mawr College, Widener University, Temple University, Philadelphia University and Peirce College. He served as Chairman of the Corporate Advisory Council at Drexel’s Center for E-Commerce Management. He has authored articles, delivered numerous speeches, is frequently interviewed in print and television media, and participates in many seminars and panels discussing macroeconomics, local government policy, economic and real estate development, environmental issues, education, and e-commerce. He was voted one of Philadelphia’s 101 most connected people in 2007.

    Mr. Mullin is a member of the Union League and the Philadelphia Club, the Athenaeum of Philadelphia, the Wissahickon Skating Club, and the Pennsylvania Economic Development Association (PEDA).


  • 09/09/2015 10:51 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)
    Since 1987, the Economic Development Course in Pennsylvania has served the needs of full-time economic development practitioners and those involved in economic development in a secondary way. The course draws participants whose background range from the seasoned professional to the beginning practitioner. Participants learn theoretical and practical approaches to economic development.

    The Economic Development Course in Pennsylvania is accredited by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). The IEDC is the nation's largest membership organization for economic developers. The course is considered the equivalent of the IEDC's Introduction to Economic Development Course, and serves as a requirement to sit for the Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) exam.


    Click here to learn more.

  • 08/27/2015 11:00 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Jennifer Myers joined the Chamber of Business & Industry of Centre County/Centre County Industrial Development Corporation on April 1, 2015 as Vice President of Economic Development. As Vice President, Jennifer focuses on building private-sector strength in the local economy. In addition to assisting local companies in growth opportunities, she actively seeks out opportunities that can bring new jobs and wealth to Centre County.

    Jennifer has a strong sales background, joining the Chamber following a more than 14-year career at Abbott Laboratories, where she most recently served as Acute Care Specialist. She also previously served as Health Care Account Executive for Sysco Food Services and as Sales Manager for Concord Hospitality Group. Jennifer received her BS in Hotel and Institutional Management from Penn State University.


  • 08/27/2015 10:22 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Way back in 2009, the Lawrence County Economic Development Corporation (LCEDC) took a leap of faith and became the intrepid owner of a seven-acre manufacturing complex in the City of New Castle.  For more than a century, the vacant property had once been the home of a long line of refractory businesses, each leaving their mark on Lawrence County’s illustrious industrial past.

    Without sufficient funding to redevelop the site at the time, the LCEDC watched as the property’s seven buildings quickly fell into ruin as the result of damage by fire, water and vandalism.  It didn’t take long for it to become a major eyesore in the heart of New Castle’s industrial corridor.

    Despite its appearance, however, the site had a lot to offer!  It had a viable rail spur connecting potential new users to two Class A carriers, CSX and Norfolk Southern.  In addition, all public utilities served the property including access to 138,000 kV of power.  With this in mind, the LCEDC successfully requested grant funding in the amount of $1,000,000 from the Commonwealth’s PA First program matched by more than $250,000 in private funds.

    The LCEDC then set out to find a company that would be interested in helping us bring this former refractory site back to life.  After a year of searching, the owner of a local trucking company, Mark McClymonds, stepped up to the plate and purchased the site in June of this year.

    Mr. McClymonds’ project involves the development of a permanent trans-load station offering rail-to-truck service for dry bulk goods.  Products would include fractionation sand for the shale gas industry, limestone and other materials that would then be placed into specialized tractor trailers or dump trucks for transport.  McClymonds will also be erecting a 30,000 s.f. building, installing hopper and conveyor systems, installing new rail siding, switches and track and purchasing new front loaders and trucks.  As part of this project, the LCEDC is utilizing the $1 million PA First grant to prepare the site including removal of asbestos, demolition of the buildings and relocation of the utilities.  The total budget is estimated to be $6,930,000 and will result in 40 full-time jobs. 

    Without the infusion of public dollars from the Commonwealth of PA, it would be difficult to imagine that the LCEDC would have ever been successful in resuscitating this once viable property back to productive use!


  • 07/30/2015 8:27 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    After achieving success in the waterfowl guide industry with his James Creek Outfitters service, entrepreneur and innovator Chuck Elder remained unsatisfied with what he was putting in the field. In early 2011 a new windsock decoy design began to take shape in his mind; an idea that started with a single scrap of material pulled from a trash bin. 

    Through nearly two years of development and industry research, the company formally established, manufacturing tools and molds were acquired.  It was evident early on in the business development that there was too much red, white and blue in the partners’ blood to even consider producing the product line off-shore. Chuck and Jim were told manufacturing in the USA would be too expensive and the consumer would not be concerned about where the product was produced. They didn’t listen.  After discussing the concepts with others and developing some prototypes that proved themselves, two decisions were made; (1) pursue patent rights and (2) provide an all American-made product available to the public that could easily compete in this limited market.  Through the development process, Chuck visited over 30 screen printers, a few plastic injection molding companies and experiment with nearly a hundred different products needed to manufacture his decoys. Nearly all of the components for the decoys are manufactured right here in Pennsylvania.

    The signature decoy available in the product line is the Patent Pending “SideKick” – the only windsock available on the market that rides perpendicular to the wind.  Realism counts in the field and the addition of the SideKick Decoy™ into the decoy spread gives that that added dimension to ramp up the realistic look of birds feeding contently in all directions – some facing right and some facing left.  The company (now a little over a year old) is now building a solid reputation with more than 20,000 of their decoys flying in the fields from the state of California to the state of New Jersey and everywhere in between.  Additionally, their product is currently overseas in Scotland and is pending additional orders.

    Even though Jim and Chuck have retired from military service, their mission continues. The company will also be donating a portion of every sale to K9s for Warriors which in turn will save dogs lives and give our returning service members the service dogs they so desperately need.  This company has been featured with Penn Lines Magazine, Lancaster Newspaper, WTAJ’s “Central PA Live” and “What We Make”.


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