Weekly NWPA KIZ Update 8-15-08
Notices from Sheri and her staff:
· The Technology Investment Office is hosting the Collaboration 2008 event on September 4th & 5th and are encouraging attendance. In conjunction they will also host the KIZ Coordinators meeting on September 3rd. Along with Sheri will be her colleague, Thomas Armstrong, University/Nanotech Liaison and program manager of the KIG program. This is the first event where the Coordinators and KIG recipients will be together. All Coordinators have been requested to present best practices and events/accomplishments/projects occurring in their specific Zones along with presentations from KIG recipients. The meeting will begin at 10:00. The coordinators will be meeting with Sheri and the GSP Consulting team, hear a presentation with Philadelphia University’s David Brookstein and then have an information session from the Coordinators and KIG recipients.
· In lieu of the change to the KIZ Tax Credit Guidelines and extension for company filing was requested for this year. The response was that the KIZ legislation specifically states that applications must be submitted by September 15th.
· Notice was received that final approval from Secretary Yablonsky has been received and a branded version of the new guidelines will be posted to the DCED website soon. Given the changes to the guidelines, DCED is anticipating questions may arise. To assist us in responding to inquiries as quickly as possible, coordinators and companies should email their inquiries to . DCED will use these email communications to begin an FAQ. Individuals who phone or email DCED staff directly will be redirected to the general email account. I have attached the copy of the revised guidelines for your reference and will post them to the Board Link.
Public Outreach
A NWPA KIZ power point was presentation to the Redbank Chamber of Commerce on Thursday in New Bethlehem, Clarion County. There were 16 people in attendance.
8-4-08 Executive Committee Report
Attached
Clarion Research Micro Grant
A request for modification of the Clarion Research Micro Grant has been received and is being reviewed by the Executive Committee.
Strategic Plan
The Strategic Plan Workshop will be held on September 8th and is scheduled from 9:30 – 4:30. I have requested attendance confirmation for planning purposes so please let me know if you are available to attend that day. To date I have confirmation from Art, Jim, Chuck, Michele, Mike, Bob, Tracy, Bill, Erin, Denise, Amara, and myself. Thanks.
All available information in response to these items has been submitted to Glenn Taggart to organize before the meeting in September.
1) Inventory of businesses - list of businesses and what they do (registered, pipeline companies, prospective if we have that info)? What clusters are represented? Anything else that might be relevant.
2) Inventory of IHE assets -whatever we know at present or can gather from the application materials. If we want to ask IHE's for help let's discuss first...most of us are running ragged to be ready for start of the academic year so we need to be judicious in requests.
3) Inventory of available properties - what types of space do we have? What is the zoning? Limitations? How tied to goals of individual communities? Etc.
4) Inventory of partners - who are our partners?
5) Inventory of accomplishments to date
Energy Innovation Forum-PA Companies
PennTAP and the Penn State Industrial Research Office are hosting an event in October for companies to present their energy related products or technologies to large US companies, with the hope of uncovering mutually beneficial business opportunities. Any energy related product/technology is welcome but in particular those in the following areas. (BioEnergy, Building Materials, Wind, Solar, Energy Storage, Energy Harvesting). Please forward contact information for any companies that you believe would be interested.
Company Registration Document
Please note the change to questions on the Company Registration.
From:
Are you currently utilizing the services of an Institution of Higher Education? If yes, name of University/College______
Are you interested in the services available through the Institutions of Higher Education?
To:
Are you currently involved in a collaborative relationship (e.g., R &D, internship programs, etc) with Allegheny College, Clarion University, Thiel College or University of Pittsburgh-Titusville or any other Institution of Higher Education?
Name of Institution and brief description of the your collaboration:
Are you interested in developing a collaborative relationship(e.g., R &D, internship programs, etc)withAllegheny College, Clarion University, Thiel College or University of Pittsburgh-Titusville?
Please describe services you are or may be interested in:
As I understand, this better reflects the Board’s decision that a company must be willing to develop a collaborative relationship with one of the existing IHE’s and/or assist fostering collaboration among the IHE’s. I am also to understand that this is part of our criteria in addition to the state’s qualifications for companies. A copy of the Company Registration is attached for your reference.
IHE Internship Contact Meeting
A meeting was held with two of the IHE Internship Contacts to review University/College procedures and to share the KIZ Program needs. Information on internships from Tri-County and South Bethlehem KIZ’s was presented for informational purposes. Clarion and UPT presently have forms available for companies interested in interns. These will be collected from each of the IHE’s and consolidated for distribution to KIZ companies as a “Needs Assessment” which will also provide company contact information. It is not the goal of the KIZ program to change any university internship procedure but to merely design a method to become part of each system. I will be recapping this meeting for the contacts and will share that with you in next weeks update.
IHE Meetings
An email was sent on August 6th with available dates as follows to schedule meetings with relevant facility and IHE contacts. I have not received any response and will add dates to this list. With classes starting I’m sure it is difficult to find dates free before Sept. 8th.
3
8/20 AM/PM
8/21 8-11
8/22 AM/PM
8/25 AM/PM
8/26 AM/PM
8/27 AM/PM
8/28 AM
9/9 PM
9/10 AM/PM
9/11 AM/PM
9/12 10-3:30
9/17 AM/PM
3
Directors & Officer Liability Insurance Update
No additional information has become available from other KIZ Zones. The non-profit incorporation method suggested by Pittsburgh Central KIZ is at this time being considered by the Board for a straw vote.
Venango County Interest
A meeting was held with Venango Campus and ORA to discuss the inclusion of the Campus and Venango County into the KIZ Program for the board consideration when it entertains additions. ORA suggested available sites and possible ways for collaboration with the campus. A suggestion was made that local companies be informed of lab space & assets available. At this time no further action is being considered.
Work Plan Committee
The Work-Plan Committee has been asked to reconvene in advance of the October meeting. I will provide a progress report to the Committee asap along with a list of available dates for consideration of the committee.
3