Response Team Aids
Local Company
The PA Dept. of Labor & Industry's Rapid Response Team, YCEDC
and CareerLink met at Leggett & Platt to address the recent announcement that the furniture manufacturer would soon lose close to 60 jobs. The team addressed issues of unemployment compensation, training, resume writing, job search assistance and counseling for the displaced workers. Assistance was also offered to transition the York manufacturer's operations to a distribution facility. The local Career Link participated in the meeting.

Click here for full story

Expansion/Reorganization Application Submitted for FTZ 147
The Foreign Trade Zone Corporation of Southeastern Pennsylvania
has submitted an Expansion/Reorganization Application which will expand and reorganize the Southcentral Pennsylvania FTZ 147. The application was submitted to the U.S. Department of Commerce, Foreign Trade Zones Board (FTZB) on January 12, 2005 and was formally filed by the FTZB staff in March. A notice inviting public comments was published in the Federal Register on March 9, 2005.

FTZ of Southeastern PA has requested letters of support from Congressmen Platts and Shuster for the expansion application.
YCEDC will also formally endorse the application with a letter of support.

The Application for Expansion continues the long efforts by civic leaders to increase employment opportunities and investment in
the Southeastern and Southcentral PA by encouraging international business activities. It will be another tool and an important factor in
the on-going program to attract new industry and retain existing industry.

For more information about York County's Foreign Trade Zone 147, please contact Randy Campbell, 717.505.7907 or rcampbell@campbelltradegroup.com.

Smart Market FAM Tour
Southcentral Team PA held a FAM tour for three site selection consultants on March 23. The purpose of the tour was to promote the Smart Market region. Site selectors attended a lunch presentation at the Hotel Hershey, toured available sites and
spoke with economic development representatives from the eight counties involved in the Smart Market.

ATAYC Welcomes New Board Members
ATAYC held a breakfast on March 16 to welcome three new board members. Chairman James Smith welcomed Major Roger Kay, David Myers and Dr. David Speranza to the ATAYC Board. The breakfast was immediately followed by the board's first quarterly meeting of the year.

YCEDC Staff Attends IEDC Legislative Summit in D.C.
YCEDC staff recently attended the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) Legislative Summit held in Washington, D.C. The main focus of the Summit was President Bush's proposed budget and its impact on economic and community development. The centerpiece of the President's economic development program is his Strengthening America's Communities Initiative. The initiative consolidates 18 existing programs and cuts federal funding for economic development by 30%.

Click here for full story

The group wrapped up the day with discussion research priorities and funding for current and future years with David Klurfeld, Ph.D., the USDA's National Program Leader for Human Nutrition.

Leading the delegation was NutriCore's founder, T.R. Jacks and NutriCore NorthEast's President Darrell Auterson. Representing the initiative's 28 sponsors and stakeholders were Laura Phelps, President of the American Mushroom Institute in Washington, D.C.; Jack Stone, Senior Project Manager of Rettew Associates, Lancaster, PA; and Alan Cotich, NutriCore NorthEast Project Coordinator.

From left to right: Alan Cotich, Darrell Auterson, Tim Holden and T.R. Jacks

Foreign Trade Zone Conference
Where: Radisson Penn Harris Hotel & Convention Center, Camp Hill PA
When: Thursday, April 7 from 8:00am - 4:30pm
To Register: 717.720.7446 or jhummel@state.pa.us

This conference will be held by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development and the six accredited Pennsylvania Foreign-Trade Zones.

Who should attend? The conference will be of interest to manufacturers, importers and exporters, distribution and logistics companies, economic development professionals, developers, service providers, and custom brokers.

Speakers include some of the leading professionals in foreign trade zone activation and operation throughout the country. Representatives of the US Foreign-Trade Zone Board will explain new manufacturing procedures it has developed.

Women on the Move!
Where: Yorktowne Hotel
When: Tuesday, April 19 from 7:30am - 2:00pm
Cost: $25
To Register: 717.780.2414

Women on the Move, a half-day program, brings business resources to you. Please join this group of dynamic women as they travel South Central Pennsylvania to deliver information on business resources.

Who Should Attend Women on the Move? Women who are on the road to start a business, and women who have started their entrepreneurial journey, but want help with growth issues. Also welcome are successful women business owners. Women in York, Dauphin, Cumberland, Lancaster, Adams, Franklin, Perry, and Lebanon counties are welcome to attend.

Cost for admission is $25 and includes breakfast and lunch. Call 717.780.2414 to register. The York seminar will be held at the Yorktowne Hotel on Tuesday, April 19. See the brochure for more information.

Winning With Diversity
Where: York County Chamber of Commerce
When: Wednesday, April 20 from 8:00am - 12:00pm
Cost: $50 for Members; $75 for Non-Members
To Register: 717.771.4589

The York County Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Hanover Area Chamber of Commerce, Manufacturer's Association of Southcentral PA and the York County Economic Development Corporation will present Diversity Training for Business.

The training will define diversity in its broadest sense, exploring bias awareness on a personal and business level. In addition to bias awareness, training will include a more detailed exploration of cultural and ethnic sensitivity. Trainers will help identify where personal and business challenges lie and how to make changes for more acceptance of difference and tolerance. The training will focus on the business case for diversity and how a better understanding of diversity can be a win-win situation for businesses.

Speakers include; Cathy Bollinger, Member Relations and Diversity Acceptance Director, Jewish Community Center and Mike Jefferson, Director of the Crispus Attucks Center for Employment and Training. Tracey L. Brinkach, Team Leader of Education Services for WellSpan will also be contributing.

See the Chamber's website for more information www.yorkchamber.com.

BRIDGES Networking Event
Where: AHEAD, 339 S. George Street, York PA
When: Wednesday, April 20 from 5:30pm - 7:30pm
For More Information: 717.812.0170

BRIDGES is a Quarterly Networking Core designed to connect informal entrepreneurs with the broader business community. It provides a way for emerging and established companies to meet, communicate and do business with and promote one another's business. BRIDGES sponsors at least four entrepreneurial events annually, and a training component is included at some events.

This event is wonderful networking opportunity for anyone who has a business or is thinking of starting a business. It is also a great source for people who want to stay connected with the small business community.

Association for Helping Entrepreneurs Achieve Dreams (AHEAD) helps underserved entrepreneurs establish, stabilize, and expand businesses through technical assistance, marketing training, financial education, and community networking.