Twelve (12) Banks in York County
Participating in Banking Consortium
The Bank of Hanover, Citizen's Bank, Commerce Bank, CommunityBanks, Fulton Bank, M & T Bank, Northwest Savings Bank, PeoplesBank, Sovereign Bank, Susquehanna Bank, Wachovia Bank, and York Traditions Bank have agreed to participate in York County's banking consortium. Any additional banking institutions that are interested in participating in the banking consortium will be able to join the consortium in May
2006.

The banking consortium is now available to meet with small businesses and entrepreneurs that are looking for loans to expand or start a business. Applications will be submitted to YCEDC and undergo a screening process that will identify viable lending opportunities. Small businesses and entrepreneurs are encouraged to contact the YCEDC to receive more information about the application process at 717.846.8879 x3034 or cswope@ycedc.org.

Click here to read the full press release.

York City Planning Commission Approves Redevelopment Area Boundaries
The York City Planning Commission approved the Redevelopment Area for the expanded Northwest Triangle at their meeting on Monday, July 18, 2005. The City of York's Redevelopment Authority (RDA) has achieved an important first step in the planning process for the Arch Street and original Northwest Triangle projects. The next step in the York Outdoor Recreation Complex (YORC) project will be the formation of a Redevelopment Plan for the Arch Street area.

YCEDC Welcomes New Redevelopment Manager
The York County Economic Development Corporation (YCEDC) is pleased to welcome Blanda E. Nace as the Redevelopment Manager in the Community & Economic Development Department.

Mr. Nace's main responsibilities will include leading project management activities and procedures, facilitating development and implementation of redevelopment strategies while working to advance the economic viability of downtown York and the Codorus Creek Redevelopment Corridor. His initial focus will be the York Outdoor Recreation Complex (YORC) and the Northwest Triangle.

For the past 14 years, he was a Geotechnical Engineer and Geosynthetics Laboratory Manager for Cumberland Geotechnical Consultants in Carlisle. He specialized in design, permitting and quality assurance for municipal solid waste landfill facilities. Mr. Nace completed his core engineering curriculum at Drexel University in Philadelphia and received his BS in Structural Design and Construction Engineering from Penn State.

A Carlisle native, he now resides in the City of York and is an active member of the York community. He is involved with the YWCA Community Renaissance Strategic Alliance in the Olde Town East neighborhood and owns and manages several apartments in York City. Mr. Nace is also the President of the Carlisle Area Science Advisory Committee.

NutriCore NorthEast Receives $55,000 Grant
The National Center of Excellence in Foods and Nutrition Research (NutriCore NorthEast) was awarded a $55,000 matching challenge grant by Ben Franklin Technology PArtners. More than 60% of this grant has been directed to fund research projects with the balance supporting the center's third year of operations.

Two research projects at Penn State University were selected to receive funding from the grant by NutriCore NorthEast's Advisory Committee, "Continued Studies of Probiotic Dairy Products" led by Dr. Bob Roberts, Associate Professor of Food Science and the "Identification and Development of Anti-oxidants in Fresh Mushrooms" headed by Professor Robert Beelman, Ph.D. in partnership with the Mushroom Council.

Click here to read the full press release.

NutriCore NorthEast Update
NutriCore NorthEast, The National Center of Excellence for Food and Nutrition Research, added 3 new sponsors with the beginning of the Ben Franklin Challenge Grant year on July 1. Horst Construction in Lancaster, Lauxmont Farms Conference & Wedding Center in Wrightsville, and American Specialty Systems in York have joined the initiative bringing the total number of participants to 32.

The August meeting of the NutriCore advisory committee meeting will be hosted by Horst Construction at their headquarters on August 18th at 3PM. www.horstgroup.com/directions.htm. Immediately prior to the meeting, NutriCore project coordinator Alan Cotich will host a meeting for prospective new participants and welcomes any existing sponsors to attend this session and lend their support to the sponsorship drive.

Anyone interested in learning more about the NutriCore initiative and how its sponsored research can benefit your business should contact Alan for more information at acotich@ycedc.org or 717-846-8879 x 3030.

YCEDC 2005-2006 Membership/Sponsorship Campaign Deadline Approaching
Renew your membership today! The deadline for submitting your application for the 2005-2006 membership campaign is July 29!* If you have not submitted your membership application for the 2005-2006 year, please contact Wilda Alessi at 717.846.8879, walessi@ycedc.org to request a membership packet or download and return the PDF application.

Thank you to all the York County businesses who have continued their support and to all the businesses who have chosen to support us for the first time! Without your support and involvement we would not be able to achieve our mission to serve as York County's leading resource for facilitating economic development and to work with public and private sectors to enhance the overall quality of life.
On behalf of the YCEDC, Thank You!

*To guarantee receipt of all benefits associated with membership.

Lancaster Angel Network & Investors Circle of York Hold Joint Meeting
The Investors Circle of York (ICY) was joined by the Lancaster Angel Network at their July 12 meeting. 45 people were present as a total of five companies gave presentations for the investors, two from York and three from Lancaster. Two of the companies had potential investor interest as a result of the ICY meeting.

The purpose of ICY is to identify greater capital resources in support of entrepreneurship and new business development within the county, filling an important need in early stage financing, preceding venture capital.

The next ICY meeting is scheduled for August 9 at the Country Club of York. This meeting is limited to investors. If anyone is interested in becoming an investor, please contact Carole Swope at 717.846.8879 x3034 or cswope@ycedc.org.

Hanover Area Chamber of Commerce to Feature New Business Showcase "Put Your Best Foot Forward"
The Hanover Area Chamber of Commerce's 2005 Business Showcase "Put Your Best Foot Forward" will be held in the gymnasium at South Western High School on Monday, October 10 from 2pm-6pm.

The Showcase will also feature three new seminars in marketing and human resources, a Membership Mixer and earlier hours.

Every year, the Chamber surveys Showcase exhibitors and attendees as a way to improve the event. The Chamber's Business Showcase Committee has responded to the feedback by reformatting this year's show.

Few exhibitor spaces are still available - $225 Chamber members; $315 non-member. Reserve your space today, by contacting the Chamber.

The Chamber thanks the following contributing sponsors: The Phillips Group, Capital Blue Cross, The Glatfelter Agency, Fulton Bank, The Peak and The Evening Sun.

Presenting and mixer sponsorship are currently available. If interested, please contact the Hanover Chamber at 717.637.6130.

www.hanoverchamber.com

Small Business Advantage Grants Available
Sen. Jake Corman (R-34) recently announced that the PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will begin accepting applications for the Commonwealth's Small Business Advantage Grant Program for small business pollution prevention and energy efficiency projects. The Small Business Advantage provides up to 50% matching grants, to a maximum of $7,500, to enable small businesses in the Commonwealth to adopt or acquire energy efficient or pollution prevention equipment or processes.

For questions or concerns regarding the eligibility of projects, contact Dave Barnes, Office of Energy and Technology Development, Small Business Ombudsman's Office, (717) 783-8411, epadvantagegrant@state.pa.us before submitting an application. Applications are available by contacting the Department of Environmental Protection, Office of Energy and Technology Deployment, 15th Floor, Rachel Carson State Office Building, 400 Market Street, P. O. Box 8772, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8772. Applications are available by calling (717) 783-8411 and are also available on DEP's website: www.dep.state.pa.us (DEP Keyword: SBAdvantage). Applications must be postmarked or hand delivered by 4 p.m. on January 6, 2006. Faxes or other electronic submissions will not be accepted.

Metals Supervisory Grant Available
A grant totaling $325,000 has been awarded to a supervisory training consortium for metal manufacturers. The consortium includes the Lancaster and South Central Pennsylvania Workforce Investment Boards and MANTEC-IRC. The training program is intended to enhance leadership and other skills among supervisors. Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon, Perry and York counties are covered by the grant.

The first training created under the program (with others to follow) will be directed to the following:

FUNDAMENTAL SUPERVISORY SKILLS
1. Communication skills for Supervisors
2. Decision making
3. Coaching & Feedback skills
4. Building & Maintaining effective working relationships
5. Strategies to manage conflict
6. Team Dynamics & problem solving

The first courses are expected to begin in late July. Under the grant, companies will be reimbursed 75% of the course tuition. For more information, please contact Jim Nyeste, Grant Coordinator at jxn174@psu.edu.

Renewable Energy Conference
In keeping with REDDI's mission to support agriculture and help grow a renewable energy industry in South-central Pennsylvania, REDDI is planning a Renewable Energy Conference that will include information related to ethanol, biodiesel and energy derived from animal waste. The conference will be held on August 23 and 24 at the Wildwood Conference Center at HACC. More information is available below under Community Events and on REDDI's website at www.reddionline.com.

PNC & DCED Offer Small Business Loans
The state Department of Community and Economic Development and The PNC Financial Services Group Inc. have partnered to offer up to $100 million in revolving lines of credit to small businesses. The credit will be offered through PNC Bank's Pennsylvania Working Capital Growth Fund.

Small businesses with annual sales of less than $30 million are eligible for loans at below-market interest rates to finance expansion or job creation in the state. The program will run until December 2006 and target several industry sectors, including manufacturing, tourism, research and development, advanced technology, construction and recycling. - Central Penn Business Journal Daily

Winning With Diversity
Where: Glatfelter Insurance Agency, 183 Leader Heights Road, York PA
When: Thursday, July 28, 8am-12pm
Cost: $50 for members of the York and Hanover Chambers, YCEDC, and Manufacturers' Association;
$75 for non-members
To Register: Janelle Black at 717.771.4589 or www.yorkchamber.com

Diversity Training for Business 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.

Objectives:
- Define diversity "beyond race, religion and culture"; and explore bias awareness
- Explain the business case for diversity
- List the payoffs for embracing a diverse workforce
- Identify the barriers that prohibit valuing diversity in the workforce
- Develop a plan for further diversity development within your organization

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.

York County Chamber of Commerce
Partnership Reward Session
Where: West Manchester Mall
When: Thursday, August 4, 8am
Register: Shirley DiRuscio 717.848.4000 or www.YorkChamber.com

Shop 'til you drop! Volunteers for the Partnership Campaign are encouraged to attend the second Reward Session, hosted by the West Manchester Mall.

YCEDC Full Board Meeting
Where: York Fairgrounds, White Rose Room
When: Thursday, August 4, 12pm
Register: Aeman Bashir 717.846.8879

Keystone Baseball is the featured presenter. This meeting is open to the public. There is a charge for lunch, please call to register.

York County Chamber of Commerce
Partnership Reward Session
Where: Wolfgang Candy
When: Wednesday, August 10, 8am
Register: Shirley DiRuscio 717.848.4000 or www.YorkChamber.com

Early morning sweet tooth! Volunteers for the Partnership Campaign are encouraged to attend the third Reward Session, hosted by Wolfgang Candy.

Renewable Energy Conference
Where: Wildwood Conference Center, HACC, One HACC Drive, Harrisburg, PA 17110
When: Tuesday, August 23 from 1pm-5pm and Wednesday, August 24 from 8:30am-4pm
Cost: $65
Register: www.reddionline.com

For more details about the conference and the featured speakers, please visit REDDI's website at www.reddionline.com.