Business In Our Sites and Penn Works still accepting applications

The Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA) is accepting through the end of October applications for two business development funding programs.

The CFA is taking applications for the Business in Our Sites and PennWorks Programs, which assist with funding for the development of business sites in Pennsylvania. The application period remains open until October 31, 2011.

“These two programs are a great example of state government partnering with private developers, local economic development organizations, and communities to develop shovel-ready sites to attract new investment and jobs,” Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary C. Alan Walker said. “There will be a heavy emphasis on financing high-impact projects in regions of the state where there is a significant need for developed business sites.”

The Business in Our Sites program provides loans for the acquisition and development of key sites for future use by businesses. PennWorks provides grants to municipalities and municipal authorities and loans to municipalities, municipal authorities, industrial development corporations and investor-owned water or wastewater enterprises for projects which construct, expand or improve water and wastewater infrastructure. Improvements must be directly related to an economic development project. Business in Our Sites and PennWorks are administered by the CFA.

The CFA plans to deploy approximately $38.5 million in funds that are available from loan repayments and projects that either did not use all of the awarded funding or did not proceed. Within the $38.5 million there is approximately $25 million available in Business in Our Sites that can be re-loaned and approximately $13.5 million in unused PennWorks funds that can be awarded in either loans or grants for water and sewer improvements.

Eligible applicants are encouraged to contact Brian Eckert or Scott Dunkelberger at (717) 787-7120 to discuss potential projects before commencing the application process. The CFA anticipates acting on Business in Our Sites and PennWorks applications at the January, 2012 board meeting.

For more information about economic development initiatives in Pennsylvania, call 1-866-466-3972 or visit newpa.com.

Right-to-Work legislation meeting

The Manufacturer & Business Association (MBA) plans to host a special briefing on right-to-work legislation starting at 11 a.m. Thursday, October 6, at the Association’s Conference Center, 2171 West 38th Street. All media are invited to attend.

The event will feature a panel of prominent speakers on the issue of right-to-work. The panel is scheduled to include Representative Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler); David Taylor, executive director of the Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association; Kevin Shivers, state director of the National Federation of Independent Business; Jennifer Stefano, director of Labor and Energy Policy for Americans for Prosperity; and Simon Campbell, president of StopTeacherStrikes. Panel participants will discuss the status and future of right-to-work legislation at both the state and federal levels. Afterward, they will participate in a question-and-answer session.

To register, contact Ann Miaczynski at (814) 833-3200 or (800) 815-2660, or visit www.mbausa.org. Cost is $45 for members, $65 for nonmembers, and includes lunch.

HUD awards $100M for employment initiatives

[reposted from US DOL] The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded nearly $100 million in grants to help public and assisted housing residents find employment; connect with needed services; and help the elderly and people with disabilities maintain independent living. The funding also allows the grantees to retain or hire “service coordinators” or case workers to work directly with these HUD-assisted families to connect them to the supportive services that meet their individual needs.

The funding announced today includes: Approximately $35 million through the Resident Opportunities and Self Sufficiency – Service Coordinators Program (ROSS-SC) Program; approximately $15 million through the Public Housing – Family Self-Sufficiency Program (PH-FSS); and $45 million through the Multifamily Housing Service Coordinator Program (MHSC).

The ROSS-SC and PH-FSS programs allow grantees across the U.S. hire or retain service coordinators to work directly with residents to assess their needs to connect them with education, job training and placement programs and/or computer and financial literacy services available in their community to promote self-sufficiency. Only public housing authorities are eligible for PH-FSS grants. ROSS-SC grants can be awarded to public housing authorities, resident associations and non-profit organizations. Grantees that receive ROSS-SC grants can also use the funding for this purpose, which allows the elderly or persons with disabilities who live in public housing to maintain their independent lifestyle.

Read more about local impact of HUD’s grant funding.

News Release

Walmart Announces Global Women's Economic Empowerment Initiative

[from Philanthropy News Digest] Following discussions with philanthropic and nongovernmental organizations, academics, and government leaders, Walmart has announced a five-year initiative that aims to use the company's size and scale to empower women across its supply chain.

The Global Women's Economic Empowerment initiative aims to provide training and career opportunities to the 60,000 women working in factories and farms that supply Walmart; expand access to the company's international training programs and provide job education and training to more than 200,000 women in the United States; increase gender diversity among major suppliers; and award $100 million in grants from theWalmart Foundation to support women's economic empowerment. Over the next five years, the company also intends to source $20 billion in products from women-owned businesses — an average of $4 billion per year compared to the $2.5 billion per year that the company currently spends.

In addition, Walmart established country-specific goals for the initiative, which include providing assistance to female farmers in China to help make their operations more sustainable; providing retail skills training and career development services to women in India; hiring female construction workers to help build the company's new stores in Brazil; launching a program to improve the lives of women factory workers in Bangladesh, India, and other major sourcing markets; and helping female suppliers in Central America expand their businesses.

Although a class-action lawsuit against Walmart, which charged unfair treatment of women in the workplace, was recently thrown out by the Supreme Court, the company still faces the possibility of a host of individual claims, the New York Times reports. Some critics contend that the initiative is an attempt to deflect attention away from the litigation and will do little to empower women. "Once again, Walmart is avoiding every issue that touches on how its products are produced," former AFL-CIOofficial Janet Shenk told the Times. "It's not about who owns the factory. So far as I know, there's no evidence that factories and businesses owned by women treat their employees better or have better conditions than factories and businesses owned by men."

However, Helene Gayle, president and CEO of nonprofit development and relief agency CARE, welcomed the initiative. "This effort recognizes the untapped power of women around the world, and CARE is honored to partner with Walmart on this groundbreaking initiative," said Gayle. "Together we can sustainably and dramatically improve the lives of hundreds of thousands of women - factory workers and farmers among them. Together we will see these women change the lives of their families and communities for the better."

Clifford, Stephanie. Strom, Stephanie. “Wal-Mart to Announce Women-Friendly Plans.” New York Times 9/14/11.“Walmart Launches Global Women's Economic Empowerment Initiative.” Walmart Press Release 9/14/11.

American Jobs Act

[posted from the U.S. Department of Labor, ETA] The White House has prepared a Fact Sheet detailing the major provisions of the American Jobs Act

Related materials:

President Obama on the American Jobs Act: Let's Be Ambitious

The American Jobs Act: Fueling Innovation and Entrepreneurship

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See also this summary sheet posted on the White House website: 

http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/American_Jobs_Act_Sectional_Analysis.pdf

UChoose grants coming to Erie

By KEVIN FLOWERS, Erie Times-News

Erie County residents will soon get their chance to vote online for local projects they believe should be funded by gambling revenues from Presque Isle Downs & Casino. The authority this morning approved a framework for what is being called the "UChoose" grant program, which will make a $30,000 pot of gambling funds available to local nonprofits and organizations in a process modeled after the popular Pepsi Refresh Everything grant program. The Pepsi grants, which began in March 2010, award grants ranging from $5,000 to $250,000 each month via nationwide online voting.

Perry Wood, the Gaming Revenue Authority's executive director, said local organizations will be able to apply for $5,000, $10,000 and $15,000 grants. One grant will be awarded in each of those amounts, Wood said.
Online voting is expected to begin in November at a website that still must be created; that site will also contain details about the eligible projects. The grants should be awarded sometime in January, Wood said.
Chuck Peters, the Gaming Revenue Authority's board chairman, said the UChoose program lets county residents decide the worthiness of a particular project.

"It will give the community a chance to get behind some causes and be directly involved in the grant process," Peters said.