Building-out broadband in our Oil Region is an important part of Economic Development, both as a way to attract new businesses to come here and as a way to offer faster and less expensive broadband to existing businesses. 
   The Tech Council of Northwestern Pennsylvania is requesting your participation in the Broadband Stimulus Application. Please take a few minutes to respond to this important survey. 
   Thank You for your participation. 
Do you live in a rural area?
Do you want a faster Internet connection?
Do you want access to $7.2 billion dollars of available funding?
Do you live or work in Northwest PA?
We are collecting interest from the following:
· Private Residence
· Educational Institutions
· Healthcare Facilities
· Public Safety
· Manufacturing Facilities
· Agriculture/Farming
· Local Government
· Business Services
 
  Please visit www.technwpa.org, where you will find a link to the survey on the homepage.  Also, if you would like more information, click on the Broadband Tab.  You may also contact Perry Wood via email at perry.wood@technwpa.org or via phone at 814-459-6262.

Alliance Plans Open House at Coal Oil Johnny House 

 

by Toni Kresinski, Events Manager
 
    The public is invited to a free open house at the Coal Oil Johnny House on Sunday, August 9, from 1 until 4 p.m.   
   The Alliance owns the historic structure which is officially referred to as the "McClintock-Steel-Waitz" House.  The "post and plank" structure was most likely constructed c.1850 and originally inhabited by Sarah and Culbertson McClintock and their adopted children, John and Permelia Steele. Oil was discovered on the property in 1862, and Sarah McClintock began to improve the property with paintings, carpets and furniture. Two years later when Sarah McClintock died from burns, John Steele at age 21 became the sole owner of the house and with the income from the now prosperous oil wells on the property, embarked on his infamous two-year spending spree. It was during this time that he acquired the name of "Coal Oil Johnny."                                             
   The house was moved in 2002 the 6/10 mile to its current location at the Rynd Farm Station of the Titusville & Oil Creek Railroad in Oil Creek State Park.  The interior rehabilitation involved the addition of insulation, electricity, and stove heat. The interior decoration is still in process, with several antiques on site already. 
   The rehabilitation project was financed in part by a grant from the PA Heritage Parks Program with additional funding from the PA Museum & Historical Commission and private donors. 
   The Open House is an excellent opportunity for residents and visitors alike to celebrate Oil 150. Additional events commemorating this historic event are available at www.oilregion.com. 
   For more information, contact Toni Kresinski, Oil Region Alliance Events Manager, (814) 677-3152, Extension 110.                                 

Bulk Purchasing of Natural Gas & Electric Power Presentation  

provided for the newsletter by Deb Lutz, Local Industry Manager 

  

 

Reduce your utility costs through bulk purchasing of electricity and natural gas. 

When: Tuesday, September 22, 2009, 8:30 - 10:30 a.m.
Where: Cross Creek Resort
Cost: No charge, but registration is required
Who should attend: Company owners, presidents, general managers, or anyone involved in energy procurement.
Manufacturers with natural gas bills over $20,000 per year or electricity bills over $10,000 per year.
What to bring: Your most recent gas and electric bill
Host: Northwest PA Industrial Resource Center (NWIRC) 

  Natural gas prices have fallen dramatically in the past six months. Pennsylvania's electric rate caps have been removed for some electricity providers and will continue to be removed in the next few years, so electricity rates are lower than they have been for several years. Now is the time to take advantage of these low prices by joining with other manufacturers and locking in today's low rates through bulk purchasing.
   NWIRC has partnered with Northeast Energy Advisors, a Pennsylvania energy advisory and procurement firm, to assist in creating this energy-buying workshop. Benefits include:
     · Anticipated savings of 10 to 15% or more
     · Immediate benefits to your bottom line 
     · No investment of your time is needed
     · Budget certainty by securing a locked-in rate
   During the one-hour presentation, participants will learn how to gain economic benefits through aggregate or bulk purchases of utilities. The objective of the workshop is to create buying groups tailored to each manufacturer's needs. Each participant will have the opportunity to "buy" as efficiently as a larger volume customer and will receive the lowest-cost, most competitive natural gas and electricity supply prices available from the marketplace. 
   After the presentation will be time for questions and answers. Northeast Energy Advisors will meet individually and confidentially with interested companies. They will review your gas and electric bills and estimate your annual savings with bulk purchasing.
   You should take a copy of a recent gas and electric bill for a confidential review of your company's situation and an estimate of savings. 
   To register, email jmiller@nwirc.org or call Jean at NWIRC, 814-456-6299.

  
Introducing Regional Historic House Plaque Program  

 

by Kim Harris, Project Manager

 

Depicted is a draft design of a house plaque.

 

 
   If buildings could talk, what stories they would tell of years gone by here in the Oil Region?  
   To help tell these stories, the Oil Region Alliance is introducing a historic house plaque program on a region-wide basis with the assistance of a number of local non-profit organizations with an interest in preservation. 
   House plaques are commemorative markers affixed on the exterior of historic buildings which recognize key information about the building's year of construction, historic name, and often the name of the entity coordinating the marker program.  For many years the Historic Franklin Preservation Association has successfully operated such a program in Franklin, providing detailed research about the building, its first owners, and its series of occupants. 
   The new program will kick off on August 11 with the initial meeting of interested individuals who will assist in identifying, recruiting, and training new volunteer researchers who want to learn how to use public and other archives to assemble a full history on a building and its owners, among other tasks.  The dates, times, and places for these free training sessions will be announced in the local newspapers, as well as direct mailings and fliers.   
   The Alliance and its partners realize that recognizing and permanently labeling historic buildings will bring pride to the property owner and the communities of the region.  This program will assist the Alliance in fulfilling part of its mission to educate and to preserve the heritage of the Region. 
   This project is supported by a grant from the PA Historical and Museum Commission via the Alliance. 
   For more information, contact Kim Harris, Project Manager at 814-677-3152; or email kharris@oilregion.org.

 

by Amy Nurss, Oil 150 Development Specialist
 
   Oil City's Oil Heritage Festival parade had large crowds.  People had a great time during the festival that brought the Oil 150 celebration to the fore.
   Oil 150 Steering Committee members, The Honorable Ronald Black, Mrs. Lois McElwee, Miss Pamela Forker, and I, along with Ron's grandchildren, had the honor to ride as members of the Oil 150 team.  Soon the Oil City High School Band was marching by, and that was the signal to slowly make our way to Seneca Street.  Special thanks go to Robert Fry at Short Street Motorcars and Gary Culp who provided the courtesy convertibles that were our "carriages."  A special thank you also goes to Jim Edwards who procured a vehicle for us through the Venango Area Chamber of Commerce.
   You don't realize how many people like a parade until you sit on a float or in a car as a participant.  I noticed many of the floats with wooden derricks, many kids and adults dressed in period attire, Oil 150 flags, "homemade" Oil 150 flags, and oil paraphernalia to celebrate 150 years of history that make the Oil Region unique and special.  It was very inspiring to see how participants made an effort to embellish the Oil 150 theme and show their community spirit towards their history.
   The next large parade will be hosted in Titusville on Saturday, August 29, starting at 11:00 a.m.  The theme for this one is "America's Energy Yesterday...Today...Tomorrow."  If at all possible, you'll want to be in Titusville that day, the peak of the Titusville Oil Festival.