This program will be presented by a representative from Wells Fargo Bank and is also available at the same time as a webinar. Cost is $35.00 per person.  To register, visit www.MetroAction.org or call (570)341-0270 by March 1, 2012.

Executive Summary

Survey presentation

Appendix

The business partners believe their familiarity with the design needs and creative demands of local clientele will provide an untapped opportunity to harvest success. “However, we knew applying for a loan to purchase the necessary equipment and supplies would be our biggest challenge,” says Oppelt who was referred to MetroAction by the University of Scranton Small Business Development Center.

“The staff at MetroAction really helped us understand the entire loan application process,” observes Kuhn after the pair obtained a $15,000 small business loan. To keep overhead expenses down, Smart Blonde is operating as a home-based business, an additional benefit to Kuhn, a new parent.

Smart Blonde Creative has recently been a recipient of Wells Fargo Securities, LLC funding.

Come join us on Tuesday, December 13th for a FREE session of the course at the Hampton Inn Hotel at Montage Mountain in Scranton from 6:00 PM to 9:30 PM. This event will be begin on December 13, 2011 and continue every Tuesday evening for eight weeks.
Call Rich Scott to register at (570)510-6980. Seating is limited.

Through an innovative partnership between Samuel Adams Brewing the American Dream program and MetroAction these businesses are now able to access these training scholarships as well as flexible loans to help their businesses grow. The Brewing the American Dream initiative supports small business owners in the food, beverage and hospitality industry by providing accessible financing, as well as business and financial literacy tools and assistance.

For more information on scholarship opportunities for the Small Business Institute or the Brewing the American Dream loan program, contact MetroAction at (570) 341-0270 or visit www.MetroAction.org.

The Civic Ballet Company of Scranton and a property located at 312-314 North Washington Avenue recently received funding through the Main Street Scranton Façade Program. MetroAction has partnered with Scranton Tomorrow to help local businesses make improvements to the exterior of their properties through this program. The program provides grant and loan funds to local businesses making façade improvements to their business.

Civic Ballet Company of Scranton –was approved for a $3,728 in grant and loan funding through the Main Street Scranton Façade program to purchase new exterior signage for their existing facility on Mifflin Avenue.

Thomas Egan and Maura McGuire were approved for $5,000 in grant and loan funding through the Main Street Scranton Façade program to complete exterior painting, woodwork enhancements, architectural elements and install new windows at 312-314 North Washington Avenue.  In addition, the owners were approved for an additional MetroAction loan totaling $7,500 that will serve as the matching funds component of the project.

For more information on the the Main Street Scranton Façade program contact MetroAction at (570) 341-0270 or visit www.MetroAction.org

MetroAction has been asked to serve as the fiscal agent for this grant and administer the loan funds. These businesses can apply for loans up to $100,000 and borrow funds at a 1% rate.

Eligible applicants can contact Lisa Kenny at (570) 341-0270 or visit www.MetroAction.org for more information.

But Bird hoped to do more than just work for Wilmot. He planned to own it. “I saw a lot of potential in the nursery and thought I could make it one of the best garden centers in the area. So I asked the owner, Robert Wilmot about his future intentions,” says Bird.

After completing his master’s degree in agronomy at Penn State University in 2003, Bird joined the Wilmot staff, full time. For the following fiver years, Bird apprentices under and received management training from Mr. Wilmot. In 2008, Mr. Wilmot was ready to sell and Bird approached Honesdale National Bank’s vice president and commercial loan officer, Ron Sebastianelli, who referred him to MetroAction.

Through MetroAction, Bird received assistance with his budget and obtained financing to purchase his spring inventory. Today he owns the region’s largest and most comprehensive garden center, with more than 450 sizes and types of trees and shrubs and a gift shop.

Bird isn’t stopping to smell the roses just yet. With MetroAction’s help, he plans to build a new facility so Wilmot Nursery and Landscaping is “more of a destination, not just a place to shop,” and believes his budding business can rank among the top 25 garden centers in the northeast.

When his business partner, Leigh Mannina, informed him that the child care center where she works as director was for sale, it was an easy decision to purchase the center. However obtaining the financing was not as easy.

After exploring other options with no success, Mannina suggested they look into MetroAction, where she had previously attended business training programs.

MetroAction provided Abromavage and Mannina with a $70,000 loan that helped the pair purchase the business from its previous owner and start on their own success journey. “MetroAction provided the guidance we needed to purchase Little Acres,” says Ambromavage. “It was a seamless transition.”

And the help doesn’t stop with financing. “We are always looking to improve the quality of care and educational experiences that we provide,” says Mannina. “By attending MetroAction classes, we will earn professional development credit hours through the PA Department of Public Welfare. MetroAction can help us achieve our goal of obtaining a four-star rating, the highest in the Keystone STARS program.”

The red carpet rolls out on Friday, November 11th, at 5:00pm at The Mellow Theater, Lackawanna College, as we present the Chamber Gala and honor the recipients of the 2011 SAGE Awards -Scranton’s Awards for Growth and Excellence!

The SAGE Awards celebrate the outstanding efforts of our Chamber members and business community and their talent, creativity, and innovation.  Award categories apply to new and emerging businesses; along with our seasoned veterans – there’s something for everyone!

Presented by Penn Security Bank and Trust, the Gala is a Hollywood-style, black-tie optional event overflowing with entertainment, cocktails, gourmet cuisine stations and 20 different award presentations.
Tickets are $50 for Chamber members and $75 for non-members.  Special thanks to all of our Gala sponsors and partners!

Visit www.ScrantonSageAwards.com for more information and to watch video footage from last year’s event!
The SAGE Awards (Scranton Awards for Growth and Excellence) finalists for this year are:

BEST PRACTICES IN COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
•    Pennsylvania American Water Company, Wilkes-Barre
•    Powell Law, Scranton
•    TMG Health, Inc., Dunmore

BEST PRACTICES IN CUSTOMER SERVICE
•    Frontier Communications, Dallas
•    Karam Orthodontics, Scranton
•    Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, Wilkes-Barre

BEST PRACTICES IN HUMAN RESOURCES AND/OR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
•    Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, Wilkes-Barre
•    Prudential, Scranton
•    Tobyhanna Army Depot, Tobyhanna

BEST PRACTICES IN MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS
•    Happenings Communications Group, Clarks Summit
•    KKPR Marketing and Public Relations, Milford
•    Sordoni Construction Services, Inc., Forty Fort

BEST PRACTICES IN TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION
•    Keen Bean Design, Clarks Summit
•    Net Driven, Scranton
•    Tobyhanna Army Depot, Tobyhanna

GREEN PRACTICES: 2-100 EMPLOYEES CATEGORY
•    Alliance Landfill, Taylor
•    DxDempsey, Scranton
•    Flexible Foam Products, Inc., Archbald

GREEN PRACTICES: 101+ EMPLOYEES CATEGORY
•    Tobyhanna Army Depot, Tobyhanna
•    UGI Utilities, Inc., Wilkes-Barre
•    Woodloch, Hawley

HEALTHY WORKPLACE
•    Keystone College, La Plume
•    Keystone Community Resources, Clarks Summit
•    UGI Utilities, Inc., Wilkes-Barre

HOMETOWN STAR
•    Arts on Fire, Scranton
•    Endless Mountains Rails, Wyoming
•    Scranton Jaycees Santa Parade, Scranton

NEW & EMERGING BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
•    Backyard Ale House, Scranton
•    Karam Orthodontics, Scranton
•    Veterinary Referral and Emergency Center, South Abington Township

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR
•    United Neighborhood Centers of Northeastern Pennsylvania, Scranton
•    United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties, Scranton
•    Voluntary Action Center, Scranton

PRIDE & PROGRESS: EXTERIOR RENOVATIONS
•    Connell Building, Scranton
•    Fidelity Deposit & Discount Bank/DxDempsey, Scranton
•    KBA Engineering, P.C. , Jermyn

PRIDE & PROGRESS: INTERIOR RENOVATIONS
•    Connell Lofts, Scranton
•    The Electric City Trolley Museum/Leadership Lackawanna, Scranton
•    Hemmler Camayd Architects/Center for Architectural Studies Marywood, Scranton

PRIDE & PROGRESS: LANDSCAPE & SITE DESIGN
•    Tobyhanna Federal Credit Union, Scranton
•    The University of Scranton – Commons Extension Landscaping Project, Scranton
•    The University of Scranton – Mulberry Street Improvement Project, Scranton

PRIDE & PROGRESS: NEW CONSTRUCTION
•    Highland Associates, Ltd. – The Commonwealth Medical College, Scranton
•    Tobyhanna Federal Credit Union, Scranton
•    Hemmler Camayd Architects/The University of Scranton – Upper Class Residence Halls, Scranton

SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
•    Condron and Company, Scranton
•    Sculpted Ice Works, Lakeville
•    The Ballet Theatre of Scranton/The Dance Studio, Scranton

SOLO-PRENEUR OF THE YEAR
•    Bella Faccias Personalized Chocolates, Scranton
•    Laugh to Live, Scranton
•    Michael Straub Photography, Mt. Pocono

WOMAN OF EXCELLENCE
•    Sister Anne Munley, IHM, Ph.D., Scranton
•    Dr. Ann Pipinski, Ed.D., Scranton
•    Tina Jezuit, Scranton

YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR
•    Katrina Foster, Founder & President, KKPR Marketing and Public Relations, Milford
•    Adam Weitzenkorn, Owner, New Visions Studio and Gallery, Scranton
•    Conor O’Brien, Co-founder & Programming Director, Vintage Theater, Scranton

All award finalists will be entered into the People’s Choice Award, where the winner will be chosen by a community wide online vote.

For more information on The Chamber Gala or the SAGE Awards or to purchase tickets, please call (570) 342-7711 or visit www.ScrantonSageAwards.com.