News 

State College Named Safest Metropolitan Statistical Area In The Nation

State College was recently named the safest metropolitan statistical area (MSA) in the nation in a Congressional Quarterly Press ranking, moving up from the number two spot it received in 2008.  The State College MSA, which includes all of Centre County, had the lowest crime rate among all the 332 metropolitan statistical areas that are ranked.  Rounding out the top five are:  (2) Sheboygan and (3) Appleton, both in Wisconsin, (4) Bangor, Maine and (5) Logan, Utah.  

SEDA-COG's Monthly Export Newsflash

SEDA-COG provides us with a copy of their Export Newsflash which contains information on various aspects of exporting and announcements of upcoming programs.   Please click here for the most recent Newsflash.

SEDA-COG's Energy Resource Center's Energy Resource Letter

Please click here for Volume 17. Some highlights include: 

• Act 129 - Potential Rebate & Incentive Programs for Allegheny Power, Penelec & PP&L customers
• Business Opportunities for Firms with BPI Certified Technicians
• New Berlin's Energy Independence Project and their Procurement for an Energy Assessor
• Home Star Energy Retrofit Act
• LEED Green Associate & LEED AP Seminar - July 28th
• Renewable Energy Festival in Kempton PA - September 17-19
• "How to Market Green Building Products" - October 5th

SAVE THE DATE!  SEDA-COG Is Hosting The Central Pennsylvania International Trade Conference - 9/21/2010

SEDA-COG is hosting Pennsylvania's  International Trade Conference on Tuesday, September 21, 2010 at Celebration Hall in State College from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.  Twenty-one Pennsylvania Authorized Trade Representatives representing 45 countries will be available for one-on-one appointments with interested businesses. There is no charge to attend.  For more information, please click here or visit their website at www.seda-cog.org/export.

U. S. Department of Energy Announces $30 Million in New Small Business Funding to Help Commercialize Clean Energy Technologies

On July 14, 2010 the U. S. Department of Energy announced that $30 million in funding from the Recovery Act and FY 2010 budget appropriations will be made available to qualified small businesses to support the commercialization of promising new clean energy technologies.  Small companies previously awarded Phase II grants through DOE's Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR) or the Small Business Technology Transfer program (STTR) are eligible.  The deadline for submission of application is August 4, 2010 at 8:00 p.m. EST.  To view the complete announcement and additional details, please click here.