Support Aspiring Entrepreneurs: Sign the #StartUpInPa Petition

The Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers’ statewide network helps create new companies and jobs by providing services and resources to aspiring entrepreneurs.  The funds necessary to provide these services and resources has been cut.

Thus, the SBDCs are seeking an additional $1 million in funding to establish and deploy #StartUpInPA, a broad suite of services that will enable hundreds of new companies to be formed all across Pennsylvania and generate hundreds of new jobs.  With a state investment of at least $4,047,846 in FY 2014-2015, the Pennsylvania SBDC network will be able to continue delivering these effective and needed services.

To learn more, visit www.startupinpa.com.

Read more and sign the petition here. 

Free Event - TechShop at RCI

Photo by Blmurch

RCI is hosting a free Emerging Tech Series on Monday, January 27th. The event will be held from 6-8 pm in the 1st Floor Conference Room. TechShop is a creative community workshop that aims to make the tools of innovation more accessible. Centers are located all over the nation and offer 3D printing, laser and waterjet cutting, welding, and other tools. At the event you can learn more about what TechShop centers offer innovators and communities.  

You can RSVP for free by emailing events@yourtalentagents.com, and check out the flyer below for additional information.  

NSIDC Brownfield Assessment Program: Asking for Community Input

North Side Industrial Development Co. (NSIDC) is awaiting funding approval from the EPA for our Community-Wide Brownfield Assessment Program. The program redevelops brownfields, sites that are abandoned and potentially contaminated, into places for new businesses. To date, NSIDC has received $4 million EPA funds and surveyed over 50 local sites.

To be eligible for the program sites must:

1. Have a reuse strategy

2. Be accessible by NSIDC

3. Be located in Allegheny or Beaver County  

NSIDC is asking for your involvement.  If you know of a brownfield in the eligible areas, or would like to be involved in the site selection process please contact us here.

If approved, the program can select sites anywhere in Allegheny and Beaver Counties but will target riverfront properties.

What Changes can Pittsburgh Expect from New Mayor Peduto

This week marked the inauguration of new mayor, Bill Peduto.  It will be interesting to see what changes could happen in Pittsburgh with this new leadership.  Pop City Media compiled some highlights from Mayor Peduto’s list of goals during his term.  Many highlights focus on neighborhood revival and investment and support for green, clean technology companies in Pittsburgh.

A self-described data-driven guy, Mayor Peduto moves into the office armed with 1100 pages of notes generated by a citizen-lead advisory committee that worked through the holidays on ideas to lead the region forward.

He has an ambitious to-do list of his own, as well, no less than 100 highly-detailed ways to lead the region, often tapping technology to get the job done.

Here’s a sampling of a few of the items on his innovation checklist, things Mayor Peduto wants that Pittsburgh needs:

· User-friendly government, beginning with a new cabinet position. Among the first hires will be a chief performance and innovation officer, a job expected to go to Debra Lam. Bring on big data!

· City streets with smarter traffic signals. Streamlined digital building permit systems and equal opportunity technology for all.

· A green tech and clean tech investment fund. 

Read more  

How to Keep 2014 Business Resolutions

Forming New Year’s resolutions is a great opportunity to reflect on what had and had not worked for your business and career in 2013.  Many of us create resolutions that sometimes get lost as to-do lists, schedules, and workloads pile up in our personal and professional lives. The key to making sure your goals don’t get lost is to create a system of steps that will lead you to them.  This article from Entrepeneur provides tips.

And for most of us, the path to those things starts by setting a specific and actionable goal. At least, this is how I approached my life until recently. I would set goals for classes I took, for weights that I wanted to lift in the gym, and for clients I wanted in my business.

What I'm starting to realize, however, is that when it comes to actually getting things done and making progress in the areas that are important to you, there is a much better way to do things.

It all comes down to the difference between goals and systems. 

The Difference Between Goals and Systems

What's the difference between goals and systems?

• If you're a coach, your goal is to win a championship. Your system is what your team does at practice each day.
• If you're a writer, your goal is to write a book. Your system is the writing schedule that you follow each week.
• If you're a runner, your goal is to run a marathon. Your system is your training schedule for the month.
• If you're an entrepreneur, your goal is to build a million dollar business. Your system is your sales and marketing process.

Read more