It’s Your Business
Uniontown Crop reporting deadlines approach
Crop reporting deadlines are approaching and area producers are urged to report all planted acreage. Most USDA programs require that all crops be reported in a timely manner or producers will lose program benefits. By reporting crops timely, producers can avoid late file fees at a later date. Small grains, such as wheat, barley, and oats must be reported by June 15. Corn, soybeans, and CRP acreage must be reported by July 15. Producers should report crops even if they are not enrolled in any programs because this creates a cropping history for their farm. Producers can stop by the Fayette/Greene Farm Service Agency Office to report their crops or contact the office to make an appointment by calling 724-437-7971 (Ext. 2) or 724-627-3056 (Ext. 2).
Homestead
MVI adds staff members
Mon Valley Initiative has added three new members to its staff: John Bixler, community outreach director; Doug Van Haitsma, housing and real estate development director; and Mike Mauer, credit counselor.
MVI is a coalition of 13 community development corporations serving municipalities throughout the Monongahela River Valley. MVI provides professional staff for the all-volunteer member CDCs to support their efforts in the areas of housing, real estate, workforce, and business development.
Bixler, former executive director of Dakota Rural Action, has also worked at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation in Harrisburg and the Allegheny Land Trust. At MVI, he directs the staff that supports member CDCs in their volunteer recruitment, board education and development, and communications efforts.
Van Haitsma, formerly a project manager at The Community Builders, started his community development work in Pittsburgh as a construction supervisor for Habitat for Humanity in Braddock. His five-person staff is responsible for the Rehab-for-Resale program, housing construction, and real estate development directed by MVI’s member CDCs.
Mauer is MVI’s first credit counselor, a position created with funding from Citizens Bank, to help Mon Valley residents overcome financial obstacles to buying a home or starting a business. A former financial services officer for Century Heritage Federal Credit Union, Mauer has extensive experience working in personal finance operations; retail installment credit cards, vehicle loans, home equity products, and mortgages.
Washington
Groups oversee jobs program
The Middle Monongahela Industrial Development Association, Inc. (MIDA) of Donora, in conjunction with the Washington District Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) has recently been selected to administer the OVR Innovation & Expansion Grant Job Creation Assistance Program.The Job Creation Assistance program provides businesses in Washington, Fayette and Greene counties an opportunity to obtain needed equipment to strengthen their current business while improving community rehabilitation programs that serve persons with disabilities in Pennsylvania. Funds will be made available to purchase equipment for companies that agree to hire clients of the OVR to be the primary operators of the equipment. After a period of five years, ownership of the equipment reverts to the company. To qualify for funds through the Job Creation Assistance Program, a business must be located in Washington, Greene or Fayette counties, in operation for at least three years and must need to increase employment as a result of receiving the additional equipment. For Job Creation Assistance Program information call 724-575-0032.
Rostraver
Firm opens new office
Howard Hanna Simon Real Estate Services has opened a new office located at 1751 Rostraver Road, in Rostraver, Westmoreland County. Formerly the Rostraver Beer Distributor building, Howard Hanna Simon Real Estate Services purchased the property in July 2003.
The new office, equipped with state-of-the-art technology, was opened on Feb. 12. More than $750,000 was invested, including extensive interior and exterior renovations.
The facility is custom designed to be an inviting, customer friendly sales center. It has three conference rooms, a large professional sales service area and administrative offices. In addition, a cutting edge, networked computer system is featured that links sellers and buyers to the latest internet marketing and information system via Howard Hanna’s Web site. As part of Howard Hanna Real Estate Services, Howard Hanna Simon Real Estate Services has 35 professionally trained and licensed sales associates, three full time support staff and a full service mortgage and settlement department.