Business briefcase
Uniontown
FCCAA employee receives certificate
The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) recently celebrated the work of the state’s housing counselors during an awards ceremony at the Hilton Harrisburg.
At the awards ceremony, Rita Masi, housing project manager for Fayette County Community Action Agency Inc. (FCCAA), was awarded a certificate for housing counseling specialist.
The state’s private sector counseling agencies support the mission of PHFA by assisting state residents with questions about homeownership and home foreclosure.
Housing counselors from across the state attended the awards ceremony. More than 120 people were on hand representing 82 counseling agencies.
The counselors in attendance were thanked by PHFA Executive Director and CEO Brian A. Hudson Sr. and Pennsylvania Banking and Securities Secretary and PHFA Board Chairman Glenn E. Moyer for the assistance they provide to the state’s residents.
“Our housing counselors perform a great public service by educating Pennsylvanians about their housing options,” Hudson said.
“Some of their customers are renters trying to determine if they’re ready for homeownership,” Hudson added. “Others are homeowners in danger of foreclosure. All get one-on-one attention and critical information to help them make the best housing decisions for their particular situations.”
For more information about housing services offered by FCCAA, call Masi at 724-437-6050, extension 3247, or email rmasi@fccaa.org.
Donora
Daley offers business assistance
State Rep. Peter J. Daley, D-Washington/Fayette, announced that a representative from the University of Pittsburgh Small Business Development Center (SBDC) will be available in from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday to provide business owners with the information and tools necessary to build successful businesses.
Representatives will be available to work with for-profit businesses, both start-up and established, on issues that are affecting them. They will be able to help with a wide range of issues, from business plan development to information technology issues.
The SBDC representatives can offer expert guidance in market research, economic and community development, training and professional development, technology development assistance and capital formation.
Assistance will be available in Daley’s Donora office. Appointments are required. For more information and to schedule an appointment, residents may call 724-379-5540, or toll free at 1-800-467-9486. The assistance date for December is:
Washington
Wherry named to PFB board
Pennsylvania Farm Bureau (PFB) has announced that Washington County farmer George Wherry has been elected to the organization’s state board of directors.
Wherry operates a 500-head sheep and beef cattle operation in Washington County on 370 acres of pasture. Wherry has served as president of the Washington County Farm Bureau for the past three years.
Previously, he served for 23 years as a school board member for the Bentworth School District.
“I’m pleased to be representing farmers from the Southwest Region of the state. I hope to do a good job at the state level in order to address the needs of farmers and to benefit their lives. I will communicate with county Farm Bureau members to let them know what is going on across Pennsylvania and what needs to be done in the region,” Wherry said.
Wherry represents District 16, which is made up of farmers from Fayette, Greene, Washington and Westmoreland counties.
“Farmers are now operating during a time when regulations are very strict and proposed regulations could put an unacceptable strain on farm families. When new regulations are being discussed, we need to reach manageable agreements so the regulations make sense for farmers, local communities and the public,” added Wherry.
Wherry, who replaces Ed Rinkhoff of Fayette County, was elected to the state board during PFB’s 62nd annual meeting.
Waynesburg
Free forum will focus on business basics
Greene County entrepreneurs hoping to start their own business can learn about the basics of small business ownership by attending a Business Startup Seminar Thursday at the Pennsylvania Careerlink of Greene County.
The free forum will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. and is presented by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), Careerlink and the University of Pittsburgh Small Business Development Center.
According to Regina Abel, SBA Western Pennsylvania lead economic development specialist, the forum will offer insight on entrepreneurship – from structuring a business to accessing capital.
“Owning and operating a small business is not only the American dream, but the backbone of our nation’s economy,” Abel said. “This one-stop workshop will discuss business basics and put entrepreneurs in touch with economic development agencies that can offer technical assistance, such as helping to prepare a business plan.”
Registration is free and seating is limited. To reserve your space, contact 724-627-9054 or register online at ieeregistration@katz.pitt.edu by Wednesday. The Careerlink of Greene County is located at 4 W. High St.
Latrobe
Business center offers patent seminar
St. Vincent College Small Business Development Center (SBDC) will offer a seminar, Patent Basics, from 9 to 11 a.m. Dec. 14, with registration opening at 8:30 a.m.
A patent is an intellectual property right granted by the government to an inventor “to exclude others from making, using or selling the invention throughout the United States or importing the invention into the United States.” Patent Basics will cover the different types of patents, how to obtain one, who is entitled to one, what the requirements are for something to be “patentable,” and the laws and legal rights behind a patent. Attendees will gain a better understanding of patents, while learning how to protect themselves from being exploited. This program is designed for business owners, inventors, entrepreneurs and offers 2 CPE other credits for accountants.
Patent Basics will be presented by Richard Coldren, senior counsel intellectual property at Westinghouse Electric Co. LLC. Coldren is a registered patent attorney with more than 12 years experience practicing intellectual property law.
There is a fee to attend that includes a one-year subscription (12 issues) to Inc. magazine.
St. Vincent College SBDC is part of a statewide system of university-based economic development organizations, whose mission is to provide education and consulting to entrepreneurs, to help them start and grow their businesses in the competitive global economy. Early registration is recommended, as space is limited. To register or to obtain additional information, call the SBDC at 724-537-4572 or visit the website at www.stvincent.edu/sbdc.
Charleston, W. Va.
United Bankshares declares dividend gain
United Bankshares Inc. has announced a fourth quarter dividend of 31 cents per share for shareholders of record as of Dec. 14. Dividends of $1.24 per share for the year represents a 2 percent increase over the $1.21 per share paid for 2011. The dividend payout of approximately $15.6 million on 50.3 million shares is payable Jan. 2, 2013.
The year 2012 marks the 39th consecutive year of dividend increases to United shareholders. During the 39 years, the dividend increased from 6 cents to $1.24 per share, which represents an annual compound growth rate of more than 9 percent.
United has consolidated assets of approximately $8.4 billion with 123 full service offices in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, Ohio and Washington, D.C. For more information, go online to www.ubsi-inc.com.
Monessen
FedFirst announces dividend
FedFirst Financial Corp. has announced that its board of directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of 4 cents per outstanding share of common stock. The dividend will be paid on or about Dec. 31 to stockholders of record as of the close of business Dec. 14.
FedFirst Financial Corp. is the parent company of First Federal Savings Bank, a community-oriented financial institution operating seven full-service branch locations in southwestern Pennsylvania. First Federal offers retail and commercial lending and deposit services and provides commercial and personal insurance services through Exchange Underwriters Inc., its 80 percent owned subsidiary.