Business briefcase
Uniontown
Conservation district offers seedlings
The Fayette County Conservation District Seedling and Fruit Tree Sale only has a short time left to order. Tree seedlings, fruit trees and nest boxes are all available again this year. There is no limit to the number of items you can purchase.
Order forms and payments must be received by March 15 at the Fayette County Conservation District office, 10 Nickman Plaza, Lemont Furnace, PA 15456. The pick-up date is March 31 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Fayette County Fairgrounds. Species available are:
Seedlings: Rhododendron, paw paw, American hazelnut, sugar maple, chestnut oak, Blackhaw viburnum, flowering dogwood, Eastern white pine (seedling and potted), hemlock (potted), persimmon (potted) and highbush blueberry (potted).
Fruit trees: Apple – Enterprise, Royal Court, Yellow Transparent and Ginger Gold; Montmorency cherry, Starfire peach, Shenandoah pear and President plum.
Eastern Bluebird nest boxes also will be available.
For information, or to receive tree descriptions and order forms, call the Conservation District at 724-438-4497.
Donora
Business assistance available
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 January 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, with issues that are affecting them. They will be able to help constituents 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, call 724-379-5540, or toll free at 1-800-467-9486. Assistance dates are as follows:
n Friday – 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
n March 23 – 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Pittsburgh
SCORE schedules workshop
SCORE (Service Corp of Retired Executives) Pittsburgh will present “Small Business Basics,” workshop from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 24 at the PNC-YMCA, second floor, 226 Fifth Ave., Pittsburgh.
The workshop, presented by working professionals, helps new business with studying the legal requirements of starting a new business and covering key topics that will impact the success or failure of the business.
The agenda will include discussion about developing a business plan, financing, marketing, insurance, human resource management, record keeping, obtaining small business loans and business taxes for small business.
There is a fee to attend. Registration and a continental breakfast begin at 8 a.m.
For more information and to pre-register by March 22, call 412-395-6560, extension 130 or 131 or go online to www.scorepittsburgh.com.
Canonsburg
Utility announces meter reading program
Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania Inc. has announced the next phase of its automated meter reading (AMR) system, as monthly meter readings began March 1 across much of the company’s western and central Pennsylvania operating areas. This cutting edge technology is part of Columbia’s commitment to upgrade its natural gas distribution infrastructure and enhance customer service. Now fully deployed, the AMR devices virtually eliminate the practice of bimonthly meter readings and reduce the need for customers to make arrangements to allow meter readers inside their homes.
The operating areas consist of many communities including: the Greater Pittsburgh area, New Castle, Washington, Uniontown, New Bethlehem, Warren, Bradford, State College and surrounding communities.
Approximately 302,000 natural gas meters across the western and central Pennsylvania operating area have been upgraded with new AMR devices. The installation took approximately 11 months to complete and reflects a $15 million investment in these communities.
The AMR system uses radio technology to automatically read the meter from a vehicle. As the specially equipped vehicle drives by, it sends a signal to the AMR device, which in turn transmits the meter reading data to a computer in the vehicle.
The AMR device is powered by its own long-life battery and does not draw from a home’s electrical system.
Columbia Gas is implementing the AMR system, with monthly meter readings, across the company’s entire service territory.
Currently the company is on pace to have all 414,000 meters in their service territory upgraded by the end of 2012.
Business briefcase policy
The Herald-Standard publishes news in the Business briefcase column each Sunday. Items can include retirements, executive level promotions or professional hirings and most non-promotional business events. Photos of business people will be published as long as they are clear and sharp. Black and white and color photos are accepted.
For more information on the Business briefcase column, call James Pletcher Jr., HeraldStandard.com business editor, at 724-439-7571 or e-mail jpletcher@heraldstandard.com.