What Is Success In Somerset County?

An education initiative developed by the Somerset County Chamber of Commerce, Success in Somerset County creates awareness of career, job and educational opportunities in Somerset County through panels, tours and specialized programs. A special emphasis is placed on high-demand jobs and industries in the area. In 2013, the Chamber applied for direct funding under the Routes Grant funded by the Community Foundation of the Alleghenies to launch Success in Somerset County as a pilot program. Click here to read more about this program.

Pre-Business Planning Seminars

 The Saint Francis University Small Business Development Center has scheduled pre-business planning seminars for September. The seminar is for people who are interested in opening and operating their own business. The seminar is free. Below are the scheduled dates:

• Wednesday, October 30, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm at the Saint Francis University Small Business Development Center, 2299 Manor Drive, Loretto, PA.

Topics to be discussed are feasibility issues, marketing, recordkeeping, business plans, legal issues, regulations/taxes and financing.

Pre-registration is required for the seminar 48 hours prior to scheduled date.   Interested persons may contact the Saint Francis University Small Business Development Center at (814) 472-3200 or register online at https://www.francis.edu/SBDC-Workshops/

Live Your Dream Award

Soroptimist's Live Your Dream Awards program is a unique education grant for women who provide the primary financial support for their families. Live Your Dream Awards give women the resources they need to improve their education, skills and employment prospects.

The Live Your Dream Awards offers three levels of cash awards. Eligible applicants can submit their application between August 1 - November 15. Ultimately, a Live Your Dream Awards finalist has the potential receive up to $16,000 to help offset tuition costs, purchase books, get transportation, or find reliable childcare so she can worry less about how to pay her bills and focus on reaching her dreams.

Apply

CPR Training

Training at the Penn State Fayette Eberly Campus
Eberly Building, Room 103
Saturday Session
9 am to 1 pm
Course fee - $60

November 16

This course meets occupational requirements for CPR certification and includes a skill and written exam. Course fee does not represent income to the American Heart Association.

For more information, contact Penn State Fayette's Center for Community and Public Safety 724-430-4217 or wtb118@psu.edu or register online at fayette.psu.edu/ce

UC 101 and Shared-work Workshop

Thursday, October 31, 2019 at 8:30 -10 a.m.
Somerset County Education Center - Founders Hall

Seminar will follow the purpose of opening an employee's UC claim and the employer's responsibilities regarding that claim including...

• When should the employee open the claim
• How is a UC claim be filed
• What forms will be sent to the employer regarding the claim.

More information!

Basic SRO Course

This 5-day, 40-hour course is designed for any law enforcement officer or school administrator working in an educational environment. The course emphasizes three main area of instruction:

• Functioning as a police office in the school setting
• Working as a resource and problem solver
• Developing teaching skills

Attendees will gain a solid working knowledge of the School Resource Officer concept and how to establish a lasing partnership with their schools. The course will be held November 11-15, 2019 at the Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus. For information please contact Sandy Quarrick at suq104@psu.edu.

Saint Francis SBDC to Hold Pre-Business Planning Seminars

The Saint Francis University Small Business Development Center has scheduled pre-business planning seminars for November. The seminar is for people who are interested in opening and operating their own business. The seminar is free. Below are the scheduled dates and locations for November:

• Thursday, November 14, 9:00 am – 11:00 am at the Devorris Center for Business Development, 3900 Industrial Park Drive, Altoona, PA.
• Wednesday, November 20, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm. at the Saint Francis University Small Business Development Center, 2299 Manor Drive, Loretto, PA.

Topics to be discussed are feasibility issues, marketing, recordkeeping, business plans, legal issues, regulations/taxes and financing.  Pre-registration is required for the seminar 48 hours prior to the scheduled date.  Register online at https://www.francis.edu/SBDC-Workshops/ or call (814) 472-3200.

Community Resource/Job Fair

November 15, 2019
9 - 11 am
Penn Highlands Community College
101 Community College Way, Johnstown, PA

For questions or information please contact, Sue Babik at 814-534-0479

Allegany College of Maryland’s Somerset Education Site The Importance of “Customer Service”

Join us for an interactive customer service training using one of the best customer service approaches “The Fish Philosophy.”  This is old wisdom for a new day when the need for exceptional customer services is so very important to business success.  When a community of people or workers bring their “whole selves” to work – their personalities, their humor, their desire to make a difference, the effect is powerful, creating a higher quality of life at work and at home.  Join us and learn how to create a service culture that will make your business or organization an outstanding place to work and then some.

Date:  Thursday 11/21/19
Time:  9am to 11:30am
Instructor:  Wayne Blue
Location:  ACM Somerset Education Site – Georgian Place
Fee:  $50; 55+ or Veteran Discount Fee:  $45.00

To register you can call:  814-445-9848 or e-mail Wayne at wblue@allegany.edu

Basic Industrial Electricity Training Course

WEDNet funding can be used to help defray the cost of the training.  To check your company eligibility, contact Julie Davis at 814-262-3813 or via email at jdavis@pennhighlands.edu

JARI and Penn Highlands Community College are hosting a training course on Basic Industrial Electricity.  There are 12 seats available to companies who may be interested in participating.

Location: Penn Highlands Community College, Richland Campus, 101 Community College Way, Johnstown, PA  15904

Dates and Times: The first session is scheduled for the week of December 2 and the second session is scheduled for the week of December 9. Classes will be held from 8:00am to 12:00pm, Monday-Friday over a 2-week period.  Length of Training:  40 hours , Certificates of completion will be provided

Provider:  Pennsylvania Highlands Community College
Instructor:  Mr. Stan Kieta, President REAL Controls, Inc.
Cost / Participant:  For 8 participants, the cost per person will be $1,100.  If we have 12 participants the cost will be $1,000 per person.

Seats will be filled on a first come basis.  To reserve seats, please complete the attached registration form and return the form to Julie Davis @ JDavis@pennhighlands.edu Please include the company contact person for billing purposes.  Companies will be invoiced individually. The deadline to reserve seats is November 15.

“Innovations Challenge” Invites Students to Develop Technologies, Solutions to Combat Roadway Litter

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced today that students in grades 9-12 are invited to participate in the third PennDOT Innovations Challenge which encourages students to use their problem-solving, creative and strategic-thinking abilities to solve real-world transportation challenges in a competition among their peers.

Last year, PennDOT spent nearly $13 million cleaning up roadside litter across Pennsylvania.  In addition, nearly 5,000 volunteers spend countless hours participating in the Adopt-A-Highway program each year. These dollars and volunteer hours could have otherwise been spent on delivering a better transportation network and making Pennsylvania a better state in which to live.

The Innovations Challenge aims to not only help students explore real transportation challenges that PennDOT is facing, but also open their minds to the very real possibility of working for PennDOT after graduation.

Regional Innovations Challenge winners will be selected and invited to compete in Harrisburg for the state championship. This year, the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA) and the Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful (KPB) organization are providing a combined total award of $3,000 to be divided among the first, second and third place statewide winning teams.

For complete Innovations Challenge details, visit www.penndot.gov/innovation. The deadline for submissions is December 20, 2019.

Businesses Donate Thousands of Dollars in Scholarship Funds for Pennsylvania Students Pursuing Careers in the Skilled Trades

The growing jobs skills gap continues to be a major concern for the Commonwealth’s business community.  In fact, the PA Chamber’s 2019 Economic Survey found that finding qualified employees is the top of mind issue for job creators.  It’s a problem that stretches across all industry sectors in every region of the state.

As part of its aggressive workforce initiative – Start the Conversation Here – designed to help address the skills gap that continues to plague businesses throughout the state, the PA Chamber Education Foundation has been proud to team up with the mikeroweWORKS Foundation for the past three years to provide scholarships to Pennsylvania students interested in a career in the skilled trades.

This year, 24 Commonwealth students have been awarded a total of $75,000 in mikeroweWORKS Work Ethic Scholarships.  Since 2016, the PA Chamber Educational Foundation has helped to contribute nearly $195,000 towards the Work Ethic Scholarship program – funds that have helped 94 Pennsylvania students pursue their goals of attending technical schools in the state.  This wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of the Commonwealth’s business community and those job creators who have stepped up to help be part of the solution.

And we are doing it again in 2020 and need your help!  The PA Chamber Education Foundation is accepting donations for the 2020 scholarship program – visit the pledge page to make your tax-deductible contribution.  We thank you for helping us to Start the Conversation HERE and in closing the skills gap in Pennsylvania!

By taking a leading role in workforce development efforts across the state, the PA Chamber and the business community can help to ensure that Pennsylvania’s workers have the skills and training needed for the in-demand jobs that are available throughout the Commonwealth.

PRLA Scholarship

The PRLA Educational Foundation Scholarship Program is now accepting applications for the 2020 school year. High school seniors and current college students who are interested in pursuing a post-secondary degree or certificate in culinary arts and hospitality management programs have until March 1, 2020.

PHEAA NEWS

2019 Financial Aid Counselor Workshops
PHEAA’s Higher Education Access Partners and PASFAA’s experienced financial aid personnel will provide a basic understanding of financial aid offers, available financial aid programs, and FAFSA completion at workshops, held during September and October at 40 locations. Visit PHEAA.org for a list of dates, sites, and registration.

PHEAA Higher Education Access Partners’ Credentials
A legislative requirement states that any “prospective employee engaging in the occupations with a significant likelihood of regular contact with children/ students in the form of care, guidance, supervision, or training” is required to obtain a Pennsylvania Criminal History Record Check and a Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Record Check. All PHEAA Access Partners are current on these clearances.

FAFSA Information

While the FAFSA is the student's application, parents often play a large role in the process. Click here for help completing the 2019-20 FAFSA.

Get Involved, Get Connected

Want to showcase your business or organization on this page? Click here to learn how you can get involved.