In the News

Berks County duo's site lets college students find love or homework help

Reading Eagle Thursday, August 11, 2011

The Reading Eagle reports on two local men who started FallTerms.com, a website for college students who want to find a date or chat about a class assignment.

"The name refers to the beginning of the new school year and possibility the start of a new love life," (co-founder Jan) Pluto said. "And adding the word terms refers to all of the semesters throughout the year."

What makes the site unique, Pluto explained, is the verification of members as college students.

People interested in using the site need to have a valid .edu email address.

Original source: Reading Eagle
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Mixtapes thrive online thanks to Leesport-based DatPiff

Forbes Thursday, August 11, 2011

Forbes interviews the founder of DatPiff, a website featuring mixtapes from big-name and unknown musicians.

"Mashups mixtapes are some of my favorite too," Datpiff founder and CEO Marcus Frasier tells me over the phone. "It's so creative. But I've heard a lot of crappy mashups. It really comes down to the DJ's talent."

If that sounds like a fan more than a CEO, fair enough. But Frasier's enthusiast attitude has fueled a site and a social media presence that is -- or at least should be -- the envy of anyone trying to build an online entertainment community.

According to Quantcast, the Leesport, PA-based website is pulling 9.8 million visits from 3.8 million people per month -- more than 86 percent of that audience coming from the United States. The social presence is equally impressive: 227,705 likes on Facebook and 92,469 followers on Twitter as of this post.

Original source: Forbes
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Scientist and professional taste-tester aims to make PA wines better

Erie Times-News Thursday, July 28, 2011

The Erie Times-News reports on Denise Gardner, a wine expert with the Penn State Cooperative Extension, and her assignment to raise the quality of the state's wines.

Gardner, who fills a Penn State Cooperative Extension job that's been vacant for three years, has been hired to work with the state's 180 licensed wineries to provide them with education, confidential advice and the benefit of a trained palate.

"My new job is using sensory science to help winemakers to identify defects in their wine," she said.

The simple job description is that she tastes wine and offers her opinions.

Original source: Erie Times-News
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Pennsylvania veterinarians help horse heal after devastating fire

Associated Press Thursday, July 21, 2011

The Associated Press reports on Suki the horse's remarkable recovery from being burned over two-thirds of her body in a 2009 barn fire.

Now living on a farm in Douglassville, near Reading, Suki still requires daily care of her now darkened skin. But her chestnut coat is growing back, she enjoys being exercised and gets to roam in pastures after the sun sets.

"She's a very happy, normal horse," (owner Frances) Wade-Whittaker said.

One of her caretakers is Lori Ferdock, a veterinarian well-versed in such injuries after her young son suffered severe burns in a science experiment. Ferdock has been working to connect Suki with the Lehigh Valley Burn Center, which runs a support group, and Camp Susquehanna, for children injured by fires.

Original source: Associated Press
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Hispanics flock to Pennsylvania cities, bringing new culture and new businesses

USA Today Wednesday, June 29, 2011

USA Today reports on how a growing Hispanic population is transforming Pennsylvania cities like Allentown, Bethlehem and Reading.

The Hispanic immigrant experience deeply mirrors that of Europeans, particularly from Italy and Poland, says Emilio Parrado, a University of Pennsylvania professor who specializes in Hispanic immigration. These immigrants came from disadvantaged backgrounds, and in many cases, took more than three generations to make significant progress in education, employment and intermarriage.

Today, Hispanic small-business ownership is booming, especially in restaurant work, construction and landscaping, where fluent English might not be a necessity. The 2007 survey of business owners by the Census Bureau showed that Hispanic business ownership had grown by 43% in just five years.

"They look for opportunities to move up, socially," Parrado explains. "That's why the immigrants, especially, they work a lot, they work more than one job. And they try to provide opportunities for their kids, to send them to school. They look for better housing, and they open businesses. And everything is guided by this expectation of social mobility."

Original source: USA Today
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Cross-state deal will combine Carpenter Technology and Latrobe Specialty Steel

Associated Press Wednesday, June 22, 2011

The Associated Press reports that Reading-area specialty alloy maker Carpenter Technology will pay $388 million for Latrobe Specialty Steel, located east of Pittsburgh.

Latrobe makes and distributes high-performance materials for aerospace, defense, energy and other industries. The company was acquired by Hicks Equity Partners and The Watermill Group in December 2006.

Carpenter believes that the buyout will allow it to meet strong customer demand and also improve its position in segments like energy and aerospace.

Original source: Associated Press
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Proposed legislation in Harrisburg would give tax credit for developing video games

Technically Philly Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Technically Philly reports on state Sen. Daylin Leach's proposal for a tax credit that would benefit Pennsylvania video-game makers.

Senator Leach�s office offered these details to Technically Philly in April:

"The tax incentives would work just like the film production tax credit. A company would apply to the Department of Revenue for a qualifying production expense (or group of expenses such as physical space or computers, music or employees) and after approval and incursion of the expense in producing a video game in PA they would be awarded a tax credit. This tax credit can be used by the company that incurred it or it can be transferred to someone else. This helps the small companies be able to use the credit if they maybe don't have the tax liability of a larger production company and therefore don't have the income to offset with a credit."

Original source: Technically Philly
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Innovation Transfer Network connects colleges and businesses for everyone's benefit

Central Penn Business Journal Wednesday, June 08, 2011

The Central Penn Business Journal reports on the Innovation Transfer Network and its accomplishments connecting businesses in south-central Pennsylvania with academics and students at regional colleges.

ITN projects have energized students at Millersville University, science and mathematics dean Robert Smith said.

One project involved a Carlisle company, Cruzstar, whose software lets restaurants offer online ordering to their customers. Cruzstar worked with Millersville's Software Productization Center to develop Cruzcourt, which combines online ordering with a delivery service to provide an alternative to onsite company cafeterias, Smith said.

A half-dozen students and two faculty members helped Cruzstar develop the Cruzcourt software, plus marketing, branding and graphic design.

Original source: Central Penn Business Journal
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Carpenter Technology plans mutimillion-dollar expansion and new hiring in Reading

Reading Eagle Wednesday, May 04, 2011

The Reading Eagle reports on specialty-alloy maker Carpenter Technology's plans to build four new furnaces and add about 20 more jobs to its facilities in the Reading area.

(Senior VP David) Strobel said both projects are driven by customer demand.

"The aerospace and energy markets are very robust right now, and we see that growth in both of those markets continuing for the next several years," he said.

K. Douglas Ralph, chief financial officer and senior vice president of finance, added that the projects provide customers with certitude about supply.

Original source: Reading Eagle
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Study says PA's foreclosure-prevention program works better, less expensive than federal version

MarketWatch Wednesday, April 27, 2011

MarketWatch reports on a study which found Pennsylvania's Homeowners Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program prevents home foreclosures more effectively and for less money than the federal Home Affordable Modification Program.

The New York Fed study says the HEMAP program can be cheaper for taxpayers and help a large number of troubled homeowners. It compares the two approaches by evaluating costs on assistance for two hypothetical mortgages valued at $210,000 at the time of unemployment. The HAMP modification program, the report argues, costs the federal government $13,600 while the HEMAP program cost Pennsylvania $1,620.

The report said the HEMAP program can be cheaper, in part, because when the homeowner finds a job again, the loan ends and he or she begins to repay it.

Alternatively, the HAMP program provides taxpayer funded assistance to bank servicers, who, in turn, modify the borrower�s current mortgage payments, and those adjustments stay in effect for five years regardless of whether the borrower returns to employment.

Original source: MarketWatch
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Free technology means food stamp recipients can buy fresh, healthy food from PA farmers markets

KYW Newsradio Wednesday, April 27, 2011

The state Department of Agriculture is offering 145 free wireless card readers to farmers' market vendors who want to accept food stamp benefits as payment, KYW Newsradio reports.

Mike Pechart, with the agriculture department, said more farm stand owners will now be able to accept state and federal food access cards.

�Folks can bring those benefits to farm markets, and those that have these wireless terminals and readers, they can use their SNAP cards to get fresh fruits and vegetables,� Pechart said.

And farmers also will be able to take credit and debit cards, though those transactions will be charged the standard bank fee.

Original source: KYW Newsradio
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Pennsylvania's future lies in its cities, mayors insist

Intelligencer Journal / Lancaster New Era Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Despite the challenges Pennsylvania cities face, they also have a promising future, the mayors of Lancaster, Lebanon and Reading said at a recent meeting covered by the Intelligencer Journal / Lancaster New Era.

The three Central Pennsylvania mayors, led by (Lancaster Mayor Rick) Gray, said the hollowing out that cities have experienced since the post-World War II baby boom is now shifting to the suburbs.

Younger people want to live where there are restaurants, night life and entertainment venues. Middle-age people with empty nests no longer want to keep up their home and half-acre lots. And even retirement centers are considering redevelopment projects in old city warehouses and factories, Gray maintained.

"The nuclear, 'Leave it to Beaver' family is no more," Gray pronounced, referring to changing demographics.

Original source: Intelligencer Journal / Lancaster New Era
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Self-serve wine kiosks coming to Walmart stores in PA

The Associated Press Wednesday, March 30, 2011

The Associated Press reports that 24 Walmart stores in Pennsylvania will be home to the vending machine-style wine kiosks that have been making their way into grocery stores throughout the state.

The kiosks are located at certain Wegmans, Fresh Grocer, Brown's Family ShopRite, Giant Eagle, Supervalu, Genuardi's, Acme, Giant Food, and other stores. The Liquor Control Board is working on getting about 100 such kiosks installed around the state, and (spokeswoman Stacey) Witalec said it's possible the project may be expanded beyond that.

Original source: The Associated Press
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Exports from PA businesses up 22 percent, federal data show

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Wednesday, March 30, 2011

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports that Pennsylvania companies' exports increased 22 percent in 2010, a drastic improvement from an 18 percent drop in 2009.

Pennsylvania, which ranked 11th in the nation in terms of total state exports last year, had a greater percentage increase than the nation as a whole, which experienced a 16.6 percent increase after falling 14.6 percent during the recession in 2009.

Canada remained the No. 1 buyer of Pennsylvania exports at $10.2 billion, up 14.6 percent from $8.9 billion in 2009. China bought $2.67 billion worth of goods from businesses in the state, a 78 percent increase from $1.5 billion in 2009.

The chemical industry topped all industries in the state with $10.2 billion worth of exports, up 14 percent from 2009. Machinery, primary metal manufacturing, computers and electronic products, and transportation equipment rounded out the top five.

Original source: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
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New York IT firm outsources work to Berks County, not overseas

Crain's New York Business Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Crain's New York Business reports that C&L Group, a New York City information technology consulting firm, is finding success by outsourcing work to programmers in Reading.

Janet-Lee Hatt, a senior vice president at C&L, says Reading has a plentiful supply of skilled employees. The company chose the spot after analyzing locations within a 50-mile radius of New York City that had a much lower cost of living and a ready pool of programmers.

Reading was a clear choice, with five universities nearby and more than 2,000 qualified IT professionals whom Ms. Hatt described as underemployed, or not interested in commuting to New York or Philadelphia. �Many of our programmers are willing to lose $10,000 in pay so that they can go to their kids' soccer games in the evening,� she said.

Lower hourly wages are just the beginning of the benefits for customers. Rural sourcing provides easier access to programmers and eliminates many of the problems encountered when dealing with overseas services, such as different time zones and language capabilities.

Original source: Crain's New York Business
Read the full story here.

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