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One S. Church Street, Suite 200, Hazleton, PA 18201      
570.455.1508   570.454.7787    

 

CAN DO News

News and information about CAN DO for the community, investors, volunteers and board members.

Joseph F. Lettiere PortraitThe CAN DO Board of Directors today announced that Joseph Lettiere, a 19-year veteran of CAN DO, has been chosen to succeed Kevin O’Donnell as the head of the organization upon O’Donnell’s retirement at the end of next year.

Lettiere will become only the third paid CEO of CAN DO since its founding in 1956, following in the footsteps of Joseph Yenchko who served from 1963 until 1985 and O’Donnell who took over the top position upon Yenchko’s retirement.

KeystoneBalletWhen Emily Finer opened Keystone Ballet Academy in the CAN BE Innovation Center in 2017, she had a vision of bringing ballet instruction with a world-class style to Greater Hazleton. Over the past two years, Finer has capitalized on the services that CAN BE offers to small businesses to grow her dance school to more than 40 students who range in age from three years old to adults.

CoordinatedHealth1Coordinated Health held a ribbon cutting and open house July 11 at its new state-of-the-art medical complex at 26 Station Circle in Humboldt Station, adjacent to the Humboldt Industrial Park in Hazle Township.

Kevin headshot2Kevin O’Donnell, who has led Greater Hazleton’s economic development growth for more than four and a half decades, today announced to the CAN DO Board of Directors that he will retire as President and Chief Executive Officer at the close of 2020.

This past week, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) 504 and the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority (PIDA) released their new interest rates.

SBA 504 and PIDA are two revolving loan funds that assist in the growth of businesses of all sizes in Pennsylvania. They provide long-term, low-interest-rate loans to eligible businesses that commit to creating and/or retaining full-time jobs. Eligible costs include, but are not limited to, land and building costs, machinery and equipment costs, refinancing of existing commercial real estate and/or equipment debt (SBA 504) and working capital (PIDA).

CAN DO hires Mark MinnigCAN DO, Inc. announced that former Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Economic Development Analyst Mark Minnig has joined its staff as the organization’s Economic Development Specialist.

In his role at CAN DO, Minnig will manage the planning, procurement and administration of all necessary grants and loans for the organization; assist  businesses in the community to identify and procure financing opportunities; act as a liaison to employers through  outreach to ensure Greater Hazleton’s continued economic development; and coordinate with CAN BE to cultivate clients and assist small businesses and start-ups with financing options.

Valmont Industrial ParkDominic Yannuzzi, engineer for West Hazleton Borough, updated Valmont Park Association members on efforts that are underway to fix Valmont Industrial Park’s Rotary Drive, Jaycee Drive bridge and Dessen Drive during a recent Valmont Park Association meeting.

Humboldt Park Association May 2019 meetingHumboldt Park Association meeting attendees received an update on proposed additional Humboldt Industrial Park bus routes and the latest on the consideration of a regional bus transfer station and learned about the SHINE after-school education program that teaches children science, technology, engineering, art and math skills during the latest Humboldt Park Association meeting.

CAN DO receives BAMR grantCAN DO received a $2.6 million grant from the Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation which it is using to reclaim approximately 40 acres of former mine land in Humboldt Industrial Park North.

CAN DO will transport fill material from a 22-acre piece of land spread across two of its sites in the Humboldt Northwest section of the park to Humboldt North to reclaim the property. This project will restore land that was previously used for strip mining and allow for additional site development in Humboldt North.

CAN DO Community Park group photoCAN DO, the CAN DO Community Foundation, Downtown Hazleton Alliance for Progress and the City of Hazleton held a ceremony Tuesday to announce the official naming of the downtown park located at the corner of Broad and Laurel streets as CAN DO Community Park and unveiled future plans for the park.

CAN DO and the CAN DO Community Foundation each contributed funds to purchase the naming rights to the park. CAN DO has also agreed to assume responsibility for maintenance of the park over the next 50 years.

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