News and information about CAN DO for the community, investors, volunteers and board members.
Names and contact information for military members with ties to Greater Hazleton that are serving our country overseas are currently being accepted as part of the 15th annual Operation: CAN DO drive.
The CAN DO Student Action Committee spearheads the annual program that creates and ships care packages to military members with ties to Greater Hazleton who will be stationed abroad for the holidays. The public is encouraged to submit the names of service members so packages can be sent to them for the holidays. The Student Action Committee conducts the annual drive with assistance from members of the Freeland American Legion Post 473 who package the items and ship them abroad.
CAN DO is partnering with Luzerne County Community College (LCCC) and the Hazleton Area School District to conduct an Industrial Maintenance Specialized Diploma program.
The evening program begins this month at the Hazleton Area Career Center. Students will take a total of six classes over three semesters (fall, spring and summer). In addition to earning the specialized diploma, graduates will receive 18 college credits, which can be applied to the Mechatronics Associates Degree program.
CAN DO held its 12th annual Curb Appeal Awards ceremony to recognize companies in its Humboldt, Valmont and McAdoo Industrial Parks, the CAN DO Corporate Center and Humboldt Station that create a vibrant and welcoming design to their facilities through their landscaping and grounds maintenance.
The awards were presented during an industry mixer held Thursday at Residence Inn by Marriott in Humboldt Station. The mixer was co-sponsored by Residence Inn and Coordinated Health.
When American Eagle Solutions managing partners Shane Acernese and Robert Bradly combined their expertise to co-found the company in 2016, they had a plan to disrupt the typical energy-efficiency market. Just three years later, the company has grown to 10 employees and offers a unique package of services that helps its customers reduce energy costs.
Since many of its customers reside in CAN DO’s parks, it was a natural choice for the company to look at the CAN BE Innovation Center in the Valmont Industrial Park for a home for its operations.
The 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.
When 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.
Kevin 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, 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.