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One S. Church Street, Suite 200, Hazleton, PA 18201 |
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CAN DO News
News and information about CAN DO for the community, investors, volunteers and board members.
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Joseph Lettiere has been promoted to the position of vice president of CAN DO, Inc., Greater Hazleton’s economic development organization, announced CAN DO President W. Kevin O’Donnell.
Lettiere, who first joined CAN DO in 2000 as an economic development specialist, quickly earned the title of marketing director and then vice president of marketing, before most recently being named vice president of CAN DO.
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Cargill’s Hazleton facility in CAN DO’s Humboldt Industrial Park recently made global history with a recycling initiative that will impact the environment for a lifetime.
Although the company has locations in 71 countries, the Hazleton plant became Cargill’s first one to take its operations 100 percent landfill-free after a three-year journey.
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HawkMtn Labs, Inc. has been serving Eastern Pennsylvania through its environmental testing laboratory services for the past 30 years. When the business was seeking funding for equipment and building improvements, it approached CAN DO to utilize the company's services as an Area Loan Organization and Certified Economic Development Organization.
CAN DO utilized its connections with the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority (PIDA) and the Northeastern Pennsylvania Alliance, as well as Luzerne County, to obtain five loans the company will use to improve and expand its operations. Jim Kelshaw, CAN DO's Director of Economic Development and Entrepreneurship, endeavored on behalf of HawkMtn Labs President and CEO Jeffrey Gittleman to obtain nearly $600,000 in loans, in addition to the money CAN DO was able to provide the company.
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CAN DO, the economic development organization serving Greater Hazleton and beyond, announced updated interest rate options for Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority (PIDA) loans for the 2015 second quarter.
PIDA provides low-interest loans and lines of credit for eligible businesses that commit to creating and retaining full-time jobs and for the development of industrial parks and multi-tenant facilities. Loan applications are packaged and underwritten by certified economic development organizations that partner with PIDA to administer the program.
Related articles:
Hydrodynamics gets loans
Susquehanna Brewing
DHD Realty and GT Fabrication
The new rates will be in effect for loan applications received through June 30, 2015.
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Working to help small businesses grow, the CAN DO economic development corporation recently assisted a Hazle Township plumbing, heating and air conditioning contractor to secure low-interest loans for purchasing an industrial building to house its operations.
Hydrodynamics was founded in 1994 as a home-based plumbing contractor and operated in Weston, outside Hazle Township, for several years before moving into a garage in Hazleton where it was housed until its recent move into a 5,500 square-foot building in the Milnesville section of Hazle Township.
When founder David Popiak needed help securing funding for the purchase of the new building, he turned to the CAN DO finance department, which assisted him in securing a $56,250 low-interest loan from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. CAN DO then teamed up with the Northeastern Pennsylvania Alliance (NEPA Alliance) to secure an additional $56,250 in low-interest funding through the Economic Development Administration.
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Hundreds of children and adults enjoyed a festive kickoff to the holiday season during the 22nd annual CAN DO Community Christmas on Wednesday evening.
CAN DO Community Christmas “Come Celebrate the Arts” featured music from several school groups performing at Christ Lutheran Church in downtown Hazleton. The theme of this year’s event was “Nutcracker Ballet.”
CAN DO Community Christmas is coordinated by CAN DO’s Student Action Committee, made up of local high school students who plan and assist with special community projects throughout the year. Committee members Samantha Hartz of Weatherly Area High School and Haylee Kirschner of MMI Preparatory School served as this year’s co-chairs for CAN DO Community Christmas.
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A Pittston-based company has received state funding for its expansion project, assisted by CAN DO, the economic development organization serving businesses in Greater Hazleton and the surrounding region.
Susquehanna Brewing received a $140,000 Small Business First loan from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED), which certified CAN DO as anindustrial development corporation (IDC). CAN DO’s role as a certified economic development corporation means that state funding can be channeled through CAN DO. The organization offers financing assistance to all businesses in Luzerne County.
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American Eagle Outfitters (AEO), a specialty retailer of clothing, accessories, and personal care products in the United States and internationally, recently launched its 1-million-square-foot distribution center in Greater Hazleton. The company officials say they are pleased with the region’s labor force and the associates they have hired to date.
American Eagle Outfitters opened the distribution center in Humboldt Industrial Park, Hazle Township, this summer. The company is a specialty retailer of high-quality, on-trend products for women and men, including clothing, accessories and personal care items. It sells its products in more than 900 stores throughout the United States and Canada and online internationally.
“We chose Greater Hazleton for several reasons, including the talent pool in the area, the opportunity to build a facility from the ground up, and the easy access to Interstates 81 and 80,” said Director of Operations Chris Miller.
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CAN DO invites the public to celebrate a festive beginning to the Christmas season at the 22nd annual CAN DO Community Christmas on Wednesday, Dec. 3, from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
The event, which features music from several school groups, will be held at Christ Lutheran Church at Church and Green streets in downtown Hazleton. Admission to Community Christmas is free and cookies will be provided by the Keystone Job Corps.
“The CAN DO Community Christmas is a longstanding downtown holiday Christmas tradition and a great way for us to showcase talent from our own community. We’re sure the community will enjoy hearing the festive music these students will share,” said CAN DO President Kevin O’Donnell.
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It was founded in 1956 by a group of community and civic volunteer leaders to promote economic development throughout Greater Hazleton, and today, CAN DO, Inc., is still led by a volunteer board of directors that guides the organization with a mission of improving the quality of life throughout the area.
Each year, new representatives join CAN DO’s board of directors to replace those whose terms have expired. And each year, CAN DO welcomes new representatives with an orientation that takes them behind the scenes and educates them about the many aspects of the organization’s efforts to attract new industries and new jobs to Greater Hazleton.
