Many businesses are using the internet today to enhance their businesses while other businesses are considering electronic commerce. In today’s business climate there is much competition to capture consumer spending. Many businesses aren’t sure whether electronic commerce is right for their business.

Penn State Cooperative Extension and the Pike County Chamber of Commerce sponsored an introductory 2-hour program on e-business and the internet based on the Penn State Main Street Access program. This 2-hour program provided information on using the internet for business and the benefits of having a business web page.

Local Governance

Peter Wulfhorst & Marvin Brotter, local planning consultant, co-instructed the Basic Course for Zoning Officials at the Pike County Senior Center in Lords Valley. Over 13 zoning officers and zoning hearing board members attended the course to learn about the PA Municipalities Planning Code and how it relates to zoning in the Commonwealth. In addition, attendees acquired the fundamental knowledge to effectively participate in the zoning process and learned how to conduct effective zoning hearings.

Peter Wulfhorst, Carson Helfrich & Ray Stolinas co-instructed the Basic Course for Planning Commissioners at the Delaware Township Building in Dingmans Ferry. Over 15 planning commission members and elected officials attended the course to learn to learn how to use the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code with regard to the technical components of land use planning and regulation, their role in local planning and guidance for building effective relationships among the commission members, the governing body and the public.

Several new watershed organizations have been formed recently in Pike County. Many of these watershed groups don’t completely understand how planning occurs in the context of local government in Pennsylvania. Peter Wulfhorst & Carson Helfrich provided watershed groups an overview of local governments and planning in a Understanding Pennsylvania Local Government program. Approximately 19 watershed group members, elected officials and interested citizens attended the program to learn about the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, planning duties of planning commissions and elected officials and comprehensive plans and zoning.

A common misconception in the grant-writing process is that the actual proposal is a major component of the grant seeking process. However, to be successful, grant-writing is a process that entails careful planning, research and outreach as well as cultivating relationships.

Effective Grant-Writing for Non-Profit Organizations provided insight on how to get started: from developing a fund raising strategy, using research tools and methods to gathering necessary data and assembling it into a winning proposal. Over 50 non-profit board members, staff and agency personnel attended the program, which took place at the Settler’s Inn in Hawley and Camp Speers/Eljabar in Dingmans Ferry.

Penn State Cooperative Extension and the Pike County Conservation District co-sponsored Living with Bears in Northeastern Pennsylvania. PA Game Commission Bear Biologist Mark Ternent presented information to approximately 50 people on black bears.