Small-business owners received straightforward advice and information about resources at a Carbon County Chamber and Economic Development Corporation "Doing Business with PennDOT" session last week at the Lehighton Borough Annex building.

Rep. Doyle Heffley, R-Carbon, encouraged small businesses to look into gaining Pennsylvania Department of Transportation contracts."Projects are coming back to Carbon County. There is bridge work and other will need to be done," Heffley said.A study is being conducted to slow traffic down in construction sites. "There were eight more deaths last year than the year before. Safety is a big concern," he said.Heffley told business owners in attendance to contact his office if anyone needs help withPennDOT or other statecontracts.PennDOT has recently become involved with a state mandate that requires at least 7 percent of contractors be composed of diverse businesses. These diverse businesses are defined as woman-owned, minority-owned orveteran-owned firms.Working with governmentKenyon Holley of Diverse Business Supportive Services Center presented its onlineprogram used to help diverse businesses register and connect with future job opportunities. Services provided by the center include registration and website tech support.Holley warned business owners that the process is still tedious."It is time consuming. This is an industry where you really have to network and be tenacious. Don't rely just on the website to connect you with opportunities. It's your responsibility to look for other opportunities," he said.He told business owners to not give up.The state is allocating over $63 billion over the next 12 years for statewide improvements on roads, bridges, transit systems, airports and railroads.Carbon County Commissioner William J. O'Gurek spoke of opportunities. "It's all about opportunities in life to help you get what you want," he said.He said the Northeastern Pennsylvania Alliance is "responsive to Carbon County's needs."Northeastern Pennsylvania Alliance Procurement Technic Assistance Center representative Frank Migneco spoke about the available business opportunities in working with the government during his "Government Contracting 101" presentation.PTAC is a great local source for businesses entering into contracts with federal, state and local governments funded by the Department of Defense.In 2014, $71.6 million was the total value of award money given out in government contracts."Of all the government contracts available only 24 percent go to small business," he said. He encouraged small-business owners to get involved with PTAC.He pointed out that doing business with the government can open up a business's customer base.Carbon Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Corporation representatives Marlyn Kissner and Kathy Henderson presented ways to expand a business's customer base."It really makes a difference when small businesses get involved and join the chamber. It helps build relationships and report with the community. It's a member based organization with very little staff," said Kissner."If you join but don't get involved it's not going to work. There are currently over 5,000 members. I've seen it really make a difference for business when they get involved and go to events and network," she said.Since the partnership development between the Chamber and Economic Development Corporation the ability to grant loans for small businesses now exists."Loans can be applied toward expanding real estate for a small business or machinery, equipment and building renovations, but only in Carbon County," Henderson said.Grant programThe chamber recently received a grant to conduct a "Teachers in the Work Force" program. The program will help teachers be able to see what students need to be prepared for the workplace.Teachers will also learn what skills students are lacking for the trade or manufacturing businesses."A lot of opportunities exist in trade and blue-collar jobs. Jobs parents don't think will make money but actually do," she said.A good example of such a job is welding; certified welders have dropped in numbers over the years, creating a higher demand for such a position.Dorothy Lane of Wilkes University Small Business Development Center summarized the importance of having a plan, preparing for a natural disaster or other emergency.She outlined how Wilkes University SBDC can help small businesses come up with a future survival plan in case it's ever needed."Often it is the unrelated expenses other than the direct physical damage sustained from the event that are the most costly. The key is to have a plan before the event takes place. Backing up data and discussing contingency plans with customers and vendors are two very important steps in a disaster preparedness plan. The key is to prepare," Lane said.