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The Greater Susquehanna Keystone Innovation Zone (GSKIZ) is proud to announce the opening of Fresh Roasted Coffee, LLC in Selinsgrove, PA. Andy Oakes, founder and managing partner of Fresh Roasted Coffee, started the development of his coffee company in the GSKIZ incubator in the Bloomsburg Regional Technology Center in 2009. After two years of hard work, research and development Fresh Roasted Coffee, LLC is now producing coffee out of the Keystone Innovation Zone in Selinsgrove, PA supported by resources from Susquehanna University.

Fresh Roasted Coffee uses an eco-friendly coffee roaster and is the only smokeless, eco-friendly coffee roaster in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and mid-Atlantic states. Entrepreneur, Andy Oakes provides various blends and uses a variety of beans, including organic and fair-trade coffees. Fresh Roasted has created three (3) jobs upon his opening and with new orders coming in is looking to provide 20-30 new jobs within the next eighteen months. These jobs would include roasters, baggers as well as shipping and handling. Fresh Roasted Coffee products are available for purchase at www.freshroastedcoffee.com, commercial orders can be purchased through Oakes Bottled Water and Coffee by calling 570-988-5407.

Central PA Business & Education Association Receives State Farm Grant

Left to Right - Lisa McManus, CATV and Central PA Chamber 1^st Vice Chair; Steven Beattie, Herbert Rowland & Grubic and Central PA Chamber Chairman of the Board; Maria Culp, Central PA Chamber President & CEO; Stacy Butler, State Farm Insurance and Central PA Chamber 3^rd Vice Chair; Cheryl Rheppard, West Milton State Bank and Central PA Chamber Board Treasure; and Barbara Kraeuche, Central PA Chamber Business & Education Coordinator.

State Farm Insurance, citing the Central PA Business & Education Association for their creative development of student friendly approach in educating students in proper attire and procedure for an interview. The Milton Area School District and the Central PA Business & Education Association annually hold a career fair for more than 1300 students throughout the Central PA Region. This fair provides student awareness on the variety of careers and skills necessary to obtain those careers that are offered right here in Central Pennsylvania. This fair provides direct education to local high school students to help aid in their decision – making process as they schedule courses for the following year and plan for their future.

State Farm focuses on supporting program and curriculum development that enriches the educational opportunities of young people, presented the Central PA Business & Education Association with a check for $500 to help further expand their outreach to area students, grades 9 - 12. Stacy Butler, Selinsgrove area State Farm agent and a member of the Central PA Chamber of Commerce visited the Central PA Chamber of Commerce Regional Resource Center office along with other State Farm Insurance representatives. “When making a donation to an organization, such as the Central PA Business & Education Association, we like to visit the site, meet with local State Farm volunteers and have the opportunity to discuss the actual program thrust and delivery system of the group we’re funding to insure that our contribution is being widely used and provides for the students in whom we have a significant interest” said Stacy. “This is the first State Farm grant that has been provided to the Central PA Business & Education Association. State Farm believes in and enthusiastically endorses their ongoing initiatives to connect businesses and professionals with educators, students and educational institutions to develop and equip the workforce of the future” she concluded.

Barbara Kraeuche, Business & Education Coordinator of the Central PA Chamber of Commerce, said this funding would be used to enhance the Career Fair. The one aspect that has been missing from the fair is a dressing for success component and an interviewing skills component. The monies received from this grant will go directly to both of these areas to begin to educate students in proper attire and procedure for an interview.