Sunday, January 29, 2017
Project Plant It!
YOUNGSTOWN
Dominion East Ohio recently announced online enrollment for Project Plant It!, the free environmental-education program created to teach children about the important role of trees in the ecosystem, is now open in Ohio and 12 other states. The program, administered by the Dominion Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Dominion Resources, Dominion East Ohio’s parent company, is available for children of all ages and grade levels.
Educators, group leaders and parents who are interested in participating can register by going to projectplantit.com and clicking on “Register Now” from the home page. If the ZIP code is confirmed as being in an eligible area, up to 25 free redbud tree seedlings can be requested. Seedlings will be shipped to arrive in time for Arbor Day in April. The deadline to register is Feb. 17.
Win $25,000
MERCER, PA.
The eCenter@LindenPointe and Ben Franklin Technology Partners, cnp.benfranklin.org are co-sponsoring a new business competition for the opportunity to win $25,000. Applicants don’t have to be located in Mercer County or even western Pennsylvania to apply; startups and small companies from across the U.S. are eligible.
Requirements are competitors must be older than 18; the grand prize-winning team must agree to relocate to Mercer County; companies can come from any industry sector but must have some technology component; and companies may be pre- or post-revenue. The deadline is March 15. To apply go to: www.viaecenter.com
Board announced
YOUNGSTOWN
The Mahoning Valley Young Professionals board of directors for 2017 are Shannon Renfro, president; Nicholas Sebastiano, vice president; Jim Anderson, treasurer; Cara Reynolds, secretary; Louis Lee and Jillian Smith, membership co-chairmen; Rose Shaffer-Saborse, social; Paige Passaga and Matt Shaade, GIVES co-chairmen; Nicholas Coggins, Kyle Crouthamel, Jacob Gebhart, Brittany Housel, Samantha Marucci and Kristen Olmi, at-large; and Bob McGovern, ex officio.
Fair wage for jobs
WASHINGTON
U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, a Democrat from Cleveland, has co-sponsored a bipartisan bill to ensure that American workers are given a fair shot at a fair wage for jobs before businesses seek to hire foreign workers through the H-1B and L-1 visa programs. These visa programs allow U.S. companies to employ nonimmigrant foreign workers specializing in skilled technical work. But several companies have been accused of using them to displace American workers with cheaper labor from foreign workers. The H-1B and L-1 Visa Reform Act would close loopholes in those visa programs and provide increased protections for both American workers and visa holders.