37 agencies have entered contracts, 81 have not.

The state Treasury Department says that a free, searchable online database for state contracts is up and running.

An expansion of Pennsylvania’s Right-to-Know Law that was signed in February by Gov. Ed Rendell required the creation of the database as a way to improve government transparency.

When it comes to technology and science assets, Pennsylvania is doing better than four years ago, enough to boost a national ranking from 16th to 13th.

The rankings come from the Milken Institute, a California-based think tank, which last week gave each state a technology and science index in a report on the “intangible economy.”

“Pennsylvania is doing well. It certainly didn’t drop,” said Kevin Klowden, managing economist for the Milken Institute.

“But at the same time, the key is how much growth will the companies have over the next couple of years. ... That’s what’s going to make a difference next time.”

Most Pennsylvania voters expect the state’s slot machine gambling to raise $1 billion by 2012, but they don’t expect a significant tax break from this new revenue, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released Feb. 28th.

A total of 36 percent of Philadelphia residents say it is “very likely” or “somewhat likely” that slot machine revenues will result in “significant cuts” in their City Wage Tax, while 58 percent say these tax cuts are “not too likely” or “not likely at all,” the independent Quinnipiac University poll finds.  read more »

Although they hardly bellow like art auctioneers, some people who regularly sell merchandise on eBay are being warned that they need a state auctioneer’s license.

The rule applies only to people who sell merchandise for others, not people selling their own goods. Getting such a license requires serving an apprenticeship with an auctioneer or taking college auctioneering courses — and people risk a $1,000 fine if they do not comply.

Robert Musser, president of a Lancaster business that sells items on eBay, said he has no need to master rapid-fire oratory.

Once again, Beaver county commissioners Donatella, Spanik and Camp deserve credit for seeing the future is in environmental/green industries and working to bring them to Beaver county.

A multimillion-dollar oil re-refinery plant is making its way to a former LTV Steel plant property in Monaca and bringing 35 to 40 new jobs with it. After a year dealing behind the scenes with the Beaver County Commissioners, Global Re-Refining Ltd. announced its plans Friday for a $34 million to $38 million facility on the banks of the Ohio River.  read more »

IIRC, agriculture is still Pennsylvania’s largest business. It’s something few know, but has a large impact on all of us.

John “Jack” Kocher knows farm life is about family. His children now hold the reins of the farm he built, and some grandchildren are waiting in the wings.

But these farmers, each with more than 60 years in the field, are increasingly the exception rather than the rule.

They’re among a growing number of Centre County farmers who have reached the age of retirement — or at least the age when their bodies begin to tire despite their desire to continue working the land.  read more »

For decades, student-loan companies have had one of the cushiest businesses in America. We want college students to be able to finance their education at reasonable rates. But banks are understandably leery of lending to people with no collateral and uncertain future earnings. So we provide incentives to lend. The federal government, for instance, guarantees the so-called Stafford loans that college students get: if a student defaults, the government will pay off almost the entire loan. On top of that, the government hands out billions of dollars in subsidies to lenders every year, all but insuring them a steady profit. In effect, lenders get a guaranteed return with very little risk.  read more »

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Pa. student-loan agency awards more than $500,000 in bonuses

And so I ask Hazelton, how do you think your current actions are perceived by those who seek diversity to determine, the same people who drive the creative economy?

More than 250 business and civic leaders gathered Downtown yesterday to discuss how Pittsburgh could embrace diversity and use it to spark a more global economy for the region.

“We’re not growing as rapidly as the national average, and we need to turn that around,” said Jim Rohr, chief executive officer of PNC Financial Services Group and chairman of the Allegheny Conference on Community Development. From individual companies to municipal leaders, “We have to make better use of our diversity,” he said.  read more »