About Pennsylvania Made 2.0
As the former manager of a small town farmers' market in Southwest Pennsylvania, I knew many, many people wanted to buy local products or food. Two local farmers, an in-home baker, a nurseyman and a blacksmith were our vendors. I was often asked "What other products are still made in Pennsylvania?" The quality of our merchandise was good to excellent and the customers grew to personally know our vendors by meeting and talking to them. It made common sense to the customer and dollar and cents for the seller.
Living in Pennsylvania almost all of my 50 years, I know scores of Pennsylvania businesses and individuals who generate quality merchandise. I started this website in August, 2008 to raise awareness of these local businesses and to direct potential customers to them through an Internet directory. Site visitors choose a product category and the region of Pennsylvania they wish to search. Pennsylvania's three geographic regions are Western, Central and Eastern. 42 businesses are currently listed. The directory contains a direct link to the business' website or their webpage with contact info. No sales are conducted through PennMade. Customers shop and buy directly from the company.
Just after the site started, many Pennsylvanians lost their jobs or their savings in the Fall of 2008. Our economic world changed. A nationwide recession started. Nationwide economic growth is almost flat. Our federal government's economic stimulus package came and went. Our local, state and federal governments are in debt. We don't need a government program to show us our mistakes and how to fix them. We need to buy quality products from our neighbors again. Our money will have a more positive, economic effect in our community than it will traveling overseas. We need to support our own, and in turn, ourselves.
Pennsylvania Made will be under construction this summer. First, visitors will be able to see Pennsylvania products on a new photo gallery.
Second, the shopping categories will be redefined. Industrial manufacturers will be added to the machine shop category. Industrial manufacturers make capital goods, not consumer goods. Capital goods are only used within a business to produce revenue. Hundreds of industrial manufacturers operate in our state, but they had not been permitted as vendors. Musicians living in Pennsylvania will also be added to the handicraft artisan category.
Finally, I've learned from a couple vendors that they have had difficulty hiring new employees. As a high school teacher, I've met many technology educators who have excellent young students who ironically can't find a local technical job. Hundreds of our high school graduates who possess entry level skills and great personal potential emigrate to other states. I will post job openings for PennMade vendors if they send them to me. Hopefully we could keep some of these young people employed in our state.
If you know of a company who makes a quality product between Easton and Sharon, send their contact info to me and your recommendation. Thanks.
Tom BaileyScottdale, Westmoreland County
6/15/11