Published: May 27, 2009 03:43 pm      

‘Opportunities for all businesses’ | Showcase welcomes new, old attendees

Excitement is in the air in downtown Johnstown, and for good reason. Showcase for Commerce is making its run through Friday at the War Memorial Arena, Pasquerilla Conference Center and a section of Napoleon Street between the two venues.

For four days, this annual extravaganza puts the spotlight on our region’s industries and businesses, and certainly their highly skilled work forces.

While the goal of organizers obviously is contract deals among participating major corporations, hopefully including many local companies, Showcase is just that: A time for our region’s businesses and industries to demonstrate their expertise in producing quality products at fair prices.

It also gives area companies valuable opportunity to make new contacts and to interact with others in the hopes of expanding the markets for their goods and services.

Begun in 1991, Showcase for Commerce has grown to become what U.S. Rep. John Murtha says is “one of the largest government-procurement expositions in the country.”

Murtha, powerful chairman of the House Appropriations subcommittee on military spending, is generally seen as the granddaddy of this first-class event. In fact, some have referred to it as “MurthaFest.”

Certainly, the spotlight again this year will be on defense contractors. Attendees such as NASA, Boeing and Lockhead Martin assure that. Locals such as Concurrent Technologies, MTS Technologies Inc., JWF Defense Systems and Kuchera Defense Systems, whose reputations for top-notch defense work have expanded outside our nation’s borders, have played starring roles in recent past Showcases, and probably will again this year.

But it won’t be all about defense-industry heavyweights. The Johnstown Symphony Orchestra, The Learning Lamp, Valenty’s Bottled Water and Safari Contract Cleaners will also be among the exhibitors.

And even as our nation’s economy remains depressed, 36 new names will man booths. In 2008, there were 20 first-timers.

“(Showcase) works on a lot of different levels,” said Bob Layo, president of Greater Johnstown/Cambria County Chamber of Commerce, a prime organizing body.

“There are opportunities for all businesses.”

Adding a touch of suspense to this year’s event no doubt will be the focus of the national press.

Recently, some have been critical of Murtha and the spending of some of the tax dollars he has brought into his 12th Congressional District.

We expect some of those same press organizations will be on hand this week.

Whatever transpires, local interest will be attuned to Friday, when traditionally multimillion-dollar contract announcements have been made. Last year’s event brought the announcement of more than $100 million in contracts for area firms.

Friday, too, is the day the general public is invited, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and for a $5 admission charge, to view the approximately 170 exhibits, some featuring high-tech gadgetry.

The many organizers and volunteers deserve a lot of credit for making Showcase for Commerce one of the finest such events in the United States. We also commend those many companies who return here year after year to participate.

Let the wheeling and dealing begin.