For More Information, Contact:
NTCA Office, 570-265-7455

For Immediate Release
October 2, 2009

Buyer-Vendor Symposium Explores Local Wholesale/Retail Markets

A regional Buyer-Vendor Symposium will be held on October 26, 2009 from 8:30am-3:00pm at Penn Tech North Campus near Wellsboro. The event is designed for Food & Gift Buyers / Food Service Directors for: Gift Shops, Restaurants, Lodging Sites, School Districts, Hospitals, Assisted living/nursing homes, etc. from the PA Northern Tier and NY Southern Tier and Artists, Specialty Food Producers, and Growers from across the Northern Tier of Pennsylvania.

There’s a lot of work going on right now around the concept of buying and selling local artwork and local foods. One popular suggestion in the Northern Tier is the creation of a wholesale show that features regional artwork, specialty foods and produce.

In response, the Northern Tier Cultural Alliance has teamed up with Northern Tier Regional Planning & Development and the PA Wilds Artisan Development Workgroup to present a Buyer-Vendor Symposium on Monday, October 26, 2009 at PennTech’s North Campus near Wellsboro.

This is a one-day networking event designed for retailers, restaurateurs and hoteliers (predominantly B&B's), schools, assisted living/nursing homes, hospitals, etc. within the PA Northern Tier and NY Southern Tier to meet and network with artisans, crafters, growers and producers from across the Northern Tier of Pennsylvania. The primary focus of the event is to develop relationships amongst the groups, discuss potential wholesale/retail opportunities, determine interest, and assess needs/gaps/possibilities.

The keynote speaker is Fran Redmon, former director of the Kentucky Arts Council’s Kentucky Crafted Program - one of the country's most successful artisan-based economic programs. Redmon will also be presenting one of the concurrent sessions.

Cost for the day is $10 for the first participant and $5 for each additional participant from the same organization or business. Vendor tables for businesses wishing to promote their services (banks, gas companies, accounting services, ISP's, etc.) are also available. Registration materials are available at www.ntculturalalliance.org, www.northerntier.org, and www.pawildsresources.org. For more information or to receive a registration brochure in the mail, contact the Northern Tier Cultural Alliance at 570-265-7455.

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