UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — A series of Web-based seminars aimed at helping local businesses prosper from natural-gas drilling and development will be offered this fall by Penn State Extension’s Marcellus Educational Consortium.

“Your Business and Marcellus Shale: Moving Forward 2011″ is a five-part program intended to help local businesses understand and take advantage of the opportunities arising from development of the Marcellus Shale.

“Participants will expand their knowledge of the opportunities that exist in the market and learn how to make connections and plan for doing business in this growing industry,” said Jonathan Laughner, extension educator in Beaver County who is moderating the sessions, one of which will be held every other week. Each webinar will feature speakers who are experts in the field.

“Our webinar speakers will include natural-gas industry representatives, local business people successfully responding to opportunities, financial specialists and business-development representatives,” Laughner said. “Anyone interested in learning more about this aspect of the industry is welcome to attend.”

Each session will last approximately 75 minutes, from 9 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. Following is the webinar schedule:

–Sept 13, “Local Business View: Experience in the Northeast”

–Sept. 26, “Industry View: What Does Industry Look For?”

–Oct. 11, “Local Business View: Experience in the Southwest”

–Oct. 24, “The Process: How Do You Sell Into Industry?”

–Nov. 8, “The Work Plan: Financial and Planning Suggestions”

This webinar series is for educational purposes only, Laughner cautioned. No part of the presentations is to be considered legal advice. “Please consult with your attorney before signing any legal document,” he said. “Where trade and/or company names appear, no discrimination is intended, and no endorsement by Penn State Cooperative Extension is implied.”

The website for the webinars is https://meeting.psu.edu/marcellusbiz. Webinar access requires a free Friends of Penn State account, which can be obtained at https://fps.psu.edu.

For more information, contact Carol Loveland, Penn State Extension energy development and special projects coordinator, at 570-433-3040 or by e-mail at cal24@psu.edu.

Posted at psu.edu