For Immediate Release
August 6, 2008
Contact:  Lisa Landis
Legislative Director
717-787-6709
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A Conversation with Senator Brubaker

Local businesses receive agriculture, tourism funding

Monies granted in June from the First Industries Fund will benefit local agriculture and tourism operations.

Agriculture and tourism are Pennsylvania's top two industries, with agriculture providing a total economic impact of about $45 billion, and tourism another $26 billion. The First Industries Fund, administered by the Commonwealth Financing Authority, is a grant and loan program aimed at providing financial incentives that will strengthen these two critical contributors that provide jobs to thousands of Commonwealth families.

In the 36^th District, agricultural loans were provided to two local families to build new facilities as part of their operations, in one case a cage-free layer house and in the other two broiler houses. Also, M&R Grain, Inc., in Mount Joy, a custom grain dealer, received a loan for the purchase of a 100-ton grain bin.

On the tourism side, the Bird-in-Hand Corporation obtained a tourism planning grant for the planning necessary to establish a Village Artisan Center and Family Fun Barn.

I am very pleased that some of these investments are targeted to the 36^th District, because agriculture and tourism have a significant impact on Lancaster County. In addition, opportunities such as these will ensure that our area continues to be a wonderful place to live, work and visit.

Nominations accepted for local Leadership Award

The Lancaster County Board of Commissioners and the Lancaster County Planning Commission are accepting entries for the 2008 Envision Lancaster County Leadership Awards Program.

This Program recognizes the actions of municipalities, developers, consultants and others who have demonstrated a commitment to smart growth concepts and the advantages of good planning. Submissions can be made for projects completed from 2003 to the present in which the applicant was principally involved in design, development or implementation, and will be evaluated on replicability, effectiveness and community involvement/partnership.

Nominations can be made in four categories, including heritage resources, sustainable growth, infrastructure and community capacity.

Applications must be postmarked by 5 p.m. on Friday, October 3. More information and nomination materials are available online at www.co.lancaster.pa.us/planning by clicking on "Educational Opportunities."

PA National Guard plays vital role around world

Pennsylvania's National Guard has made significant contributions through its deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan over the past eight years.

Since 2001, 17,000 of Pennsylvania's 19,000 guardsmen have been deployed overseas, with some units seeing two or three tours. In January, another 6,000 troops will be sent, including year-long Iraq deployments for the 4,000-member 56^th Stryker Brigade and 1,200-member 28^th Combat Aviation Brigade. This will be the Guard's largest deployment to date, but thousands of troops will still be available in Pennsylvania to respond to domestic emergencies.

I wholeheartedly support those individuals who have made such sacrifices on behalf of their state and their country, as well as the families and communities that support our troops, and wish them all the best for a safe deployment and return home.

Sign up for energy funding notices

The state Department of Environmental Protection recently announced that it would provide email updates to Pennsylvania citizens as information and applications become available through the recently enacted Alternative Energy Investment Fund.

To sign up for the updates, visit www.depweb.state.pa.us, click on the "Fueling Energy Savings" icon, then on the green envelope on the left side of the page.