Demand High for Municipal Water System Grants

A new round of funding is going out to help respond to widespread problems with local sewage systems and dams in Pennsylvania.

The state’s Department of Community and Economic Development is giving grants to 160 water infrastructure projects totaling $172 million.

DCED Director of Site Development Brian Eckert says the “H20 PA” grants range from $52,000 to $4 million The funding includes $1 million toward a $28 million upgrade to New Kensington’s wastewater treatment plant.

Eckert says there are various reasons for the widespread breakdown of municipal water systems.

“A lot of it in the smaller municipalities where there is less capacity, less resources, it’s a problem of aged infrastructure. In those smaller municipalities that are growing, it’s a capacity issue. They don’t have the capacity to support current needs, so they’re failing.”

Eckert says the demand for H20 PA program totaled in the billions of dollars, so the $172 million in grants is just “a drop in the bucket” compared with the need across the state. He says that grant money was approved last week and will be ready to use soon.

Foreign Economy Experts Advise PA Businesses

International trade consultants are meeting with Pennsylvania businesses to promote foreign commerce this March.

Next Wednesday’s Pittsburgh meeting is part of a string of Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) conventions comprising 14 Asian, Australian and European trade envoys with Pennsylvania businesses. The consultants are hired by the state to inform the companies of exportation opportunities overseas.

Pennsylvania Center for Trade Development Executive Director Peter O’Neil says the meetings will build a “comfort level” between the delegates and state companies.

“They will share information with each other in the process of qualifying this foreign market,” says O’Neil, “and really [accept] the advice and the counsel of our trade consultants overseas so that they can reliably, quickly, and with little risk explore and take advantage of a market opportunity that our consultants bring to them.”

O’Neil says in the past, the program has been directly responsible for the exportation of $450 million in state goods and services. He says it’s nationally recognized as the largest and most progressive effort of its kind.

O’Neil says the ultimate goal of the program is to create jobs in the state by producing a global demand for Pennsylvania goods and services.

DCED Gets Fed Stimulus Funds

252-million federal stimulus dollars are being directed toward a program run by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. The Weatherization Assistance Program upgrades homes of lower income commonwealth residents with insulation and ventilation. The goal of the program is to cut back on home heating costs. Acting DCED Secretary George Cornelius told House Appropriations Committee members this week the federal boost will lead to a major expansion of the $30-40 million program. He says, “Obviously when you're gearing up from 30 to 40 million to 252 million, on top of the 30 to 40 million, we've got a lot more people involved in this.” Cornelius says training for the program right now is only available in Williamsport so the first dollars spent will go to opening new training facilities. The department will also be expanding eligibility limits. Right now, residents making up to sixty percent of Pennsylvania's median salary can take part. That figure will expand to 200 percent. Federal law requires the higher limit.

Pennsylvania Exports on the Rise

Exports from the state of Pennsylvania rose by 18 percent from 2007 to 2008, raising the total worth of international shipments to $34.4 billion. Prime exports include coal, steel, chemicals and machinery. Deputy Secretary of International Business Development Wilfred Muskens says while Pennsylvania's two top buyers remain Canada and Mexico, several overseas markets like China and Brazil have been gaining on them. The United Arab Emirates and Spain were two other markets that saw extravagant growth over the 2008 fiscal year. Muskens says that it is Pennsylvania's "aggressive" business practices that allowed for the increase. By putting trade representatives in 13 foreign markets, state trade offices were able to help small- and medium-sized companies succeed globally. "We don't typically help the large corporations," says Muskens. "They have their own networks... they really don't need help from the state."

Inauguration Boosts PA Tourism

With President-elect Obama's inauguration in a few short weeks, and because of Pennsylvania being in close proximity to Washington D.C., Pennsylvania is experiencing an influx of visitors, particularly in the eastern part of the state. VisitPA.com is offering a variety of lodging options and promoting historical places to complement their experience.

Deputy Secretary of Tourism Mickey Rowley says Pennsylvania is an "ideal destination" because of its historical and cultural roots. For instance, the city of York was briefly the nation's capitol. Also, Philadelphia's historic City Tavern was considered a favorite spot for Presidents George Washington and John Adams.

Rowley says it's also a great idea because of the devalued lodging prices. He says "this is about the sleepiest time of year for the hotels." Some places even offer inaugural travel packages.

Rowley says some York hotels are already at 75 percent capacity. Those hotels are expected to be booked on January 19th and 20th, the day before and day of the inauguration. York is 80 miles from Washington D.C., and Rowley says it's almost within the Capitol's greater metropolitan area.

For more information, go to VisitPA.com, and click on the "Inaugural Oasis" link under "What's Happening."

Rendell Signs Development-Incentive Legislation

Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell signed into law Thursday a bill that increases incentives for redevelopment of underused land and old industrial sites. The law extends and expands tax abatement on these lands which are called Keystone Opportunity Zones (KOZ). KOZ lands are designed by communities and require approval on the state, county, and local level. The new law allows for the creation of 15 more KOZs, expansion of existing ones, and extends the expiration date of those unoccupied by 7-10 years. Department of Community and Economic Development spokesman Steven Weitzman says the KOZs encourage developers to develop quickly in areas where development is much needed. He also says that the benefits of development in these areas exteneds beyond their given boundaries to their surrounding areas, as well. There are currently 12 Keystone Opportunity Zones throughout the state.