AUGUST 2008

Message from Executive Director Bill Sturges

Tens of thousands of students in 175 academically challenged school districts and career and technical centers will benefit from tutoring programs in 2008-09 thanks to investments through the state’s Educational Assistance Program. Governor Edward G. Rendell announced the investments earlier this month, saying: "Targeted tutoring is one of the most strategic, cost-effective ways to help those struggling students and schools that need it most. Despite the notable academic gains we are making in Pennsylvania, we still have many students who lack the reading and math skills they need to reach proficiency and graduate with the skills they need for college or the work force." The 2008-09 education budget includes $65.1 million for the tutoring services targeted to eligible students enrolled in seventh through twelfth grades in 163 school districts and 12 career and technical schools. In all, the program will result this year in increased instructional time for more than 172,000 students who are not testing at grade level in math or reading on the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment. Tutoring programs offered through the Educational Assistance Program provide additional learning time before, during and after school, as well as on weekends, to help accelerate learning for students whose academic performance lags significantly behind their peers. The program began in the 2003-04 school year to provide increased instructional support for almost 35,000 students in 82 of the state’s most academically challenged districts. In the second year, the program reached an additional 46,055 students. Given the increases seen in student performance on statewide reading and math exams, the program was expanded for the 2005-06 school year to reach 163 school districts and 12 career and technical centers. Under the Educational Assistance Program, school districts have the flexibility of providing the tutoring, partnering with an approved community provider, or doing both as long as the tutoring is effective in helping students meet proficiency. For more information on these efforts or the Governor’s 2008-09 education budget, visit www.pde.state.pa.us

News from Around PA and the Nation

New Pennsylvania Wilds Ombudswoman Named
Tataboline Brant, a Warren County native, has been named the first Pennsylvania Wilds ombudswoman. Brant will travel through the 12-county region in north central Pennsylvania, known as the Pennsylvania Wilds, to help small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs develop services that will encourage the growth of tourism in the region and to provide information about financial and technical assistance available from the commonwealth. The Pennsylvania Wilds boasts the largest block of land between New York and Chicago that is open for public enjoyment. Included in this region are 29 state parks, eight state forest districts with more than 1.3 million acres of public forestland, the 513,000-acre Allegheny National Forest, the largest elk herd in the Northeast, the darkest skies in the east at Cherry Springs State Park, and hundreds of miles of backpacking trails, bike paths, and wild/stocked trout fishing streams. 

Prior to her appointment, Brant managed two canoe and kayak liveries along the Allegheny River, doubling the revenue at each business and creating new jobs. She published a guidebook, "The Allegheny River Paddling Guide," highlighting businesses and communities along the first 45 miles of the river. Brant also has been a journalist, most notably at the Anchorage Daily News, where she served as senior breaking news and military reporter for the paper, the second largest daily in Alaska. Brant is also a Medill War Course Fellow, one of only 13 journalists nationwide selected to attend the Washington D.C. symposium, which teaches reporters how to handle war zone hazards, including gunfire, kidnappers, mines, and security checkpoints. She is also a multiple recipient of several Alaska Press Club awards, including best general news story for her Indonesia tsunami coverage, and was named Alaska Press Woman in 1998 and in 2004. Brant has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and public communications from the University of Alaska Anchorage and has studied at the University of Montana and Carlow College in Pittsburgh. To learn more about the business assistance programs available through the Department of Community and Economic Development, call (866) 466-3972 or visit www.newpa.com  More information about the Pennsylvania Wilds initiative is at www.PAwilds.com

Pennsylvania Among States Leading Efforts to Break Foreign Oil Addiction
Pennsylvania's efforts to develop alternative energy resources and ensure cleaner, more fuel efficient vehicles are on the road has made it one of the nation's top states working to break its dependence on foreign oil, according to a recent study by the National Resources Defense Council. In "Fighting Oil Addiction: Ranking States' Oil Vulnerability and Solutions for Change," the NRDC ranked Pennsylvania fifth among states working to reduce their dependence on oil from abroad. The Keystone State was also ranked as the eighth least vulnerable state to spikes in oil prices, as measured by the percentage of income spent on gasoline in 2007. The commonwealth was recognized for its clean vehicles program, hybrid vehicle rebate program, and investments to develop and deploy alternative and renewable energy resources. With respect to price spike vulnerability, on average, Pennsylvanians were found to have spent a little more than 4 percent of their income on gasoline--nearly half of what the most vulnerable state in the nation, Mississippi, spent. Near the top of the rankings with Pennsylvania were California, New York, Connecticut, Washington, New Jersey, Rhode island, New Mexico, Colorado and Maryland. Governor Edward G. Rendell recently signed a series of bills into law that will spur additional development in the clean energy fields and lead to more homegrown alternative fuels being produced and consumed in the state. In total, Pennsylvania will invest up to $665.9 million that includes $237.5 million to help consumers conserve electricity and manage higher energy prices and $428.4 million to spur the development of alternative energy resources and biofuels. For more information on the NRDC report, visit www.nrdc.org/energy/states/contents.asp To learn more about Pennsylvania's Alternative Energy Investment Fund and the Biofuel Development and In-State Production Incentive Act, visit www.depweb.state.pa.us and click on the "Fueling Energy Savings" icon.

Web Site Offers Energy Conservation Tips to Pennsylvanians
For energy conservation tips and information on a variety of energy assistance programs for Pennsylvanians, visit www.staywarmpa.com  The state-sponsored site includes answers to questions on weatherizing your home, getting help with utility bills or furnace repairs, how to conserve energy around your home, and what special help is available to older Pennsylvanians. For more information on staying warm this winter, call toll-free (866) 550-4355 or visit www.staywarmpa.com

Oct. 31 Deadline for Ag and Rural Youth Grant Program
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture is accepting applications for the 2008-2009 Agricultural and Rural Youth Grant Program. The grant supports projects that increase the knowledge and awareness of agricultural and rural issues in Pennsylvania, particularly among youth. Eligible applicants are youth organizations, which are primarily comprised of persons who are 18 years old or younger and are organized within Pennsylvania to promote development in the areas of agriculture, rural community leadership, vocational training or peer fellowship. The application deadline is Oct. 31, 2008. For more information, contact Kristi Rooker, of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, at  (717) 787-5342 or (717) 787-6041, email krooker@state.pa.us or visit www.agriculture.state.pa.us/agriculture/cwp/view.asp?a=3&q=128621

SBA Introduces Two New Online Finance Courses for Small Business Owners
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has introduced two new free online finance courses to help small business owners with the basic principles of finance and borrowing. The self-paced courses, Finance Primer: Guide to SBA’s Loan Guaranty Programs at http://app1.sba.gov/sbtn/registration/index.cfm?CourseId=29 and How to Prepare a Loan Package at http://app1.sba.gov/sbtn/registration/index.cfm?CourseId=28, walk business owners through steps that answer questions about debt financing, available loan programs, what small businesses should know about borrowing money, how to prepare a loan package and how loan requests are reviewed by lenders. The finance primer gives an overview of the SBA’s loan guaranty programs to help small businesses understand the variety of financial resources, including those from the SBA. The finance courses can help entrepreneurs avoid such common mistakes as securing the wrong type of financing, miscalculating the amount of financing required, and underestimating the cost of borrowing money. The loan package course includes small business links to related information, and refers course participants for direct support in preparing a loan request to appropriate resources that include SBA’s district offices, SBA resource partners and lenders. Course participants who complete the 30-minute online training programs can earn a certificate of completion from the SBA. These courses have been added to a menu of more than 26 online tutorials offered by the SBA through its virtual training campus at the Small Business Training Network (SBTN) www.sba.gov/training

USDA Rural Development Awards 20 Rural Business Grants
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development has awarded 18 Rural Business Enterprise Grants (RBEG) and two Rural Business Opportunity Grants (RBOG) totaling about $1.8 million. 

The Rural Business Enterprise Grants were awarded to:

The RBEG program offers grants to public bodies, nonprofit corporations and federally recognized Indian tribal groups to finance and facilitate development of small and emerging businesses located in rural areas. The grant funds may be used for: acquisition and development of land and the construction of buildings, plants and equipment, access streets and roads, parking areas and utility and service extensions; revolving loan funds; and fees for professional services and technical assistance. The Rural Business Opportunity Grants were awarded to: Starting Gate (Beaver County), $50,000 and Fay-Penn Economic Development Council (Fayette County), $50,000 (EZ/EC)

The RBOG program offers funds for technical assistance and planning activities to improve economic conditions in rural areas. EZ/ECs are Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities that are designated economically distressed census tracts that receive earmarked funds. The purpose of this program is to promote and develop small and emerging businesses and to create jobs in economically depressed communities. The EZ/EC is a 10-year program that expires at the end of fiscal year 2008.

Grants Available to Engage Youth Volunteers
Youth Service America http://www.ysa.org/ and Disney have announced the launch of a second round of Disney MinnieGrants to engage children and youth, ages 5 to 14, as community volunteers. Selected applicants will receive $500 each to support their youth-led service projects. Projects must take place Oct. 15 - Nov. 15, 2008. The deadline to apply is Aug. 30, 2008. Visit the YSA Web site for complete program guidelines and to review past award recipients from all over the world. To review the request for proposals, visit http://fconline.foundationcenter.org/pnd/15014006/ysa

Environmental Foundation Offers Support for Classroom Environmental Programs
The Melinda Gray Ardia Environmental Foundation is accepting applications for classroom environmental program grants. The application deadline is Sept. 27, 2008. The grants support educators in developing environmental curricula that integrate field activities and classroom teaching and that incorporate basic ecological principles and problem solving. Consideration for funds from the foundation is available to everyone regardless of race, gender, religion, national origin, age, handicap, or sexual orientation. Grants are made in amounts of up to $1,500. Visit the foundation's Web site at http://www.mgaef.org/  for complete program information and examples of funded programs. 

Conferences and Events

August 19 – 21
Ag Progress Days, sponsored by Pennsylvania State University at the Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center in Rock Springs, PA. For more information, visit http://apd.psu.edu/

September 8 – 12
Show Me The Money Grant Workshop, sponsored by the Community Partnerships RC&D at the Union County Government Center, Lewisburg, PA. For more information, call (717) 248-4901 or email: midstatercd@yahoo.com

September 9 - 10
The Pennsylvania Suicide Prevention Conference, "Outreach To Diverse Populations: Finding What Works," sponsored by the Pennsylvania Office of Mental Health & Substance Abuse at the Holiday Inn/Harrisburg-Hershey, Grantville, PA. For more information, visit http://www.pachildrensnews.org/events/events_090908_01.htm

September 10 – 12
2008 Rural Philanthropy Conference, sponsored by the Nebraska Community Foundation in Nebraska City, NB. For more information, visit www.nebcommfound.org/RPC/2007RPC.htm

September 11
The Past, Present and Future of Data: What Does it Mean for You, sponsored by the Pennsylvania State Data Center at the Holiday Inn Harrisburg/Hershey, Grantville, PA. For more information, visit www.pasdc.hbg.psu.edu

September 12 – 14
2008 ImPAct Conference, sponsored by Pennsylvania Young Professionals at the Bayfront Convention Center in Erie, PA. For more information, visit http://www.impacterie2008.com/

October 2
2008 Governor’s Conference for Women, hosted by Governor Edward G. Rendell and the Pennsylvania Commission for Women at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh, PA. Keynote speakers are: Elizabeth Edwards, author and advocate for children; Naomi Tutu, advocate for peace and human rights; Julia Reed, author and journalist; Liz Smith, legendary social commentator and co-founder of wowOwow.com  and Mary Wells, entrepreneur and founder of the marketing and ad agency Wells Rich Greene and co-founder of wowOwow.com  For more information, visit
www.pagovernorsconferenceforwomen.org

October 14 – 16 Energy from Biomass and Waste, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh, PA. For more information, visit http://www.ebw-expo.com/index.htm