|
January 21, 2009
Message from Executive Director Bill Sturges
 In December, Governor Edward Rendell launched www.heretohelp.pa.gov a new online resource for Pennsylvanians. The Web site allows citizens to find the resources they need through existing government programs to help make ends meet during these difficult economic times. The Here to Help Web site includes information on employment, family services, veterans’ services, housing, seniors, economic development, and education. If you or someone you know needs assistance in any of these areas, please visit www.heretohelp.pa.gov to explore the online tools and programs that exist to help you find a job, cope with heating expenses, apply for health and human services and more.
News from Around PA and the Nation
Pennsylvania Kicks Off Outreach Campaign on Energy Efficiency
Pennsylvania’s new Web site, www.turnsealsave.org offers tips on how to make your home more energy efficient. The "Turn Down, Seal Off, Save Up" outreach campaign encourages residents to turn down their thermostats and seal off drafts to save as much as $740 in annual heating costs. The campaign's Web site also includes contact information for financial assistance and an online toolkit featuring resources people and organizations can use to raise awareness in their communities.
PA State Food Purchase Program (SFPP) Helps Reduce Hunger
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture offers grants to counties through the State Food Purchase Program (SFPP) to purchase and distribute food to low income individuals. The program is intended to supplement the efforts of food pantries, soup kitchens, food banks, feeding programs, shelters for the homeless and similar organizations to reduce hunger. Churches, community groups, civic groups, and other non-profit organizations can distribute these foods. For more information, visit http://www.agriculture.state.pa.us/agriculture/cwp/view.asp?a=3&q=128761
PA Housing Finance Agency Offers Information on Saving Energy
The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency has information on saving energy and saving money this winter. Go to http://www.phfa.org and select “Keeping Warm This Winter.”
Rural Education Award Nominations Deadline is March 20
Pennsylvania State University's Center on Rural Education and Communities and the Pennsylvania Association for Rural and Small Schools are accepting nominations for the 5th Annual Building Community Through Rural Education Award. The nomination deadline is March 20. The award recognizes rural schools or districts that have distinguished themselves through practices that contribute to the educational experiences for the students they serve, while reaching out to the broader community in which they are located. To submit a nomination, call the Center on Rural Education and Communities at (814) 863-2031 or visit www.ed.psu.edu/crec/
Distance Learning, Telemedicine Grants Available from USDA
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development is accepting applications for the Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Program. The application deadline is March 24. The program provides access to education, training and health care resources for people in rural America. It offers financial assistance to encourage and improve telemedicine services and distance learning services in rural areas through the use of telecommunications, computer networks and related advanced technologies by students, teachers, medical professionals and rural residents. All applicants are asked to carefully review and exactly follow the fiscal year 2009 application guide and sample materials when compiling a grant application. The grant application guide and more information are available at www.usda.gov/rus/telecom/dlt/dlt.htm Applicants may also contact their local Rural Development office with questions. Visit Rural Development's website at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/pa/ to locate an office near you.
Agritourism Website Helps You Plan Pennsylvania Road Trip
Looking to take a road trip to discover Pennsylvania’s agricultural hotspots? Check out www.visitpa.com/KeystoneCountry the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s new interactive website, which highlights Pennsylvania's farm markets, county fairs, farm stays and wineries. The site offers pre-planned road trips with stops at some of Pennsylvania's best farms and markets, and features interactive maps with agritourism destinations that help travelers plan a getaway.
Pennsylvania Prescription Drug Cards Available
Pennsylvanians can get a free prescription drug card that will provide an average savings of 30 percent on medicine. Funded by pharmaceutical companies and pharmacies, the discounts will help 800,000 Pennsylvanians without health insurance in a difficult economy. Anyone can get the card. To apply, visit http://pennsylvania.statedrugcard.com/
EPA Offering Environmental Community Grants
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is making nearly $3 million available in 2009 to reduce pollution at the local level through the Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) program. CARE is a community-based program that builds partnerships to help the public understand and reduce toxic risks from numerous sources. Eligible applicants include county and local governments, tribes, non-profit organizations and universities. CARE grant applications are due March 16. EPA will conduct three conference calls in Feb. for prospective applicants to ask questions about the application process. For more information, visit http://www.epa.gov/care/agreements.htm#apply
Conferences and Events
January 22
Landowners' Perspective – What Should Be Considered When Negotiating a Lease, sponsored by Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences and Penn State Cooperative Extension. This is part of a six-part series of online seminars to address the opportunities and challenges of exploring for natural gas in the Marcellus shale. For more information, visit http://naturalgas.extension.psu.edu/Events.htm or call Joann Kowalski at (570) 278-1158.
January 29
Central Penn Energy Symposium, sponsored by the Central Penn Business Journal at Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts, Harrisburg, PA. For more information, visit http://www.centralpennbusiness.com/events.asp?nID=46&show=details or contact Angela Miller at (717) 236-4300, or email: angelam@journalpub.com
February 5 – 7
Farming for the Future Conference, sponsored by the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture at the Penn Stater Conference Center, State College, PA. For more information, call (814) 349-9856 or visit www.pasafarming.org
March 20 – 22
Lehigh Valley Green Building Expo, sponsored by the Lehigh Valley Green Builders Forum at the Lehigh University Mountaintop Campus, Iacocca Hall, Bethlehem, PA. For more information, visit http://www.lvgreenbuilders.org/expo/
March 22 - 25
Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs 98th Annual Conference, will be held at the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center, Hershey, PA. For more information call (717) 236-9526 or visit http://www.boroughs.org
March 31 - April 3
Pennsylvania Rural Water Association Annual Conference, will be held at the Penn Stater Conference Center, State College, PA. For more information, call (800) 653-7792 or visit http://www.prwa.org
April 3 – 4
Fueling the School: Pennsylvania’s First Intercollegiate Biodiesel Conference, sponsored by Dickinson College at the Holland Union Building (HUB) and the Rector Science Complex, Carlisle, PA. For more information, visit http://www.dickinson.edu/departments/sustainability/conferences.html
April 19-22
87th Annual Educational Conference and Trade Show, sponsored by the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors, will be held at the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center, Hershey, PA. For more information, call (717) 763-0930 or visit http://www.psats.org
| 
