Dear Friend,

I am pleased to present my electronic newsletter. These e-newsletters enable me to provide information about issues, events and activities in Harrisburg and around the 21st Senatorial District to you in a timely manner while saving postage costs.  

If you find this e-newsletter useful, I invite you to visit my website www.senatorscotthutchinson.com for more information about your state government. If you do not wish to receive these e-newsletters, please click the “unsubscribe” button at the bottom of the page.

Sincerely,

Scott

Honoring “Friends of the Fair” Judy Kennedy, Charles Miller

I recently had the pleasure of presenting a citation to Judy Kennedy recognizing her receipt of the Friend of the Fair Award for her work with the Antique Department at the Big Butler Fair. This award is presented by the Department of Agriculture to a volunteer who was integral and critical to the fair’s success. Along with volunteering at the Big Butler Fair, Judy also participates on several other fair committees as well as attending local and state wide events in promotion of her committees’ fairs.

I was also pleased to present a citation to Charles Miller to honor his receipt of the Department of Agriculture’s Friend of the Fair Award. Charles has been attending the Clarion County Fair for many years and has served as its Rabbit Chairman since 1996.

DEP Releases Natural Gas Production Report

​ Pennsylvania’s natural gas production again increased to record levels last year according to a report recently released by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).

According to the DEP’s 2015 Oil and Gas Annual Report, more than 4.6 trillion cubic feet of natural gas were produced in Pennsylvania last year compared to about 1 trillion cubic feet of natural gas produced in 2011. Currently, Pennsylvania is the second largest supplier of natural gas in the nation.

The 2015 Oil and Gas Annual Report provides information about DEP’s oil and gas permitting, inspection and compliance programs. It also details ongoing data trends and outlines significant accomplishments.

Applications Now Accepted for State Grant, Tax Credit Programs

Applications are now being accepted by the state for financial assistance to support efforts to reduce pollution, improve the quality of Pennsylvania’s watersheds and promote rail transportation.

Energy Efficiency Grants for Small Business

The Small Business Advantage Grant Program through the state Department of Environmental Protection provides a 50 percent matching grant of up to $9,500 toward energy efficiency improvements that trim costs and reduce pollution. Applicants will be considered on a first come, first served basis. Applications will be accepted until fiscal year 2016-17 funds are exhausted or April 14, 2017, whichever occurs first.

Applications are available at the DEP Small Business Ombudsman’s Office Site. To contact the Small Business Ombudsman’s Office, call (717) 772-5160 or email epadvantagegrant@pa.gov.

Farm Tax Credit Program

A state tax credit program that rewards farmers for taking steps is now open.

The 2016-17 Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) program gives farmers tax credits ranging from 50 to 75 percent -- up to $150,000 per agricultural operation -- as an incentive to purchase conservation equipment and materials to reduce erosion and sedimentation in streams and watersheds.

More information and REAP applications are available at www.agriculture.pa.gov or by contacting Joel Semke at (717) 705-4032 or jsemke@pa.gov.

REAP has awarded more than $50 million in tax credits to 3,900 projects since the program began in 2007. From 2010 to 2014, REAP helped to prevent nearly 1.4 million pounds of nitrogen, 84,000 pounds of phosphorus, and 9,000 tons of sediment from running off into Pennsylvania’s waterways.

Pilot Program to Provide Grants for Tree Planting Along Streams

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and Environmental Protection is now accepting applications for a pilot grant program to promote the planting of trees along streams in Pennsylvania to improve water quality. Pennsylvania has a goal of planting 95,000 acres of streamside buffers by 2025.

Applications for the DCNR Community Conservation Partnership Program grant round will be accepted at https://www.grants.dcnr.state.pa.us/ until September 15.

Rail Freight/Transportation Assistance Programs

PENNDOT is now accepting applications for Rail Transportation Assistance Program (RTAP) grants and Rail Freight Assistance Program (RFAP) grants.

Applications for both programs will be available on the website for PENNDOT’s Bureau of Rail Freight, Ports and Waterways (https://www.dotgrants.state.pa.us/RailFreight/) until August 30. More information can be found at http://www.penndot.gov/Doing-Business/RailFreightAndPorts/Pages/default.aspx.

Pennsylvania ranks first in the country in the number of operating railroads, with 63, and also ranks near the top in total track mileage, with more than 5,600 miles. In the last grant period, PENNDOT awarded $36 million for 15 projects through RTAP and 16 projects through RFAP. RTAP is a capital budget grant program funded with bonds and RFAP is underwritten through the Multimodal Fund, created by Act 89.

If you do not wish to receive this email, click here to unsubscribe.

Privacy Policy
2016 © Senate of Pennsylvania
senatorscotthutchinson.com