May 15, 2002 By Christine Haines 3 min read

BROWNSVILLE – Businesses have an opportunity to get a tax credit while helping area educational programs better prepare their future employees. Barbara Gibel of the Fay-Penn Economic Development Council spoke Tuesday to the Greater Brownsville Area Chamber of Commerce about REACH, Reaching Educational Achievement with Community Help.

Gibel said the program is designed to improve the business environment in Fayette County by having students better prepared to enter the work force. Gibel said the program addresses both life and technical skills.

“High school and college graduates may have knowledge, but they may not be able to enter the work force with the ability to apply that knowledge,” Gibel said.

REACH, Gibel said, works with businesses and school districts throughout Fayette County, finding out what businesses are seeking and helping school districts develop curriculum and teaching techniques to achieve those goals.

“We’re trying to instill applied learning skills in our students,” she said.

Gibel noted that area districts are under-funded, so donations to REACH that are used to develop the educational programs are important.

Under state law adopted last year, businesses can receive a tax credit of up to 90 percent for their donation, reducing their state tax liability at the same time. Information about the educational improvement tax credit program is available through Fay-Penn at 724-437-7913.

Jennifer Milne, the exercise physiologist at Brownsville General Hospital’s Wellness Center, also addressed the chamber, inviting them to try the center.

“It’s a pretty independent program. You don’t need an appointment to come in. The only appointment you need is the first one with me so I can take your medical history and set up a program,” Milne said.

Participants also need a physician’s note indicating that it is safe for them to begin an exercise program. Milne said the programs could be beneficial for people with diabetes, osteoporosis and arthritis, as well as for those who have undergone joint replacement or for weight management. The center has been open to the public for the past month and has about 40 members.

“The cost right now is $35 per month. We are looking into six-month and one-year memberships that could reduce the cost,” Milne said.

The center is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Chamber director Barb Campbell reported that so far only one Brownsville Area vocational-technical student has applied for the chamber’s scholarship. Campbell said the chamber is looking into adjusting the deadlines for the scholarship application, since post-secondary vocational-technical schools have later application deadlines than most colleges.

Chamber Treasurer Scott Bowman noted that the chamber has received a donation from Giannetti Motors, in memory of Nervin Moscovitz, for the chamber’s flag fund.

The chamber directors paused for a moment of silence and a prayer in memory of Moscovitz, who died recently.