Fayette, Greene receive grants for economic projects
Fayette and Greene counties will receive $50,000 each for economic development projects. U.S. Sens. Bob Casey and Arlen Specter, both D-Pa., have announced that Fay-Penn Economic Development Council Inc. will receive $50,000 for its Buy Local program and Greene County will receive $50,000 for development of an airport business park.
The projects are contained in the federal financial services appropriations bill for fiscal 2011.
“This money is great news for Pennsylvania and I am grateful that members of the committee approved this funding,” Casey said.
“This funding should help spur innovation, promote economic development and help create jobs in Southwestern Pennsylvania.”
“These initiatives will help to strengthen Pennsylvania’s small businesses and promote entrepreneurship,” Specter said.
“This funding comes at a critical time during our economic recovery, and I applaud my colleagues for supporting these projects.”
The Fayette grant will help Fay-Penn promote a locally driven economy through the production and purchase of locally made products for retail and commercial goods.
The grant to Greene County will aid in developing an airport business park, which will create commercial and retail space for aviation-related small businesses, as well as rental hangars and training.
At its June quarterly board meeting, Fay-Penn announced it was seeking federal funding for the Buy Local campaign.
Fay-Penn Economic Development Council and the Herald-Standard are partnering on the program, which includes a Buy Local Card.
The program encourages consumers to patronize local businesses, keeping money in the community and improving the area economy.
Goals of the Fayette County Buy Local Network are to create a community of businesses that give preference to local sources, provide healthy workplaces with meaningful living-wage jobs for Fayette County employees, offer customers high-quality products and services, emphasize enhancing the quality of life experience of their customers through outstanding customer service, establish a fair exchange between suppliers and their customers and encourage the cooperation of local businesses in ways that balance their interests with their obligation to the community and future generations.
“It is the goal of the network to raise awareness and to educate county residents about the importance of buying local,” said Robert Junk, Fay-Penn local economy manager.
He added the local network is supported by aggressive marketing and public relations efforts.
In addition to the discount card, the Buy Local program features prize giveaways, community reinvestment through grants and is creating more farmer markets where consumers can buy locally-grown and produced fresh foods.
“We are not asking people to spend more money, but asking residents to make a pledge that they will buy local by supporting locally owned business and farmers,” Junk said.
Businesses interested in joining the network can call 724-437-7913, extension 222.
More information on the Buy Local program is available online at www.heraldstandard.com and www.howyouspinit.com.