PA Continuing its Support for Agriculture, Tourism with Latest First Industry Fund Investments, says Governor Rendell

Sixty-Two Projects will Inject $59 Million into State's Economy

HARRISBURG, Pa., Oct. 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- More than 60 projects that will grow and strengthen Pennsylvania's two largest industries received a boost today as the commonwealth approved investments that will keep active farms in production, help farmers improve productivity by purchasing new equipment, and develop new facilities and accommodations to attract tourists.

"We're giving two of Pennsylvania's largest industries -- agriculture and tourism -- the tools they need to succeed and grow," said Governor Edward G. Rendell today after the projects were approved by the Commonwealth Financing Authority. "These new investments are building upon our commitment to support projects in these areas of the economy, which often generate growth in Pennsylvania's rural communities."

The authority approved investments totaling nearly $13.1 million for 62 projects that will be provided in the form of loans, grants and guarantees through the First Industries Fund. Combined, the projects will inject $59 million into the state's economy.

The First Industries Fund has provided approximately $119 million in Pennsylvania's agriculture and tourism industries since its inception in 2004. The authority administers the fund and seven other commonwealth economic stimulus programs.

To further energize the economy and provide additional incentives for new or expanding businesses, the commonwealth recently reduced interest rates on three of its key business loan programs to two points below prime.

The projects approved by the Commonwealth Financing Authority earlier today are:

Adams County

• $100,000 tourism loan to Old Fashioned Italian Restaurant LLC to purchase real estate and complete renovations
• $200,000 agriculture loan to Zeigler Bros. Inc to purchase new equipment
• $200,000 tourism loan to Mayday Gettysburg LLC to purchase an existing bed and breakfast

Allegheny County

• $94,710 agriculture planning grant to Urban Homesteaders for the Blackberry Meadows Farm Commercial Kitchen / Farmers Market

Blair County

• $150,000 agriculture loan to Loren R. and Elva Z. Burkholder to purchase a 125-acre farm
• $200,000 agriculture loan to Jerry B. and Lydia J. Zimmerman to purchase a 40-acre farm
• $200,000 agriculture loan to Gerald E. and Linda K. Smith to purchase 80.3 acres of land
• $200,000 agriculture loan to I. Harold and Vera Mae Martin to construct a finishing barn and penning system

Bradford County

• $75,000 agriculture loan to Kline Acres Partnership, doing business as Y-Run Farms LLC, to purchase 15 acres of farmland
• $200,000 agriculture loan to Glenn D. Gorrell to purchase a 178-acre farm
• $145,000 agriculture loan to Plouse Family Farms to purchase a 234-acre farm

Chester County

• $200,000 agriculture loan to Matthew R. and Melissa E. King to purchase 53 acres of farmland
• $213,336 to C. J. Mushroom Company Co. LLC to purchase machinery and equipment

Crawford County

• $200,000 agriculture loan to Rynd Home Farm LLC and Rynd Home Farm to construct a barn and milking parlor and a second agriculture loan of $190,068 to purchase heifers, milking parlor equipment, an electrical vertical lift crowd gate, dual tractor blades, bulk tank, liquid manure spreader, and a 3 PT hitch articulated 6" super pump

Cumberland County

• $200,000 agriculture loan to Nealand Farms to purchase a 113-acre farm
• $200,000 agriculture loan to Duane E. Ruth and Michelle L. Ruth to purchase a 142-acre farm

Dauphin County

• $304,264 agriculture planning grant to RizkCOzann Foods Corp. for the Steelton Shur Fine Development Project
• $75,000 agriculture planning grant to The Harrisburg Authority for the BioMass Alternative Energy Resource Recovery Project

Delaware County

• $104,194 agriculture loan to Richard L. Schlosberg to purchase a grain bin, top dry bin and a wet bin with an auger system

Franklin County

• $200,000 agriculture loan to Troy M. and Megan E. Long on behalf of M.E.L.'s Landscaping to purchase 43 acres of land
• $171,135 agriculture loan to Stanley and Jeanie Helman and Guilside Farm to renovate various farm buildings, improve on-site infrastructure, and purchase a new milking system

Fulton County

• $72,500 agriculture loan to Cory Lynn and Donna Roberta Gress to convert their current auto-sort finisher barns into pen style

Huntingdon County

• $200,000 tourism loan to Cassville Food Mart & Deli LLC to purchase land to rebuild the facility
• $200,000 agriculture loan to Harry N. and Robin A. Barnett to build a double 10-swing milking parlor
• $200,000 agriculture loan to Greenbriar Partnership LLC to purchase a 102.1-acre farm
• $45,000 tourism loan to Pamela A. Caron to renovate the retail shop she owns

Jefferson County

• $100,000 agriculture loan to Samuel S. Byler, doing business as Byler Veal Farm, to construct a 300-stall barn

Lancaster County

• $200,000 agriculture loan to Ira J. and Priscilla S. Beiler to purchase a 68-acre dairy farm
• $200,000 agriculture loan to Jared W. and Shelby L. Rottmund to buy an existing hog farm
• $200,000 agriculture loan to Duane P. and Stacy M. Swanger to purchase a 57-acre farm
• $200,000 agriculture loan to David H. and Janelle E. Breckbill to construct a 46 foot by 500 foot cage-free layer house
• $200,000 agriculture loan to Andrew S. and Andrea J. Bollinger to purchase a 77-acre farm
• $200,000 agriculture loan to Kirby F. Nissley to purchase an 88.3 acre farm
• $200,000 agriculture loan to Eric D. and Melissa S. Herr to purchase a 100-acre farm
• $200,000 agriculture loan to Generation Three Farm Partnership on behalf of S & A Kreider & Sons Inc. to purchase a 77.9 acre dairy farm
• $200,000 agriculture loan to Robert L. and Andrea Brubaker to construct two broiler houses
• $200,000 agriculture loan to Randell R. and Jodie L. Brubaker to purchase a 83-acre farm

Lebanon County

• $200,000 agriculture loan to K & C Farm to buy 61 acres of land
• $37,574 agriculture loan to Brett and Kim Eberly to buy new equipment for their broiler houses
• $200,000 agriculture loan to Robert and Nancy Copenhaver to purchase 81.5 acres of land

Lycoming County

• $200,000 agriculture loan to Charles R. and Mavis A. Bosch to construct a dairy barn, manure pit and silo
• CFA will guarantee 50 percent of a $1.1 million tourism loan to Sandhoo's Inc. and Gurparkash S and Jaspreet K. Sandhoo to purchase and renovate an existing service station and restaurant facility, and purchase new machinery, equipment and inventory

McKean County

• $53,000 tourism loan to Melvin D. Bizarro, doing business as Togi's Family Restaurant, to renovate the restaurant

Mercer County

• $50,000 agriculture planning grant to the Munnell Run Farm Foundation Inc. for the Munnell Run Farm Regional Food Venture

Northampton County

• CFA will guarantee $2.5 million of a loan to Posh North Street Tower LP to construct a 133-room hotel
• $130,500 tourism loan to Starter's Golf LLC to purchase restaurant machinery and equipment

Northumberland County

• $200,000 agriculture loan to Boyd Station LLC to expand a soybean processing facility and a second agriculture loan of $425,000 to purchase storage bins, material handling equipment, and soybean processing equipment
• $200,000 agriculture loan to Lloyd Reitz to construct a milking parlor
• $200,000 agriculture loan to Orlin and Pamela Martin to construct three 48 foot by 500 foot broiler houses.

Philadelphia County

• $298,179 agriculture loan to Capogiro LLC to buy various kitchen machinery and equipment
• CFA will guarantee 50 percent of a $100,000 loan to Common Market Philadelphia Inc. to finance working capital needs of a locally-produced foods distribution business

Potter County

• $50,000 agriculture loan to Melanie Bachman, doing business as God's Country Creamery, to construct a 600-square-foot building and acquire new machinery and equipment
• $200,000 agriculture loan to Riss-Dale Farm to purchase equipment and livestock

Snyder County

• $200,000 agriculture loan to Todd A. Esbenshade, Clair W. Esbenshade, and Deborah D. Esbenshade to construct a hog nursery barn
• $200,000 agriculture loan to Paul and Eunice Sauder to construct a 71 by 520 foot organic layer house

Somerset County

• $69,000 agriculture loan to Dennis G. and Cheryl C. Hay to renovate the milking parlor, free stall barn and purchase the remaining interest in the farm
• $75,000 tourism loan to Trailside Park LLC to install utility services

Tioga County

• $110,000 agriculture loan to Pag-Omar Farms Market Inc. to construct an on-site farm market

Union County

• $200,000 agriculture loan to David and Irene Reiff to purchase a 5-acre farm

Warren County

• $200,000 tourism loan to J. McGraw LLC to construct a 69-room hotel

Washington / Westmoreland County

• $83,000 agriculture planning grant to the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation for the Farmers' Markets in Washington and Westmoreland counties

The Rendell administration is committed to creating a first-rate public education system, protecting our most vulnerable citizens and continuing economic investment to support our communities and businesses. To find out more about Governor Rendell's initiatives and to sign up for his weekly newsletter, visit www.governor.state.pa.us.

CONTACT:

Michael Smith

717-783-1116

Janel Miller (DCED)

717-783-1132