Federal Money for PA AP Tests

The U.S. Department of Education announced today that it has awarded $28.4 million in Advanced Placement (AP) grants to 38 states, Washington, D.C., and the Virgin Islands as part of its efforts to boost college- and career-readiness for historically underserved students. The grants will help defray the costs of taking advanced placement tests for low-income students.

Pennsylvania will receive $673,738

PA TIGER Projects

On Friday the Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood announced 47 transportation projects in 34 states and the District of Columbia that will receive a total of almost $500 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) 2012 program.

Two Pennsylvania projects were in the mix:

The Wayne Junction Power Substation serves a critical role in the Philadelphia region’s commuter network, powering much of Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority’s (SEPTA) transit systems. This TIGER grant will allow the City of Philadelphia to rebuild the substation, which was originally constructed in 1931 and has been in continuous operation ever since. The project will also replace 25 indoor and outdoor rail breakers, transformers, cut-out switches, relays, and control equipment.

Total project cost:  $25,725,397

Grant award:  $12,862,699

TIGER will fund the building of the East Liberty Transit Center, which will be the multimodal heart of a large, transit-oriented development center between the communities of East Liberty, Shadyside, and Squirrel Hill in Pittsburgh. This suite of complementary improvements includes a two-level transit station linking the bus rapid transit service with street level bus service as well as realignment and reopening of streets, sidewalks, streetscapes, a replacement road bridge, adaptive traffic signals, and a bike and pedestrian access bridge.

Total project cost:  $34,020,056

Grant award:  $15,000,000

$50 Million to Philadelphia Industrial Development Corp.

from the inbox:

U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz joined Philadelphia Mayor Michael A. Nutter and John Grady, President of Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC) today to announce that PIDC will receive $50 million through the New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) program to spur private sector investment in low and moderate income neighborhoods. Schwartz urged the U.S. Department of Treasury to support this request for PIDC.

 

PIDC intends to use its NMTC funding to support four main types of investments: supermarket anchored shopping centers, health care services facilities, manufacturing space, and mixed-use developments.

Fed Funding to University Transportation Centers

from the inbox:

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced today $77 million in grants to 22 University Transportation Centers (UTCs) to advance research and education programs that address critical transportation challenges facing our nation. The UTCs, which are located throughout the United States, conduct research that directly supports the priorities of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), and the participating universities are a critical part of our national transportation strategy. 

“Transportation matters in everyone’s daily life. These research centers will help us solve the transportation challenges we face today and those that we know lay ahead of us,” said Secretary LaHood.  
DOT’s Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), which administers the UTC program, used a competitive selection process to select ten University Transportation Centers (UTCs), two Transit-Focused UTCs, and ten Regional UTCs. The centers will advance U.S. transportation technology and expertise in research, education, and technology transfer. Each one of the selected UTCs will receive a $3.5 million grant which they must match with funds from non-federal sources. The 22 UTCs selected are all consortia, involving a total of 121 different universities.

Pennsylvania schools on the list of recipients:

Penn State's main campus is an consortium with San Jose State.

The University of Pennsylvania is in a consortium with Carnegie Mellon; the two schools are the only members of that consortium.  Personal note:  I'm sure Penn is thrilled to be playing second fiddle to Carnegie Mellon. 

Transit Money to PA

from the inbox:

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced nearly $1.6 billion to states and territories across the nation to help cover the costs of repairing roads and bridges damaged by a variety of natural disasters.

“Communities from coast to coast are still recovering from disasters that have affected the roads they use, their homes and businesses,” said Secretary LaHood. “The Obama Administration stands ready to provide emergency relief and reimburse these communities for the work that has been done to restore their critical transportation needs.”

Funding for Pennsylvania:

Damage caused by Hurricane Irene (Aug 26, 2011): $704,261
Damage caused by Tropical Storm Lee (Sept. 7, 2011): $39,903,558

Green Transit Funding for SEPTA

from the inbox:

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced that 46 innovative transit projects chosen for their capacity to help cut the nation’s dependence on oil and create a marketplace for 21st century ‘green’ jobs will share $112 million in funding from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).
“These grants will put thousands of Americans back to work building sustainable, energy-efficient transit vehicles and facilities across the country,” said Secretary LaHood. “The Obama Administration is committed to investing in the cutting-edge transportation projects that will keep our economy moving forward.”

Projects were selected through the FTA’s competitive Fiscal Year 2011 Sustainability Initiative, which includes funding from two FTA programs: the Clean Fuels Grant Program and the TIGGER III (Transit Investment in Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reduction) Grant Program.

Among the projects funded:

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) will receive two  grants, one for $5 million to replace diesel buses with hybrid buses that will reduce fuel costs and save money, and another for $1.4 million to install a “wayside energy storage system” on the Market-Frankford rail line, consisting of a battery that stores energy generated by braking trains. The stored electrical power can then be used later whenever energy is needed.

3 PA Schools Receive Trio Grants

What is a Trio grant?

The U.S. Department of Education has awarded $47,676,723 million in TRIO Educational Opportunity Centers (EOC) program grants to 128 grantees in 44 states, as well as Puerto Rico, to provide counseling and information on college admissions to qualified individuals who want to enter, or continue, a program of postsecondary education. The goal of the EOC program is to increase the number of participants who enroll in postsecondary education institutions. The program also provides services to improve financial and economic literacy, as well as assist participants in pursuing financial aid options.

Which schools in PA got them?
(grantee, state, funding, participants)
Educational Opportunity Centers, Inc., PA, 600796, 2233
University of Pennsylvania, PA, 263047, 1000
Pennsylvania State University/University Park, PA, 263047, 1000

New Federal Porgram to Cut Through Red Tape

from the inbox:

Today, Federal Chief Performance Officer and OMB Deputy Director for Management Jeffrey Zients announced a major new initiative to cut through red tape and politics and rid the Federal Government of excess real estate. This initiative is projected to save taxpayers $15 billion.

The Federal Government owns 1.2 million properties across the country, making it the biggest property owner in the United States, but billions of taxpayer dollars are wasted each year on government properties that are no longer needed. This includes roughly 14,000 buildings and structures currently designated as excess and thousands of others that are underutilized. These properties range from under-utilized office buildings to empty warehouses.

The President’s legislative proposal would establish an independent board of experts to expedite the disposal of unneeded properties and identify opportunities to consolidate offices across and within agencies. It applies approaches that have been proven successful by the Department of Defense’s Base Realignment and Closure Commission. Recommendations will be presented to Congress in a package to be voted on in an up-or-down manner. Upon passage, all properties will swiftly be disposed of or consolidated.

“With this new initiative, we can cut through the red tape and politics that prevented the federal government from getting rid of unneeded real estate for far too long – and save taxpayers upwards of $15 billion over the next three years, “said Jeffrey Zients, Federal Chief Performance Officer and Deputy Director for Management of the Office of Management and Budget. “We look forward to working with Congress to make this commonsense reform a reality and deliver a government that is smarter, more effective, and more efficient for the American people.

This Board will allow us to overcome the traditional barriers to the timely disposal of excess property:

· Cut Through the Red Tape: There are over 20 requirements to sell a Federal property, whether the facility is a small warehouse or an office building in a major metropolitan area. The current process takes at least a year to dispose of any property and often wastes hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars in maintenance costs. If a package of properties is deemed appropriate for disposal by the Board and approved by Congress, all of those properties will be swiftly disposed of or consolidated.

· Overcome Financial Barriers: Agencies often can’t afford the short-term costs involved in selling an asset, which prevents them from realizing the real, ongoing cost savings of getting rid of property they don’t need. The proposal will fix this by enabling the Board to manage a fund that can be leveraged to cover these upfront costs.

· Move Beyond Political Interests: Creating an independent board that can assemble a bundle of recommendations for sale or consolidation for an up-or-down vote in Congress will keep political interests from slowing down or completely stopping efforts to eliminate property.

This new proposal builds on the work of the President’s Accountable Government initiative, including an effort the President announced last year to achieve $3 billion in real estate savings for civilian property by the end of 2012. Federal agencies, working closely with the Office of Management and Budget and the General Services Administration, are taking the necessary steps to achieve this goal and are identifying further opportunities for real estate savings that the new, independent Board can consider.

Over the past two years, the President’s Accountable Government Initiative has focused on transforming how government works to deliver a government that is smarter, more effective and more responsive, saving taxpayer dollars by cutting waste and excess and consolidating duplicative or outdated programs. For example, this Administration is:

· Cutting Contracting Costs - curbed uncontrolled growth in contract spending, decreasing spending for the first time in 13 years and saving $15 billion over the prior year’s spending.

· Modernizing Information Technology - saved billions of dollars by improving how the government buys and utilizes information technology. Using the IT Dashboard we’ve conducted intensive reviews on high priority IT projects, reforming or terminating troubled projects, reducing planned budgets by $3 billion and accelerating delivery of key functionality.

· Cracking Down on Improper Payments – avoided nearly $4 billion in improper payments and doubled the amount of improper payments to contractors recaptured last year. Additionally, the Administration is deploying state-of-the-art fraud detection devices to achieve further gains.

· Consolidating and Eliminating Duplicative Programs - the President’s 2012 Budget released last month included over 200 terminations, reductions and savings that will save Americans more than $33 billion in 2012 alone. Additionally, during his State of the Union Address, the President announced a new effort to take a hard look at how we can better organize federal programs and functions to boost our nation’s competitiveness.

PA Firms in the Therapeutic Discovery Project Program

from the White House blog:

Every day, millions of Americans benefit from the advances made in the fields of life, biological, and medical science. Breakthroughs in these fields have helped to significantly reduce mortality from many conditions that were once considered fatal. Our support for scientific research is one of our best investments in our future—for the health of Americans and the health of the American economy.

That’s why, today, we’re happy to announce the firms that have been accepted into the Therapeutic Discovery Project Program, which was created by the Affordable Care Act. This program will advance American competitiveness in the fields of life, biological, and medical science by giving tax credits and grants to small companies conducting cutting-edge biomedical research.

The program is targeted towards projects that show significant potential to produce new therapies, address unmet medical needs, reduce the long-term growth of health care costs, and advance the goal of curing cancer within the next 30 years.

So what does this mean? It means that a firm in Oklahoma will continue its attempt to develop therapeutics to prevent the metastatic spread of cancer, and a firm in North Carolina will continue to create a gene therapy-based therapeutic for a lethal inheritable childhood disease—one that currently has no life-sustaining treatment. It means that a firm in New York will continue working on a flu vaccine that can provide protection for a period of several years—with technology that could also be used to develop cancer vaccines.

The Therapeutic Discovery Project Program also means that these firms, and other companies who have been awarded tax credits or grants, have an incentive to keep growing and create high-paying jobs right in their local communities.

We are very excited about the possibilities of this program; it is a great example of the way the Affordable Care Act will help advance research to find life-saving treatments and diagnostics and help U.S. companies lead the way in making innovative medical discoveries.

A number of Pennsylvania firms are on the list. You can check it out at: http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=228690,00.html

Additions to Early Retiree Program

from the inbox:

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today released a list of additional employers and unions accepted into the Affordable Care Act’s Early Retiree Reinsurance Program, including 41 in Pennsylvania. Nationwide, nearly 700 additional large and small businesses, State and local governments, educational institutions, non-profit organizations, and unions have been accepted into the program, which reimburses employers for a portion of the cost of health benefits for early retirees’ and their families. Today’s announcement brings the total number of organizations participating in the program to nearly 3,600 nationwide and 204 in Pennsylvania.

“By helping employers and unions continue to offer coverage for early retirees, we’re helping them compete -- while providing a measure of certainty and security for their former workers at a time when it could not be more important, “said Secretary Sebelius. “The Early Retiree Reinsurance Program seeks to shore up the financial foothold for employers and unions who want to provide coverage to their retirees.”

Created by the Affordable Care Act as another bridge to the new health insurance Exchanges in 2014, the Early Retiree Reinsurance Program provides $5 billion in financial assistance to employers and unions, to help them maintain coverage for early retirees ages 55 and older who are not yet eligible for Medicare. Businesses and other employers and unions that are accepted into the program will receive reimbursement for a portion of the costs of health benefits for their early retirees and their spouses, surviving spouses, and dependents. Savings may be used to reduce employer or union health care costs, provide premium or out-of-pocket relief to workers, retirees, and their families, or both. The program ends on January 1, 2014, when the State-based health insurance Exchanges will be up and running.

The list is too long to add here, but can be found at:

http://www.healthcare.gov/news/factsheets/early_retiree_reinsurance_program.html

Small Business Credits for PA

from the inbox:

Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced individual State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) funding allocations for all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. territories, which will support $15 billion in new small business lending through innovative local programs that help entrepreneurs expand their businesses and create new jobs. These SSBCI funds are a critical component of the Small Business Jobs Act President Obama signed into law last week to help unlock credit and provide targeted tax cuts for small businesses. (A full listing of the state-by-state allocations announced today is included below.)

“Innovative local initiatives that support small business lending are under extraordinary pressure because of state budget difficulties,” said Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner. “These funds will provide vital support to successful state-level programs that help local entrepreneurs obtain the credit they need to put more Americans back to work. President Obama fought hard for the Small Business Jobs Act because it will help ensure that small businesses continue to strengthen our nation’s recovery and serve as critical engines for job creation.”

Under the SSBCI, states are offered the opportunity to apply for federal funds for programs that partner with private lenders to extend greater credit to small businesses. States are required to demonstrate a minimum “bang for the buck” of $10 in new private lending for every $1 in federal funding. Accordingly, the $1.5 billion funding commitment that the federal government will make for this program is expected to support $15 billion in additional private lending.

The SSBCI allows states to build upon existing, successful state-level small business lending programs, including examples such as collateral support programs, Capital Access Programs (CAPs), and loan guarantee programs.

* Collateral Support Programs for Small Manufacturers: Collateral support programs help viable businesses that are struggling to get credit because the value of the collateral they hold has fallen, often due to the decline in commercial real estate values. These programs – which set aside funds to augment collateral the borrower already holds – provide banks greater confidence in extending credit to these borrowers, particularly in some of the communities hardest hit by the economic downturn.

* Capital Access Programs (CAPs): CAPs, which are already up and running in over 20 states, are loan portfolio insurance programs in which states provide a matching contribution to bank loan loss reserves when lenders extend credit to qualified small businesses. These reserve enhancements allow lenders to expand credit to new borrowers at a time when many of these lenders might otherwise pull back.

* Loan Guarantee Programs: Under loan guarantee programs, states provide partial guarantees on certain small business loans to give lenders greater confidence to extend credit.

If a state does not have an existing small business lending program, officials can establish one in order to access this funding. States must provide plans for utilizing their funding allocations to Treasury for review and approval.

The amount of SSBCI funds a state is eligible to apply for is determined based upon formulas in the Small Business Jobs Act that take into account each state’s respective unemployment rate and decline in employment relative to other states.

In addition to the State Small Business Credit Initiative, the Small Business Jobs Act includes a number of important provisions to support small business job creation. The Act includes eight new small business tax cuts that went into effect immediately upon becoming law last week; creates a $30 billion Small Business Lending Fund to help small and community banks provide new loans to small businesses; extends and expands existing Small Business Administration loan programs; and delivers other important benefits for small businesses. For more information on the Small Business Jobs Act, please visit, link.

The Pennsylvania allocation is:
state: Pennsylvania

State Small Business Credit Initiative Allocation: $29,241,232

Expected New Lending (10:1 Match): $292,412,320

Pittsburgh Bank to Receive Funding

from the inbox:

Following through on a commitment to provide support to Main Street banks, thrifts, and credit unions that lend to small businesses and families in underserved communities, the U.S. Department of the Treasury today announced the completion of funding under its Community Development Capital Initiative (CDCI). Overall, that program has invested $570 million in 84 Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) in 26 states, the District of Columbia, and Guam. (A full state-by-state listing of institutions receiving CDCI investments is included below.)

On February 3, 2010, the Obama Administration announced the creation of the CDCI program under the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act’s Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP). The CDCI program, which is closing today ahead of the October 3 expiration of TARP purchasing authority, invests lower-cost capital in Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs). CDFIs are institutions that target at least 60 percent of their lending and other economic development activities in areas underserved by traditional financial institutions.

“It’s a common misconception that TARP funds only went to large Wall Street firms, but the CDCI program is yet another example of how TARP is providing critical assistance to Main Street financial institutions,” said Herbert Allison, Treasury Assistant Secretary for Financial Stability. “In communities across our country, CDCI funding is helping to strengthen local financial institutions and deliver credit to small businesses and families.”

“Community development financial institutions have been at the forefront of the efforts to fight the economic recession in our nation’s low-income communities,” said Donna J. Gambrell, Director of Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund. “At a time when many financial institutions have pulled back, CDFIs have actually increased their lending and investments in underserved communities. These CDCI investments will enable community banks, thrifts, and credit unions to spur economic development in the communities that have been hit hardest by the economic downturn.”

As part of the overall $570 million in CDCI investments made since the inception of that program, Treasury today completed a final round of CDCI investments, which provided $312 million in funds to 38 CDFIs.

CDCI investments are made at a dividend rate of 2 percent. To encourage repayment, while recognizing the unique circumstances facing CDFIs, the dividend rate under CDCI will increase to 9 percent after eight years.

There is one Pennsylvania bank on the list:

Hill District Federal Credit Union / Pittsburgh / $100,000

Philadelphia Neighborhood Wins Grant

from the inbox:

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced that 21 nonprofit organizations and institutions of higher education will receive Promise Neighborhoods planning grants. With the one-year grants, the recipients will create plans to provide cradle-to-career services that improve the educational achievement and healthy development of children.

“I applaud each of the Promise Neighborhood applicants for their leadership,” President Barack Obama said. “They are galvanizing their communities to help offer our children a pathway out of poverty. The winners announced today will deliver a broad array of services to help all young people thrive academically, earn their high school diploma, go on to college, and reach for their dreams.”

“Communities across the country recognize that education is the one true path out of poverty,” Secretary Duncan said. “These Promise Neighborhoods applicants are committed to putting schools at the center of their work to provide comprehensive services for young children and students.”

The planning grants of up to $500,000 will support the work in a diverse set of communities in major metropolitan areas, small and medium-size cities, rural areas, and one Indian reservation. The President has requested $210 million in his fiscal 2011 budget, including $200 million to support implementation of Promise Neighborhood projects and $10 million for planning grants for new communities.

One Pennsylvania neighborhood was on the list:

# Universal Community Homes (Philadelphia)

PA Energy Clean Energy Projects

blogger's note: There is a 22 page pdf outlining specific Pennsylvania projects. I just skimmed it for now but saw some things that deserve closer scrutiny later.

Pennsylvania Clean Energy Investments under the Recovery Act Highlighted in New Energy Department Report

Report details progress driving clean energy innovation, building domestic manufacturing capacity, and helping families and businesses save money through energy efficiency

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu today announced the release of a report detailing the broad range of clean energy projects underway in Pennsylvania funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The Recovery Act is investing $90 billion in clean energy nationwide, including $1 billion in Pennsylvania, as part of the Obama Administration’s unprecedented commitment to rebuilding a strong, sustainable 21st century economy. To download a copy of the report, visit http://www.energy.gov/recovery/pa.htm.

“Our investments in clean energy under the Recovery Act are benefiting every state in America,” said Secretary Chu. “The Recovery Act funding for projects like modernizing our electrical grid, improving the efficiency of our homes and businesses, and building new advanced vehicle and renewable energy manufacturing facilities is creating jobs now while laying the groundwork for America’s new industrial revolution.”

Under the Recovery Act, the private sector is joining with the federal government, universities, states and local communities to move the country toward a clean energy future. These unprecedented investments in energy efficiency, renewable energy, advanced vehicle manufacturing, the smart grid, and research, development, and deployment of the latest innovative energy technologies will help the U.S. to create hundreds of thousands of new jobs, improve our energy security, and reduce carbon pollution.

Our clean energy investments here in America are improving U.S. economic competitiveness, supporting the growth of new green industries like advanced battery manufacturing, solar and wind energy, and carbon capture and sequestration, and creating new jobs across the country. By 2012, we expect our commitment to clean energy to lead to more than 800,000 jobs nationally. More information about Recovery Act-supported jobs in Pennsylvania is available at www.recovery.gov.

The report released today on the Recovery Act projects in the state includes information about the Department of Energy’s $12 billion investments in energy efficiency, including low-income home weatherization, local initiatives to launch new conservation and renewable energy projects, and technologies that will significantly reduce the energy use in our homes, businesses and industry. The Recovery Act is investing a total of nearly $471 million in Pennsylvania to advance local energy efficiency efforts and support the development of a long-term, sustainable energy efficiency and retrofit industry.

The Recovery Act is also enabling the growth of the renewable energy industry in America. In addition to investments in the research, development, and deployment of solar, wind, biomass, geothermal and other renewable energy technologies, the Recovery Act is enabling more than $5 billion in tax grants to more than 1,000 renewable energy projects across the country. These projects are leveraging more than $15 billion in total private capital investments to expand the clean energy industry and generate more than 11 gigawatts of new, clean renewable energy. This includes 29 renewable energy projects in Pennsylvania that are supported by nearly $212 million in federal investment. The tax grant program has already funded enough renewable energy projects nationally to power more than one million homes; that is enough clean energy to power the homes of everyone living in Boston, Seattle, Atlanta, Kansas City, and Cincinnati combined. According to an April 2010 study by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory on these awards, these projects are supporting more than 51,600 construction jobs and 3,860 permanent jobs.

The Recovery Act also includes $2.3 billion in tax credits for more than 180 clean energy manufacturing projects across the country. These projects include new manufacturing facilities to make solar energy components, wind turbines, and high efficiency appliances, among others – including 7 facilities in Pennsylvania. These investments under the Recovery Act are helping to achieve President Obama’s goal of doubling U.S. renewable energy generation capacity and U.S. renewable manufacturing capacity by 2012.

Investments in advanced vehicles and the smart grid are also playing an important role in America’s clean energy development. The Recovery Act is investing $4.5 billion in smart grid technologies, including nearly $244 million in Pennsylvania, which is helping to modernize and upgrade America’s electricity system, improve the reliability and efficiency of the electrical grid, and provide consumers with more information about their energy use. More than $3.4 billion nationally is also being invested in developing and deploying the next generation of advanced vehicles, including vehicles powered by electricity, biomass, and other alternative fuels. The state is receiving more than $60 million to build a sustainable transportation sector, helping to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and limit carbon pollution.

These unprecedented investments under the Recovery Act are helping to make the U.S. a global leader in clean energy, improve America’s energy security, and address climate change.

Fed Funding for Philly Vaccination Project

from the inbox:

U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz announced today that Philadelphia’s Public Health Department will receive more than $900,000 to improve the city’s Immunization Registry, including functions for registering individual vaccinations, tracking data in real time, and data exchange with public health authorities. The funds are part of economic recovery efforts. Schwartz has been successful in ensuring that the city and the region have received millions of dollars to help strengthen the local economy.

“The Immunization Registry enables medical professionals to be able to share information on a patient’s vaccination status,” Schwartz said. “This funding will improve the registry and make it an even more useful tool for hospitals, doctors, community health centers, and school nurses. Southeastern Pennsylvania’s vaccination registry has been particularly effective and it is important to continue improving the registry to ensure complete and timely immunization for everyone, particularly children.”

The Pennsylvania Statewide Immunization Information System (PA-SIIS) is a statewide immunization registry that collects vaccination history information. The PA-SIIS consolidates the immunization information from all providers to create a complete and current record. This assists health care providers to age-appropriately immunize all patients in their care.

In 2007, the city of Philadelphia’s childhood vaccine coverage rates were the highest ever recorded.

Weatherization Money to PA

from yesterday's inbox:

U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced today that Pennsylvania has been selected to receive $3.8 million to continue the state’s success and innovation under the Weatherization Assistance Program. Pennsylvania is increasing its efforts under the Recovery Act’s weatherization program and is continuing to accelerate the pace of weatherization in the state. From April to June 2010, the state weatherized over 1,000 homes more than it weatherized from January to March. In total, Pennsylvania has already weatherized nearly 8,400 homes under the Recovery Act.

Pennsylvania’s efforts are contributing to the success of the program nationwide. After ramping up last year, the Weatherization Assistance Program is now weatherizing homes at its optimal rate – approximately 25,000 homes per month. In June, states reported that nearly 31,800 homes were weatherized with Recovery Act funding – the most ever in a month. This summer alone, more than 80,000 homes will be weatherized across the country. A state-by-state breakdown of homes weatherized in the second quarter of 2010 is available HERE.

“The weatherization program is successfully delivering energy and cost savings for American families while helping to rebuild our economy,” said Secretary Chu. “These investments in energy efficiency under the Recovery Act are putting thousands of people to work in Pennsylvania and across the country as part of the clean energy future.”

As part of the awards announced today, two high-performing local weatherization agencies in Wilkes-Barre and Scranton have been selected to receive $1.4 million to install hybrid water heaters and in-home energy use monitors. The award selections were part of nearly $90 million in awards under the Recovery Act announced nationally to complement and expand existing weatherization programs and deliver even greater energy bill savings for local families. More information about the awards is available HERE.

In addition to the $1.4 million Recovery Act award, the Pennsylvania Commission on Economic Opportunity, based in Wilkes-Barre, has been selected to receive $2.4 million to evaluate the additional energy savings potential of in-home display devices that help households manage their energy use. The project will complement an existing program to weatherize 2,500 low-income homes in eastern and central Pennsylvania. The effectiveness of several models of in-home displays will be tested and evaluated. The project will also demonstrate the use of carbon credits and energy efficiency certificates as an innovative financial sustainability strategy for weatherization activities. This award is part of nearly $30 million in awards to forge a new range of weatherization partnerships and implement groundbreaking, innovative delivery and financing models, technologies, and services, further accelerating DOE’s effort to build a sustainable, residential energy efficiency industry.

The weatherization program is also creating thousands of jobs locally – putting carpenters, electricians, and factory workers back to work installing insulation, upgrading appliances, and improving heating and cooling systems. According to state reports, the Recovery Act Weatherization Assistance Program supported more than 13,000 jobs in the second quarter of 2010, including more than 700 jobs in Pennsylvania.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Weatherization Assistance Program helps low-income families save energy and money by improving the energy efficiency of their homes. According to a recent study by Oak Ridge National Laboratory, weatherization services save families an average of more than $400 in energy costs during the first year after home retrofits are installed.

Feds Fund PA Health Insurance Oversight

from the inbox:

Pennsylvania to Receive $1 Million to Help Crack Down on Unreasonable Health Insurance Premium Hikes

Affordable Care Act Grants Will Make Health Insurance Markets More Consumer-Friendly and Transparent

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced the award of $1 million to Pennsylvania to help crack down on health insurance premium increases. Pennsylvania will use this Affordable Care Act funding to help improve the oversight of proposed health insurance premium increases, take action against insurers seeking unreasonable rate hikes, and ensure Pennsylvanians receive value for their premium dollars.

“The Affordable Care Act puts in place critical market reforms to improve quality and reduce the cost of health care for employers and individuals. Increased competition, lower insurance overhead, and better risk pooling in health insurance Exchanges in 2014 are expected to reduce premiums in the individual market by anywhere from 14-20 percent according to the Congressional Budget Office,” said HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. “Between now and then, we will continue to work with States to ensure consumers are receiving value for their premium dollars and to avoid the kind of double digit premium increases seen recently. The State proposals approved today demonstrate the need and desire for new resources and tools to help them protect against unjustifiable premium increases.”

The Affordable Care Act provides States with $250 million in Health Insurance Premium Review Grants over five years to help create a more level playing field by improving how States review proposed health insurance premium increases and holding insurance companies accountable for unjustified premium increases. Applications for the first round of Health Insurance Premium Review Grants were made available on June 7.

The grants build on the Obama Administration’s work with States to implement the Affordable Care Act. Earlier this year, Secretary Sebelius called on certain insurance companies to justify large premium increases and encouraged State and local officials to obtain stronger health insurance premium review authorities under State laws. This increased scrutiny by the Administration and by several States has led to the withdrawal or reduction of several proposed health insurance premium increases that in some cases turned out to be based on faulty assumptions and data.

This grant will be used for the purposes detailed in the approved application. The following is a general summary of how Pennsylvania intends to use its funding:

* Improve the Review Process: Currently the Commonwealth conducts actuarial review of individual market products. Commercial carriers are not required to file group rates. Pennsylvania intends to collect data from insurers in the individual and small group markets and will create a Health Insurance Rate Level Index database, which will be used as a resource for Department staff when reviewing rate filings and to develop comparison charts so that consumers can compare rates.

* Increase Transparency and Accessibility: Currently health insurance premium increases above 10 % are published on the web. The Commonwealth will provide health insurance premium information to the public and will develop enhanced consumer information, including premium comparisons and consumer education tools.

* Develop and Upgrade Technology: Pennsylvania will produce a web based data collection tool and database to provide information to the public.

“States will use these grant dollars in the way that makes the most sense for their insurance consumers,” said Jay Angoff, Director of the Office of Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight. “As we continue to implement the new health insurance reform law, we will continue to work with States to ensure they have the tools they need to ensure the stability of the marketplace, keep costs low and provide consumers with increased transparency, choice and quality they need to make the best health care decisions for their businesses and families.”

The Health Insurance Premium Review Grants are one element of a broad effort under the Affordable Care Act to reduce the unreasonable premium increases proposed by some insurers today. Additional resources from this $250 million program will be available in subsequent years to further strengthen State health insurance premium review procedures. Other statutory provisions designed to improve affordability include:

§ In 2011, the Affordable Care Act allows the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to review justifications for unreasonable increases in premiums and make them public;

§ In 2011, insurers will generally be required to spend at least 80 percent of premium dollars on medical care services and quality-improvement activities and limit their spending on overhead, marketing, CEO salaries, and profits; and

§ In 2014, the Affordable Care Act empowers States to exclude health plans that show a pattern of excessive or unjustified premium increases from the new health insurance Exchanges.

The Affordable Care Act includes a wide variety of provisions designed to promote a high-quality, high-value, health care system for all Americans and to make the health insurance market more consumer-friendly and transparent. Some of the provisions that take effect by the end of next year, or are already in effect, include prohibitions on pre-existing condition exclusions for children; prohibition on lifetime dollar limits in all health plans; extended access to insurance for many young adults; and an unprecedented level of transparency about health insurance through www.HealthCare.gov.

To read more about how each State will use its grant funding, visit http://www.healthcare.gov/center/grants/index.html. For a national fact sheet visit http://www.healthcare.gov/news/factsheets/rates.html.

Funding for Delaware Valley Industrial Resource Center

from the inbox:

The Delaware Valley Industrial Resource Center (DVIRC) exists to help small- and medium-sized manufacturers in the region develop strategic expansion plans, increase exports, and compete in the Philadelphia area and around the world. But not enough businesses are taking advantage of the help that DVIRC could provide.

On Thursday August 12, Pennsylvania Congressman Patrick Murphy (D-8th District) visited a Quakertown manufacturing company, Fabric Development, to highlight the work that DVIRC does and how companies can learn about and use their services. He also announced that the $185,000 in federal funding he is working to get for DVIRC has cleared a key legislative hurdle toward becoming law.

“To propel our economy out of the recession, we need to focus on making things in America again,” Murphy said. “I’m committed to connecting small businesses with the resources that will help them succeed, grow, and hire new workers. DVIRC is a key resource, and I’m proud to partner with them to support domestic manufacturing here in Southeastern Pennsylvania.”

Among other things, DVIRC puts together strategic plans for manufacturing companies looking to expand, improve the efficiency of their operations, or take advantage of new export opportunities. DVIRC will meet with business owners and put together a specific proposal for that company. If the company accepts the proposal, DVIRC will serve as their consultant and help them carry out the expansion plan.

“Patrick Murphy’s support allows us to help Bucks County manufacturers operate more efficiently and create jobs, even in today’s difficult economic climate,” said Tony Girifalco, Executive VP of DVIRC. “Many of our clients have been able to avoid layoffs or even hire new workers during the recession because of the improvements they’ve made to their operations.”

“Patrick Murphy understands the needs of small businesses,” said Mary Shafer, General Manager of Fabric Development. “By supporting organizations like DVIRC, he is helping local manufacturers from the ground up, giving us the tools to increase our competitiveness and retain or hire new workers.”

Fabric Development, a fabric and textile manufacturer with 91 employees, is one of dozens of companies in the region that have benefitted from DVIRC’s services. On Thursday, Shafer addressed the changes her company has made as a result of their partnership. She said the company has adopted new “lean manufacturing techniques” to become more competitive and retain jobs. Shafer credited DVIRC’s strategic plan for the company as a main reason why they have gotten through the economic downturn without having to lay off a single employee.

To help DVIRC serve more companies, Patrick Murphy is fighting for $185,000 in federal funding that DVIRC will be use to help more small and medium-sized manufacturers develop growth strategies. That funding has been passed by the Financial Services Appropriations Subcommittee, the first major step toward becoming law. DVIRC would use the funding to develop an Emerging Manufacturing Initiative, a program designed specifically for smaller manufacturers to help them develop growth strategies for their businesses and to become leaders in our regional economy.

In the past, Murphy has fought for full funding for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program administered by the U.S. Department of Commerce. DVIRC is part of the national MEP network.

Companies seeking additional information on DVIRC can visit visit www.DVIRC.org.

Affordable Care Act in PA

from yesterday's inbox:

Affordable Care Act Offers Prescription Drug Cost Relief to 59,715 Medicare Beneficiaries in Pennsylvania

New Law Offers One-Time, $250 Rebate Checks for Eligible Medicare Beneficiaries in the Medicare Part D Donut Hole

Today, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced that the third round of one-time, tax-free $250 rebate checks have been mailed to eligible Medicare beneficiaries whose drug costs are so high they have reached the Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage gap known as the “donut hole.” Experts estimate that more than a quarter of Part D enrollees hit the donut hole and often stop following their drug regimen as a result of the added cost burden. The $250 rebates will go a long way in preventing seniors from having to make such difficult and almost certainly harmful health decisions. In Pennsylvania, 59,715 seniors and persons with disabilities who rely on Medicare for access to health care have received new help with their prescription drug costs to date, thanks to the Affordable Care Act. Across the country, more than 750,000 Medicare beneficiaries have already received checks this year, and more beneficiaries will be receiving checks in the coming months as they enter the coverage gap.

“High prescription drugs costs are a problem for many seniors and other Medicare enrollees with limited incomes,” said Secretary Sebelius. “These checks are an important first step in helping them afford the medications they need – and are evidence of how Americans are already seeing the very real benefits of the Affordable Care Act. From strengthening the long-term future of Medicare as evidenced by the recent Medicare Trustees report, to saving seniors and the disabled money on everything from prescription drug costs to preventive services, the Affordable Care Act is helping to preserve and protect Medicare.”

The rebate checks will partly close the donut hole this year, with the $250 one-time checks for beneficiaries who enter the gap. In 2011, the Affordable Care Act takes an additional step for Medicare beneficiaries in the donut hole by providing them with a 50 percent discount on their brand name medications. Every year from 2011 to 2020, the Affordable Care Act will take progressive steps to close the donut hole.

In addition to savings on prescription drugs, the new law takes a series of steps to strengthen Medicare. Under the Affordable Care Act:

* Medicare beneficiaries will receive free preventive care services like mammograms and certain colon cancer tests and a free annual physical starting in 2011;

* By 2018, seniors can expect to save on average almost $200 per year in premiums compared to what they would have paid without the new law, and most beneficiaries will also see a significant reduction in their Medicare coinsurance as a result of the Affordable Care Act; and

* The life of the Medicare Trust Fund is extended by 12 years.

“These checks represent just one way that Medicare is going to work better for seniors and persons with disabilities under the Affordable Care Act,” said Don Berwick, administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. “Seniors will see lower prescription drug costs when they are in the donut hole, preventive services and annual wellness visits without cost-sharing, and higher quality care. And our efforts to crack down on fraud and waste are making beneficiaries safer and Medicare stronger financially, adding years to the Medicare trust funds.”

“Often, seniors reach the donut hole because they are on costly medications to help them manage chronic conditions such as high blood pressure or diabetes,” said Kathy Greenlee, assistant secretary for aging. “These checks will help America’s seniors afford the medications they need to manage those illnesses, keeping them healthy and improving their quality of life.”

Medicare beneficiaries who do not already receive Medicare’s Extra Help receive these checks automatically in the mail when they reach the donut hole; there is no requirement to sign up. Seniors should never give out personal information to anyone who is not a trusted source. Seniors are encouraged to contact 1-800-MEDICARE to report any solicitations of personal information, or go to www.stopmedicarefraud.gov to learn about how the Affordable Care Act helps to protect seniors from scams and safeguard taxpayer dollars.

Feds Fund Two Broadband Infrastucture Projects in PA

from the inbox:

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the funding of 2 new Recovery Act broadband infrastructure projects in Pennsylvania. Overall, 126 new broadband infrastructure projects that will create jobs and provide rural residents in 38 states and Native American tribal areas access to improved service are receiving Recovery Act funding today. Broadband access plays a critical role in expanding economic, health care, educational and public safety services in underserved rural communities. Today’s announcement is part of the second round of USDA broadband funding through the Recovery Act.

Pennsylvania projects are (see full list here):

West Virginia PCS Alliance, LC
PA (46%) WV (17%)MD (37%)
$3,268,518
This $3.3 million award with an additional $1.1 million applicant-provided match will allow West Virginia PCS Alliance to provide cost effective high-speed mobile broadband to various rural and low-income areas of the existing NTELOS PCS wireless network in rural Pennsylvania, Maryland, and West Virginia. West Virginia PCS Alliance's project stands to benefit over 185,000 people. In addition, nearly 9,000 businesses and 2,000 community institutions stand to benefit from this project. Not only will this project create jobs upfront, but it will also help drive economic development in the community that will help create jobs for years to come.

Deposit Telephone Company, Inc.
PA (4%) NY (96%)
$3,143,839
This $3.1 million grant to Deposit Telephone Company with an additional $1 million of outside capital will bring high-speed DSL broadband service to unserved establishments in New York and Pennsylvania. Deposit Telephone's project stands to benefit approximately 2,700 people and over 70 businesses. In addition to the jobs this project will create upfront, it will help drive economic development and create jobs for decades to come.