The Commonwealth Finance Agency this week announced $13 million in grants to support tourism and agriculture projects and $46 million in Business in Our Sites funding for economic development and brownfields projects.

Among the agriculture and tourism grants were:

· The Punxsutawney Chamber of Commerce which will receive a $23,214 planning grant for the development of the Punxsutawney Tourism Development Strategic Plan. The study will create strategies to market the borough as “The Weather Capital of the World,” with the funding being used to identify stakeholders; conduct interviews and focus groups; and perform a destination audit. The total project cost is estimated at $46,500.

· The CFA will guarantee $2 million of a $6 million loan from Legacy Bank to Keystone Biofuels Inc., a for-profit manufacturer of biodiesel in Shiremanstown, Cumberland County, for financing the expansion of its biofuel production plant. The funds will be used to purchase additional plant equipment and tanks, including waste water treatment equipment, a production storage tank, a glycerin storage tank, boiler equipment and other piping. The expansion is expected to grow the plant’s capacity from one-million to seven-million-gallons-per-year.

A complete list of agriculture and tourism projects funded is available online.

Among the brownfield projects funded under Business In Our Sites were:

· The Redevelopment Authority of Beaver County which received a $36,500 planning grant for an environmental study for a property adjacent to the Rochester Waterfront Revitalization site in East Rochester Borough. In July 2005, the authority received a $171,390 planning grant for a feasibility study to create a mixed-use retail, commercial, residential and recreational development. The study determined the need for the abutting property to be part of the project. The funds will be used for a demolition plan, infrastructure design and traffic study.

· The Borough of Franklin, Cambrian County will receive a $175,000 planning grant to help with the redevelopment of the former Bethlehem Steel Franklin Mills site. The money will be used for evaluation of existing utilities, geotechnical assessment, pre-demolition surveys and planning. The total planning cost is estimated to be $200,000. Upon completion, 200-500 new jobs are expected to be created.

· The Redevelopment Authority of Luzerne County will receive a $175,000 planning grant for redevelopment of the Ashley Rail Yard in Ashley Borough. The funds will be used, primarily, for environmental assessments to the 80-acre site that are necessary before development can be determined or begin. The total planning cost is estimated at $375,000.

· The Scranton/Lackawanna Industrial Building Company will receive a $151,000 planning grant for predevelopment planning for the Archbald Business Park in Archbald Borough. The 171-acre site is used, primarily, for heavy manufacturing, but has the potential to diversify. The funding will be used to finance a marketing feasibility study, real estate appraisals and engineering research. Upon completion of the project, 500 new jobs are expected to be created.

A complete list of Business In Our Sites projects funded is available online. The Commonwealth Financing Authority is a seven-member board created to administer and fund projects under Gov. Rendell's economic stimulus package.

The CFA oversees Business In Our Sites, the Tax Increment Financing Guarantee, First Industries Fund, New PA Venture Capital Investment, New Pennsylvania Venture Guarantee, Building PA, PennWorks and the Second Stage Loan programs.

For more information on these projects and programs, visit www.newPA.com or call 1-866-GO-NEWPA (1-866-466-3972).

7/21/2006