Governor Rendell Seeks Comments on Plan to Use Stimulus Funds to Help Low-Income Residents

$42 Million Available to Assist With Housing Services, Job Training

HARRISBURG, Pa., May 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Pennsylvania's plan to empower low-income families and communities with $42 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, or ARRA, is now available for public review and comment through May 28, Governor Edward G. Rendell said today.

The plan, available online at www.recovery.pa.gov under the "Announcements" section, describes Pennsylvania's intended use of the Community Services Block Grant, or CSBG, program funding provided as part of the federal recovery act. The additional $42 million will supplement current CSBG funding to combat root causes of poverty and revitalize communities. The funds will be administered Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.

"The national recession has created hardships for families all across the state, often through no fault of their own," said Governor Rendell. "As an increasing number of Pennsylvanians are affected, this additional funding will help community organizations continue their efforts to provide assistance to those who need it most."

The ARRA CSBG funds will be focused on certain priority areas, which include: supportive services and housing; financial literacy training; job training; job creation, including micro-enterprise development and entrepreneurship training; integration of immigrant communities, including job related English language training; and outreach to clients unlikely to be aware of the programs.

The grant funds will benefit 44 organizations - 42 Community Action Agencies and two Limited Purpose Agencies - which provide anti-poverty services in all 67 counties.

To ensure equitable distribution, the CSBG Recovery Act funds will be distributed to the 44 eligible entities based on straight percentage increases to the regular CSBG funding formula allocations.

Prior to the execution of grants, all eligible entities are required to submit detailed work plans and budgets.

Written comments should be directed to JamesEtta Reed, director of DCED's Center for Community Empowerment; at jareed@state.pa.us or at 400 North St., 4th Floor, Harrisburg, PA 17120.

Governor Rendell is committed to ensuring that the public is able to monitor and provide feedback on how federal recovery dollars are being used by providing news, up-to-date information and regular reports on www.recovery.pa.gov.

For more information and details on Governor Rendell's 2009-10 budget proposal to provide relief to struggling families and spark an economic recovery, visit www.pa.gov.

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.

EDITOR'S NOTE: A list of eligible entities for CSBG funds, including their respective service areas, follows:


Community Services Block Grant Agencies


Southeast Region

Bucks County Opportunity Council

Community Action Agency of Delaware County

Montgomery County Community Action Development Commission

Mayor's Office of Community Services (Philadelphia)

Chester County Department of Community Development


Northeast Region

Carbon County Action Committee for Human Services

Commission on Economic Opportunity of Luzerne County

Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley, Inc. (Lehigh and Northampton counties)

Berks Community Action Program, Inc.

Schuylkill Community Action

Scranton-Lackawanna Human Development Agency

Trehab, Inc. (Bradford, Tioga, Wayne, Sullivan, Susquehanna, and Wyoming counties)

Monroe County Commissioners (Pike and Monroe counties)


Central Region

Community Action Program of Lancaster County

Community Progress Council, Inc. (York County)

South Central Community Action Programs, Inc. (Adams and Franklin counties)

Community Action Commission (Cumberland, Dauphin, and Perry counties)

Lebanon County Community Action Partnership

Blair County Community Action Agency

Community Action Partnership of Cambria County

Central Pennsylvania Community Action, Inc. (Centre and Clearfield counties)

Lycoming-Clinton Counties Commission for Community Action

Tableland Services, Inc. d/b/a Community Action Partnership of Somerset County

Union-Snyder Community Action Agency (also serves Mifflin and Juniata counties)

Center for Community Action (Bedford, Fulton, and Huntington counties)

Central Susquehanna Opportunities, Inc. (Columbia, Northumberland, and Montour counties)


Southwest Region

Allegheny County Department of Human Services

Armstrong County Community Action Agency

Fayette County Community Action Agency

Pittsburgh Community Services, Inc.

Indiana County Community Action Program

Community Action Southwest (Washington and Greene counties)

Westmoreland Community Action

Community Services Program of Beaver County

Butler County Community Action and Development


Northwest Region

Greater Erie Community Action Committee

Community Action, Inc. (Jefferson and Clarion counties)

Community Action Partnership of Mercer County

Northern Tier Community Action Corporation (McKean, Potter, Elk and Cameron counties)

Venango/Crawford Counties Office of Economic Opportunity

Warren/Forest Counties Economic Opportunity Council

Lawrence County Community Action Partnership

Limited Purpose Agencies

Central

Pathstone Corporation (statewide)

Community Action Association of Pennsylvania (statewide)

CONTACT:
Luke Webber (DCED)
717-783-1132

Barry Ciccocioppo
717-783-1116


SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of the Governor