|
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
|
State Rep. Joe Petrarca |
|
Petrarca announces $320,000 grant for local steel company
HARRISBURG, March 27 – State Rep. Joe Petrarca, D-Westmoreland/Armstrong, announced that a local business has been awarded a $320,000 grant through the state Department of Transportation’s Rail Freight Assistance Program.
Lehigh Specialty Melting Inc. in Latrobe was awarded the grant to continue upgrading its rail system. The company ships and receives much of its raw and finished materials by rail, but the rail system dates back to the company’s founding over 100 years ago and has deteriorated considerably. The grant will be used to complete the second phase of the rail renovation.
Petrarca met with Chad Ireland, vice president and general manager of Lehigh Specialty Melting Inc., state Department of Transportation officials and the governor’s office to secure the funding.
“Lehigh Specialty Melting has a long history of quality steelmaking in western Pennsylvania,” Petrarca said. “Rebuilding the rails will allow the company to get products delivered to customers on time and remain competitive in the global economy.”
Funding for the Rail Freight Transportation Assistance Program is allotted through the capital budget for 2007. Separate from the state’s general fund budget, the capital budget is adopted every few years to provide funding for public improvement projects such as construction, renovation, furniture and equipment, transportation, redevelopment, flood control, state parks and special projects for state agencies. Funding for projects authorized in the capital budget still must be approved by the governor, and must also acquire a local sponsor and matching funds.
Pennsylvania has the fifth-largest amount of railways in the nation, with over 5,000 rail track miles.
###vls/2008/agh
l:\print\releases\freightgrantlehigh.055
|
|