Pennsylvania Governor Rendell Says $28 Million Investment in Somerset and Bedford...

Pennsylvania Governor Rendell Says $28 Million Investment in Somerset and
Bedford Counties Will Create Jobs, Stimulate Economy

5th Stop on 25-County Bus Tour Celebrates Investments to Repair Bridges,
Improve Communities, Expand Businesses

SOMERSET, Pa., Aug. 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On the fifth stop of a
five-day, 16-stop bus tour, Governor Edward G. Rendell today announced $28
million in new state investments in Somerset and Bedford counties that will
leverage more than $30 million in private and local funding, keep more than
800 residents working, improve public safety, grow the economy and build
stronger communities.

The Governor's statewide bus tour is announcing $643 million in new state
investments in 25 counties that will leverage more than $1.3 billion in
private and local investments to keep 20,000 Pennsylvanians working.

"Our national economy is continuing to pose enormous challenges for our
working families," Governor Rendell said. "We cannot afford to wait for help
from Washington, or for the situation to grow worse. That is why we are moving
forward with a Pennsylvania solution to grow our own economy and create jobs
for Pennsylvania workers.

"We know this strategy will work because we have proven it before," he said.
"When I took office in 2003, Pennsylvania was trailing the nation in job
growth and had spent most of the prior four years with a higher unemployment
rate than the nation's jobless number. I worked with the General Assembly to
create an economic stimulus plan that attracted new employers and improved our
cities and towns.

"Our investments paid off. Even in these tough economic times, Pennsylvania
has added jobs in four of the past six months - while the U.S., as a whole,
has consistently lost jobs - and our unemployment rate is lower than the
nation's.

"Here in Somerset and Bedford counties, with today's announcement we will have
invested more than $535 million in new state funds since 2003. The two
counties now have 2,100 more people working than in January 2003, and
unemployment has dropped significantly in both counties -- by 32.6 percent in
Bedford County and 8.8 percent in Somerset County."

COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENTS/BUSINESS EXPANSIONS

Overall in Somerset and Bedford counties, today's announcement of $28 million
in new state investments in bridges, businesses and community projects will
attract $30.5 million in private economic activity. Including bridge work,
these projects will keep more than 1,400 Somerset and Bedford counties
residents working.

The Governor announced the availability of $895,000 in state funds for PBS
Coals to help the company upgrade its coal production, processing, and
shipping facilities; put a now-dormant plant back into production; and expand
its capacity by opening two additional deep mines.

BRIDGE REPAIRS

Despite nearly tripling spending on bridge repairs in the past five years,
Pennsylvania has the highest number of structurally deficient bridges in the
nation. This year's budget provides $466 million in new state funds to
accelerate repairs to 224 bridges in the 25 counties on this tour. Overall,
the commonwealth will invest nearly $1 billion this fiscal year to repair or
replace as many as 611 bridges.

"The bridges in this year's accelerated repair program will require enough
concrete to build 16,000 homes, which would be equal to a 60 percent increase
in new home construction," Governor Rendell said. "In addition, that bridge
work will demand enough steel to build four Eiffel Towers."

The Governor announced that 21 bridges in Bedford and Somerset counties will
be repaired under his accelerated program:

Bridge Replacements in Bedford County
-- Hopewell Township -- PA 26 Yellow Creek Bridge
-- East and West Providence Townships -- Mench Bridge over Shaffers Creek
-- Monroe Township -- Chapmans Run Bridge over Chapmans Run
-- Hopewell Township -- Eichelbergertown Bridge over Bank Run
-- East Providence Township -- Tub Mill Run Tributary Bridge

Bridge Replacements in Somerset County
-- Jennerstown Borough and Jenner Township -- Beaver Dam Creek Bridge #2 over
Beaver Dam Creek
-- Quemahoning Township -- Stoystown Bridge #2 over Tributary of Stony Creek
-- Quemahoning Township -- Stoystown Bridge #1 over Stony Creek
-- Quemahoning Township --Stoystown Bridge #3 over CSX Railroad
-- Middlecreek Township -- Laurel Hill Creek Bridge #1 over Laurel Hill Creek
-- Quemahoning and Conemaugh Townships -- Plank Road Bridge over Quemahoning
Creek

Bridge Rehabilitations in Bedford County
-- Mann Township -- Silver Mills Bridge over Piney Creek
-- Monroe Township -- Pine Ridge Bridge over West Branch of Sideling Hill
Creek
-- Mann Township -- Robinsonville Bridge over West Branch of Sideling Hill
Creek
-- East Providence Township -- West Gapsville Bridge over Brush Creek
-- Bedford Township -- Cessna Bridge over Dunnings Creek

Bridge Rehabilitations in Somerset County
-- Conemaugh and Stonycreek Townships -- SR 4041 over Stony Creek River
-- Elk Lick Township -- Boynton Casselman River Bridge
-- Elk Lick Township -- US 219 Boynton Bridge over Big Piney Run

Bridge Preservation in Somerset County
-- Jenner Township -- S. Jenners X-Roads Bridge #1 over Quemahoning Creek
-- Jenner Township -- S. Jenners X-Roads Bridge #2 over Quemahoning Creek

"Pennsylvania is primed for continued growth," Governor Rendell said. "We can
lead the way out of the national economic crisis by continuing to invest in
jobs and business expansion, a safe infrastructure, strong communities and the
resulting gains in productivity."

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: The Governor's weeklong tour will end on Friday in Reading. For
the details of his schedule, visit www.pa.gov.

CONTACT:
Chuck Ardo
717-783-1116

SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of the Governor

Chuck Ardo of the Pennsylvania Office of the Governor, +1-717-783-1116