Pennsylvania Governor Rendell Says $38 Million Investment in Washington and Greene...

Pennsylvania Governor Rendell Says $38 Million Investment in Washington and
Greene Counties Will Create Jobs, Stimulate Economy

6th Stop on 25-County Bus Tour Celebrates Investments to Repair Bridges,
Improve Communities, Expand Businesses

CANONSBURG, Pa., Aug. 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ - On the sixth stop of a
five-day, 16-stop bus tour, Governor Edward G. Rendell today announced $38
million in new state investments in Washington and Greene counties that will
leverage more than $17 million in private and local funding, keep more than
2,800 residents working, improve public safety, grow the economy and build
stronger communities.

The Governor's statewide bus tour is announcing $642 million in new state
investments in 25 counties that will leverage more than $1.3 billion in
private and local investments to keep nearly 30,000 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 Washington and Greene counties, with today's announcement we will
have invested $259 million in new state funds since 2003. Combined, the two
counties now have 5,300 more people working than in January 2003."

COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENTS/BUSINESS EXPANSIONS

Overall in Washington and Greene counties, today's announcement of $37.9
million in new state investments in bridges, businesses and community projects
will attract $17.1 million in private economic activity. Including bridge
work, these projects will create 2,199 jobs and protect 606 positions in the
two counties.

The Governor announced the availability of $4.9 million in state funds for
business development and community improvement projects in Washington County,
including:

-- $2 million to help attract companies to the Starpointe Business Park in
Hanover Township. The project will cost more than $12 million and is expected
to create between 900 and 1,000 jobs.
-- $1.6 million for Aquatech to expand its headquarters in Canonsburg.
-- $1 million for the expansion of Mylan Inc.'s Canonsburg headquarters.
-- $241,000 to support the continued growth of Crown Castle Corp. in
Canonsburg.

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 16 bridges in Washington and Greene counties will
be repaired under his accelerated program:

Bridge Replacements in Washington County
-- Chartiers and South Strabane Township -- Arden Bridge over Chartiers Creek
-- Deemston Borough -- Deemston Bridge over Plum Run
-- Canonsburg Borough -- Canonsburg Bridge #2 over a branch of Chartiers Creek
-- South Strabane Township -- Zediker Station Road Bridge over Zediker Station
Road
-- Peters Township -- US 19 at Valley Brook Road
-- Somerset Township -- SR 2021 over Branch of Pigeon Creek
-- Mt. Pleasant Township -- Westland Run Bridge over Westland Run
-- Buffalo Township -- Buffalo Creek Bridge over Buffalo Creek

Bridge Replacements in Greene County
-- Franklin Township -- Jefferson Road Bridge over South Fork Ten Mile Creek
-- Waynesburg Borough and Franklin Township -- PA 218 over N&S RR and South
Fork of Ten Mile Creek
-- Wayne and Perry Townships -- Rudolph Run Bridge over Rudolph Run
-- Morgan Township -- Children's Home Bridge over Ruff Creek
-- Jefferson Township -- Dry Tavern Bridge over Pumpkin Run
-- Jefferson and East Bethlehem Townships -- Ten Mile Creek Bridge
-- Franklin Township -- Eastview Bridge PA 18 over Ten Mile Creek

Bridge Rehabilitations in Washington County
-- West Bethlehem Township -- Barrs Run Bridge over Barrs Run

"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