Coalition Unveils Campaign to Ensure Pennsylvania Works! for All

Jobs, Economic Development, Government Accountability and Protection and
Promotion of Vibrant, Prosperous and Livable Communities on Agenda
HARRISBURG, Pa.--(Business Wire)--
A coalition of environmental, conservation, preservation, housing, and research
groups, along with elected officials, held a press conference today in
Harrisburg to outline their proposals to build jobs and promote great and green
communities and government accountability. The campaign, Pennsylvania Works!,
will work to create public policy that puts Pennsylvanians to work and builds a
resilient, robust and green economy for all.

"Job creation is Job #1, but they must be good, family-sustaining jobs that
can`t be outsourced," said Jan Jarrett, president and CEO of Citizens for
Pennsylvania`s Future (PennFuture), which is coordinating the Pennsylvania
Works! Campaign. "The jobs of tomorrow are here today in the clean energy
economy. Pennsylvania must be in the forefront in investing in job training and
job creation in renewable energy, energy savings programs, fixing our
infrastructure, creating green buildings, and reducing our dependence on foreign
oil. Our workers deserve to have jobs of lasting value."

"The historic housing crisis offers us opportunities, as well as challenges,"
said Liz Hersh, executive director of the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania. "By
thinking outside the box, we can solve our current problems and avoid future
problems. We can keep financially distressed homeowners in their homes through
the Pennsylvania Homeowners Mortgage Assistance Program. And, by creating a new
state public fund that will provide dedicated, ongoing funding, we can increase
the supply and types of more affordable places to live - making a home of their
own a reality for all Pennsylvania families."

Judy Schwank, president and CEO of 10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania summed up the
goals of Pennsylvania Works! "Our multi-pronged approach will give us the
government we deserve - accountable and transparent to the citizens, flexible in
approach, and providing funding and mechanisms for local governments to pool
resources and provide services as efficiently and effectively as possible. With
so many bridges and roads in need of major repair and our water and sewer
systems failing, one goal must be fixing the infrastructure we have before new
capacity is developed. Let`s make our investments more effective and funnel them
towards our older communities who desperately need the improvements, rather than
creating new infrastructure that in turn creates sprawl."

Founding partners of Pennsylvania Works! include Citizens for Pennsylvania`s
Future (PennFuture), 10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Chapter of
the American Planning Alliance, the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania, Keystone
Research Center, Local Initiatives Support Corporation, PennEnvironment,
Pennsylvania Environmental Council, Preservation Pennsylvania, and Regional
Housing Legal Services.

For Pennsylvania Works!
Jeanne K. Clark, 412-258-6683 or 412-736-6092

Copyright Business Wire 2009