In this Email Update:

• Residents sound off on budget debate during telephone town hall event
• Property Tax Independence Act billboards to be erected near Capitol
• Senator Argall celebrates Dear Tamaqua, National Night Out in Borough
• Berks County employer global leader in eye care and treatment
• Volunteers make No. 9 Coal Mine and Museum a must-see
• Sinking Spring YMCA pillar for community, asset to residents
• Hawk Mountain accessible trail dedicated
• Apply for Small Business Advantage Grants

Residents sound off on budget debate during telephone town hall event

On August 5, more than 4,700 residents of Berks and Schuylkill Counties joined me to discuss the current budget impasse and other budget-related issues during my telephone town hall.

Local residents were given the opportunity to ask questions and share their suggestions and concerns about the budget stalemate and the effects of the governor’s vetoes.

Several questions were posed to participants on a variety of issues including: the governor’s vetoes, property tax elimination, pension reform, and liquor privatization. Some highlights from the polling results are listed below:

• 46 percent of participants think the governor should have signed the House and Senate budget plan.
• 76 percent of participants disapprove of the governor’s allies spending $500,000 in TV advertising and tens of thousands of dollars in mail advertising.
• 49 percent of participants want the House and Senate to try to override the governor’s veto of the balanced, no-tax increase budget.
• 79 percent of participants support Senate Bill 76, to eliminate school property taxes.
• 74 percent of participants support pension reform.
• 63 percent of participants support liquor privatization.
• 56 percent of participants oppose the governor’s veto of the PlanCon program, which would reimburse school districts for construction projects. Find more information here .

If you were unable to join me for Wednesday’s event, I encourage you to take the time to voice your opinions on these issues by completing the survey found here.

Property Tax Independence Act billboards to be erected near Capitol

Two billboards promoting House Bill 76 and Senate Bill 76, legislation that aims to eliminate school property taxes completely, will be erected on two busy traveling routes near the state Capitol in Harrisburg on August 10 and August 17.

Eliminating the burdensome and archaic school property tax is imperative to ensure that citizens can remain in their homes, and also so we can find a better way to fund our public schools.

A huge thanks goes out to the Pennsylvania Coalition of Taxpayer Associations for coordinating this effort and to all those who made generous donations in order to make these billboards possible!

Senator Argall celebrates Dear Tamaqua, National Night Out in Borough

As part of the National Night Out, the Borough of Tamaqua celebrated by highlighting the finale of the “Dear Tamaqua” initiative. Several communities in Berks and Schuylkill Counties celebrated National Night Out along with over 16,000 communities across the United States. Tamaqua joined the national event with their “Dear Tamaqua” initiative, which provided valuable feedback from past and present residents of the borough.

The event featured a mile-long parade through the town, a festival for children, entertainers, trolley and horse-drawn carriage rides, “Jumbotron” televisions displaying historical footage of the town’s history, and theatrical readings of letters submitted as part of the “Dear Tamaqua” program. Letters ranged from suggestions on how to improve the community to things people love about Tamaqua.

The event saw over a thousand local residents come out to support the community.

Senator Argall speaks with Schuylkill County District Attorney Christine Holman.	Senator Argall talks to Ed Shafer of Shafer’s Pharmacy in Tamaqua.

Berks County employer global leader in eye care and treatment

On Tuesday, I visited Alcon in Sinking Spring to tour the borough’s largest employer. Alcon’s facility in Sinking Spring supplies the globe with cutting edge eye care and treatment tools. They employ over 800 local residents and continue to expand their operations in Berks County. Rick Patterson provided me with a tour of their facilities.

Volunteers make No. 9 Coal Mine and Museum a must-see

Providing over 10,000 tourists with a glimpse into the coal region’s proud and historic mining heritage, the No. 9 Coal Mine and Museum is a must-see treasure in Lansford. Operated by volunteers, No. 9 provides a tour of an abandoned coal mine that was restored thanks to the countless hours and tireless efforts of local volunteers dedicated to preserving an important piece of our region’s tradition.

Dave Kuchta and several others provided me with a tour of the mine and museum. The No. 9 Coal Mine and Museum is a great spot to visit! You can find more information on their website. You can see more pictures here.

Sinking Spring YMCA pillar for community, asset to residents

On August 4, I was invited to tour the Sinking Spring Family YMCA. I greatly appreciate the dedication of the staff and volunteers to the local community. Their first-class facilities are a great asset for the residents of Berks County.

Hawk Mountain accessible trail dedicated

It was a pleasure to join the staff and volunteers at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, along with local residents and officials, to celebrate the grand opening of Hawk Mountain’s new accessible trail on July 26.

The sanctuary’s new trail provides individuals with disabilities and mobility issues the opportunity to experience the scenic and picturesque views that Hawk Mountain has to offer.

This event was a great way to come together as a community and share these experiences in nature with one another. I want to thank all those who helped to make this event, and trail, possible for residents and visitors to enjoy.

Congratulations!

Apply for Small Business Advantage Grants

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is currently accepting applications for Small Business Advantage Grants. Funded by the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act, these grants will be used to subsidize projects that aim to prevent pollution and increase energy efficiency in our state.

DEP encourages all those interested, such as manufacturers and retailers, to apply for a grant. In order to be considered eligible for a grant, applicants must adhere to the following requirements:

• Applicants must be a for-profit corporation, LLC, partnership, sole proprietorship or other legal entity with 100 or less full-time employees.
• The project must be located in Pennsylvania.
• Applicants must be the owner of the project.
• Projects must generate a minimum of $500 and 25 percent in energy consumption or pollution related expenditures annually.

In 2014, DEP awarded 139 grants to Pennsylvania businesses that implemented pollution prevention and energy efficient projects. These grants totaled more than $980,000 to these businesses and generated over $2.5 million in private investment.

Applications will be reviewed on a first come, first served basis and will be accepted until funds from the Fiscal Year 2015-2016 are expended or on April 15, 2016, whichever instance may come first.

Applications must be mailed to DEP’s Grant Center at: P.O. Box 8776, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8776 or hand delivered to the center at the Rachel Carson State Office Building, 15th floor, located at: 400 Market Street, Harrisburg.

To receive an application, or for more information about the Small Business Advantage Grant, please visit www.dep.state.pa.us and click on the “Small Business Advantage Grant” option.

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