Latest news with #AppalachianRegionalCommission
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Corry City Councilman Jeff Fike resoundingly wins Republican nomination for Corry mayor
The race for the Republican nomination for Corry mayor wasn't much of a race, according to unofficial municipal primary results. Corry City Councilman Jeff Fike defeated incumbent Mayor Michael Baker by a 3-1 margin, 346 votes to 108, to win the Republican nomination for mayor. There were no Democratic candidates. "We just tried to keep everything positive the whole time," Fike said of his campaign. "We heard a lot of, 'We're tired of this,' and 'they shouldn't get away with this.' We just tried to stay positive to do what we can to turn things around and get positive momentum in the city of Corry." Fike campaigned on a platform of honesty, transparency and progress. "We've got to get some confidence back from different organizations and from agencies that awarded the city grants that were turned back for no good reason," Fike said. "We have to instill confidence again so we can get projects completed." Fike is a Corry city councilman who opposed council votes to return a state grant for trail improvements and to refuse an Appalachian Regional Commission grant for fiber broadband development. He is a retired state police trooper. Fike called the nomination win "humbling." "We had a lot of support from the community," he said. Corry city dynamics are almost certain to change dramatically next year, and not only because of the likely change in mayor. Erie County Executive race: Christina Vogel upsets Perry Wood to clinch Democratic nod Impact Corry Executive Director Chuck Gray and Bill Roche, a member of Impact Corry's board of directors and a former city councilman, won nominations for City Council, Gray on the Republican ticket and Roche on the Democratic. Impact Corry led planning for the trail and fiber projects. Former Corry mayor and councilman Charles Campbell also won a Republican nomination for council. Contact Valerie Myers at vmyers@ This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Jeff Fike defeats incumbent Corry mayor Michael Baker for nomination
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Dunmore to improve Keystone Industrial Park Road with $1.8M in grants
Dunmore will use nearly $2 million in grants to improve the crumbling Keystone Industrial Park Road, giving drivers a smoother surface and pedestrians a safer path to work. Borough council voted Monday to approve a resolution authorizing and directing borough Manager Greg Wolff to sign an agreement with the state Department of Transportation to improve Keystone Industrial Park Road, council President Janet Brier said. The project, now more than 3½ years in the making, will use $1.8 million in grants to repave the borough-owned industrial park road and add a bike/walking lane for pedestrians, Brier said. The work will extend from the O'Neill Highway intersection to the Throop border, she said. In its current state, the pockmarked Keystone Industrial Park Road is shrinking at the edges as the shoulders crumble, she said, estimating it hasn't been repaved in at least 20 years. 'It looks like it was a war zone up there,' Brier said. * A vehicle reflected in a side mirror makes its way down Keystone Industrial Park Drive in Dunmore Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG) * Keystone Industrial Park Drive in Dunmore Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG) * Vehicles drive on Keystone Industrial Park Road in Dunmore Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) * Keystone Industrial Park Drive in Dunmore Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG) Show Caption 1 of 4 A vehicle reflected in a side mirror makes its way down Keystone Industrial Park Drive in Dunmore Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG) Expand With the traffic lines fading and the crumbled shoulders, Brier said she was concerned seeing people walking along the road on the way to work. 'It's super dangerous,' she said. 'There's heavy truck traffic.' The borough first applied for $1 million through the state's Multimodal Transportation Fund in July 2022, but the town only received $200,000, which wasn't enough for the project, Brier said. So, former Councilman Vince Amico, who was council president at the time, contacted the Appalachian Regional Commission, or ARC, Brier said. The ARC is an economic development partnership involving the federal government and 13 state governments, focusing on 423 counties across the Appalachian Region, including Lackawanna County, according to the ARC's website. The ARC's mission is to 'innovate, partner and invest to build community capacity and strengthen economic growth in Appalachia to help the region achieve socioeconomic parity with the nation,' according to the organization. Dunmore applied for funding for the project through the ARC. Following a lengthy process that included bringing in a grant writer to assist the borough, the town received $1.6 million for the industrial park road, Brier said. The preapplication process alone included contacting dozens of businesses to document growth in the industrial park, Brier said. 'They don't want to invest in a stagnant area,' she said. For example, Brier learned Maid-Rite Steak Co. Inc., 105 Keystone Industrial Park Road, was closing one of its offices and relocating about 45 people to its Dunmore location in the industrial park, she said. 'They want to see that type of growth,' she said of the ARC. Dunmore hired engineering firm Greenman-Pedersen Inc., which has an office on Montage Mountain, for the project's engineering, Brier said. The borough will now be working with PennDOT on the project, with the agency handling the construction process, she said. Brier did not yet have a timeline for when the work will take place, though she hopes it will bring more businesses to the borough. The industrial park itself is an attractive location because of its proximity to major roads like Interstates 80, 380 and 81, as well as the Casey Highway, she said. 'We want to attract business in Dunmore, and it's very unattractive for a business to come in here and see the roads that they'll be using to go in and out of their business, that their employees will be using,' Brier said. 'I'd like to make it look more attractive for businesses to want to come here.' Prior to council voting on the road improvements, the borough honored Dunmore resident and centenarian Charles Arnone with a proclamation for his 100th birthday, according to Councilman Tom Hallinan. Arnone served in both World War II and the Korean War, Hallinan said. Dunmore Mayor Max Conway, left, poses with resident and centenarian Charles Arnone on Monday at the Dunmore Community Center. The borough honored Arnone, who is a World War II and Korean War veteran, with a proclamation for his 100th birthday. (COURTESY OF COUNCILMAN TOM HALLINAN)
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
City of Elmira receives $50K grant for planning and zoning projects
ELMIRA, N.Y. (WETM) – The City of Elmira is expected to receive $50,000 worth of funding to support its updated planning and zoning project, as stated in a release from Congressman Nick Langworthy. On Wednesday, April 23, Congressman Langworthy announced that the city will receive the funding through a taxpayer-funded grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) and New York State. This funding will help the city rezone and develop a zoning process that meets the city's needs. Southport Fire Department kicks off New York's annual RecruitNY campaign Funding for this project will serve as a contribution to a ten-year comprehensive plan and will provide an updated set of long-term zoning methods. With contributions of $180,000 from other New York State entities, total funding for this project will equal $230,000. In the release, Langworthy noted that the city's comprehensive plan and zoning regulations have not been updated since 2016, making this funding a great resource for new and improved opportunities for growth. 'I'm proud to announce the $50,000 ARC grant for the City of Elmira,' said Langworthy. 'Elmira's Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Regulations were last updated in 2016 and 1998. By updating these two projects, Elmira will be able to access new funding sources, ensure economic growth opportunities, and streamline development.' Local Parish Priest reflects on Pope Francis' death, legacy of compassion In addition, Mayor Dan Mandel, City of Elmira, noted that opportunities like these provide savings for taxpayers in the city and emphasized the importance of working with the congressman and state representatives to secure these opportunities. 'I want to thank Congressman Nick Langworthy and our great team at City Hall for working together to secure this $50,000 grant towards our city planning and zoning updates,' said Mayor Mandel. 'Every dollar we can get through grant funding means savings for our Elmira Taxpayers, and that is why I have put an emphasis on working with our Congressman and State Representatives to seize as many opportunities as we can find. The funds here will help pay for our 10-year comprehensive plan, which will be a great tool to guide construction, growth and investment across our city.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Virginia Tech awarded $1.3 million for natural gas conversion research
BLACKSBURG, Va. (WFXR) – Virginia Tech has received a 1.3 million grant to lead natural gas conversion research in Southwest Virginia from the Appalachian Regional Commission. This initiative is to look into revolutionizing the energy and hydrogen production industries. 'We are utilizing natural gas, a relatively cleaner fossil fuel compared to oil, and converting it into hydrogen, which not only is a clean energy carrier but is also used as feedstock for manufacturing in many large-scale industrial processes,' said Sheima Khatib, associate professor of chemical engineering and one of the researchers leading the project. The project goals include: Establish a leading hydrogen innovation hub in Virginia, advancing turquoise hydrogen production through catalytic methane decomposition Promote regional partnerships to support economic development, diversify the economic base, and enhance entrepreneurial activities Develop a world-class, highly skilled workforce that is well educated and trained for the chemical manufacturing job market Assist communities in preserving, developing, and promoting natural and cultural assets to boost local economies Strengthen local and regional leadership to enhance collaborative and community-based skills, improving quality of life in the Appalachian region of Virginia 'While there are alternative methods used currently in industry to produce hydrogen, they often result in hydrogen mixed with other gases, including carbon dioxide, requiring expensive and energy intensive separation processes,' said Khatib. 'Our method eliminates this issue, representing a major advancement in producing clean hydrogen from an existing abundant resource.' Women's Health of Central Virginia launches new weight loss program Hydrogen plays a key role fuel cells production, generating electricity with only water as a byproduct, which is ideal for power generation and transportation. Hydrogen also plays a role in industrial processes, including ammonia synthesis for fertilizers, petroleum refining, and methanol production 'This project will contribute to economic growth, community engagement, the adoption of sustainable energy solutions, and bolster both regional and national security,' Khatib said. Khatib has teamed up with academic and industrial partners to achieve the following goals: Amy Price Azano, professor of rural education and adolescent literacy and director of the Center for Rural Education at Virginia Tech Wilson Shafer, assistant professor of chemistry at Asbury University Robert Hart, R&D leader, Shepherd Chemical Company 'Carbon doesn't belong in the atmosphere. It belongs in high-value, durable materials that bring value to peoples' lives,' Hart said. 'Catalytic methane decomposition to make hydrogen and carbon needed a breakthrough to achieve this goal, and Professor Khatib's team has found one that looks like it could be successful. We are excited to partner on this project to see if this technology can be scaled up into a successful business with real societal impact.' 'This grant provides a meaningful opportunity to support teachers as they develop place-based lessons designed to strengthen student learning and rural sustainability,' Azano said. 'Every place is made stronger when rural places thrive.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Beshear adds Kentucky to Democratic AGs' lawsuit challenging Trump funding freeze
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear has joined a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration's funding freeze. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Liam Niemeyer) FRANKFORT — Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear said his office is joining a national lawsuit against the Trump administration's funding freeze to get dollars 'that the people of Kentucky are owed.' Beshear made the announcement during his weekly press conference, saying that his office has been added as a party to a lawsuit filed by Democratic attorneys general in 22 states and the District of Columbia. 'For us as a state, this is important, first, because we take our Constitution and the U.S. Constitution seriously, but also many of these programs operate on reimbursements,' Beshear said. At the moment, Kentucky has paid more than $7 million under federal law and other agreements for which the federal government must reimburse the state, Beshear said. A federal judge in Rhode Island has ordered the Trump administration to unfreeze the payments, and on Tuesday the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals declined the Trump Justice Department's request to block that order. Beshear was a vocal critic of the Trump administration for issuing and then rescinding a memo freezing a wide variety of federal payments, setting off widespread confusion. At the time, the governor called it 'one of the most bizarre days' he's seen in government. Despite the judge's ruling, some federal payments, including reimbursements to farmers in Kentucky, are still frozen, according to media reports. 'We deserve to be able to rely on the agreements that a federal government has made, regardless of what party is in power,' Beshear said. 'And I was raised to say, my word is my bond. And when I sign a contract, I go through with it. When I sign an agreement, I go through with it, and this is just asking our federal government to do the same.' Beshear said the freeze has affected Medicaid, the Appalachian Regional Commission, the Abandoned Mined Lands program among other federal funding in Kentucky. Beshear emphasized that he would have taken the same action regardless of the president's political party. He pointed to having sued the Obama administration as Kentucky's attorney general. 'My job isn't to be the best Democratic governor I can be, but the best governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky that I can be. I'm going to keep standing up for us and our people.' When asked if his office had conferred with Republican Attorney General Russell Coleman's office about seeking the federal funding in court, Beshear compared the situation to former Republican Gov. Matt Bevin joining lawsuits in his official capacity while Beshear was attorney general. Beshear added that this action allows him to raise Kentucky issues in court. 'This lets us enforce our contractual rights and programs and payments created under federal statute directly,' he said. 'And that's my goal — is just to get it resolved.' Beshear reportedly said during a call with top Democrats last month that states with Democratic governors and Republican attorneys general need to have a separate legal and communications strategy to oppose Trump's policies. Spokespeople for Coleman did not return an emailed request for comment Thursday afternoon.
