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From left: Kevin O’Donnell, president of CAN DO; Maryanne Petrilla, chairman of the Luzerne County Board of Commissioners; E. Thomas Sandrock, chairman of the CAN DO Board; Congressman Paul E. Kanjorski, U.S. representative for the 11th district; Andrew Reilly, executive director of the Luzerne County Office of Community Development; Daniel N. Frascella Sr., chairman of the Wright Township supervisors; and Gary Lamont, former director of the Office of Community Development.

(Hazle Township, PA, March 24, 2008) – U.S. Congressman Paul E. Kanjorski (PA-11) and Luzerne County Commissioners’ Chairman Maryanne Petrilla joined staff from CAN DO, Greater Hazleton’s economic development organization, and the Luzerne County Office of Community Development to highlight recent successes made possible through the federal Community Development Block Grant program.

The event was held to underscore the important role block grant funding plays in the growth of communities throughout Luzerne County. The officials joined together to celebrate recent successes in conjunction with National Community Development Week. The Luzerne County Office of Community Development administers and leverages Community Development Block Grant funds locally.

Petrilla told an audience of municipal representatives and guests in Humboldt Industrial Park North that since the program’s inception in the mid-1970s, Luzerne County has funded almost $400 million in activities to improve the quality of life for residents.

The funding has been distributed to municipalities and economic groups throughout the county for projects such as road improvements, recreational needs, ADA compliance, razing of dilapidated structures and other capital improvements.
“Over the last 30 years, the county’s boroughs and townships have been excellent partners in identifying and addressing priority needs within their communities,” Petrilla said.

Kanjorski also noted the importance of the program to the local community, saying, “Today we recognize all of the projects throughout Luzerne County that federal Community Development Block Grants have helped fund. These grants make it possible for areas such as Luzerne County to create facilities like Humboldt Industrial Park. Such projects will generate jobs and build services to help the area prosper.”

Since 1993, Luzerne County has invested more than $3.5 million in the first two phases of Humboldt North. That initial investment has led to more than $215 million being leveraged in additional private investment.

CAN DO initially projected the creation of 330 jobs based on the county’s original investment, said Kevin O’Donnell, CAN DO president.

“We’ve far exceeded that goal,” said O’Donnell. In fact, as a return on the Luzerne County and private investments, more than 750 jobs have been or are being created in Humboldt North, he said.

Those jobs are at facilities including Gonnella Frozen Products, which makes dough for bakeries and restaurants; United States Cold Storage, a refrigerated warehouse operator; Vitaline Products, which will manufacture pet food items; Archer Daniels Midland’s cocoa processing plant and AutoZone’s distribution center.

“The block grant funding is very important to economic development organizations such as CAN DO. It has helped CAN DO create hundreds of jobs here in Humboldt North. Thanks to the funding, we’ve also been able to build roads, install water and sewer lines and take care of the many other facets needed to develop our industrial parks,” O’Donnell said.

Petrilla noted that Humboldt Industrial Park is a perfect example of the block grant program’s success.

“The Business Development Loan Program has been instrumental in attracting new business to the area, enabling existing businesses to expand and creating full-time job opportunities. The county’s initial investment here in Humboldt has definitely paid off,” she said.

Petrilla and Kanjorski spoke of the importance of increasing the program’s financial support, which has declined each year since 2001.

“Community Development Week provides an opportunity to reflect on the significant role the CDBG program plays in making Luzerne County a better place to live. It is important that we all take a moment to demonstrate our appreciation for the assistance derived from this program and work hard toward the long-term goal of expanding nationwide support for one of the most successful domestic programs in history. CDBG must continue and remain the cornerstone of community development that our communities have come to rely on for more than 30 years,” Petrilla said.

Kanjorski said, “I am proud to have consistently countered the President’s efforts to abolish these needed grants. I will continue to work in Washington and on the House Financial Services Committee to ensure that these federal grants are made available to support local construction and development.”

Kanjorski is the No. 2 ranked member on the U.S. House of Representatives House Financial Services Committee and the chairman of the Capital Markets, Insurance and Government Sponsored Enterprises Subcommittee. The Financial Services Committee claims jurisdiction over the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which awards federal Community Development Block Grants.
In addition to the block grant program, Luzerne County has also provided CAN DO, and industries supported by CAN DO, with $8 million in low-interest loans and grants since 1997.

“We appreciate Luzerne County’s commitment to developing new jobs and programs in our area. The Community Development Block Grant funding has enabled us to do some wonderful things here in Greater Hazleton and has improved the quality of life for our residents,” O’Donnell said.