Photo Gallery - January 2006

January 31 - Senator Robbins led a press conference supporting Widener University's "Children of Active and Reserve Educational Scholarship" (CARES) -- which provides a free education at Widener to any dependent of a member of the U.S. Armed Forces that was killed in action in Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom. With Sen. Robbins were Dr. James Harris III (President of Widener University), Major General Robert French (Deputy Adjutant General of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard), Senate and House colleagues, as well as members of the Pennsylvania National Guard. Sen. Robbins thanked Widener for taking the initiative on their own to create this scholarship. He also encouraged other colleges and universities to take similar steps.
 

January 20, 2006 - Senator Robbins attended Governor Rendell’s bill signing ceremony for House Bill 1690, which establishes a Mentored Youth Hunting Program within the Game Commission. Senator Robbins introduced the legislation (Senate Bill 988) and inserted its provisions into House Bill 1690 (now Act 86 of 2005).
Photos provided by Commonwealth Media Services
 

January 17, 2006, Senator Robbins and Dick Miller, Mayor of the Borough of Greenville, Mercer County, at the new Woodcraft Industries facility near Greenville.

January 17, 2006 - Woodcraft Industries, Inc., launched its first Pennsylvania manufacturing operation near Greenville, PA, that will create 185 new jobs . The Commonwealth has committed a $2.21 million financial package towards this project. Joining Senator Robbins for Woodcraft's announcement were a number of state and local dignitaries. Pictured from left to right are Dennis Yablonksy, Secretary of Community & Economic Development; Michele Brooks, Mercer Co. Commissioner; Rep. Michael Gruitza; Senator Bob Robbins; John Fitzpatrick, CEO of Woodcraft Industries, Inc; Olivia Lazor, Mercer Co. Commissioner; Rep. Rod Wilt; and Brad Gosser, Executive Director & Vice President, Greenville-Reynolds Dev. Corp.

During a recent Community & Economic Development meetiing at the City of Hermitage municipal building, Senator Bob Robbins and Congresswomen Hart heard from community leaders on the progress of projects regarding the LindenPointe Planned Technical Park Business Campus, the National Guard Armory Relocation project and PA Route 60/Broadway Industrial Corridor initiatives. Pictured from L-R, Samuel Gianetti, Executive Director, Mercer-Lawrence Co. Workforce Investment Board; Marcia Hirschmann, City of Hermitage, Director of Planning & Development; Gary Gulla, City of Hermitage, Deputy Manager; Daniel Gracenin, Executive Director, Mercer Co. Regional Planning Commission; Rex Knisely, Chairman, Hermitage Economic Dev. Commission; Patrick McIlhinny, City of Hermitage, Chief of Police; Congresswomen Hart, 4th District; Angela Palumbo, Site Administrator, Mercer County Careerlink; Senator Bob Robbins, 50th District; and Larry Reichard, Executive Director, Penn Northwest Dev. Corp.

January 12, 2006 - Senator Robbins joined Allegheny College President Richard Cook to announce that the College will receive $1.5 million in Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RCAP) funding from the Commonwealth to assist with construction of a modern theater and communication arts center.
 

January 16, 2006 - Ground breaking of a $1.7 million addition to expand the Alcoa Reynolds Food Packaging plant in Grove City, PA. This project includes a 1,000 square foot expansion, addition of two resin silos and a new enclosed loading dock. The Grove City plant currently employs 200 people and produces corrugated paper, plastic containers and extruded roll stock for the food industry. The expansion will create 35 new jobs at the facility. Those participating at the groundbreaking are from L-R, Larry Reichard, Executive Director, Penn-Northwest Development Corporation; Joe Svirbely, Extrusion Operator, Alcoa/Reynolds Food Packaging; Mark Rath, East Coast Regional Director of Mfg., Alcoa/Reynolds Food Packaging; Rep. Dick Stevenson and Senator Bob Robbins.