Robert P. Casey Jr.

Funding to Expand Broadband Internet Availability

The Department of Agriculture and Department of Commerce recently announced that funding will soon be available for projects to help expand broadband access to communities with limited internet service. Many parts of Pennsylvania, especially rural areas, lack adequate internet service, and individuals in those communities cannot access the information many of us take for granted.  Grants and loans will fund projects to help more people get connected.

Through these funding programs, communities may apply for a portion of the $7.2 billion included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to expand access to broadband services.  Application submissions for the first of the three rounds of funding will open July 14, 2009 and close August 14, 2009.  I encourage communities from all over Pennsylvania to apply for this very important funding.

Visit the Broadband USA website to learn more about these programs or apply for funding.

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Southeastern PA Economic Roundtable

This past Monday, I held an economic roundtable discussion in southeastern PA at the Community College of Philadelphia. Surrounded by leaders from labor, higher education, the business community and local advocates I was able to hear firsthand what their experiences have been in the City of Philadelphia throughout these troubling economic times. I was given feedback on confusion that still exists on accessing stimulus funds, concerns that job training efforts include green, medical, creative and high tech industries and well as traditional fields and suggestions on how to continue the work we've started once stimulus funds have been fully distributed. This roundtable was one of a series of discussions I have been holding throughout Pennsylvania to learn more about what is working and where we’re falling short in our efforts to promote job creation and economic development.

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Show Down Pennsylvania

On Tuesday night, after the business of the day was finished, my staff and I remained in vigorous debate with Senator Specter and his staff. However, this debate was not about upcoming votes, key pieces of legislation, or committee mark-ups. It was about whose office has the better softball team.

It is a tradition that every summer the two senators from Pennsylvania, along with their teams from the Senate Softball League get together for a fun night of competition and camaraderie. The game proved to be exciting, and our teams were well-matched. Our team, Scrantonicity, held the lead for the better part of the game, but then in the later innings, Senator Specter’s team, Pennsylmania, rallied and had a two run lead. Finally, in the bottom of the sixth inning, we took the lead back, and held on to it for a final score of 19-16. While it was great to win, it was even better to spend time with colleagues outside the walls of the Capitol and Senate Office Buildings, and engage in some fun, well-mannered competition.

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