Centre County official visits White House to share local impacts of Biden’s policies
One of Centre County’s top elected officials visited the White House with other Pennsylvanians for a forum that will highlight the Biden-Harris Administration’s investments and impacts across the commonwealth.
Commissioner Michael Pipe joined about 50 other elected officials, labor leaders and directors of nonprofits and other community organizations for the event, “Communities in Action: Building a Better Pennsylvania,” at the White House on Thursday.
In a press release, Pipe said he was honored to be invited and that it was a “unique opportunity to share real-life examples of the progress we’ve made and collaborate with officials from the Biden-Harris Administration.”
“Major and significant pieces of legislation signed by President Biden have already had positive impacts on Centre County. Case in point is the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) that has enabled the Centre County Board of Commissioners to continue to invest in our small businesses, improve public health outcomes, reform the criminal justice system, and keep property taxes low,” Pipe said.
Centre County received more than $30 million in ARPA funds and the board of commissioners have allocated funds to a number of projects, including $3 million for a small business grant program in July 2021.
In terms of county operations, funds have been used for temporary emergency pay increases for those working at the correctional facility, booking center and the 911 emergency communications office. The county’s 2022 budget reflects approximately $2.5 million of American Rescue Plan funding. A budget for renovations to reuse the former Centre Crest building as offices for the Centre County government includes some ARPA money.
Two local health care entities, Mount Nittany Health and Centre Volunteers in Medicine, received funding to assist with unreimbursed costs related to COVID-19 vaccine distribution.
The funds have also been used for a feasibility study to determine if Centre County would benefit from its own health department, developing a strategic plan around broadband in the county and boosting local tourism. On the tourism note, the county also pledged $250,000 of its ARPA funds to attract American Airlines to the University Park Airport for a connecting flight to Charlotte Douglas International Airport.
White House and Cabinet leaders that are participating in the event include Senior Advisor and Assistant to the President and Director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs Julie Chávez Rodriguez, Senior Advisor to the President for Public Engagement Keisha Lance Bottoms, Secretary of U.S. Department of Education Miguel Cardona, Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality Brenda Mallory.
The release states that “Communities in Action: Building a Better Pennsylvania” is part of a new series with local elected officials and community leaders working to create opportunities and improve people’s everyday lives. The White House has already hosted forums that focus on Ohio and North Carolina.
This story was originally published September 29, 2022 at 2:21 PM.
