Towanda Dry Kiln & Specialties Inc.
RR 2 Box 146
Towanda, PA 18848

October 17, 2006

Dear Board Members, Paul & Tony

Woody and I want to thank you for your continued support and confidence in us.
Without your help and support Towanda Dry Kiln & Specialties, Inc would still be just a dream and not the reality it is now.

We have now operated for 5 years and our business is doing great. This new addition will make us stronger in the wood market and give us additional customers. We will be able to hire 3 to 5 more workers when we get underway.

Tony, Kim and Brian do a phenomenal job for this community and we would like to thank them for making everything flow smoothly in our dealings with them.

Once again, thank you so much foe all your help and support. We appreciate everything that was done for us and we will do our best to be worthy of the confidence shown in us.

Sincerely,

Woody and Hannelore Brown

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SUSQUEHANNA INDEPENDENT WEEKENDER.COM

07/19/2006

Sewer project’s Phase II receives USDA Rural Development funding
By Staci Wilson

A ceremonial check presentation was held to highlight the $2,819,000 low-interest loan to the Halstead Great Bend Joint Sewer Authority by USDA Rural Development for Phase II of the sewage treatment rehabilitation project. Phase II of the project is to upgrade the plant, according to Jack Ord, Chairman of the Halstead Great Bend Joint Sewer Authority. “This check allows us to expand from a 350,000 gallons per day capacity to 500,000 gallons per day.”

“ The loan to Hallstead Great Bend’s sewer improvement project demonstrates Rural Development’s commitment to the future of our rural communities, and the residents and businesses in Hallstead Borough, Great Bend Borough and Great Bend Township benefit,” said Gary H. Groves, USDA Rural Development State Director.

“This will really contribute to our economic growth along the Route 11/I- 81 corridor,” said Susquehaqnna County Commissioner Roberta Kelly.

Kelly also thanked Congressman Don Sherwood for his work in the county throughout the past two weeks. “He has stepped up to the plate and done what he’s promised to do .” said Kelly.

When we were here exactly two weeks ago today, it was pretty bleak,” said Sherwood who commended the Sewer Authority’s hard work since the flooding.

“It’s great to be able to bring some of our own tax money home to allow for economic growth in the area. I have all the confidence in the world the sewer authority will be able to make this loan work for the facility,” said Sherwood

David Weber, staff assistant to Sen. Rick Santorum, was on hand for the check presentation. “ The last time Senator Santorum saw this facility it was under water,” said Weber who also congratulated the authority on their post-flood efforts. “Since the flood, the Congressman [Sherwood] has been on the road all over the county and been in touch with us,” said Weber.

According to Groves, Rural Development gives out 1 million per day in Pennsylvania, “We are available to help in any way we can. Our commitment is to be able to assist in water/sewage programs,” said Groves.
Phase I of the project extended the line down the Route 11 corridor.

Endless Mountains
Health Systems
Endless Care & Concern
Montrose, PA
SusquehaSusquehanna Independent Weekend 2006

Dep Pennsylvania Department Of Environmental Protection
Rachel Carson State Office Building
P.O. Box 2063
Harrisburg, Pa 17105-8471
November 6, 2006

Office Of Community Revitalization
And Local Government Support
717-783-1566

Mr. Brian Driscoll
Central Bradford Progress Authority
One Progress Plaza. Suite 3
Towanda, PA 18848

Re: Troy Borough Willow Street Redevelopment
Brownfield Action Team Application
Dated 6/12/06

Dear Mr. Driscoll:

On behalf of the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), I would like to congratulate you on the acceptance of the Willow Street Redevelopment, Troy Borough, Bradford County project as a Tier II Brownfield Action Team project. The scope of the project includes demolition and assessment of a property that the Western Bradford Development Corporation (WBDC) is currently attempting to acquire in Troy Borough. The property has been offered as a donation to WBDC.

The WBDC is an Industrial Development Corporation serving the communities of Canton and Troy and surrounding areas of western Bradford County. The 4- acre parcel contains a 16,900 square foot structure, currently vacant, that has been used for multiple industrial purposes. The condition of the building poses a safety risk and WBDC has applied to DCED for funding of the demolition of the existing buildings.

WBDC is confident of the merits of this property, which include municipal infrastructure, site access (Routes 14 & 6) and adjacent properties. WBDC projects that a 10,000 - 30,000 square foot building with about 50 jobs would be appropriate for this location and reports that there is interest in the property from a New York company.

We are hopeful that BAT designation will be of assistance to moving this project forward, To meet the needs of the project, BAT is assigning a lead project coordinator to oversee progress for the project and to act as the project’s advocate within the department. Mr. Dan Vilello of our NorthCentral Regional Office will serve as your liaison. Please feel free to contact Dan at (570) 327-3763 or dvilello@state.pa.us

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11/03/06

Troy project gets boost

By Eric Hrin- Staff Writer

Troy- A redevelopment project on Willow Street has received a shot in the arm with Gov. Edward G. Rendell’s announcement that the initiative will receive Brownfield Action Team assistance.

The project involves demolition, cleanup and site preparation of a four- acre, former industrial site on Willow Street in Troy.

A 17,000- square-foot, vacant structure there poses a safety risk due to multiple industrial activities that have taken place on the site over the years. An initial environmental assessment showed PCB contamination.

According to a news release from the State Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the Brownfield Action Team, administered by DEP, helps accelerate redevelopment deals and gives investors the incentive they need to clean up contaminated industrial sites. BAT projects typically get permitted in half the usual time.

According to the release, the Western Bradford Development Corp. is interested in redeveloping the parcel and has stressed that, once the building is demolished and contamination is cleaned, the location will be attractive to businesses.

Currently the site is served by all municipal utilities. Highway and transportation routes are nearby with easy access to both routes 6 and 14.

Daniel Close, borough manager and a member of the Western Bradford Development Corp., was pleased with the announcement.

“We applied for a Brownfield designation some time ago , so we were waiting to find out,” he said. He noted the Central Bradford Progress Authority has been working with Western Bradford Development Corp. on the effort.

He said Tony Ventello, executive director of the Central Bradford Progress Authority, and Countywide Economic Development Manager Brian Driscoll were an “integral part of getting this accomplished.”

Close said officials are hopeful about the site, though a business hasn’t been identified yet for this property.

It does have good access to 6 and 14 and it’s also readily available for water and sewer service there,” Close said.

“We’re looking for some clean, small industry to generate some type of jobs,” he said.

He noted an application has been made for $50,000 in state funding to take the building down.

“That (Brownfield Action Team assistance) will help to speed up funding through DEP to get the property cleaned up with the building demolished and taken away and further improve the PCB situation and get it shovel-ready for some type of industry or commercial business.

“Brownfields and KOZs (Keystone Opportunity Zones) and those kind of things get a higher ranking when you’re competing with other localities for those types of funds,” he said

Close said the building on the site is in the hands of Penn-Troy Manufacturing. “They have given us a letter of intent that if we can get the funding to do the cleanup and get the property ready, they will donate that property to Western Bradford Development Corp.”, he said. “We’ll then have to market it as an industrial site.”

“Cleaning up abandoned sites and getting them “shovel-ready” Attracts investors and stimulates economic development. “Rendell said in the release. “We can grow our economy, create jobs and improve the environment by returning these old industrial sites to productive use,”

“This project is a perfect example of how the Brownfield Action Team can help communities of all sizes address their economic development and environmental challenges- and in a way that streamlines the process to ensure work is done quickly, “ DEP Secretary Kathleen A. McGinty said in a release. “Time is money.”

Since it was launched in 2004, BAT has assisted 32 projects in 22 counties to redevelop more than 4,500 acres of brownfields with as many as 39,600 jobs created and retained, according to the release.

Brownfields are abandoned, idled or under used industrial and commercial facilities where environmental issues complicate expansion or redevelopment.

Eric Hrin can be reached at (570) 297-5251; e-mail: reveiwtroy@thedailyreview.com

Daily and Sunday Review 2006

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DEP Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection

Again, congratulations on your acceptance into the Brownfield Action Team as a Tier 2 project. We look forward to working with you on the redevelopment in your community.

Sincerely

Jill A. Gaito
Acting Deputy Secretary
Office of Community Revitalization and Local Government Support

cc:
BAT0038 Project Files- T. Mellot
Gary Byron, Assistant Regional Director, Northcentral Regional Office
Dan Vilello, Local Government Liaison, Northcentral Regional Office
Mike Welch, Environmental Cleanup Program Manager, Northcentral Regional Office
Scott Dunkelberger, DCED
Jackie Parker, DCED
Brion Johnson, Deputy Executive Director, PENNVEST
Joe Leighton, Director, Legislative Office