Burns hosts Policy Committee hearing on economic development
Rep. Frank Burns October 6, 2016 | 12:46 PM
EBENSBURG, Oct. 6 – State Rep. Frank Burns, D-Cambria, hosted a House Democratic Policy Committee public hearing on economic development today at the Ebensburg Borough Municipal Building.
Committee chairman Mike Sturla, D-Lancaster, co-chaired the hearing, which Burns sought to explore established and innovative ways to promote solid job creation in the 72nd Legislative District and surrounding region.
“I chose economic development to focus on because our area is in need of something to simulate the local economy,” Burns said. “This gave us the opportunity to learn about initiatives to create jobs, especially in counties like Cambria, as well as a primer on employer needs and employee training. I thank chairman Sturla and the Policy Committee for seeing the value in this.”
Sturla said, “The creation and retention of good-paying jobs is always a top priority in the commonwealth, and learning about specific local needs and challenges is one way we in the Democratic Caucus gather information to help guide state policy and programs. The concerns and ideas put forth today, at Representative Burns’ behest, will become part of that mix.”
Burns also discussed his initiative to change state law to permit the hiring of a broker to facilitate the sale of state properties such as the dormant 327-acre SCI-Cresson prison site. Currently, the state is limited to posting the property’s availability on the state Department of General Services’ website, which Burns feels is inadequate in the modern marketing era.
“DGS isn’t allowed to hire a broker to advertise state property for sale, a policy I think needs to change,” Burns said.
Testifiers included: Augie Didiano, president, Johnstown Building and Construction Trades Council; Don Arena, business agent, Plumbers and Pipefitters Local Union 354; Debi Balog, workforce development director, Johnstown Area Regional Industries; Barry Surma, director, Saint Francis University Small Business Development Center; and RaNell Fenchak, director, John Murtha Johnstown-Cambria County Airport.
Hearing materials and additional information about the Policy Committee are available at www.pahouse.com/PolicyCommittee.