Governor Wolf: New Investments Will Help Farming Community Capture the Opportunities in Agriculture

Governor Tom Wolf announced the approval of funding to assist dairy producers and expand agriculture options for 51 agriculture projects throughout the commonwealth.

'My administration is committed to supporting Pennsylvania's agriculture industry, investing in projects that will help dairy producers capture new opportunities and projects that will support the future of the industry,' said Gov. Wolf. 'The assistance found in the historic Farm Bill package signed into law last summer as well as the assistance provided through programs like the First Industries Fund demonstrate our commitment to helping producers and processors imagine the opportunities available both now and in the future.'

The Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA) today approved 47 Diary Investment Program projects focused on value-added processing, research and development, and marketing.

The approved First Industry Fund projects are as follows:

Fulton County
Forrestdale Farm, LLC, through Southern Alleghenies Planning and Development Commission, was approved for a 15-year, 1.75 percent, reset rate loan for $400,000 to acquire a 1.53-acre parcel of land and construct a 9,600-head swine finishing barn located in Licking Creek Township. The project will result in the construction of a 31,520-square-foot swine barn, which will be built on the site of a former barn recently destroyed by fire. The total project cost is $1,533,150.

Lancaster County
Clark and Marissa Oberholtzer, through EDC Finance Corporation, were approved for a 15-year, 1.75 percent, reset rate loan for $350,000 to purchase Marissa's grandparent's 93.4-acre farm, demolish an outdated hog finishing barn, and build a new 3,000-head hog finishing barn on the Fulton Township property. The total project cost Is $1,517,500.

Lebanon County
Jeffrey and Carrie Martin, through Lebanon Valley Economic Development Corporation, were approved for a 15-year, 1.75 percent, reset rate loan for $400,000 to construct two 21,560-square-foot pullet houses. Site prep for three pullet houses will be completed with the third pullet house to be constructed later. The addition of pullet houses to the farm property will allow the Martin's to diversify their farm income allowing for a consistent second revenue stream. Each pullet house will hold up to 20,000 egg laying pullets provided by and under contract with Melhorn Sales Service & Trucking. The total project cost is $925,621.

Lebanon County
Michael and Tammy Long, through Lebanon Valley Economic Development Corporation, were approved for a 15-year, 1.75 percent, reset rate loan for $400,000 to construct two 31,500-square-foot poultry broiler houses at their 117-acre farm in East Hanover Township. The two new houses will complement the two existing poultry houses on the property with all four houses under contract with Bell and Evans. The total project cost is $1,022,121.

More information about the Commonwealth Financing Authority can be found on the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) website.