Farm legislation is scheduled to be the major topic for a Pennsylvania Rural Development Council videoconference to be hosted April 12 in the northcentral region by Pennsylvania College of Technology's North Campus near Wellsboro.
In the videoconference, U.S. Rep. John Peterson, R-Titusville, will discuss the farm bill and related issues, such as water and wastewater treatment, rural strategic planning and value-added market programs.
The videoconference, which is free and open to the public, will be held from 9:30 a.m. to noon in the videoconference center at the North Campus, located on Route 6 east of Wellsboro. Light refreshments and sign-in begin at 9 a.m. Lunch will be offered following the meeting.
Other invited speakers and topics are Earl Freilino, Pennsylvania homeland security director, who will discuss the threat of terrorism in rural communities and state and local anti-terrorism efforts; and W. Russell McDaid, senior policy manager with the Governor's Policy Office, who will provide an update on Health and Human Services, including Tobacco Settlement Act implementation, the Governor's Regional Health Care Summits and Department of Health hospital regulations. A representative from the Department of Community and Economic Development will provide information on the Pennsylvania Travel and Tourism Office.
Rural Development Council meetings offer participants the opportunity to hear directly from senior-level government officials and meet with others across the state to discuss issues of importance to rural Pennsylvania through the use of live, interactive videoconferencing technology. Participants can ask questions, offer comments and participate directly with those in other locations.
The Pennsylvania Rural Development Council is a nonpartisan, nonpolitical association of individuals and organizations addressing the concerns of rural Pennsylvania. Council committees focus on issues like community and economic development (including tourism); education, training and workforce development; health; housing; telecommunications/ information technology; transportation; infrastructure; and forest-based development.
Seating is limited, and registration is encouraged. To register or receive more information, call Penn College's North Campus at (570) 724-7703 or the Pennsylvania Rural Development Council at (717) 772-9030. You may also visit the North Campus online; more information also is available from the PRDC Web site.