PLNA Grant to Fund Equipment Purchase for Landscape Program

The Pennsylvania Landscape and Nursery Association awarded a $2,200 grant recently to Pennsylvania College of Technology for use in the College's Landscape/Nursery Technology program.

The funds, from a PLNA Horticulture/Landscape Contracting Educational Program Grant, will be used to purchase a steerable bed-edging/trenching machine that will be used by students in the Landscape/Nursery Technology majors in the School of Natural Resources Management. In addition, PLNA members within the industry have agreed to donate materials requested in the grant fieldstone and concrete pavers worth nearly $4,300.

The grant funds were accepted by the College during an awards luncheon at the PLNA Conference in State College on Feb 12. The award will be mentioned in the May/June issue of "Pennsylvania Landscape and Nursery" magazine, the official publication of the association.

"We will be using the equipment and materials to assist with the construction of a 'practice area' for landscape students," said Dr. Mary A. Sullivan, assistant dean of natural resources management. "It will provide us the opportunity to repeatedly construct 'hardscape' projects, such as walls and walkways. Students will be able to work at variable speeds, and with numerous materials, in a wide variety of projects. Ultimately, we will expand the depth and breadth of student skills through this generous donation."

The practice field is scheduled for completion by the fall.

For more information about the Landscape/Nursery Technology program at Penn College, call (570) 320-8038, send e-mail or visit online .