Ridgway Area School District Receives Funding

Over $18,000 was distributed to Ridgway School Districts from the Elk County Community Foundation. As an approved Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program (EITC) partner the Foundation receives donations from qualified businesses to provide innovative educational programing with in the public schools K-12 school.

The Ridgway School District was able to purchase for each of their two buildings, HD video conference equipment, HD screen/projection devise and streaming continent input device. Their goal is to continue to enhance the technology experiences of their students. Recently representatives from the Community Foundation, Advantage Sales Company and Farmers National Bank, both contributors to the EITC visited Ridgway Area High School to check out the new equipment and to have a presentation of the new equipment. Students have been able to go on virtual field trips with this new technology. Dan Brocious, the Technology Director explain that there were a number of the virtual field trips/video conferences that their students have participated including a trip to NASA, San Diego Zoo, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Texas State Aquarium, Grand Teton National Park and the Holocaust Memorial Center, where the local students were able to interact with Holocaust survivors via video conferencing. The school also is utilizing the systems for recording and conferencing with school board meetings and presentations.

Kim Jacques from Advantage Sales Company was on hand and talked about how she found the EITC program a great vehicle for her company to make donations to her community and receive tax dollar credits. Other companies that contributed to the programs this year were: Northwest Savings Bank, EQT Production Co.; Highmark Casualty Insurance Company, Synder Trucking Company, Susquehanna Wire Rope and Rigging and PNC Bank. Any entity authorized to conduct business in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and subject to certain taxes is eligible to apply to be involved with the EITC program. Tax credits are limited to 75% of the business’ contribution with a maximum of $750,000 annually. If a business agrees to make the same contribution for two consecutive years, it may receive a tax credit equal to 90% of its contribution. Interested participants must submit a brief application to the DCED. The application can be found at www.inventpa.com. Jacques indicated how easy the application was and is willing to assist others with the business application process.

Pictured from left to right are:

Foundation Board Member Gennaro Aiello; Kim Jacques representing Advantage Sales Company; Paula Fritz Eddy, Executive Director of the Foundation; Craig Carrow and Heather Serafini from Farmers National Bank; Donna Sidlinger, the district Business Manager; Dr. O’Brien, superintendent; Lisa Connely Board President; Dan Brocious, Technology Director and Judith Manno Stager, Foundation Board member.