The Pennsylvania House of Representatives unanimously approved Wednesday legislation authored by Rep. Clint Owlett (R-Tioga/Bradford/Potter) that would provide financial support to the state’s dairy industry.
“It’s no secret that Pennsylvania’s dairy industry is struggling,” Rep. Owlett said. “One way in which we can help support the industry is with the creation of the Dairy Investment Program as outlined in my House Bill 1590. This would be a program dedicated solely to the prosperity of the dairy industry here in the Commonwealth.”
The Dairy Investment Program would be created under the Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA). The CFA was allocated $5 million this fiscal year from the First Industries Fund to issue grants to support the state’s dairy industry under guidelines the CFA adopted.
House Bill 1590 would statutorily create parameters for the CFA to evaluate and approve these grants and would include consultation with the Department of Agriculture to ensure the funding is targeted to the most appropriate projects that would support the dairy industry.
House Bill 1590 now heads to the Senate for consideration.
“I grew up on a dairy farm and am passionate about helping our farmers and the agriculture community as a whole succeed and prosper,” Owlett said. “This is just the start of my work in this area and I look forward to where we go from here on this issue.”