Obama Declares Pennsylvania Disaster Area After Irene

Today, President Obama agreed with Governor Corbett’s request and declared Pennsylvania a disaster area.  This declaration opens up much-needed federal aid for our state!

Governor Corbett declared 11 counties disaster areas after Irene sloshed through Eastern Pennsylvania causing flooding and wind damage in its wake.  The 11 counties are Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lehigh, Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton, Philadelphia, Pike, Wyoming and Wayne.

This is great news for municipalities hit with unexpected storm related expenses.

Pa., W.Va., Ohio Vie For Huge New Shell Gas Plant

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PITTSBURGH (AP) — Big industry may be coming back to the northeast United States.

Shell Oil Co. is nearing a decision on where in the Appalachians to build a huge new petrochemical refinery — a project that could bring thousands of construction and production jobs and change the face of the region for decades…

To read the rest of this article, click here:  http://hosted2.ap.org/PALAP/d3444c3add384b05a39deb3258f13309/Article_2011-09-03-Gas%20Drilling-Refinery/id-3ff93b9f9fff48e2b50d5b5aca340964

ZERO Job Growth Reported For August

For the first time since 1945 our country reported a net job growth of ZERO, for August! 2011  Unemployment remained at 9.1 percent.  Companies are not laying off or hiring.  We are in a holding pattern.  Hourly wages fell in August.

Consumer and business confidence has been shaken by the federal debt limit feud, the downgrading of our long-term debt and the financial crisis in Europe.  The result is a stock market drop.

Unless job growth is improved immediately, another recession is likely.

To read the entire article about our economic mess, click here,

http://www.centredaily.com/2011/09/02/2899388/hiring-standstill-points-to-growing.html#storylink=rss?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Irene Damage Causing Tourist Cancellations For New England Fall Season

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Vermont’s Governor says the state is open for business and large parts of Vermont were unaffected by Irene.  Cancellations are coming in from tourists concerned about damage from the storm.  A few September festivals were cancelled and a few inns closed due to storm damage.  Otherwise, Vermont is ready for tourists.  The fall leaf season brings in $300 million in business each year.  Next door neighbor New Hampshire brings in $1 billion from fall tourism.

Vermont resorts are hoping their ski season is unaffected.  That will depend on how fast some roads are repaired.

Best bet is to research the situation before cancelling your plans.  You can check out this website for a starting place if you have plans to travel to Vermont this fall, http://travel-vermont.com/