USDA Visits Private Industry Council’s Lemont Furnace Office

On Wednesday, May 18, 2022, Bob Morgan USDA Pennsylvania State Director visited the Private Industry Council of Westmoreland/Fayette, Inc. for a round table discussion on the needs of Fayette County. In attendance, were Shujuane Martin, CEO/President of the Private Industry Council; Janet Ward, Executive Director of Westmoreland-Fayette Workforce Investment Board; Misty Lowry, Workforce Development Specialist of Fay-Penn Economic Development Council; and Fayette County Commissioners Scott Dunn and Vince Vicites. The USDA funded the loan for the PIC office in Lemont Furnace, which served 196 children through Head Start/Early Head Start program and served approximately 3,802 adults through employment and training services since July 2021.

After the round table, Bob visited with a Head Start classroom at the Lemont Furnace office and read the ‘Anywhere Farm’ book by Phyllis Root to the children. They were engaged with Bob during the story and pointed out different vegetables they like in the book. Once Bob was finished reading to the children, they were excited to share with him their current farming project the class is working on.

The USDA offers over 40 different programs covering Telecommunications, Electric, Community Facilities, Water and Environmental, Business and Cooperative, Single-Family Housing and Multi-Family Housing. For more information on these programs please visit rd.usda.gov. or call 1 (800) 670-6553.