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2005 Press Release

MEDIA ADVISORY

ATTENTION: EDITORS / ASSIGNMENT EDITORS

Contact:
Neil Cotiaux, FHLBank of Pittsburgh: 412-288-2851; cell: 330-703-0753
Kate Philips, press secretary, Office of the Governor: 717-783-1116

RENDELL TO ANNOUNCE REVITALIZATION SUPPORT FOR SEVEN COMMUNITIES ACROSS FAYETTE, GREENE, WASHINGTON, WESTMORELAND COUNTIES

'BLUEPRINT COMMUNITIES' REVITALIZATION INITIATIVE WILL PROVIDE TRAINING, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES TO 22 PENNSYLVANIA COMMUNITIES IN ALL

PITTSBURGH, PA, August 4, 2005 — Gov. Edward G. Rendell will announce the 22 Pennsylvania communities chosen to participate in a comprehensive new community revitalization program Tuesday, August 9, at 11 a.m. in the Rotunda of the State Capitol in Harrisburg. Seven communities in Fayette, Greene, Washington and Westmoreland counties as well as seven others in western Pennsylvania will be included in the governor's announcement.

The governor will announce the municipalities and neighborhoods that will receive leadership training, technical assistance and funding opportunities to plan for and carry out effective revitalization programs. The training will be conducted this fall and is sponsored by the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh (FHLBank) with the support of the Governor's Office of Housing and Community Revitalization, Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency and twelve other partners.

Blueprint Communities will help local leaders develop a comprehensive, long-term vision, craft strategic revitalization plans including potential sources of funding, and establish a time line for putting specific plans into action. Plans developed during training will be aimed at enhancing the quality of life in each community in a holistic manner and are expected to address the issues of housing, infrastructure, economic stimulation and healthy, safe surroundings.

Next Tuesday's event starts at 11 a.m. in the Rotunda of the State Capitol in Harrisburg and is open to the media. Joining Gov. Rendell will be Jay Roy, president and chief executive officer of the FHLBank. An estimated 125 people will attend the kickoff, including officials from state and federal agencies, community-based organizations, business and universities.

Gov. Rendell will announce the names of participating communities, discuss the state's agenda for community and economic development, and present each Blueprint Community with a large banner that can be hung in a prominent location back home.

The 22 Blueprint Communities to be announced on Tuesday were selected as the result of an application process begun earlier this year. Selected communities assembled local leadership teams, provided detailed information on the neighborhood or community to be the subject of training, and explained how training would assist them in moving forward with a concrete plan of action for enhancing the quality of life in their community. A statewide advisory group assembled by the FHLBank chose the participating communities.

Media Materials Available

Still images from Tuesday's event will be available. Call Cyla Alcantara of the FHLBank at 412-288-2860.

Electronic media unable to attend in person but desiring B-roll, video of the governor's remarks and sound bites from local community representatives should contact Cotiaux at the FHLBank to make arrangements. Both B-roll and sound bites will be available via satellite the day of the event, Tuesday, August 9, from 4 to 4:30 p.m. A repeat feed will be provided within that time period for the convenience of local stations. A news release containing the identities of the communities involved will be sent to media well in advance of the satellite feed.

Technical specifications for this satellite feed are as follows:

Date: August 9, 2005
Time: 16:00 - 16:30 (4 to 4:30 p.m. ET)
Satellite: AMC-4 (C-Band)
XP: XP C-24
Orbital Pos: 101 Degrees West Longitude
Polarity: Horizontal
Down Freq: 4180 MHz
Audio: 6.2 / 6.8 Discrete wide

Uplinked by WITF Harrisburg
Technical trouble #: 717-221-2959

For additional information, visit www.blueprintcommunities.com.