Nov. 8, 2010

HARRISBURG – PPL Corp. is giving $25,000 toward the major renovation and expansion of the Sen. John J. Shumaker Public Safety Center (PSC) at HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College.

Officials of the Allentown-based utility will be thanked for the contribution at a donor recognition event at 2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 11, at the PSC.

“We thank PPL for the contribution toward the first phase of a 20-year expansion and renovation of the PSC, which serves as a premier training site for first responders and healthcare workers throughout the region,” said Ron Young, HACC interim president. “HACC values its partnerships with business and industry throughout Central Pennsylvania, and it is through the participation of corporations such as PPL that we are able to continue to recruit skilled instructors and build state-of-the art facilities which enables us to provide high level training to more than 30,000 first responders and healthcare workers annually."

Jim Nulton, PPL’s regional community relations director, said the donation is part of the company’s ongoing support of the great work HACC does for the residents of the region.

“PPL has a long history of partnering with the community it serves,” said Nulton. “Both this wonderful facility and our company share a commitment to safety. This center is dedicated to the education of first responders, a group of dedicated people who work side by side with our crews under sometimes trying circumstances. We are grateful for all that they do.”

PPL is a previous contributor toward HACC projects, including a $25,000 gift toward the construction of the Select Medical Health and Education Center in 2006 and a $25,000 gift toward the Midtown 2 project in 2007.

“The college appreciates and values the long-standing relationship with PPL,” said Nancy Rockey, HACC vice president of college and community development and interim vice president of the Harrisburg Campus. “PPL exemplifies what we call the power of the partnership; the company is always the first to come forward and support the college in whatever we ask.”

The PSC master plan identifies four distinct phases of expansion over a 20-year period. The first phase, targeted for completion by summer 2012 at an estimated cost of $15 million, focuses on remedies to areas in need of immediate attention, including renovation of the six-story fire training tower, smoke structure and burn building; construction of a new law enforcement complex including state-of-the-art, 25-lane indoor firing range and will achieve Silver LEED rating; an expanded parking lot; and additional training sites for Hazmat and other emergency situations. The second, third, and fourth phases expand the current capabilities of the center into new realms of technology and training possibilities with timetables and projected costs to be determined after the first phase is completed.