Mars, May 27, 2011 -- USDA Rural Development Tours The Lands at Hillside Farm

Shavertown, Pa., May 27, 2011 – USDA Rural Development State Director Thomas Williams today toured

the education center at The Lands at Hillside Farm. USDA Rural Development provided a $99,000 Rural

Business Enterprise Grant to Hillside Farm. The funding is being used to provide job training for disabled

youth. The highlight of the tour showcased the Dream Green Garden where teachers and nurses are assisting

youth with the garden. Through the program, the youth are given job skills including working in a vegetable

garden, displaying items and calculating monetary change for purchases in hopes that they can transfer the skills

to gain employment.

“USDA Rural Development’s support for this project reflects our commitment to ensuring that rural communities can create jobs, attract businesses and provide necessary services to its residents,” said Williams.

The Lands at Hillside Farm is a 412-acre farm, welcoming over 350,000 visitors annually to its dairy store, historic barns, pristine grounds and hiking trails. The farm supports the regional economy by promoting and selling products produced by local and regional businesses. Current education programs include school programs, preschooler programs, science on the farm, summer day camps, and now hands-on job training for disabled youth.

  Through its Rural Development mission area, USDA administers and manages more than 40 housing, business and community infrastructure and facility programs through a network of approximately 110 employees located in 11 offices throughout Pennsylvania. These programs are designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, residents, farmers, and ranchers and improve the quality of life in rural America. For more information on programs offered by USDA Rural Development, contact the Pennsylvania State Office at (717) 237-2299 or visit its website at www.rurdev.usda.gov/pa.

#