The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development recognized Pennsylvania Power & Light Co. Friday (6/14) for support of a partnership to create affordable housing in the city of Scranton.

PP&L was honored for its work with the Hill Neighborhood Association's rehabilitation project. Last fall, the group received a $200,000 grant from PP&L's Community Partnership Program to renovate 30 houses and improve public facilities such as sewers, sidewalks and curbs.

PP&L established the Community Partnership Program to promote home ownership, encourage urban neighborhood revitalization and support small businesses across its 29-county service area.

"We are making an investment in communities, which is really an investment in the future of PP&L," said Florence M. McNelis, PP&L's community relations representative for the Northeast region.

HUD picked today to showcase 60 partnerships for affordable housing nationwide because it is the anniversary of a home ownership initiative announced last June 14 by President Clinton.

Earlier this year, HUD presented awards to PP&L and the city of Allentown for an Allentown Redevelopment Authority initiative to increase home ownership. That project also received a $200,000 Community Partnership Program grant from PP&L.

Overall, PP&L awarded $2.4 million in 1995 to 39 municipalities, community groups and agencies across eastern and central Pennsylvania. Funding for the Community Partnership Program does not come from PP&L's ratepayers.

Later this summer, PP&L will announce the agencies and organizations selected for 1996 Community Partnership Program grants.