PPL Gas Utilities, continuing its tradition of community involvement, has awarded $23,000 in grants to regional and local economic development organizations in support of their efforts to attract new jobs to Pennsylvania.

Through its Blue Ribbon Marketing Partnership Program, PPL Gas Utilities is presenting a total of 10 grants to eight organizations in its 34-county service area. Added to a first round of grants in February, PPL Gas Utilities has awarded $43,000 in funding for economic development projects in 2003.

"We work in partnership with economic development groups across our service area," said Andy Montero, marketing manager for PPL Gas Utilities. "Access to clean, efficient natural gas is an important factor for companies that are looking to site new facilities. We also understand that we can support economic development in other ways, including financial support for local and regional initiatives to market our area effectively."

Blue Ribbon grants represent a funding source for economic development organizations competing to attract new jobs to communities served by PPL Gas Utilities, Montero noted.

"Another benefit of this partnership program is that it enables organizations to leverage the dollars from PPL Gas Utilities to attract additional funding for their projects," he said.

Economic development grants that PPL Gas Utilities awarded went to:

• Mifflin County Industrial Development Corporation, $2,500 to develop marketing materials for a new industrial park.

• Shippensburg Area Development Corporation, $675 to support a direct-mail marketing campaign to promote available industrial sites.

• Fulton/Huntindon Counties Industrial Development Association, three grants totaling $6,825 for marketing programs, advertising and lot signage in the Fulton County Business Park.

• Philipsburg Revitalization, $2,500 to conduct market research.

• Tioga County Development Corporation, $3,000 for Web site development.

• Clearfield County Industrial Development Authority, $3,000 for advertising.

• Clarion County Economic Development Corporation, $1,500 for Web site improvements.

• Clearfield County Chamber of Commerce, $3,000 to support a strategic planning session intended to help local organizations work together more effectively in promoting the area.

PPL Gas Utilities is a subsidiary of PPL Corporation. Headquartered in Allentown, Pa., PPL Corporation controls about 11,500 megawatts of generating capacity in the United States, sells energy in key U.S. markets and delivers electricity to customers in Pennsylvania, the United Kingdom and Latin America.