PLCB RECEIVES $1 MILLION GRANT TO FIGHT UNDERAGE DRINKING IN
FOUR RURAL COMMUNITIES
HARRISBURG:
The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board has received a $1.05 million federal grant
to fight underage drinking in four rural communities -- Honesdale, Indiana,
Wellsboro and Lock Haven.
Pennsylvania is one of only four
states to receive the Rural Initiatives Grant, which was awarded by the U.S.
Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
through its Enforcing the Underage Drinking Laws Program.
The selected communities will use the
money to enhance enforcement, build coalitions and involve youth in the
prevention process. At the end of the three-year project, Pennsylvania’s
efforts will be used as a national model for other rural communities.
Each site will hire a
community coordinator to oversee the project. The PLCB will offer in-kind
technical assistance and materials.
“Rural communities face unique issues, such as the permissive attitude of
adults, drinking in rural areas which leads to DUI crashes, and the lack of safe
alternatives,” said Jonathan Newman, Chairman of the PLCB. “Pennsylvania has
the largest rural population in the nation, so the results of this project have
the potential to reach far beyond the four participating communities.”
During the past two years, the
budget of the PLCB’s Bureau of Alcohol Education has included additional funding
of $1 million, a 25 percent increase. In addition to working with colleges and
universities, the agency’s efforts include grants for law enforcement, training,
guides for parents, materials for schools, and elementary education programs.