PRINTER'S NO. 4257
No. 854 Session of 2008
INTRODUCED BY HARRIS, RAMALEY, BENNINGHOFF, BEYER, BOBACK,
CAPPELLI, CAUSER, CREIGHTON, CUTLER, FAIRCHILD, GINGRICH,
HARHART, HELM, HENNESSEY, HERSHEY, HESS, M. KELLER, MANTZ,
MARSHALL, McILHATTAN, MILLARD, R. MILLER, MOUL, MURT, MUSTIO,
NAILOR, PAYNE, PHILLIPS, PICKETT, PYLE, QUINN, REICHLEY,
ROSS, RUBLEY, SAYLOR, SONNEY, STERN, R. STEVENSON, SWANGER,
TRUE, VULAKOVICH AND D. O'BRIEN, AUGUST 28, 2008
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
AUGUST 28, 2008
A RESOLUTION
1 Honoring the Ben Franklin Technology Partners on the occurrence
2 of the 25th anniversary of its founding.
3 WHEREAS, Ben Franklin Technology Partners (BFTP) was
4 established by act of the General Assembly on December 6, 1982;
5 and
6 WHEREAS, BFTP serves all 67 counties throughout this
7 Commonwealth through its four regional and 12 satellite offices;
8 and
9 WHEREAS, BFTP has provided seed capital, investments in
10 innovation and technical and business assistance to thousands of
11 entrepreneurs and established manufacturers throughout this
12 Commonwealth; and
13 WHEREAS, BFTP has helped create or retain more than 46,500
14 high-wage jobs for Pennsylvanians in industries that pay
15 approximately 28% above this Commonwealth's average wage; and
1 WHEREAS, According to a 2003 third-party evaluation of its
2 program, covering the period 1989 through 2001, BFTP has had an
3 estimated economic impact on the economy of this Commonwealth in
4 excess of $8 billion; and
5 WHEREAS, The estimated economic impact of BFTP efforts has
6 resulted in the Commonwealth's garnering more than $400 million
7 in additional State tax revenue, more than covering the cost of
8 the program during the period covered by the evaluation; and
9 WHEREAS, During its 25-year history, BFTP has been
10 continuously supported by the General Assembly, as well as five
11 gubernatorial administrations; and
12 WHEREAS, BFTP has become the most recognized and replicated
13 technology-based economic development program in the United
14 States, and it is acknowledged nationally and internationally as
15 the "gold standard"; and
16 WHEREAS, BFTP is commemorating its 25th anniversary
17 throughout 2008; therefore be it
18 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives honor Ben
19 Franklin Technology Partners on the 25th anniversary of its
20 founding.
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