Educational Improvement Tax Credit Programs

Act 4 of 2001, as amended, authorizes tax credits for businesses that make contributions to educational improvement organizations. Quiet Creek Herb Farm & School of Country Living, Inc. is recognized as an educational improvement organization by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED). Additional information is available on the website www.newpa.com referring to the Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program. Tax credits are authorized for contributions to educational improvement organizations. Tax credits may be applied to the Corporate Net Income Tax, Capital Stock Franchise Tax, Bank and Trust Company Shares Tax, Title Insurance Company Shares Tax, Insurance Premiums Tax or Mutual Institutions Tax. Tax credits (K-12) are limited to 75% of the business contribution, with a maximum of $200,000 annually. If a business agrees to make the same contribution to an organization for two consecutive years, it may receive a tax credit (K-12) equal to 90% of its contribution, again up to $200,000 annually. Tax credits are awarded to businesses on a first come, first served basis. The guidelines provide the process and forms for businesses to apply for tax credits. They are found in a packet available at www.newpa.com Because these tax credits are awarded on a first come, first served basis on July 1, Claire Orner will be taking completed applications to Harrisburg on that day so that your business and Quiet Creek Herb Farm & School of Country Living, Inc. have the best chance of being awarded these tax credits and tax dollars, respectively, to benefit local school students. Claire Orner will be taking completed applications to Harrisburg on July 1, so that your business and Quiet Creek Herb Farm & School of Country Living, Inc. have the best chance of being awarded these tax credits and tax dollars, respectively, to benefit local school students. With your tax credit contribution Quiet Creek will provide hands-on seminars in schools and/or at the farm for local K- 12 students from Brockway, Brookville, Clarion, Clarion-Limestone, DuBois, Keystone, and Punxsutawney.

Claire Orner of Quiet Creek School of Country Living thanked PA House Majority Leader Sam Smith recently (July 2005) for his support of the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) Program based in the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. Quiet Creek School of Country Living is offering a state-approved, tax credit funded, free, K – twelfth grade program for students in Clarion, Clearfield and Jefferson counties beginning in September of this year. This program will teach children to discover the benefits of organic farming. Quiet Creek is a 501(c) 3, non-profit, educational facility near Brookville, Pennsylvania. To make tax credit contributions or to schedule Quiet Creek programs for students from private and public schools, please call 814-849-9662.

Sustainable Lifestyle Systems Intensive 1-3 day workshops for students, K-12. Students will have the opportunity to learn about natural medicines, organic gardening, worm composting, integrated pest management, responsible shelter construction, herbal soap making, papermaking, bee keeping, cheese making, healthful nutritional and fitness habits, and renewable energy sources. Naturalist in Residence:  K-12, in-school seminars demonstrate the Sustainable Lifestyle Systems listed above at area school locations.   Work Experience/Career Enhancement Program:   In this program, ninth through twelfth grade students learn one or more of the following careers: retail sales, food service management, landscape gardening, greenhouse vegetable production, and the production of value-added farm products.  Environmental Encounters:  In these week-long summer day camps, sixth through eighth grade students, will create an action plan addressing local environmental concerns.     Please contact Quiet Creek Herb Farm at quietcreek@windstream.net for more information.