In the News

U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright and National Science Foundation Director Dr. Sethuraman Panchanathan were in Hazleton on Friday to officially launch the Pennsylvania Industrial Hemp Engine initiative, made possible by a $1 million NSF Engines Development Award.

Cartwright, D-Moosic, and Ranking Member of the Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Subcommittee, said the award supports a coalition partnership led by Penn State researchers to create a comprehensive hemp research and supply-chain.

Attendees at the event, held at the Pines Eatery and Spirits, included Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding, Vytal Plant Science Research CEO Tom Trite, Penn State President Dr. Neeli Bendapudi and Ken Okrepkie, Regional Manager at Ben Franklin Technology Partners of NEPA. All shared comments on the impact of this new initiative.

In addition, more than 130 attendees were also on hand for the hemp trade show, educational session and networking event.

In May, Cartwright announced that the National Science Foundation awarded a $1 million Regional Innovation Engines Development award to Hazleton-based Vytal Plant Science Research for the development of an Industrial Hemp Engine as part of its newly launched Regional Innovation Engines (NSF Engines) program.