BEDFORD — Hometown Bank of PA recently provided a $125,000 Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) donation to the Bedford County Regional Education Foundation. This contribution opens the doors to educational opportunities for high school students participating in the Early College program at the ACM Bedford County Campus.

“Hometown Bank sees the impact that an education from Allegany College of Maryland can make in the lives of people in our community,” said Beth Manges, President and CEO of Hometown Bank. “We have a few employees who have taken early college classes while in high school, which has led them to continue their education at ACM and other colleges.  We have benefited from hiring several ACM graduates. Several of them are now supervisors and leaders here at Hometown.  Our EITC donation is important to the Board of Directors at Hometown because it demonstrates our ongoing commitment to educational opportunities that people might not otherwise receive without these funds.  We are proud to partner with Allegany College of Maryland.

The bank’s generous donation, along with ETIC contributions from ECM Insurance Group and other local businesses, will cover the cost of tuition, fees and books for all credits taken during the 2025-26 academic year by early college students residing in any of the Bedford and Fulton County School Districts as well as Claysburg-Kimmel, Spring Cove, Williamsburg and Fannett-Metal School Districts and who take ACM classes in their high schools, at the ACM Bedford County Campus, or online.

During the Fall 2025 semester, 315 high school students participated in the Early College program through the ACM Bedford County Campus. The EITC funding allowed these students to enroll in 1,456 college credits.

“Hometown Bank has been an amazing educational partner,” said Leah Pepple, Director of PA Advancement and Community Relations. “We are grateful for the support that they have provided, which allows students to have educational opportunities.”

The EITC program, administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development, enables eligible businesses to receive tax credits in exchange for charitable contributions to approved educational organizations. These contributions help bring innovative programming to local schools and communities without increasing financial burdens on districts or families.