By PATRICK CLOONAN
Daily News Staff Writer
pcloonan@dailynewsemail.corn

Pennsylvania's Educational Improvement Tax Credit program gives a tax break to businesses that contribute to scholarship or educational improvement organizations.

The latter category covers Auberle in McKeesport, which is hoping local businesses take advantage of a window of opportunity that opened July l.

That was the day applications were issued on a first-come, first-served basis for EITC in the fiscal year that runs through June 30, 2006. State Department of Community and Economic Development requires proof within 90 days that a donation has been made.

"Businesses can take advantage of this Pennsylvania tax credit program," Auberle spokesman Glenn Ryerson said. "They can make a donation of tip to $100,000 a year over two years. If they do it over one year, it's a 75 percent tax credit; if they do it over two years, it's a 90 percent tax credit."

Applications must be made to DCED's Economic Development Assistance Office. The Commonwealth provides information at www. inventpa.com or at www.newpa.com (search word "EITC")

"There are certain programs that are eligible," Ryerson said.
At Auberle, there are two:

• 
  Auberle Computer Graphics & Design, which provides extensive computer-design and business-skills training for teenagers to run their own graphic arts and Web site design company.
• Auberle Culinary Arts, in which teenagers receive hands-on culinary-arts training from professional chefs as well as a broad education in all aspects of the restaurant business.

Ryerson said EITC can be used by companies that do business in Pennsylvania and are subject to taxes on corporate net income, capital stock franchise, bank and trust company shares, title insurance company shares, insurance premiums or mutual thrift institutions.

EITC was devised in 2001, after plans by the administration of Gov. Tom Ridge to get vouchers for private schools failed to pass the General Assembly.

Serra Catholic High School also has used EITC, which Principal Michael Luft called "critically important, not just to Catholic education in the Diocese of Pittsburgh, but throughout Pennsylvania."
Earlier this year, Enterprise Rent-A-Car donated $20,000 in scholarship money to Serra through Bravo Educational Foundation. Luft said 130 families have benefited from EITC.

"Since 2001, 1,900 companies have taken advantage of (EITC)," state Sen. Sean Logan, D-Monroeville, said. "Thirteen percent gave $100,000 or more."

Auberle, established on land willed to the Pittsburgh Diocese by the late Pauline Auberle, talks in its mission statement of servicing the needs of children and at-risk families "in the Catholic tradition."
Information is available at www.auberle.org