The Chamber and Altoona Blair County Development Corporation leadership joined with Governor Shapiro, members of his Administration, local officials and the family of the Kulp dairy farm this month to mark the start of a major dairy production expansion and celebrate the new permitting process that helped to make it happen. Permitting reform has been championed by the Chamber’s Public Policy Committee for several years. Joining forces with the Blair Alliance, the PA Economic Development Association and the State Chamber, these efforts gained traction as Governor Shapiro launched a new Office of Transformation making permit reform a central tenant of the Administration’s economic development strategy. This has had broad bi-partisan support. It was a great day for Blair County’s largest industry sector! For more on the story as it appeared in the Altoona Mirror, see below: https://www.altoonamirror.com/news/local-news/2025/08/pa-martinsburg-shapiro-tours-kulp-dairy-farm/
Shapiro Touts Faster Permits at Martinsburg Farm
MARTINSBURG – “Time is money for farmers,” which is why speeding up the permit process for farm expansions is important, Gov. Josh Shapiro said Thursday morning while standing on the grounds of the Kulp Family Dairy farm.
The Shapiro administration has been speeding up the permit process so Pennsylvania farmers can “move forward with their plans,” according to a press release.
Chris Hoffman, president of the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, said Thursday was a “milestone” for everyone involved because they are processing permits in short time periods.
Kulp Dairy farm manager Kyle Kulp, 27, had to file a permit to expand their farm on Feb. 5. Six months later, the permit was released and approved on Aug. 7 – four months earlier than originally anticipated.
“For the size of this project,” Kulp said the permitting time was “remarkably quick, relative to historical norms.”
With the permit, Kulp said his farm can build 3,000 free stalls, a new milking center and group housing calf barns, which will add over 1,000 dairy cows to their business.
The permit will allow their system to become more “efficient,” he said, setting the farm on track to remain successful over the “next 20 to 25 years.”
Read the full story in the Altoona Mirror: Mirror Staff Writer Colette Costlow is at 814-946-7414 – August 22, 2025
