[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 152 (Wednesday, October 12, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1829]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             MS. RITA LACEY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. LOU BARLETTA

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 12, 2011

  Mr. BARLETTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Rita Lacey of Close the 
Loop, for her excellent work as an entrepreneur. Ms. Lacey has managed 
to merge business and the phrase ``Reduce, Reuse, Recycle'' through her 
business, Close the Loop LLC.
  Close the Loop LLC began in 2000. Ms. Lacey started a new venture 
with no background in sales or accounting. Its aim was to help United 
States manufacturers of recycled products build the demand for their 
products made from recycled materials. By 2008, Close the Loop had 
shipped more than 7 million pounds of rubber mulch and more than 
130,000 pounds of plastic fencing.
  In 2009, a time of economic downturn led Ms. Lacey's company to get 
more socially involved in the community. Close the Loop organized free 
community events such as ``Give and Take Days,'' during which community 
members donated items they no longer needed and took items they could 
use. Ms. Lacey has passed her business knowledge to others by offering 
free workshops and classes at Careerlink in Tannersville and the Monroe 
County Chamber of Commerce. She shows unemployed and underemployed 
people how they can start their own business while on a limited budget. 
I commend Ms. Lacey for all she has done as an entrepreneur and a 
philanthropist.
  Mr. Speaker, I applaud the efforts that Rita Lacey has made. It is 
citizens such as Ms. Lacey that make Northeastern Pennsylvania a 
wonderful place to live and work. In these struggling times, it is 
wonderful to see all of the positive work Ms. Lacey is doing to promote 
her community.

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