Each year businesses and organizations in Pennsylvania rub a magic lamp and hope their wishes come true.

In this case the magic lamp is the state's capital budget and everyone learns early on that only a select few will see their dreams become reality.

Locally, eight projects are vying for a piece of the capital budget action.

A $2 million request from Farrell for a re-heat furnace and an improved pickling line at Duferco Farrell Corp. is seen as having the best shot among the local projects. Most of the funds for the Farrell steelmaker would be used on the pickling line, which cleans steel.

If approved, the project is expected to create 50 new jobs. Total cost of this project is pegged at between $5 million to $6 million.

The largest local request, $5 million, is for a project that isn't ready yet, said Larry Reichard, executive director of Penn-Northwest Development Corp., Mercer County's lead economic development organization. Penn Northwest wants the money for an industrial park in the Mercer area.

At the time the request was made a year ago, it was hoped Mercer would have a regional sewerage system in place, which hasn't happened.

"Any planning for that industrial park is something that will have to come in the future,'' Reichard said.

Premier Hydraulics Inc., Farrell, has requested $1 million to expand into a new 50,000-square-foot manufacturing building in the city, which is expected to create 20 new jobs. The company produces fittings and valves for the heavy equipment industry.

West Bank Holdings, a Detroit company, also has a $1 million request to construct a 30,000-square-foot manufacturing building for a plating and brazing operation. The project is expected to create between 30 to 40 new jobs.

Other projects offered for funding are:

   » $1.7 million for Westminster College, New Wilmington, to create a cultural arts center for the performing arts and civic programming.

   » $875,000 to renovate Buhl Farm Casino, Hermitage.

   » $625,000 to renovate the parking deck and improve the library at Shenango Valley Community Library, Sharon.

   » $500,000 for Chef's Kitchen, Farrell, to buy a building at a vacant plaza on Idaho Street to house the restaurant, currently located across the street in the Veterans of Foreign Wars post.