“The goal of this hearing was to identify proven solutions that guarantee every student has access to healthy, high-quality meals, while also eliminating the stigma of meal debt so children can overcome hunger,” said state Rep. Nate Davidson, who hosted the hearing and represents portions of Cumberland and Dauphin counties. “What we heard tonight is that universal school meals support students’ needs and improve classroom environments and academic results for all.” Read more

LANCASTER, Dec. 30 – Smoother, safer traffic flow is coming to Lancaster thanks to nearly $824,000 in grant funding from the state Transportation Department, state Rep. Ismail Smith-Wade-El, D-Lancaster, announced today. Read more

LANCASTER, Dec. 30 – Safer and more efficient traffic flow is coming to the 96th Legislative District thanks to nearly $874,000 in grant funding from PennDOT, state Rep. Nikki Rivera, D-Lancaster, announced today. According to Rivera, the funding -- awarded through the Green Light-Go Program -- will support traffic flow and safety improvements in the city of Lancaster and Manheim Township. The funding includes: • City of Lancaster: $91,476 to study and remove unwarranted traffic-control signals. • City of Lancaster: $732,095 to modernize multiple intersections. • Manheim Township: $50,000 to install LED traffic signal modules at multiple locations. “These critical investments will help motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians get where they’re going more quickly and safely,” Rivera said. “This funding will increase the efficiency and reliability of our traffic signal systems, making travel on our streets safer for everyone. I want to thank PennDOT and our local partners for helping to bring this funding home.” Green Light-Go is a reimbursement-based grant program that requires applicants to provide a 20% local match. Grants may be used for operational improvements, such as installing light-emitting diode technology, retiming traffic signals, developing special-event traffic plans, monitoring signal performance, and upgrading traffic signals to the latest technologies. Read more

STATE COLLEGE, Dec. 30 – Centre County has secured $200,000 in Emergency Solutions Grant funding and will share an additional $350,000 for a 12-county project aimed at helping individuals and families experiencing homelessness, state Rep. Scott Conklin announced today. Conklin, D-Centre, said the grants, approved through the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, will fund critical services to help local families access emergency housing and prevent eviction. “No family should ever have to face life’s challenges without a safe, secure place to call home,” Conklin said. “By expanding access to emergency housing resources and eviction counseling, this new funding will provide a lifeline to more families.” The funding for Centre County will enable Housing Transitions to provide emergency shelter services and case management for local households. Meanwhile, the grant awarded to the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence will support a 12-county initiative to provide emergency shelter services, aiming to assist 1,107 households. Statewide, more than $5.3 million in ESG grants were approved to combat homelessness and increase access to affordable housing across Pennsylvania. The Emergency Solutions Grant program is authorized under the federal Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing Act of 2009. Read more

NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Commission on Crime and Delinquency: Substance Abuse Education and Demand Reduction (SAEDR) Category One Who May Apply: Nonprofit organizations. Use: To support projects designed to educate the public about the dangers of substance abuse and/or reduce demand for these substances. Funds: PCCD expects to award up to nine grants with budgets not to exceed $200,000 over a 24- month project period. Application Deadline: February 23, 2026 More information: PCCD Website Commission on Crime and Delinquency: Substance Abuse Education and Demand Reduction (SAEDR) Categories Two and Three Who May Apply: A statewide organization that possesses five or more consecutive years of experience carrying out substance abuse education and demand reduction programs, maintains a drug-free workplace policy, and has as its purpose the reduction of substance abuse. Use: The goal of SAEDR Category 2 funding is to educate youth, caregivers of youth, and employers about the dangers of substance use; and increase the awareness of the benefits of a drug-free Pennsylvania. The goal of SAEDR Category 3 funding is to educate employers, unions, and employees about the dangers of substance use in the workplace Funds: PCCD expects to fund up to three Category 2 and three Category 3 Substance Abuse Education and Demand Reduction (SAEDR) projects to support this initiative. Budgets for each project may not exceed Read more