Below are multiple grant programs that are currently open for applications. NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Department of Transportation: School Bus Safety Grant Program Who May Apply: Independent school bus contractors, school entities, and municipalities Use: To promote and increase school bus safety, education, and training, as well as pay for education, training, and other associated costs related to an individual earning their commercial learner's permit, commercial driver's license, or school bus endorsement for the purpose of driving a school bus in Pennsylvania. Funds: $1.2 million in funds are available through the School Bus Safety Grant Program. Grant awards will not exceed $100,000. Application Deadline: July 3, 2025 More information: PennDOT website Department of Environmental Protection: Pennsylvania Grid Resilience Grant Program Who May Apply: An electric grid operator, an electricity storage operator, an electricity generator, a transmission owner or operator, a distribution provider, a fuel supplier, and any other relevant entity, as determined by DEP in consultation with DOE. Use: To implement resilience measures throughout PA intended to mitigate the impact of electric grid disruptive events. Funds: $8 million in grant awards is available through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021. Application Deadline: Concept Paper submission availability will close at Read more
LANCASTER, June 2 – State Rep. Nikki Rivera, D-Lancaster, will hold a public safety fair from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 7 at Manheim Township Fire Rescue – 1399 Fruitville Pike, Lancaster. “I wanted to offer residents of all ages resources on all aspects of public safety, from traffic to fires to bicycles to mental health and more,” Rivera said. “I am grateful that wonderful community partners like Manheim Township Fire Rescue, Penn Medicine LGH and others are going to be there to answer questions and offer resources to help people stay safe, including tips on safe driving, fire prevention and practices that support good mental health.” Safety information related to traffic, fires, bikes, mental health, fall preventions and emergency preparedness will be available along with FREE safety items while supplies last. Participating groups include Manheim Township Fire Rescue, Penn Medicine LGH, PA Fish & Boat Commission (with animal demonstrations), Mental Health America and others. Residents interested in attending are encouraged to register for this event via RepRivera@pahouse.net (include name and home address) or call 717-295-3157. Read more
LANCASTER, June 2 - State Rep. Nikki Rivera, D-Lancaster, is partnering with the Alzheimer’s Association Greater Pennsylvania Chapter to host The Lancaster Hispanic Summit on Alzheimer’s & Dementia from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Tuesday, June 10 at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology Multipurpose Activity Center, 750 E. King St., Lancaster. “I wanted to co-host this important event to provide critical information about Alzheimer’s prevention as approximately 13% of Hispanics who are 65 or older have Alzheimer’s or another dementia,” Rivera said. “This summit will be an opportunity for attendees to learn about preventative care as well as be a place where they can share their difficulties trying to get health care, from facing outright discrimination to failing to find health care practitioners who understand their racial or ethnic background and experiences. “As Alzheimer’s disease rates are projected to triple by 2060 with Hispanics predicted to have the largest increase, we need to make sure that people have critical knowledge how they can prevent developing Alzheimer’s as well as being able to recognize the signs of the onset of the disease.” Rivera said the summit will be an opportunity for attendees to learn about preventative care and learn about how the disease impacts the Hispanic community while sharing their own difficulties trying to get health care and finding health care Read more
READING, May 27 – State Rep. Manny Guzman, D-Berks, today announced that he will host a job fair to make it easier for his constituents to connect with numerous city employers in one place, directly and safely. The job fair will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, May 30 at Tec Centro Berks, located at 450 S. 6 St. Guzman said that the event will offer job seekers a platform to learn about career paths, get familiar with local and state resources available to them and the opportunity to meet recruiters from a variety of industries. “I am proud to say that this job fair has become a staple event in our community. One of the most important aspects of this job fair is that it is designed for all skill levels. Students seeking for their very first job or people trying to find their next role in their career journey are welcome to participate,” Guzman said. “Rent, food insecurity and bills pilling up require immediate attention, but in most cases the job search is time-consuming and requires dedication. This fair brings to our neighborhood the possibility to secure a job in the most simple and practical way.” This fair will offer a business-casual atmosphere for the residents of the 127 th Legislative District and the chance to be hired on the spot. Additionally, Guzman and his staff will be there to assist with state-related questions. For more information, contact Guzman’s office at 610-376-1529. Read more
NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Commission on Crime and Delinquency: PACTT (Pennsylvania Academic and Career/Technical Training) Grant Who May Apply: All residential facilities, community-based, and/or juvenile probation office providers that are not currently PACTT Affiliates and serve primarily adjudicated delinquent youth. Use: Applicants must ensure that the proposed program and associated expenses directly align with the PACTT affiliation areas (Academics, Job Skills Training, or Work-Related Services) the agency intends to pursue Funds: A total of $160,000 in state JRI funds is being announced to support this initiative among residential facilities, community-based providers, and juvenile probation departments. PCCD expects to fund eight grants with budgets not to exceed $20,000 over a 12-month project period. Application Deadline: July 7, 2025 More information: PCCD Website Department of Agriculture: Farm Vitality Planning Grant Program Who May Apply: Farmers, prospective farmers, and others Use: Create or obtain business plans, management strategies, transition plans, ownership plans, or plans to maintain the long-term economic viability of a farm. Funds: Up to $500,000 is available in grant funding. Individual grants shall not exceed $15,000. Application Deadline: Applications are accepted until funds are exhausted. More information: PDA Website PROGRAMS OPEN FOR Read more
STATE COLLEGE, May 21 – A $300,000 grant to the State College Area School District will allow the district to move forward with plans to equip the new Park Forest Middle School facility with solar technology, state Rep. Scott Conklin announced today. Conklin said the grant from the Commonwealth Financing Authority under the Solar for Schools Grant Program will allow the school district to equip the new building with a 630 kW solar array so it can tap into the powerful benefits of cleaner energy. “Sustainability has been an important focus of the new school’s building plan, and a solar array has been a proposed part of the project,” said Conklin, who co-sponsored legislation to establish the Solar for Schools Program. “Securing this grant means that proposal can become a reality. “In addition to slashing carbon emissions, the array will save taxpayer dollars and reduce energy costs, leaving more money for classroom programs and curricula. It’s going to be exciting seeing the new technology go up and begin delivering on those benefits.” Conklin said preliminary estimates show that the solar array will produce approximately 35% to 40% of the building’s energy use, substantially lowering dependence on the electrical grid. The Solar for Schools Grant Program was established in July 2024 to reduce the cost of implementing solar energy systems into schools across the Read more
HARRISBURG, May 12 – In a move to level the playing field for Pennsylvania’s public school athletes, the Pennsylvania House Intergovernmental Affairs and Operations Committee today approved state Rep. Scott Conklin’s bill that would allow the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association to create separate playoffs and championships for boundary and non-boundary schools. Conklin, D-Centre, said he introduced H.B. 41 because reforming the current PIAA playoff system – which jeopardizes the health and safety of public school athletes – is an urgent priority. “The current system isn’t just putting public school athletes at a disadvantage, it’s endangering their health and safety,” Conklin said. “It’s forcing students from public schools, which must recruit from within district boundaries, to compete against students from private schools, which can recruit from anywhere and amass teams that are larger and stronger. “The system is also depriving public school students of scholarship and recruitment opportunities and teaching them the wrong lessons. K-12 sports are supposed to be about building confidence and reinforcing concepts of fair play and good sportsmanship. We can’t be doing that with a system that puts some students on an unlevel playing field before they even walk out onto the field.” Conklin emphasized that his bill Read more
HARRISBURG, May 6 -- State Rep. Nikki Rivera’s bill that would update Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Program statutory language with recovery-oriented terminology passed the House today with overwhelming bipartisan support, 201-2. “Words matter. Too many people suffering from substance use disorders don’t seek the help they need due to stigmatizing language surrounding the condition,” Rivera said. “Though positive, recovery-oriented programs in treatment and prevention are the standard, DDAP’s archaic and negative statutory language is perpetuating negative stereotypes about substance abuse. The department should be leading the way in discussing substance abuse in today’s evidence-based and recovery-focused terms. Substance use is a treatable disease and should be discussed as such to promote treatment. “As DDAP plays a central role in the commonwealth’s response to the substance use crisis, I’ve worked with the agency to introduce this legislation that updates the language defining the department’s duties with recovery-oriented language that promotes dignity, respect, and greater access to care and substance abuse disorders as chronic but treatable conditions. “The commonwealth needs to model the supportive approach to treating substance abuse disorders so that families and communities can provide the necessary support to those struggling with substance abuse,” Rivera said. Read more
HARRISBURG, May 5 – State Rep. Ismail Smith-Wade-El’s legislation that would seal eviction records for the millions of Pennsylvanians whose records prevent them from being able to secure adequate housing was reported out of committee today with overwhelming bipartisan support, 23-3. “Pennsylvania’s families deserve access to safe and affordable housing where they can raise their children and our workers deserve the opportunity to secure career-advancing jobs,” Smith-Wade-El said. “But millions of Pennsylvanians, who have eviction records, can’t find housing because of a past eviction, creating instability in family life and disrupting workforce development for entire communities.” Smith-Wade-El introduced H.B. 1095 to protect communities and ensure fair housing access by instituting a statewide policy that would establish procedures to limit access to eviction records in certain cases, such as no-fault evictions. In cases where the tenant has been determined to be at fault by a judge, the records would remain accessible to the public for seven years, bringing them into line with policies related to bankruptcies and foreclosures. According to Smith-Wade-El, most landlords and property managers now use automated tenant screening measures that deny the application of anyone with a single eviction record. That’s even the case if the motion to evict was withdrawn, the court found in favor of the tenant, or the tenant Read more
LANCASTER, May 1 – State Rep. Ismail Smith-Wade-El held a news conference Wednesday to draw attention to the critical importance of state investments in small businesses as drivers of local economies. The news conference at ASSETS in Lancaster specifically highlighted the role that the PA Department of Community & Economic Development’s Historically Disadvantaged Business Assistance Program has played in helping minority-owned businesses succeed in today’s competitive marketplace. Historically disadvantaged small businesses are defined under this program as minority businesses generating annual revenues of $1 million or less and employing fewer than 25 full-time equivalent employees. According to DCED, disadvantaged businesses on average have less access to capital, are three times more likely to be denied loans, are more likely to pay a higher interest rate and are more likely to receive lower loan amounts than non-minority owned firms. To rectify this historical economic inequity, Gov. Josh Shapiro secured $20 million in state funds for historically disadvantaged small businesses for the first time in the 2023-24 state budget. The new state-funded Historically Disadvantaged Business program opened in 2024, disbursing microgrants ranging from $2,000 to $10,000 to qualifying minority-, women- and veteran-owned businesses. “As we prepare to pass another budget — a moral statement of Read more
READING, April 30 – State Rep. Manuel Guzman, D-Berks, today announced that Alvernia University will benefit from nearly half a million dollars through the PAsmart Advancing Grants for Career and Technical Education programs and the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Guzman explained that the funds are aimed at supporting efforts to improve STEM education and workforce development in Berks County. The funding comes as part of a $10.35 million investment that expands access to computer science and science, technology, engineering and math education for learners across Pennsylvania. The grant was awarded to: Alvernia University. - $450,000 for innovative projects to expand access to CTE computer science and STEM experiences for both students and adults. “I welcomed these grants with great enthusiasm. This state funding will create more opportunities for professional development in our community and help students keep pace with a constantly evolving job market,” Guzman said. “I believe it is crucial to equip students with the necessary tools and skills to match industry needs and these high-demand careers paths,” he said. Read more
“Too often conversations about economic development overlook the arts and cultural sector, a sector that is deeply woven into the fabric of our community,” said Rep. Johanny Cepeda-Fretiz, who hosted the roundtable and represents portions of Berks County. “The arts and culture sector is a powerful economic engine, breathing life into our community by generating more than $25 billion annually in Pennsylvania.” Read more
“Our community suffered incredible damage to homes, businesses and schools in recent years, and our residents continue to pick up the pieces from the devastating losses that continue to affect all the families touched by recent floods,” said state Rep. Jacklyn Rusnock, who represents portions of Berks County. “Experts attempting to repair and alleviate flood risks acknowledged this problem is bigger than they can solve at the local level, and they are asking for more help at the state and federal level.” Read more
“I am encouraged by the fact we heard about a growing number of students and families desperately seeking training for in-demand careers,” said state Rep. Carol Hill-Evans, who represents portions of York County and hosted a House Majority Policy Committee hearing on community-based workforce centers. “I called for this hearing to highlight our community workforce centers and explore their vital role. Investing in workforce development is an investment in people, and it’s clear based on the testimony we heard today, that supporting programs like these across the state will lead to economic resiliency for people and communities.” Read more
HARRISBURG, April 23 – The Pennsylvania House today passed state Rep. Scott Conklin’s bill that would authorize the state to regulate virtual currency. Conklin, who is majority chairman of the House Commerce Committee, said he introduced H.B. 881 to ensure consumer confidence that exchanges made with digital currency are as safe and reliable as money transactions and are regulated in the same manner. “With technology creating new forms of virtual currencies such as cryptocurrency, our laws need to keep pace with those changes to protect Pennsylvanians,” Conklin said. “Consumers deserve to know that the transactions they conduct using digital currencies are as safe and secure as those involving traditional forms of money. “Under current state law, virtual currency is not subject to the state’s Money Transmission Licensing Law, which regulates businesses that transmit money or credit. My bill would expand the law so that it covers virtual currency and requires that it be treated similarly to money transmissions under the act.” Conklin said a number of other states already regulate virtual currency. “It’s time for Pennsylvania to join the other states that are already regulating virtual currency and bringing greater consistency to the way these transactions are conducted.” The bill now heads to the state Senate for consideration. Read more
HARRISBURG, April 22 - State Rep. Nikki Rivera’s bill to make sure older Pennsylvanians do not lose their eligibility for the state’s prescription drug programs (H.B. 923) unanimously passed the House today with overwhelming bipartisan support. Co-sponsored with state Rep. Shelby Labs, R-Bucks, the legislation would extend the moratorium on Social Security cost-of-living adjustments for PACE and PACENET eligibility to Dec. 31, 2027. The current moratorium on COLA adjustments is Dec. 31 of this year. According to Rivera, the Social Security COLA for 2025 is currently 2.5%. Without extending the moratorium, 10,039 PACENET enrollees would lose their coverage. Additionally, 12,594 PACE enrollees would move to PACENET, losing their lower copayment and their PACE-paid Part D premium. “These programs—PACE and PACENET—provide lifesaving services at a greatly reduced cost to a population that lives on fixed incomes,” Rivera said. “They make it possible so that a quarter of a million seniors, many of whom require multiple medications to treat different chronic conditions, can purchase life-saving medications without having to go into medical debt, or, even worse, decide they must forgo treatment. “Unfortunately, there’s a problem maintaining eligibility when Social Security cost-of-living increases go up, with over 20,000 seniors then no longer qualifying for their prescription plans. “I was proud to Read more
NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Department of Environmental Protection: Watershed Planning and Restoration Grant Who May Apply: Incorporated watershed associations, counties or municipalities, county conservation districts, council of governments or other authorized organizations including nonprofit organizations, educational institutions and municipal authorities. Use: Examples of eligible projects include existing WIP revision or updates and design and construction of BMPs, including riparian forest buffers, streambank fencing, agricultural erosion and sediment control and nutrient and manure management practices; animal waste storage systems, animal concentration area/animal heavy use area protection and barnyard runoff controls; design and construction of stormwater control measures; AMD treatment systems and other projects that will reduce nonpoint source pollution in watersheds where streams are impaired. Funds: Funds are provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and authorized through Section 319(h) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Application Deadline: June 20, 2025 More information: DEP Website Department of Environmental Protection: Growing Greener Plus Grant Who May Apply: Counties Use: To update a county’s Act 167 plan. Funds: Funding was included in the Fiscal Year 2024-25 state budget and grants will range from $40,000 to $60,000 depending on the county’s Read more
NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Department of Transportation: Automated Red Light Enforcement Transportation Enhancements Grant Program (ARLE Program) Who May Apply: Local governments, planning organizations, or Commonwealth agencies. Use: Eligible uses include, but are not limited to, roadway safety, mobility, and capacity upgrades, bicycle and pedestrian improvements, local technical assistance program projects, and traffic signal improvements. Funds: PennDOT anticipates $32 million available with the intent of funding worthwhile projects that can be completed at a relatively low cost. Application Deadline: A pre-application scoping form is required to be submitted by April 30, 2025. Feedback will be provided by May 31, 2025. The application period will be open from June 1, 2025, to June 30, 2025. More information: PennDOT Website Department of Community and Economic Development: COVID-19 ARPA Digital Connectivity Technology Program Who May Apply: Public-facing institutions, to include but not limited to, libraries, schools, municipalities, workforce training organizations, not-for-profit organizations, and other community anchor institutions located in areas where affordability has been identified as a barrier to broadband adoption and use. Use: The acquisition of digital connectivity technology that facilitates broadband internet access and promotes digital literacy and skills training. These devices will be Read more
HARRISBURG, March 20 – In the face of the Trump administration’s vilification of immigrants and unlawful deportations of immigrants , state Reps. Ismail Smith-Wade-El, D-Lancaster, Joe Hohenstein, D-Phila., and Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz, D-Berks, held a news conference on Wednesday to highlight the reintroduction of their legislation to create an Office of New Pennsylvanians to support, attract and retain immigrants in the commonwealth. “Pennsylvania welcomed William Penn from religious persecution in the 17 th century, Blacks fleeing slavery in the 19 th century, and today Afghans, Bhutanese, Ukrainians and others that are fleeing persecution, ethnic cleansing and war,” Smith-Wade-El said. “Instead of keeping to its values, Pennsylvania is scapegoating immigrant communities with punitive policies that are driving them out of the state. “Economically, we can’t afford to lose them as they make up over 8% of our state’s workforce and pay $3.3 billion yearly in state and local taxes. As our population ages and many residents leave our state for other opportunities, we need skilled workers, entrepreneurs, consumers and community leaders to make sure that Pennsylvania continues to grow and thrive economically, culturally and socially and retains its electoral power at the federal level. But even more than that, we can’t afford to betray the values on which our commonwealth was founded. Read more
Below are multiple grant programs that are currently open for applications. NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Commission on Crime and Delinquency: Project Safe and Smart Technical Assistance Who May Apply: Eligibility for these funds is open to any community-based organization, non-profit, for-profit, or educational institution. The applicant must successfully demonstrate their history in providing technical assistance in child sexual abuse prevention programming. Use: To establish a collaboration with the Child Maltreatment Solutions Network (CMSN) at Pennsylvania State University (PSU), including CMSN Affiliate Dr. Kate Guastaferro from New York University (NYU), to provide additional support to the 15 awarded Project Safe and Smart grantees, ensuring the successful implementation of their projects. Funds: A total of $150,000 in state Endowment Act funding is being announced to support this initiative. PCCD expects to fund one (1) grant over the 2-year project period. Application Deadline: April 18, 2025 More information: PCCD Website Commission on Crime and Delinquency: Criminal Justice Advisory Board (CJAB) Technical Assistance Initiative Who May Apply: Non-profit orgnaizations Use: To continue support of CJABs through the CJAB Specialists who serve as a resource to counties in assisting with CJAB projects. Funds: A combination of federal Byrne Justice Assistance Grant and state funds is being Read more
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