Today, the Pennsylvania Senate unanimously approved legislation sponsored by state Rep. Morgan Cephas, D-Phila., that would permit mortgage lenders to offer discount points to borrowers to lower their interest rate and monthly payments. House Bill 1103 now awaits the signature of Gov. Josh Shapiro for it to be enacted into law. Read more
“Properly funding SEPTA is an investment in all communities across PA. Our regional economy is a main driver for statewide prosperity. What benefits Philadelphia, benefits all of Pennsylvania, and SEPTA is a crucial key to our success. The cost of allowing mass transit to wither will be seen in additional traffic and longer commutes on already over-burdened roads and bridges; a weakened economy across the state, not just in Philly; environmental impacts from more cars on the road; and a less competitive job market for our region." Read more
Employees who are eligible to receive overtime pay work in some of the nation's most vital professions, such as nursing, health care, retail, hospitality, construction and manufacturing, for example. Many are not highly paid and must carefully manage their budgets to make ends meet. Today, the state House Finance Committee held a public hearing on legislation that would establish a state-level income tax credit for overtime wages, so that these hardworking employees get more back at tax season. Read more
“This event is always a highlight of the summer kickoff in West Philly,” said Cephas, D-Phila. “It’s about celebrating our community, propelling economic development, and creating a space for joy—and this year was truly a celebration where we also got to honor the Juneteenth holiday. Even with the rain, West Philly showed up and showed out. That’s what our community looks like.” Read more
The Philadelphia House Delegation reacted this afternoon to House passage of a proposal to fund mass transit systems and transportation projects across the commonwealth. House Bill 1364 sponsored by Chairman of the House Transportation Committee Ed Neilson, D-Phila., would mirror Governor Shapiro’s proposal to increase the transfer of existing sales tax revenue to the Public Transportation Trust Fund from 4.4% to 6.15% providing an expected additional $1.5 billion for transit systems over the next five years. Read more
The co-chairs of the Pennsylvania Black Maternal Health Caucus on Monday held their PA MOMNIBUS 2025 Day at the state Capitol. The events of the day were held to observe the progress of the group in the previous legislative session and highlight the new PA MOMNIBUS 2.0 legislative package for the 2025-26 session. Read more
Co-chair of the PA Black Maternal Health Caucus Rep. Morgan Cephas looks to build on last year's progress in improving maternal health outcomes for Black mothers in the commonwealth. She says the PA MOMNIBUS 2.0 package of bills would improve access to prenatal care, postpartum checkups, mental health services, and life saving treatments for high risk pregnancies. Read more
NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Commonwealth Financing Authority: Mixed-Use Revitalization Program Who May Apply: Developers (person or business entity with a demonstrated history of advancing commercial or mixed-use redevelopment projects Use: A community revitalization project that promotes economic growth and includes commercial assets. Eligible projects must be on at least 15 acres of land, contain at least 200,000 square feet of proposed development that has not received a certificate of occupancy as of 7/11/24, and be zoned for planned end use. Funds: Grant amount shall not exceed more than twice the amount of matching funds provided by the developer or $3,000,000, whichever is less. Application Deadline: August 31, 2025 More information: CFA Website Department of Agriculture: Agricultural Research Grant Who May Apply: Individuals or organizations focused on agriculture research Use: Research on topic areas listed here Funds: All funding is contingent upon 2025-2026 budget appropriations Application Deadline: July 25, 20225 More information: PDA website PROGRAMS OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS: Department of Community and Economic Development: PA SITES Who May Apply: Municipalities, economic development organizations, redevelopment authorities, municipal authorities, industrial development agencies, and for-profit organizations. Use: To develop competitive sites for businesses to relocate or expand within Pennsylvania. Funds: Read more
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
A celebration and check ceremony Thursday hosted by the Philadelphia House and Senate delegations honored the Philadelphia schools and community colleges that received Solar for Schools grants. Read more
The Philadelphia House Delegation today offered supportive reaction to the recent appointment of Scott A. Sauer as the new general manager of SEPTA. Sauer has served as interim general manager since November 2024. Read more
Here are the latest grant opportunities that are open for applications. Read more
Today, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed legislation sponsored by state Rep. Morgan Cephas, D-Phila., that would permit mortgage lenders to offer discount points to borrowers to lower their interest rate and monthly payments. House Bill 1103 would expand opportunities for affordable credit so that home buyers wouldn’t need to turn to higher interest options like personal loans or credit cards. Read more
Chairwoman of the Philadelphia House Delegation state Rep. Morgan Cephas, D-Phila., joined Gov. Josh Shapiro, Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Rick Siger, and other elected officials at the Navy Yard in South Philadelphia this morning to announce a state investment of $30 million to develop the Philadelphia Navy Yard Greenway District.The grant is awarded to Ensemble/Mosaic Navy Yard LLC. through the Pennsylvania Strategic Investments to Enhance Sites program – a strategic and targeted strategy to unlock economic growth by preparing sites for business expansion and job creation. The project will target life sciences, research, and manufacturing. Cephas touted the major investment as a key to unlocking economic growth and prosperity for the Philadelphia region. Read more
Today’s shooting of a Philadelphia Police officer near Overbrook High School is heartbreaking. My thoughts are with the injured officer and their family, as well as the students, staff, and families of the Overbrook school community. Read more
Today, the PA House of Representatives recognized the Super Bowl LIX Champion Philadelphia Eagles in the House chamber. House Resolution 217, sponsored by Philadelphia House Delegation Chairwoman Morgan Cephas, D-Phila., recognizes May 7, 2025, as Philadelphia Eagles Day at the state Capitol, honoring the team’s second Super Bowl victory and fifth NFL Championship in the 92-year history of the organization. Read more
Today, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed legislation sponsored by state Rep. Morgan Cephas, D-Phila., that would protect Pennsylvania homeowners from signing away their home and generational wealth to unscrupulous realty agents. Read more
Learn more about the multiple grant programs that are currently open for applications. Read more
“Maternal health care deserts are creating a cascade of consequences for expecting mothers,” said Rep. Morgan Cephas, who represents portions of Philadelphia and co-chairs the Black Maternal Health Caucus. “Expecting mothers are being asked to drive up to 45 minutes to deliver babies, and – while in ideal situations that might not always pose an issue – deliveries cannot always be scheduled and do not always occur when expected.” Read more
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