District receiving state grant funding, other investments

Rep. Leanne Krueger July 22, 2026 | 9:36 AM

PA Representative Leanne Krueger banner image

Dear Neighbor,

I’m excited to share some great news for our community. Our district has been awarded $1 million in state grant funding for two important local projects that will strengthen our community, improve local facilities, and create new opportunities for residents. I’m also pleased to share that the Wallingford-Swarthmore School District has been awarded a $47,084 PennDOT School Bus Safety Grant to help train new school bus drivers. Bringing state funding back to our district is one of my top priorities, and I’m proud to help secure investments that make a real difference here at home.

While I’m excited to see these investments coming back to our district, I’m also proud of what we’ve accomplished for Pennsylvanians across the state. The 2026-27 state budget that we passed last week is already making investments that will benefit communities across the Commonwealth. This bipartisan budget makes important investments in education, infrastructure, public safety, and working families, while keeping Pennsylvania on a path of long-term growth without raising taxes.

Funding for our district

I’m excited to share that $1 million in state Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) funding has been awarded for two important projects in our district.

Neumann University has been awarded $500,000 to support the construction of a new ice arena on its Aston Township campus. This project will expand recreational opportunities for students and residents while creating a new community asset that will serve students, families, and visitors.

Upland Borough has also been awarded $500,000 to modernize the Reese Center and establish a regional emergency management headquarters. The funding will support upgrades to the building’s mechanical, HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems, ensuring the facility is sustainable, efficient, and well-equipped to serve emergency personnel and the community. This builds upon the $415,000 grant I helped Upland secure for this project in 2025.

I’m proud to help bring state investments back to our communities through the RACP program. These projects strengthen our local infrastructure, help to improve public safety and recreation, and support the continued growth of our district.

To read more, visit my website.

Investing in school bus safety

Keeping students safe starts with making sure they have well-trained drivers behind the wheel. I’m excited to share that the Wallingford-Swarthmore School District has been awarded a $47,084 PennDOT School Bus Safety Grant to help recruit and train new school bus drivers.

This funding will help cover the costs of commercial driver’s license (CDL) training, testing, permit fees, and trainee wages, making it easier to prepare qualified drivers to safetly transport students every day.

This investment will strengthen our local workforce while helping ensure students can get to and from school safely and reliably.

Putting more money back into the pockets of working families

I have always fought to put more money back into the pockets of working families, and I’m proud that this budget does exactly that. Through the Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit, nearly 950,000 working families across Pennsylvania will receive almost $200 million in tax relief.

By building on the federal Earned Income Tax Credit, this state tax credit will help eligible working families keep more of what they earn and better manage the rising cost of everyday expenses. Whether it’s paying for groceries, housing, childcare, transportation, or other household necessities, this investment will provide meaningful financial relief while strengthening family budget and supporting Pennsylvania’s economy.

Investing in stronger schools

Every child deserves access to a quality education, regardless of their ZIP code. That’s why I was proud to support a budget that increases state funding for public education by nearly $670 million, helping ensure schools have the resources they need to help every student succeed.

That includes a $58 million increase in Basic Education Funding, a $46.75 million increase in Special Education Funding, and a $565.1 million increase in Ready to Learn funding, bringing the total statewide increase in discretionary education funding to $669.8 million for the year. Career and Technical Education will be receiving $154 million, a $10 million (or 6.9%) increase.

These investments will help schools continue providing students with the tools, support, and opportunities they need to succeed while preparing the next generation for college, careers, and beyond.

In the District

Celebrating Improvements to the Chester Creek Trail

Today, I was pleased to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the completion of important infrastructure enhancements at the Chester Creek Trail trailhead on Knowlton Rd. It was wonderful to join fellow local elected officials, community leaders, and residents in celebrating this investment and the positive impact it will have on the community.

The Chester Creek Trail is one of Delaware County’s most popular outdoor destinations, welcoming walkers, runners, cyclists, and families from across the region. As its popularity has grown, so has the need for improvements that make the trail safer, more accessible, and better equipped to serve everyone who enjoys it.

The completed project includes additional parking, improved ADA accessibility, enhanced stormwater management, and other site improvements that will make visiting the trail more convenient but also protecting this important community asset for years to come.

I was proud to help secure $378,960 in Local Share Account (LSA) grant funding for this project, and it’s exciting to see these investments come to life. This grant is the third round of funding I have helped secure for this trail, for a total investment of $753,960. Bringing state funding back to our communities for projects like this helps expand recreational opportunities, and ensures our public spaces remain welcoming and accessible for all.

Programs & Services

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced that bridge repair will occur at night on I-476 under a $63.7 million project to resurface, repair and improve nearly 17 miles of the interstate, the associated on-and-off ramps, and bridges from I-76 (Schuylkill Expressway) in West Conshohocken Borough, Montgomery County, to I-95 in Ridley Township, Delaware County.

Drivers are advised of the following travel restrictions:

Friday, July 24, from 8:00 PM to 5:00 AM the following morning, a lane closure will be in place on the ramp road to northbound I-476 and southbound U.S. 1 in Marple Township.
Saturday, July 25, from 8:00 PM to 12:00 PM Sunday, July 26, a lane closure will be in place on southbound I-476 between Old Marple Road and Beatty Road in Marple Township.
Saturday, August 1, from 9:00 PM, to 5:00 AM Monday, August 3, the ramp from southbound I-476 to Baltimore Pike (Exit 3) will be closed and detoured. During the closure, drivers will be directed to follow the posted detour route.

Drivers are advised to allow extra time when traveling near or through work areas because backups and delays will occur. All scheduled activities are weather dependent.

Resurfacing projects are also happening in Delaware County this week.

Monday, July 20, through Friday, July 24, from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM and from 7:00 PM to 5:00 AM the following morning, a lane closure with flagging will be in place on Bethel Road/Station Road between Garnet Mine Road and U.S. 322 (Conchester Highway) in Concord Township for milling, paving, and utility adjustments.
Monday, July 20, through Friday, July 24, from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM and from 7:00 PM to 5:00 AM the following morning, a lane closure will be in place on U.S. 1 (Baltimore Pike) between Route 452 (Pennell Road) and Route 352 (New Middletown Road) in Middletown Township for milling, paving, and utility adjustments.
Wednesday, July 22, through Friday, July 24, from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM and from 7:00 PM to 5:00 AM the following morning, a lane closure with flagging will be in place on Chelsea Road between Chichester Avenue and Concord Road in Bethel and Upper Chichester townships for milling, paving, and utility adjustments.

Find PennDOT’s planned and active construction projects at www.pa.gov/DOTprojects.

Seniors: Are you eligible for prescription assistance?

PACE and PACENET are the state’s prescription programs that help cover the cost of medication for eligible residents age 65+. There are income limits, which are listed above.

For more information, click here. Or stop by my office and we can help you with eligibility questions or applications.

PA laws to protect animals in hot weather

As we enter the dog days of summer, please be aware of these laws that protect animals in hot weather.

To report an animal left out in the heat, you can call the Pennsylvania SPCA Animal Cruelty Hotline at 866-601-7722 or submit the concern online here.

Our Events

Staying Safe Online & Off at the N.I.T.E. Center on the Neumann University Campus

Thursday, August 6

Program begins at 10:00 AM

We are partnering with the N.I.T.E. Center for a FREE workshop for seniors that will help you:

Spot Scams and Phishing Emails
Use strong passwords and manage accounts safely
Recognize safe websites and pop-ups
Identify scam calls and messages

To register for this event and receive all the details, call my office at 610-534-6880 or email RepKrueger@pahouse.net.

Medicare 101- In person event

Monday, August 24

6:30 PM – 7:30 PM

Aston Community Center – 3270 Concord Rd., Aston

To register, call 610-534-6880 or email RepKrueger@pahouse.net.

American Red Cross Blood Drive

Thursday, August 27

12 PM – 5 PM

Brookhaven Municipal Center

2 Cambridge Rd., Brookhaven

To register, visit HERE.

Retirement Planning Seminar

August 31

5:30 PM – 7:00 PM (presentation begins at 5:30 PM)

Brookhaven Municipal Center – 2 Cambridge Rd., Brookhaven

Calculating what you need to retire can be difficult. Where do you start to come up with that magic number? As you enter the next season of your life, do you have a strategy to make it last? We will be joined by a representative from the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities for a FREE Retirement Planning Seminar. This session will help you understand how much you may need to live out your golden years with financial stability and outline several strategies to ensure that you can make that nest egg last.

To register call my office or email RepKrueger@pahouse.net.

Happening In the Community

Historic Cheyney University Tour and Presentation

Thursday, July 23

Self-guided: 12–6pm | Curated tours: 1pm & 3pm | Historic Presentation at Carnegie Hall: 4:30pm | Reception to follow

1837 University Circle, Cheyney, PA

Walk the Historic Quadrangle. Hear from campus historians. Explore 8 buildings spanning more than 220 years of resilience, scholarship, and leadership that helped shape this country.

The tour is free — but registration is required.