NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Commission on Crime and Delinquency: State Crisis Intervention Program (SCIP) Firearm Suicide Prevention, Intervention, and Postvention Initiative Who May Apply: Units of local government, nonprofit organizations (including community-based and statewide organizations), institutions of higher education, and state government agencies. Use: To support programming that focuses on firearm-related suicide prevention. Funds: A total of $1 million in federal 2024 Byrne SCIP funds in available. PCCD expects to fund 4 to 6 grants over a 21-month period. Application Deadline: September 9, 2025 More information: PCCD 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: $400 million in funding is available. Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and approved on a quarterly basis More information: DCED Website Department of Community and Economic Development: Manufacturing PA Training-to-Career Grant Who May Apply: Technical and trade schools, school districts, post-secondary academic Read more
Legislation introduced by state Rep. Ed Neilson, D-Phila., that would expedite junk title processing of abandoned vehicles in the state passed the House today. House Bill 593 would require PennDOT to complete certain administrative steps in processing abandoned vehicles and certificates of salvage within 10 business days to ensure a timely process. Neilson, who chairs the House Transportation Committee, said that after clearing the scene of an accident or removing abandoned vehicles from the side of the road, tow truck operators often hold vehicles in storage at their own expense until the owner claims their property. In some cases, these vehicles, often in a state of poor condition with little value, are simply abandoned by their owners, forcing tow truck operators to file paperwork with PennDOT to obtain a junk title. “Right now, it can take up to six months for PennDOT to process junk titles, which leaves tow truck operators responsible for the non-working vehicle,” Neilson said. “Ensuring the reasonable processing and delivery of junk titles will greatly assist tow truck operators who don’t have the space or resources to store vehicles for an extended period of time.” This is the second time the House has passed this legislation, having sent a similar version to the state Senate in the last legislative session, where it languished. It again moves to that chamber for consideration. Read more
After PennDOT announced that two workers were tragically killed in Venango County, state Rep. Ed Neilson, chair of the House Transportation Committee, released the following statement. Read more
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed legislation to provide historic funding for public transportation. The Public Transportation Trust Fund Transfer Act, authored by state Rep. Ed Neilson, chair of the House Transportation Committee, would invest nearly $300 million into mass transit funding for all of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties. “Throughout Pennsylvania, including cities, suburbs and rural areas, more than 1 million people use public transportation every day. This is the most significant transit funding increase in over a decade, and no one will see an increase in their taxes. With an additional $500 million in funding to repair roads and bridges, this comprehensive bill will bolster Pennsylvania’s transportation infrastructure in a way that benefits us all,” said Neilson, D-Phila. This funding aligns with Gov. Josh Shapiro’s budget proposal in that the sales tax will not increase but the existing amount of money already allocated to public transit funding will increase from 4.4% to 6.15%. It would also drive a total of $1.5 billion to public transit over the next five years. “This will help transit agencies avoid the worst-case scenarios of major service cuts and fare increases, allow roughly 39,000 people employed by public transit agencies to remain gainfully employed and continue moving hundreds of thousands of workers to and from their jobs,” he said. Read more
Don't miss your chance to apply for grant opportunities throughout PA 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
NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Department of Community and Economic Development: Sports Marketing and Tourism Grant Who May Apply: A municipality, a local authority, a nonprofit organization, or a legal entity that meets all of the following criteria: • the applicant participates or plans to participate in a competitive selection process; • the site selection process is conducted by a Site Selection Organization not located in this Commonwealth; • The applicant is seeking to secure a single year or multiyear commitment from a site selection organization to conduct high quality, amateur and professional sporting or esports events at one or more locations in this Commonwealth. Use: To attract high-quality, amateur, and professional sporting and e-sports events to this Commonwealth with the goal of advancing and promoting year-round tourism, economic impact, and quality of life through sport. Application Deadline: June 6, 2025 More information: DCED Website Historical & Museum Commission: Historical and Archival Records Care Grant Who May Apply: Non-profit organizations that have been incorporated for at least two years. Use: To enhance the preservation and accessibility of valuable historical records across the Commonwealth Funds: Grants will be awarded up to $5,000. Application Deadline: August 1, 2025 More information: PHMC Website PROGRAMS OPEN Read more
Today, legislation authored by House Transportation Committee Majority Chair, state Rep. Ed Neilson, to fund public transit infrastructure in alignment with Gov. Josh Shapiro’s budget proposal was voted out of committee. The $292.5 million investment the legislation calls for will help avoid the fiscal cliff that transit agencies in Pennsylvania currently face, according to Neilson. “Public transit provides invaluable service to Pennsylvania. It not only has a rippling effect on our economic prosperity through many different sectors and job creation, but for some Pennsylvanians, service cuts and fare increases would rob them of their livelihoods as they lose the only mode of transportation they have for work or school,” Neilson said. “The biggest threat is to people who rely on paratransit and medical transportation, along with seniors and people with disabilities who rely on these services for medical appointments and much more. "The bottom line is that public transit is used in all 67 counties in Pennsylvania, it’s not just about Philadelphia and Pittsburgh,” the legislator added. “This funding aligns with Gov. Shapiro’s call for a game-changing investment in his 2025-26 budget proposal and it’s a vital economic engine for Pennsylvania.” During the 2023-24 legislative session, House Democrats advanced -- and the House passed -- three separate bills to fund public transit agencies in Pennsylvania. Read more
Today, the Pennsylvania House adopted resolutions authored by House Transportation Committee Chairman Ed Neilson and state Rep. Brandon Markosek to help make Pennsylvania roads safer. House Resolution 196, introduced by Neilson, designates April 2025 as “Distracted Driving Awareness Month” in Pennsylvania. During the 2023-2024 legislative session, Neilson was instrumental in the passage of Senate Bill 37, which prohibits driving while using handheld devices in Pennsylvania. House Resolution 95, introduced by Markosek, designates the week of April 21 through 25, 2025 as “National Work Zone Awareness Week” in Pennsylvania. “Spring marks the beginning of construction season, with crews improving 120,000 miles of roads and thousands of bridges across Pennsylvania,” Markosek, D-Allegheny, said. “I introduced this resolution for "National Work Zone Awareness Week" to remind everyone that safe driving saves lives, particularly in work zones. Let's all do our part to slow down to protect the workers who are improving our roads and to ensure everyone, workers and travelers, make it home safely.” Neilson said that more protection for road workers is necessary because since 1970, 90 PennDOT employees have lost their lives while working on roads and highways. “Both of these resolutions will remind drivers to slow down, put down their phones and pay attention to the road, especially when they see the flashing Read more
“The preservation and revitalization of these historic train stations will serve as a vital link from rural Western Pennsylvania to bustling cities in the commonwealth. The improvements will help us stay connected to our history while moving us forward in transportation modernization.” Read more
Majority Chairman of the #PAHouse Transportation Committee state Rep. Ed Neilson gave his reaction to the announcement of SEPTA potentially cutting services & increasing fares. Neilson says that if we do not get SEPTA the funding that they need to avoid these cuts & increases it will be detrimental not just for the southeast but all of the commonwealth. Read more
After the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority today announced unprecedented service cuts and fare increases, state Rep. Ed Neilson, majority chair of the House Transportation Committee, released the following statement: “SEPTA’s announced fare increases and service cuts will have a rippling and devastating effect. It will not just affect Philadelphia dramatically, but the commonwealth as a whole. “Nine out of every 10 people throughout PA rely on public transit when traveling for school or work; for some it’s the only option. These service cuts and fare increases will create barriers for hardworking Pennsylvanians who are already having trouble making ends meet. “But the impact spans far past a lack of services or unaffordable costs, it will rob our state of economic vitality. Every dollar invested in transit returns five dollars back into our economy. SEPTA employs more than 10,000 direct employees who would suffer but even people who have never seen a SEPTA bus will feel these cuts and fare increases. Companies in more than 41 Pennsylvania counties will lose money because SEPTA cannot purchase supplies and building materials, exacerbating the economic pressure of SEPTA’s $213 million budget deficit. “I will continue to advocate for all transit agencies in Pennsylvania to receive critical funding they need to keep Pennsylvanians moving forward.” Read more
Funding PA's roads and bridges is an investment in our economic strength, every $1 spent on transportation generates up to $3.60 in economic activity. Read more
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives today adopted a resolution recognizing March 18 as National Transit Worker Appreciation Day in Pennsylvania, according to author House Transportation Committee Chair Rep. Ed Neilson. 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
Learn more about the multiple grant programs that are currently open for applications. Read more
NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Commonwealth Financing Authority: Multimodal Transportation Fund (MTF) Who May Apply: Municipalities, councils of government, businesses, economic development organizations, public transportation agency, ports (rail/freight) Use: The MTF provides grants to encourage economic development and ensure a safe and reliable system of transportation exists in Pennsylvania. The program is intended to provide financial assistance in order to improve public transportation assets that enhance communities, pedestrian safety, and transit revitalization. Funds: Requests must have a total eligible cost of $100,000 or more and no request shall exceed $3,000,000 for any project. Application Deadline: July 31, 2025 More information: DCED 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: $400 million in funding is available. Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and approved on a quarterly basis More information: DCED Website Department of Agriculture: Farm Vitality Planning Grant Who May Apply: Farmers, prospective farmers, and others may apply. Use: Strategic business Read more
Today, state Rep. Ed Neilson introduced legislation (H.B. 98) that would require statewide licensing for all electrical workers to protect both electricians and the consumers they serve. Nelson is a lifelong member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 98. He said the bill number is a nod to his commitment to promoting safety and setting standards in a highly skilled and dangerous trade. “Pennsylvania electricians deserve uniform guidelines that foster safe workplace practices and consumers deserve reliable service from well-trained electricians. The dangerous nature of electrical work is amplified in Pennsylvania by the lack of statewide licensing requirements to work in this highly skilled trade,” Neilson said. Neilson added that Pennsylvania is just one of a handful of states that doesn’t require statewide licensing to work as an electrician, leaving them without opportunity to work in reciprocity with other states. “We must ensure that our electricians have guidelines that not only set industry standards for quality electrical work but will keep safety a top priority for all.” Neilson said. Read more
Today, Pennsylvania lawmakers voted to protect road workers by passing legislation authored by House Transportation Committee Chair Rep. Ed Neilson. The bipartisan bill (H.B. 257) would provide more tools to help new drivers learn about how to drive safely in a work zone. It accomplishes this by requiring that the written driving test include at least one question about work zone driving safety, while also requiring minors to view PennDOT’s educational materials about work zone driving safety before they apply for a junior driver’s license. “Road workers deserve protective measures to ease their worry about potential safety risks. They work hard, sometimes in the extreme heat and cold, to ensure that roads and bridges across the state are safe and efficient,” Neilson said. “Educating new drivers on the best practices while driving through work zones instills safe driving habits from the moment they apply for their driver’s permit.” According to PennDOT, 91 workers have lost their lives in the line of duty since 1970. The bill now moves to the state Senate for consideration. Read more
On Monday, the House approved bipartisan legislation ( H.B. 291) that would give local authorities the option of installing parking-protected bicycle lanes between the curb and parking lanes on roadways under their jurisdiction. “My priority as transportation chair is to ensure the safety and well-being of anyone who uses Pennsylvania roads,” Neilson said. “We worked hard during the last legislative session to pass legislation that protects children in school zones, enforcing speeding violations through work zones and we strengthened our distracted driving laws.” Neilson said he felt compelled to make another push for this legislation after last summer’s tragic and preventable death of Dr. Barbara Friedes, a pediatrician with the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, who was tragically struck and killed while riding her bicycle in an unprotected bike lane in Philadelphia. “We all have people we care deeply about; I have five kids myself and three grandkids; the thought of having to bury one of them before their time is devastating itself but knowing it could have been prevented with a protected bike lane would amplify that grief,” he said. Neilson thanked his colleagues, state Reps. Mary Jo Daley and David Maloney, for introducing and championing H.B. 291. The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration. Read more
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