O’Mara announces $2.5M in grants benefiting Delco residents

Rep. Jennifer M. O'Mara    April 19, 2022 | 10:30 AM

SPRINGFIELD, April 19 – State Rep. Jennifer O’Mara today announced that Delaware County and organizations within have been awarded $2.5 million in grants to help create local apprenticeship programs, invest in electric vehicles and charging stations, and heighten safety measures at a local place of worship.

“It’s rewarding to see state dollars working to preserve two of our constitutional rights – our right to religious freedom plus our state constitution guarantees Pennsylvanians the right to clean air and pure water,” O’Mara said.

Funding has been awarded as follows:

  • Beth El-Ner Tamid: $20,000 from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency to strengthen the synagogue’s safety and security measures.
     
  • Delaware County: Two grants, both worth $300,000, from the Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant program, to go toward electric vehicle usage. One grant will go toward purchasing 69 electric cars for use by county departments, with 29 dedicated to the new health department for health care visits around the county. The second grant will install 22 Level 2 dual-plug charging stations, for a total of 44 chargers.

The following grants were awarded through PAsmart and will provide regional employment and educational opportunities:

  • BAYADA Home Health Care: $650,000 to expand their home care nurse residency apprenticeship program across multiple counties and establish a nursing apprenticeship program.
     
  • The Wistar Institute: $649,551 to expand its biomedical research technician apprenticeship program.
     
  • Arcadia University: $632,258 to expand its early childhood education program to enroll and train 12 new registered apprentices with targeted recruiting of individuals from marginalized groups, such as people of color and socio-economically disadvantaged communities. This funding will also help provide academic supports such as laptops, financial support to mitigate housing/food insecurities, childcare costs and scholarships.

“Investing in apprenticeship programs is critical because they serve as an avenue for individuals to secure jobs that are in high demand with great pay,” O’Mara said. “This nearly $2 million investment from PAsmart will benefit not only Delco’s job market, but families and individuals and undoubtedly boost our local economy.”

Questions may be directed to O’Mara’s office by calling 610-544-9878.

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