NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Labor and Industry: Future Works Who May Apply: Local Workforce Development Boards Use: To strengthen Pennsylvania’s workforce and economic competitiveness by supporting workforce development strategies that help new or expanding businesses build a skilled workforce, address talent needs, and establish a foundation for long-term success Funds: $2,000,000 is available in funds and the Department of Labor and Industry expects to award four grants of up to $500,000. Application Deadline: December 9, 2026 More information: L&I Website Labor and Industry: Veteran Employment Program Who May Apply: Local workforce development boards, non-profit and non-governmental entities, community-based organizations, education and post-secondary organizations, labor organizations, business associations, and economic development entities who can serve veterans and spouses. Use: To enhance Pennsylvania’s capacity to support veterans as they transition into meaningful civilian careers Funds: $200,000 is available and the Department of Labor and Industry expects to award one grant Application Deadline: November 10, 2026 More information: L&I Website Labor and Industry: Veteran Employment Program – Delaware County Who May Apply: Local workforce development boards, non-profit and non-governmental entities, community-based Read more
“At a time when land availability is shrinking, investing in our current parks and green spaces is extremely crucial,” Pielli said. “These grants to East Bradford Township and West Chester Borough will help them continue to protect, preserve, and improve our shared land now and for future generations. My team and I are proud to work with State Senator Comitta and her staff to identify, support, and advocate for District grants through every step of the process, so that every resident can reap the benefits of this DCNR funding. I look forward to visiting these parks to see these improvements take shape in our community!” Read more
“Our schools are struggling as to how they should deal with AI in the classroom. AI can be a beneficial tool in the classroom if incorporated correctly,” Pielli said. “Our children don’t need teachers who can create their lesson plans faster thanks to AI software. What they need are educators who are not dependent on AI but instead use it as another tool in their arsenal to help inspire young minds and get their students engaged in their lessons. Read more
Hi Folks, We hope this September edition of District Deliberations finds you all doing well. The great American author F. Scott Fitzgerald once said, “Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the Fall.” As we now enter this colorful season, we look to the end of this legislative session and the approach of a new one coming up over the horizon. Read more
“At a time when utility shareholders are earning record profits and households continue to face rising costs, we need to work to find solutions to restore balance by tipping the scales back in favor of Pennsylvania families,” Pielli said. “This legislation will restore fairness and accountability using commonsense measures to ensure affordable energy is provided for everyone.” Read more
“Since 2020, when data centers started to be constructed, Pennsylvania’s energy costs have risen by over 70%,” Pielli said. “With there being estimates up to 130 active data centers with an additional 55 data centers being proposed, planned, or under construction, this problem will only get worse without proper regulation. If data centers become a public utility, they could preempt local municipal zoning ordinances and reduce communities’ control over land-use decisions. We need to place guardrails on this issue and ensure that Pennsylvanians have a voice in where these data centers are developed.” Read more
Today, the Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee reported out House Bill 2758, introduced by state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta and co-sponsored by state Reps. Chris Pielli, Liz Hanbidge, Paul Friel, and Perry Warren. The bill would amend Pennsylvania’s Election Code to clarify and make explicit that law enforcement officers are prohibited from being within 100 feet of a polling location on Election Day. “The statements and actions from the current federal administration have unfortunately necessitated us clarifying a nearly centuries old commonsense prohibition on law enforcement presence on Election Day,” Kenyatta said. “Our legislation is intended to do two things. First, to ensure that every Pennsylvanian understands that our elections will be free and fair and that they can vote without fear. Second, to make abundantly clear to any federal agent that may be confused that you cannot operate with impunity in Pennsylvania. Our law provides no wiggle room and will be enforced in the commonwealth.” If passed by the General Assembly, Pennsylvania would be the 29th state with similar voter protection laws. “The hour is upon us, and the choice is clear that we legislators must once again heed that sacred oath we took to support, obey and defend our constitution and all the processes it entails to include the administration of free and fair elections,” Pielli said. “As President Roosevelt once said, ‘The only thing we have Read more
NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Department of Transportation: Multimodal Transportation Fund (MTF) Who May Apply: Municipality, council of governments, business/non-profit, economic development organization, public transportation agency, port or rail/freight entity 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: Project costs must be above $100,000 and no award shall exceed $3,000,000 Application Deadline: October 30, 2026 More information: PennDOT Website Department of Agriculture: Very Small Meat and Poultry Processor Reimbursement Grant Program Who May Apply: A person operating under a grant of inspection that meets the definition of ''very small establishment'' in 9 CFR 381.65(g)(1)(i) Use: To support the development and expansion of current or future very small meat and poultry processing operations in this Commonwealth by offering reimbursement grants to cover the cost associated with obtaining a grant of inspection from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS), opening a new very small meat and poultry processing operation, expanding the capacity of a Read more
"One of my biggest priorities is working to make sure our district residents and organizations receive the funding that they not only deserve but need," Pielli said. “These grants will go towards public safety improvements, vital infrastructure projects, the promotion of local tourism which helps bring millions of dollars in revenue to our local businesses, and more. I’m proud to work with community partners, my staff and Sen. Carolyn Comitta to continue bringing home these and other grants for the benefit of our entire community." Read more
NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Commonwealth Financing Authority: Local Share Account Statewide Who May Apply: Counties, municipalities, municipal authorities, economic development agencies, redevelopment authorities, land banks, or councils of government. Non-profits may partner with an eligible applicant to apply on their behalf. Use: Projects in the public interest. Projects that improve the quality of life of citizens in the community. Eligible projects must be owned and maintained by an eligible applicant or a nonprofit organization. Funds: The PA Race Horse Development and Gaming Act provides for the distribution of gaming revenues through the Commonwealth Financing Authority to support projects in the public interest. Grant requests must be at a minimum $25,000 and no more than $1,000,000. Application Deadline: November 30, 2026 More information: DCED Website Commission on Crime and Delinquency: 2026 PACTT – PA Academic, Career and Technical Training Who May Apply: All existing residential facilities, community-based providers, and juvenile probation departments that are current PACTT Affiliates in good standing and are not on provisional status Use: To advance academic and career/technical training among adjudicated youth receiving services in either residential facilities or from community-based providers or from County Juvenile Probation Departments that are PACTT affiliates Read more
Hi Folks,We hope this August edition of District Deliberations finds you all doing well. Baseball great Babe Ruth once said, “Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.” As the dog days of summer bear down and we near the end of the session, it is important to remember that we must keep in the game, working toward solving the serious challenges our Commonwealth faces. And if there were things left undone in this last budget, we have to adapt and keep fighting for success as we near the end of our legislative “season,” just like any good team would do. Read more
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NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Pennsylvania Creative Industries (formally Council on the Arts): Spotlight Program Who May Apply: Non-profit organizations with an annual average arts revenue of $10,000 to less than $100,000 and a history of at least two years of consistent arts programming in Pennsylvania Use: To support smaller creative arts organizations that deliver services, products, or programs Funds: Grant awards shall not exceed $5,000 Application Deadline: September 14, 2026 More information: PCI Website Commission on Crime and Delinquency: School Safety & Mental Health Grants Who May Apply: School Districts, Intermediate Units, Area Career and Technical Schools, Charter Schools, Regional Charter Schools, and Cyber Charter Schools Use: To provide grants to eligible school entities to support physical security enhancements and/or mental health initiatives Funds: A total of $138,779,000 in state funding is being announced to support this initiative. Funding is based on the formula included in 24 P.S. §13-1314.3-B, which stipulates school districts are to receive a $100,000 base amount for their grant, and an additional amount based on their 2024-25 Adjusted Average Daily Membership (AADM). All other eligible school entities (i.e., intermediate units, area career and technical schools, charter schools, regional charter schools, and cyber charter schools) are to receive $70,000 Read more
NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Department of Community and Economic Development: Main Street Matters (MSM) Who May Apply: Units of local government, redevelopment and/or housing authorities, nonprofits, economic development organizations, housing corporations, community development corporations, business improvement districts, neighborhood improvement districts, downtown improvement districts, and similar organizations incorporated as authorities. Use: A flexible tool for use in community and economic development for a variety of uses including planning activities, façade grant programs, business improvement grant programs, accessible housing programs, and district development grants. Funds: Individual grant awards vary depending on the type of grant. Application Deadline: August 31, 2026 More information: DCED Website Department of Transportation: Rail Freight Grant Program Who May Apply: Railroad company, transportation organization, municipality, municipal authority, or user of rail freight infrastructure Use: Capital maintenance of freight or intermodal rail infrastructure and capital construction of freight or intermodal rail infrastructure Application Deadline: August 28, 2026 More information: PennDOT Website Department of Conservation and Natural Resources: Motorized Trails and Recreation Program (formerly known as the All-Terrain Vehicle and Snowmobile Read more
Hi folks, On Wednesday, I led an AI and Child Safety Policy Roundtable, co-hosted by the West Chester Area School District (WCASD). I was joined by six PA House colleagues, WCASD administrators, a West Chester East High School student, youth mental health experts, and our Chester County District Attorney. We discussed the pressing issue of artificial intelligence (AI) use in our schools and in our children’s daily lives. Read more
The House Majority Policy Committee hosted a roundtable discussion on Wednesday to examine the impacts of artificial intelligence on child safety and the issues that need to be addressed. Read more
NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Commission on Crime and Delinquency: Nonprofit Security Grant Funds Who May Apply: Nonprofit organization based in Pennsylvania that serves primarily individuals, groups, or institutions that are included within a bias motivation category for single hate crime incidents identified by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Use: Security enhancements designed to protect the safety and security of the users of a facility including but not limited to safety and security planning, purchase of safety and security equipment, safety and security training, purchase of security-related technology, and specialty-trained canines, among other projects Funds: $10 million is available for projects. Application Deadline: September 10, 2026 More information: PCCD Website Commission on Crime and Delinquency: NCA Member Child Advocacy Centers Who May Apply: Eligibility for these funds is open to all CACs listed in the Appendix Use: Funding to support compliance with NCA standards, to improve the work of the CAC and to apply for or achieve accreditation/reaccreditation, or for equipment necessary to support NCA standards of accrediation Funds: A total of approximately $2.067 million in state Act 28 of 2014 funds is being announced to support this initiative. PCCD expects to fund forty-two (42) non-competitive, one-year grants with budgets allocated accordingly based on level of NCA membership Read more
Hi Folks,We hope this July edition of District Deliberations finds you all doing well. This July was a memorable one in so many ways. Our region proudly hosted the All-Star Game, World Cup soccer matches, the 250th birthday of our great nation, and, in a somewhat timely fashion, a state budget.Although there is still much more work to be done, I am pleased to say that this budget strives to make life more affordable for our workers, strengthens our communities, and creates opportunities for the future. Read more
“Pennsylvania’s Medical Officer and Health Officer Incentive Program provides additional financial incentives for skilled medical professionals to enlist in the Pennsylvania National Guard. The program was launched nearly a decade ago and since then has proven to be a meaningful tool for bringing highly qualified health professionals into our National Guard,” Pielli said. Read more
“Our firefighters put their lives on the line every day to keep us safe. As the son of an FDNY firefighter, I feel strongly that we owe it to these everyday heroes to give them the support they need to continue their mission,” Pielli said. “When our state dollars are going back to our first responders, that’s responsible government at work helping to protect the health, safety and welfare of our residents.” Read more
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121 West Miner StreetSuite 1EWest Chester, PA 19382-3236
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