NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Department of Conservation and Natural Resources: Wild Resource Conservation Program Who May Apply: Counties, municipalities, educational institutions, non-profit organizations, conservation districts, and municipal authorities. Individuals, state government agencies, and for-profit businesses may be eligible depending on the project. Use: Grant applications will be accepted for species surveys, conservation, and management. Funds: Funding comes through the Wil Resource Conservation Fund and a portion of the Environmental Stewardship Fund. Grant size varies, but the average grant award is $30,000. Application Deadline: July 1, 2024 More information: DCNR website Department of Community and Economic Development: Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP) The NAP is broken down into five components: The Neighborhood Assistance Program Tax Credit, the Special Program Priorities, the Neighborhood Partnership Program, the Charitable Food Program, and the Enterprise Zone Program Tax Credit. Please visit the link below for specific information on each component. Who May Apply: Depending on the program, eligible applicants include neighborhood organizations that hold a ruling from the IRS as nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organizations, and organizations operating as food banks, food pantries, or emergency food providers. Use: Use varies by program, but priorities for this funding Read more
NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Department of Education: Public School Environmental Repairs Program Who May Apply: School districts, area career and technical schools, charter schools, and regional charter schools that operate school buildings. Use: Eligible projects include, but are not limited to, the remediation and/or abatement of lead in water sources and paint, asbestos, and mold inside school buildings of eligible school entities. Funds: Up to $75 million in state funds will be competitively awarded. There is no minimum funding request. The maximum funding request is $10 million. One application per entity will be accepted, but the application may consist of more than one project in more than one school building. Application Deadline: June 30, 2024 More information: PDE Website Department of Agriculture: Farm-to-School Grant Program Who May Apply: Any school district, school, charter school, private school, or center with pre-K classes, kindergarten classes, elementary classes, or middle school classes through 8 th grade that participates in a Federal Child Nutrition Program. Use: The purpose of the Farm-to-School Program is to educate prekindergartners through eighth graders and their families about the importance of choosing healthy, locally produced foods and increase awareness of Pennsylvania agriculture. Eligible projects will achieve this purpose. Funds: $500,000 is available for Read more
Residents of the 157th Legislative District are welcome to dispose of unwanted documents ecologically & securely at my FREE shredding event THIS Saturday, May 4! Read more
NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Commission on Crime and Delinquency: Indigent Defense Grant Program Who May Apply: Counties Use: Salaries and benefits for staff, recruiting efforts to find/retain staff, training and development courses for staff, efforts to improve data collection, and any cost associated with gaps or needs in providing indigent defense, among other things. Funds: A total of $6,750,000 is expected to fund up to 67 grants (one in each county). Application Deadline: , May 23, 202d4 More information: PCCD Website Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (via Department of Homeland Security): Nonprofit Security Grant Program Who May Apply: Non-profit organizations may apply as a sub applicant through PEMA. PEMA is the direct applicant to the Department of Homeland Security. Use: Funds are to be used to enhance the protection of soft targets/crowded places. Funds: $274,500,000 in federal funds are available for this national funding opportunity. $3,277,500 in funding is targeted toward Pennsylvania. Application Deadline: May 29, 2024, at 5 p.m. More information: PEMA Website Historical and Museum Commission: Historical & Archival Records Care Grant Who May Apply: Local government entities and nonprofit organizations Use: Projects must relate to some aspect of Pennsylvania’s history and funds may be used for preservation of Read more
“I am beyond humbled yet proud to receive this award,” Shusterman said. “It is our duty to protect the rights and humane treatment of animals across the Commonwealth and the country. I thank The Humane Society for this recognition and my colleagues in the Animal Protection Caucus for working together to protect animals.” Read more
“We’re always looking to improve the lives of seniors in Pennsylvania,” Shusterman said. “By encouraging communication between the Department of Health and nursing home staff, we hope that the exchange of ideas and information between these two groups will lead to a unified effort to provide the best senior care possible. I want to thank my colleagues for their support of this legislation, including my fellow state Representative Kristin Marcell for her co-sponsorship and effort in delivering this legislation.” Read more
I am excited to announce that my bill, H.B. 917, is heading to the desk of Gov. Josh Shapiro after a unanimous vote on concurrence this week in the House! The Uniform Family Law Arbitration Act will provide families with a voluntary and private process for resolving disputes with the help of an arbitrator. Read more
“Resolving family law disputes through court proceedings can be a bitter and financially ruinous process,” Shusterman said. “The partner with deeper pockets and access to the best legal counsel often has an advantage, frequently placing children in the middle of drawn-out legal battles." Read more
We were off and running in our return to legislative sessions in Harrisburg! We wasted no time getting legislation that would improve the lives of all Pennsylvanians out of committee, to the floor of the House, and on to the state Senate! I wanted to share some highlights along with other helpful information! Read more
“Thanks to this funding, the people of Easttown Township will soon be able to walk a little easier, and the people of Schuylkill Township will soon be able to drive a little easier," Shusterman said. Read more
"I am eager to read the thoughtful and innovative ideas our young minds will put forward," Shusterman said. "This contest is not just an opportunity for our fourth-graders to showcase their writing skills, but also a chance to instill a sense of civic responsibility. I am passionate about nurturing creativity and civic engagement in our youth. This contest provides an excellent platform for our budding changemakers to have their voices heard in the 157th Legislative District." Read more
“The citizens of PA should be able to trust that the food at the grocery store is safe. Worrying about health risks contained in the additives in foods, and scouring the fine print of labels, should not be something consumers have to add to their grocery lists,” Shusterman said. “I hope these food safety bills will be ones that legislators can come together in a bipartisan manner to support, and I want to thank Rep. Mihalek for taking the lead on this issue in the House.” Read more
COFFEE TALK IS BACK! Join me for coffee & one-on-one conversation at Cup Of Dreams Coffee and Tea on Thursday, March 28th from 9:30-11:30 am! Read more
Senator Carolyn Comitta and I are hosting a Senior SEPTA pass signup event on March 6! Join us from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the Tredyffrin Public Library. All residents 65+ are welcome to sign up for this FREE travel benefit. To apply, please bring a valid photo ID with your current address. No appointment is necessary. Read more
Greetings neighbors! I am thrilled to announce that 2023 was an incredibly successful year for the 157th Legislative District. Read more
NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Department of Environmental Protection: Small Business Advantage Grant Who May Apply: For-profit businesses registered to do business in Pennsylvania with 100 or fewer full time equivalent employees. Use: To install equipment/material resulting in energy efficiency improvements or pollution prevent, natural resource or energy conservation, reduction of environmental contamination from air emissions and water effluents, or to develop and apply environmental improvement technologies and methods. Funds: DEP expects to award approximately $1 million in grants. Application Deadline: March 22, 2024, or until program funds are exhausted. More information: DEP Website Department of Health: WalkWorks Grant Who May Apply: Municipalities and metropolitan and rural planning organizations. Use: Funds will be available to applicants to assist with the development of a plan, which will identify and prioritize projects related to modes of active transportation with an emphasis on walking, biking, using a wheelchair, and public transit. Funds: Funding will depend on the number of applications received and the amounts requested. Application Deadline: March 22, 2024 More information: DOH Website Liquor Control Board: Reducing Underage Drinking and Dangerous Drinking Grant Who May Apply: School districts, including trade and technical schools, institutions of higher education, municipal representatives, nonprofit and for-profit Read more
“By securing over $4 million in 2023, we’re providing the necessary resources to help the people of the 157th District solve problems and plan for the future,” Shusterman said. “All aspects of our community will see improvements. Infrastructure, local businesses, parks, schools, seniors, and the people of the 157th Legislative District and Pennsylvania will benefit from this great use of state funds. I hope to deliver even more in 2024!” Read more
COFFEE TALK IS BACK! Join me for coffee & one-on-one conversation at Tredyffrin Public Library on Friday, January 26 from 10 a.m.-11:30 am! Bring your state government questions, grab a PA coloring book for the kids, sign up for a Senior SEPTA pass, & learn about the services my office can provide for you! Read more
HARRISBURG, Jan. 22 – Today, on the 51st anniversary of the Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Roe v. Wade , state Rep. Tarik Khan, D-Philadelphia, hosted a news conference at the state Capitol announcing the introduction of legislation regarding abortion rights. Rep. Khan was joined by fellow legislators and abortion-rights advocates. The legislation aims to remove unnecessary obstacles to safe abortion access by eliminating the requirement that abortion facilities meet the same regulations as ambulatory surgical centers. It would also remove the excessive mandate that abortion providers maintain admitting privileges or have transfer agreements at hospitals, which only blocks access to care. The legislators who have also prime-sponsored Khan’s bill are state Reps. La'Tasha D. Mayes, D-Allegheny; Mary Jo Daley, D-Montgomery; Mary Issacson, D-Phila.; Gina H. Curry, D-Delaware; Melissa Shusterman, D-Chester; Danielle Friel Otten, D-Chester; Tara Probst, D-Monroe/Pike; Heather Boyd, D-Delaware; Liz Hanbidge, D-Montgomery; Leanne Krueger, D-Delaware; and Elizabeth Fiedler, D-Philadelphia. "As a nurse, I know that restrictive abortion laws do not lower abortion rates — they just make them less safe," Khan said. "We must remove any unnecessary requirements from facilities that provide this care. Our bill increases access to safe abortion by increasing people's access to safe abortion Read more
"I'm excited to announce these grants have been awarded to deserving projects in the 157th Legislative District,” Shusterman said. Young people in our community spearheaded the idea for a bike park, which will add an additional form of recreation in Mill Road Park. By locating the bike park so that it is accessible via the Chester Valley Trail, we hope to encourage bike ridership and promote accessibility." Read more
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