NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Department of Agriculture: Farm-to-School Grant Program Who May Apply: A school district, school, charter school, private school or center with prekindergarten classes, kindergarten classes, elementary classes or middle school classes through the eighth grade that participates in a Federal child nutrition program Use: To educate prekindergartners through eighth graders and their families about the importance of choosing healthy, locally produced foods and to increase awareness of agriculture in this Commonwealth Funds: Up to $500,000 is expected to be available for the program Application Deadline: November 14, 2025 More information: PDA 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 Read more
NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Commission on Crime and Delinquency: Standardized Program Evaluation Protocol (SPEP) Implementation Who May Apply: Non-profit entities and institutions of higher education Use: To assess the quality of services provided to system-involved youth, support providers in creating and implementing quality improvement plans, and measure progress through follow-up evaluations. Funds: A total of $1,400,000 in state Violence and Delinquency Prevention Programs funds is being announced to support this initiative. PCCD expects to fund one grant with a budget not to exceed $1,400,000 over the 18-month project period. Application Deadline: October 14, 2025 More information: PCCD Website Commission on Crime and Delinquency: Law Enforcement and Youth R/ED Training Who May Apply: Any organization that can demonstrate the ability to provide training and technical assistance to members of law enforcement interacting with youth in their communities, including, but not limited to, police, probation, and school personnel. Use: To provide training and technical assistance to law enforcement entities across the Commonwealth to improve interactions with youth in their communities. Funds: A total of $250,000 in federal Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention funds is being announced to support this initiative. PCCD expects to fund one grant with a budget not to exceed $250,000 over the two-year Read more
96 @media only screen and (min-width:660px){.u-row{width:640px!important}.u-row .u-col{vertical-align:top}.u-row .u-col-50{width:320px!important}.u-row .u-col-100{width:640px!important}}@media (max-width:660px){.u-row-container{max-width:100%!important;padding-left:0!important;padding-right:0!important}.u-row .u-col{min-width:320px!important;max-width:100%!important;display:block!important}.u-row{width:100%!important}.u-col{width:100%!important}.u-col>div{margin:0 auto}}body{margin:0;padding:0}table,td,tr{vertical-align:top;border-collapse:collapse}p{margin:0}.ie-container table,.mso-container table{table-layout:fixed}*{line-height:inherit}a[x-apple-data-detectors=true]{color:inherit!important;text-decoration:none!important}table,td{color:#000}#u_body a{color:#00e;text-decoration:underline} The Power of Community 500 Block of W. Abbottsford displayed the POWER OF COMMUNITY – I was honored to join their Block part celebration where they showed off team effort and dedication to win the title of “Super Clean Block” contest. Commissioner Shipman, Deputy Commissioner Warren, Kevin Fisher and Dawn Woods (PMBC, Sanitation and Judges for best Read more
NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Department of Agriculture: Urban Agricultural Infrastructure Grant Who May Apply: A person may apply to the Department for a grant for an eligible project in an urban municipality. Use: To improve urban agricultural infrastructure in an urban area, improve or facilitate the aggregation of agricultural products in an urban area, entail the sharing of resources among urban agricultural entities or community organizations, and/or support community development in the project area. Funds: $500,000 is expected to be available contingent on the 2025-26 budget. Application Deadline: October 31, 2025 More information: Pennsylvania Bulletin 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 Read more
NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Office of the State Fire Commissioner: Fire Company and Emergency Medical Services Grant Who May Apply: All fire companies, emergency medical services, and volunteer rescue squads Use: Facility improvements, equipment purchases, debt reduction, training, education, and recruitment and retention Funds: Grants will be not less than $2,500 and not more than $20,000 per applicant fire company and no more than $15,000 per applicant emergency medical service. Application Deadline: October 20, 2025 More information: OSFC Website Commission on Crime and Delinquency: Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) Who May Apply: Counties, county jails/county work release centers, Single County Authorities, and/or County Behavioral Health Administrators. Use: To support counties seeking to increase opportunities to provide Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) in combination with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to individuals in county jails and work release centers and upon release to the community. Funds: A total of $1,130,905 in federal Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) funds is being announced to support this initiative. RSAT funds require a 25 percent cash or in-kind match. The applicant’s source for the cash match must be state or local funds. Federal funds may not be used to meet the match requirement. PCCD expects to fund approximately five grants with budgets not to Read more
NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Office of the Budget: Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) Who May Apply: Applicants must have been previously itemized in a Capital Budget Project Itemization Act. Use: Applicants can use funds for the purposes prescribed in the Capital Budget Project Itemization Act. Funds: Varied. Application Deadline: September 23, 2025 More information: OB website Department of Community and Economic Development: 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, 2025 More information: DCED Website Department of Agriculture: Agriculture and Youth Organization Grant Program Who May Apply: Agriculture and youth organizations, Read more
The school year has officially started, and I was happy to welcome the students and families at Edward T. Steel School while helping to distribute supplies. Learn more about my work in the community and in Harrisburg in this week's email update. Read more
Below are multiple grant programs that are currently open for applications. NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Department of Education: Keystone Grant for Public Library Facilities Who May Apply: Grant applications are required to be submitted by a municipality on behalf of the project library. Use: Planning, acquisition, development, construction, or rehabilitation of a public library. Funds: Funding is available through the Keystone Recreation, Park, and Conservation Fund. This grant program is a dollar-for-dollar match, and the maximum grant award is $750,000. There is no minimum grant award. Application Deadline: October 10, 2025 More information: PDE Website Department of Environmental Protection: Coastal Zone Grant Program Who May Apply: An authority, incorporated non-profit organization, a political subdivision, or an educational institution with a project within the Delaware estuary coastal Zone or the Lake Erie Coastal Zone. Use: To protect and enhance coastal resources in this Commonwealth. Funds: Application Deadline: October 14, 2025 More information: DEP Website Department of Environmental Protection: Driving PA Forward Initiative: Pennsylvania Freight Innovations in Transportation (PA-FIT) Grant Program Who May Apply: Businesses, non-profits, state, local or tribal government agencies, air quality or transportation organizations, metropolitan or Read more
96 @media only screen and (min-width:660px){.u-row{width:640px!important}.u-row .u-col{vertical-align:top}.u-row .u-col-50{width:320px!important}.u-row .u-col-100{width:640px!important}}@media (max-width:660px){.u-row-container{max-width:100%!important;padding-left:0!important;padding-right:0!important}.u-row .u-col{min-width:320px!important;max-width:100%!important;display:block!important}.u-row{width:100%!important}.u-col{width:100%!important}.u-col>div{margin:0 auto}}body{margin:0;padding:0}table,td,tr{vertical-align:top;border-collapse:collapse}p{margin:0}.ie-container table,.mso-container table{table-layout:fixed}*{line-height:inherit}a[x-apple-data-detectors=true]{color:inherit!important;text-decoration:none!important}table,td{color:#000}#u_body a{color:#00e;text-decoration:underline} Dear Neighbor, Despite the efforts of my colleagues and I in the House Democratic Caucus, we are still without a budget or legislation that would prevent catastrophic service cuts and fare increases to mass transit agencies like SEPTA, which keep PA connected and moving forward. We have fulfilled our obligation five times when it comes to funding transit. There’s nothing more we can do when the other chamber won’t act. Read more
Below are multiple grant programs that are currently open for applications. NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Department of Environmental Protection: Environmental Education Grant Program Who May Apply: Schools, non-profit organizations, colleges and universities, county conservation districts, businesses, and other eligible entities. Use: Delivery of meaningful environmental education projects to improve understanding of natural resources and cultivate critical thinking and environmental stewardship for sustainable resource management. Funds: 5% of the pollution fines and penalties collected annually by DEP are used for Environmental Education grants. There are three grant ranges that include grants up to $5,000, grants between $5,001 and $30,000, and grants between $30,001 and $65,000. Application Deadline: November 14, 2025 More information: DEP 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: Read more
A free publication that guides a small business owner through the process of starting and growing a business in Pennsylvania that includes expert information about writing a business plan, registering a business, receiving funding, and more Read more
For Autumn Fingerhood, a single mother who works three jobs, public transportation is the reason her 15-year-old daughter can get to school and back every day. However, the bus her daughter relies on is slated to be cut in a matter of weeks if Pennsylvania’s Republican-led Senate doesn’t quickly pass a state budget or a separate standalone bill with funding for mass transit. Read more
Stop at our 198th District resources table for information on a variety of state programs and the services my office provides. We'll also be participating in the Walk for Peace on Saturday. Hope to see you there! Read more
NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Redevelopment Authority of Allegheny County: Gaming Economic Development Tourism Fund Who May Apply: Municipalities, authorities, councils of government, non-profits and for-profit businesses in Allegheny County. Use: Economic development projects, infrastructure development projects, job training, community improvement projects, public safety projects, and public interest projects. Funds: Project budgets must be between $150,000 and $500,000. Application Deadline: August 22, 2025 More information: RAAC Website Department of Transportation: Rail Freight Transportation Grant Who May Apply: Redevelopment authorities, rail companies, and for profit businesses Use: Investments in rail structure to keep and/or boost economic development. Funds: $41 million in funding is available. Application Deadline: August 29, 2025 More information: PennDOT Website Commission on Crime and Delinquency: Endowment Act – Treatment Training Who May Apply: For-profit entity, non-profit entity, an entity affiliated with a CAC or MDIT (e.g., public agency or hospital), unit of local government, or schools including colleges and universities. Use: This funding is specifically for the training of persons who treat adult and/or child victims/survivors of child sexual abuse. Funds: A total of $250,000 in state Endowment Act funds is being announced to Read more
Read my latest email newsletter about my work with the policy committee, the fight to fund public transit, help from PECO with your utility bills and some great upcoming events. Read more
96 @media only screen and (min-width:660px){.u-row{width:640px!important}.u-row .u-col{vertical-align:top}.u-row .u-col-50{width:320px!important}.u-row .u-col-100{width:640px!important}}@media (max-width:660px){.u-row-container{max-width:100%!important;padding-left:0!important;padding-right:0!important}.u-row .u-col{min-width:320px!important;max-width:100%!important;display:block!important}.u-row{width:100%!important}.u-col{width:100%!important}.u-col>div{margin:0 auto}}body{margin:0;padding:0}table,td,tr{vertical-align:top;border-collapse:collapse}p{margin:0}.ie-container table,.mso-container table{table-layout:fixed}*{line-height:inherit}a[x-apple-data-detectors=true]{color:inherit!important;text-decoration:none!important}table,td{color:#000}#u_body a{color:#00e;text-decoration:underline} It's 7/25 and the minimum wage in PA is still just $7.25! It's been 16 years since we've increased our wage -- it's time for $15/hour now. I voted to Raise the Wage because I want to build a better economy where everyone can afford to participate. Call these legislators to demand that they vote to Raise the Wage: Senate Majority Read more
NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Broadband Development Authority: Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program Who May Apply: Cooperative organizations, non-profit organizations, public-private partnerships, private companies, public or private utility companies, public utility districts, municipalities or units of local government, internet service providers registered through the FCC Use: Deploying and/or upgrading broadband network facilities, data collection, broadband mapping and broadband planning Funds: Pennsylvania received $1,161,778,242 in federal funding pursuant to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021. This is the second round of BEAD funding. There is no minimum or maximum grant amount for any project Application Deadline: August 1, 2025 More information: PBDA Website Historical & Museum Commission: Cultural and Historical Support Grants Who May Apply: Museums located in Pennsylvania with annual operating budgets exceeding $100,000 and at least one full-time professional staff person or an official county historical society. Use: To strengthen Pennsylvania’s museums and allow applicants to determine how to use funds for operating expenses Funds: Grant awards range from $2,500 to $65,000 Application Deadline: August 22, 2025 More information: PHMC Website Commission on Crime and Delinquency: Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program (SCIP) Sequential Intercept Model Training Initiative (SIM) Read more
96 @media only screen and (min-width:660px){.u-row{width:640px!important}.u-row .u-col{vertical-align:top}.u-row .u-col-50{width:320px!important}.u-row .u-col-100{width:640px!important}}@media (max-width:660px){.u-row-container{max-width:100%!important;padding-left:0!important;padding-right:0!important}.u-row .u-col{min-width:320px!important;max-width:100%!important;display:block!important}.u-row{width:100%!important}.u-col{width:100%!important}.u-col>div{margin:0 auto}}body{margin:0;padding:0}table,td,tr{vertical-align:top;border-collapse:collapse}p{margin:0}.ie-container table,.mso-container table{table-layout:fixed}*{line-height:inherit}a[x-apple-data-detectors=true]{color:inherit!important;text-decoration:none!important}table,td{color:#000}#u_body a{color:#00e;text-decoration:underline} I hope you and your family are having a wonderful summer! It’s been so hot – make sure you know how to find relief from hot weather during Code Red Alerts. The PA House again was in session this Monday when we passed a portion of the state budget – a General Appropriations bill to fund core operations of government. Read more
Small Business Funding and Support Opportunities in Philadelphia Below is an overview of several programs offered by the Department of Commerce to support small businesses in Philadelphia. The Mayor’s Business Action Team within the Department of Commerce offers personalized guidance for any business in Philadelphia who wants to be connected to resources and programs. The Mayor’s Business Action Team can be contacted by emailing business@phila.gov or calling (215) 683-2100. The Mayor’s Business Action Team also provides personalized assistance in multiple languages to entrepreneurs for all aspects of doing business in Philadelphia. The Philadelphia Small Business Catalyst Fund is a recent $5 million investment designed to accelerate the growth of small businesses and entrepreneurs across the city. Support includes funding and strategic guidance. Grants of up to $50,000 per business are awarded based on demonstrated need, growth potential, and economic impact. Eligibility: Businesses that generated no more than $2 million in revenue in 2024 Business must be located in Philadelphia and registered and licensed with the City of Philadelphia Business must be up to date on City taxes or have an approved tax payment agreement with the City Business must be able to accelerate business goals with targeted funding and support Must show strong growth potential Read more
96 @media only screen and (min-width:660px){.u-row{width:640px!important}.u-row .u-col{vertical-align:top}.u-row .u-col-50{width:320px!important}.u-row .u-col-100{width:640px!important}}@media (max-width:660px){.u-row-container{max-width:100%!important;padding-left:0!important;padding-right:0!important}.u-row .u-col{min-width:320px!important;max-width:100%!important;display:block!important}.u-row{width:100%!important}.u-col{width:100%!important}.u-col>div{margin:0 auto}}body{margin:0;padding:0}table,td,tr{vertical-align:top;border-collapse:collapse}p{margin:0}.ie-container table,.mso-container table{table-layout:fixed}*{line-height:inherit}a[x-apple-data-detectors=true]{color:inherit!important;text-decoration:none!important}table,td{color:#000}#u_body a{color:#00e;text-decoration:underline} Dear Megan, I hope you enjoyed your holiday; unfortunately, it wasn’t a good one for America. The Big Bad Bill was signed into law. As aptly stated by Jordan Harris, the PA House Majority chair of the Appropriations Committee: “This bill is a direct attack on the health and well-being of Pennsylvanians. It strips health care from working families, risks food Read more
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