The Whiskey Rebels are coming!; special LIHEAP payments; lead paint removal; Braddock Community Day

The Whiskey Rebels are coming!; special LIHEAP payments; lead paint removal; Braddock Community Day – and more!

Rep. Abigail Salisbury August 3, 2026

You can read my e-newsletter in a way that’s preferable to you by visiting my legislative website here and clicking on the accessibility icon in the lower right corner.

Celebrate the Whiskey Rebels – and other upcoming events

For Pennsylvania farmers in the late 1700s, whiskey served as an informal currency and economic lifeline, so it’s no surprise that Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton’s proposed whiskey excise tax did not go over well. In fact, the 1791 Whiskey Rebellion at Braddock’s Field—though quickly suppressed—was the largest domestic resistance to U.S. law between the American Revolution and the Civil War. The image above depicts a mob tarring and feathering a federal tax collector.

The Whiskey Rebellion event hosted by the Braddock’s Battlefield History Center this month won’t be nearly as feisty, but it’s guaranteed to be a great time. Join us on Wednesday, Aug. 12, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. to celebrate the unique role Braddock’s Field played in our nation’s history. Enjoy whiskey tastings, food trucks, historical reenactors, and more! Admission is FREE—pay only for what you purchase.

In other district happenings, join your neighbors for the annual Braddock Community Day on Saturday, Aug. 8, from noon to 6 p.m. at Braddock Civic Plaza, 451 Braddock Ave. You’ll find food, resources, children’s activities, and more. Our office will have a table at the event to assist with state services. Stop by for help—or just to say hi!

Around the District

Last week’s replacement food distribution at Wood Towers was a great success, thanks to event organizers Nate Goodson and The Promise Center of Homewood. Thank you to Nate (top right) and the Promise Center, Highmark Whole Care for providing fresh fruits and vegetables, Wood Towers for helping purchase the meats, Sam Gibson and his team for assisting with distribution, Scrap Wilson, and the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank for making it all possible! Visit this page to read more.

My staff and I recently joined other House colleagues for a tour of Turner Dairy Farms, which has been serving our region for nearly 100 years and is currently expanding its cold chilling and packing facility with the help of a state grant.

Among other topics, we discussed how weather emergencies create logistical issues in transporting milk. Storms and their impact on food distribution is a major supply chain problem and one of many reasons I introduced legislation that would help get our state legislative offices earlier alerts from PEMA. Visit this page to read more about the bill.

Our staffer Leslie attended the Willkinsburg Community Development Corporation’s Flip the Switch event to celebrate the activation of the new rooftop solar energy system at the organization’s Allegheny County headquarters. Visit this page to read more about the new solar array.

Eligible households will benefit from $100 supplemental LIHEAP payment

Eligible households will benefit from a one-time $100 supplemental LIHEAP payment distributed directly to their utility provider. The payment – which is available because of remaining program funds – will go to households that received LIHEAP during the 2025-26 season and include at least one family member who has a disability, is age 60 or older, or is a child under age 6. The one-time payment is being sent automatically – no application is necessary – and can be used for an outstanding heating or current energy bill. Visit this page to learn more.

Need help removing lead paint?

Lead is toxic to humans, especially children, yet many older homes still contain lead paint. If you have young children or a pregnant person living in a home built before 1978, check out Allegheny County’s Lead Safe Homes program. It offers free lead paint testing and treatment to qualifying homeowners, renters, and landlords. For more information, call the Lead Safe Homes Hotline at 412-227-5700 or visit this page.

New grants available to help historically disadvantaged businesses grow, keep community groups secure

Small business owners: applications are open for the CDFI Network Microgrants Program, which provides $7,500 - $20,000 in no-repayment funding for historically disadvantaged, for-profit small businesses. Eligible businesses must be at least 51% owned by historically disadvantaged individuals, have fewer than 100 employees, generate most revenue in PA, and be active at the time of the award. Funds may be used for equipment, marketing, websites, inventory, working capital, professional services and more. Visit this page to learn more and apply. The deadline is Aug. 10.

Community groups: the Nonprofit Security Grant Program is now open and can provide grants ranging from $5,000 to $150,000 for security equipment and technology, facility upgrades, planning and training, and vulnerability/threat assessments. The deadline to apply is Sept. 10.

Visit this page to read about my pending legislation that would remove the 33% grant match requirement for grants between $25,000 and $75,000 if an organization’s annual income is less than $250,000.

You can find a list of other recent state grant program openings at this page.

Finally, please remember that our office can help with a wide range of state-related matters – from filing a Property Tax/Rent Rebate or obtaining a Senior ConnectCard, to navigating state benefits and more. Contact us to find out how we can help!