(11/2024) Local Municipalities get State grants totaling $2.2 million
Each year, the Commonwealth Financing Authority, an independent agency of the Department of Community and Economic Development which holds fiduciary responsibility over the funding of programs and investments on behalf of the Commonwealth, distributes the state’s share of gaming revenue to local governments and programs. The grants approved were:
$658,150 – Adams County Industrial Development Authority, on behalf of Pennsylvania Agriculture Discovery Center, for the construction of an agriculture education center in Straban Township. The project includes construction of a 25,000-square-foot facility that would showcase Pennsylvania’s diverse agriculture industry with an outdoor educational exhibit area, agricultural-themed jungle gym playset, and specialized play areas and pathways.
$276,000 – Carroll Valley Borough for improvements to Carroll Commons Park, a municipal park adjacent to the borough’s municipal complex. The project includes construction of a unisex, ADA-accessible bathroom, security camera and surveillance upgrades, construction of two pickleball courts, two EV charging stations and a butterfly garden.
$100,000 – Cumberland Township for security upgrades at the municipal building and police department. The grant will be used for the purchase and installation of security cameras and fencing, safety doors, alarms and enhancements to the reception transaction window.
$200,000 – Fairfield Municipal Authority to replace the influent screen at its wastewater treatment plant in Hamiltonban Township.
$250,000 – Franklin Township Municipal Authority for water distribution system improvements. The project will replace outdated and inefficient flow service meters and backflow preventers and provide for the purchase and installation of security fencing around water sources. New meter reading equipment would have remote reading capability to enhance efficiency and safety.
"Many of the projects funded through the Local Share Account program are critical to our communities and help to defray the cost to taxpayers," said State Representative Dan Moul. "It was my pleasure to advocate for this funding, which will cover a significant portion, if not all, of the total project costs. We all rely on safe drinking water, working sanitary sewer systems and well-equipped public safety infrastructure to keep us and our communities safe and healthy.
How Do I Vote by Mail in PA?
If you choose to vote by mail in the Nov. 5 General Election, your first step should be to check your voter registration status to ensure you are registered and your information is up to date. If you are not registered, the last day to do so is Monday, Oct. 21. Once you have confirmed your registration status, you can apply for the mail-in ballot. Applicants must provide a driver’s license or PennDOT identification number, if you have one. If not, you must provide the last four digits of your Social Security number and upload your signature (if applying online). To apply online, or to download a paper copy of the application, click here.
You may also apply in person at your county voter registration office. If your county’s ballots are available, you could also vote at that time, assuming your mail-in ballot application is approved.
The deadline to apply for a mail-in or absentee ballot is 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 29. The deadline to return your ballot to your county election office is 8 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5.
Questions About PA’s Automatic Voter Registration
More than five dozen members of the House Republican Caucus sent a letter to Gov. Josh Shapiro, calling on him to address concerns raised in a recent court decision about the state’s automatic voter registration program. The program automatically takes residents, who are obtaining new or renewed driver licenses and ID cards and are eligible to vote, through the voter registration application process unless they choose to opt out of doing so. Previously, residents were asked if they wanted to register to vote, before being directed to the voter registration application.
The state Supreme Court issued a ruling involving a contested ballot in a Luzerne County primary election. The voter who cast the contested ballot had testified before a lower court that he believed changing his vehicle registration address — not his driver’s license — had triggered a change in his voter registration address. The court ruled PennDOT lacks the authority to make such a change outside the scope of a state driver’s license or identification card update. Auditor General Tim DeFoor also announced recently he would conduct an audit of the automatic voter registration program, saying sufficient data is now available to assess the program, which was launched one year ago.
Poll Workers Sought for Upcoming Election
Beyond exercising your right to vote, what can you do to help elections run smoothly across the Commonwealth? Consider serving as a poll worker. Open positions vary by county but may include judge of elections, majority inspector and minority inspector, which are elected positions. Counties also need clerks and machine operators/inspectors at each precinct. These positions are filled by appointment. Counties train poll workers on their Election Day duties. Workers receive payment for training and for their service on Election Day.
To serve, you must be registered to vote in the county where you wish to work. Exceptions exist for 17-year-old high school students; contact your county election office for more information. Government officials and government employees generally are not allowed to serve as poll workers. Likewise, you are not permitted to serve if your name appears on the ballot. Poll workers generally work for the entire Election Day, from before the time the polls open at 7 a.m., until after the polls close at 8 p.m. People interested in serving as poll workers should start by calling 877-VOTESPA (877-868-3772) or email re-voterreg@pa.gov
Roundtable Examines Agriculture Industry Challenges
As Republican chairman of the Pennsylvania House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, I attended a roundtable discussion on agriculture issues with several state and federal lawmakers in Westmoreland County this week. Among the many issues discussed was the dramatic reduction in the number of small, family-owned dairy farms in the U.S. Ten years ago, there were about 130,000 of these farms nationwide and just 26,000 today.
Many factors are responsible for the loss, including the popularity of non-milk products made from almonds, oats and other products, and the importation of powdered milk from abroad. We also discussed the loss of farmland to foreign interests and the increasing use of agricultural acreage for non-farming purposes, such as solar fields.
China now owns nearly 350,000 acres of prime farmland in this country, and solar fields not only take land out of food production, but we don’t know the long-term health effects from the chemicals leaching into our soil and water from solar panels. To make matters worse, the federal government subsidizes the solar industry with our tax dollars. Food security is national security and we must be vigilant in protecting it.
PennDOT Announces ‘Innovations Challenge’ for PA High School Students
Pennsylvania High school students are invited to participate in the eighth annual PennDOT Innovations Challenge, which encourages students in grades 9-12 to present their solutions to real-world transportation challenges in a statewide competition. According to PennDOT, Pennsylvania averages more than 350 unrestrained fatalities on its roadways each year. For this year’s challenge, students will be asked to develop a cost-effective, innovative solution that can help PennDOT more effectively increase awareness of seat belt safety and change behavior to improve roadway safety.
Regional Innovations Challenge winners will be selected and invited to present their solutions to the PennDOT secretary and a panel of judges, who will determine the statewide winner. For this year’s challenge, four different organizations are providing a combined award of $6,000 to the statewide winning team. The submission deadline is Jan. 31.
Committee Votes to Extend Regulations for PA Horse Racing
The House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee of which I am Republican chairman, met Monday to advance House Bill 2561, to extend state regulations governing horse racing in Pennsylvania until October of 2028. The bill now goes to the full House for consideration. The committee also approved House Resolution 528, establishing September of 2024 as Hunger Action Month in the Commonwealth.
Medicare Annual Open Enrollment
The annual open enrollment period for Medicare beneficiaries began Oct. 15, and continues through Saturday, Dec. 7. Any new coverage selected or changes to existing benefits will take effect Jan. 1, 2025. During open enrollment, new Medicare beneficiaries can sign up for Medicare prescription drug coverage and health plans to complement Medicare, and current Medicare beneficiaries can review and join, switch or drop Medicare Advantage or prescription drug coverage so it better meets their needs.
To help Medicare beneficiaries understand their options, the Pennsylvania Department of Aging offers free, objective health benefits counseling through Pennsylvania Medicare Education and Decision Insight (PA MEDI). Available at Pennsylvania’s 52 Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs), PA MEDI counselors can assist Medicare beneficiaries with plan comparisons, help with enrollment in a new plan, and evaluate eligibility for any of Pennsylvania's Medicare cost-savings programs. To learn more about PA MEDI assistance, call 1-800-783-7067. Older adults also may call their local Area Agency on Aging for assistance. Information is also available at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
PFBC Offers Grants to Inspire Interest in Fishing and Boating
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) is seeking applicants for grants to support education programs that promote new and renewed interest in fishing and boating. The grants will reimburse qualifying organizations up to $25,000 for eligible expenses for projects conducted between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026. The grants require a minimum 25% match on total project costs. The deadline to submit applications is Friday, Dec. 6. Organizations eligible for funding include school districts, universities and colleges, community and civic groups, sporting and conservation organizations, and local recreation departments.
