HARRISBURG, April 18 – State Rep. Mike Hanna, D-Clinton/Centre, advises residents of today’s announcement by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation that the Rockview Driver License Center at 812 W. College Ave., Pleasant Gap, will be closed for renovations from Monday, April 23 through Saturday, May 12. Customers with a scheduled non-commercial driver license test between April 23 and May 12 should report to the Rockview Driver License Center on their scheduled date and time. Staff will remain at Rockview to give previously scheduled driving tests. Hanna said the 18-day closure came as a surprise, but his district office staff is prepared and will do everything they can to help constituents through this temporary closure. “The Lewistown facility will be helpful to Centre County residents and the Williamsport facility will be helpful to Clinton County residents,” Hanna said. “All I can ask is that constituents remain patient with us as we strive to make this temporary closure as painless as possible.” According to PennDOT, while renovations are taking place, customers who use the Rockview center are asked to utilize either the Lewistown center at 13187 Ferguson Valley Road in Yeagertown or the Williamsport center at 1782 E. Third St. in Williamsport for their driver licensing needs. The Lewistown Driver License Center hours of operation have been modified to Tuesday through Saturday 8:30 a.m. – 4:15 p.m. Photo center Read more

HARRISBURG, April 17 – State Rep. Mike Hanna, D-Clinton/Centre, today announced SEDA-COG Housing Development Corporation received $800,000 in low-income housing tax credits through the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency. Hanna said SEDA-COG has been a leader in developing affordable senior housing facilities throughout Pennsylvania and will use these funds to provide additional housing options in Flemington Borough, Clinton County. “There has been a significant need for affordable senior housing in our region since approximately 2013; during which time, the Clinton County commissioners assembled a Senior Housing Committee,” Hanna said. “After many discussions, SEDA-COG Housing Development Corporation was chosen to do the site selection and seek tax credits on behalf of the facility.” Hanna said he’s worked over the past five years to help secure critical land acquisition funding and project development funding. “It has been an honor to support SEDA-COG in their efforts to provide our senior citizen population with more affordable housing options,” Hanna said. According to SEDA-COG, Susquehannock Heights will include 32-units of senior housing and will be located at 813 Linden St. in Flemington. It will feature community, craft and exercise rooms, a library, central laundry, computer café and outside sitting areas. “This complex offers affordable housing to senior citizens in need Read more

Hanna announces funding for municipal road projects throughout Clinton, Centre counties HARRISBURG, March 20 – State Rep. Mike Hanna, D-Clinton/Centre, today announced municipalities throughout the 76 th Legislative District received 2018 liquid fuels payments through the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to help maintain local roads and bridges. Hanna said a total of nearly $489 million ($22.8 million, or 4.9 percent over 2017), was distributed throughout the state. “These municipal liquid fuel allocations are major investments in our local transportation infrastructure,” Hanna said. Centre/Clinton net allocations are: Centre County (Benner, Boggs, Burnside, Curtin, Haines, Howard, Liberty, Marion, Miles, Snow Shoe and Union townships; Howard, Milesburg, Snow Shoe and Unionville boroughs): $1.31 million Clinton County (in its entirety): $1.86 million “It is so important that we work to preserve and improve our roads throughout the commonwealth,” Hanna said. “I am happy to support this initiative and grateful to see this funding be used to improve construction, reconstruction, maintenance or repair of our public roads throughout Clinton and Centre counties.” Liquid fuels allocations are annual payments made on March 1 to municipalities to help pay for expenses such as snow removal and road repaving. There are 120,091 miles of public roads in Pennsylvania, with 72,933 of those miles owned by Read more

HARRISBURG, March 16 – State Rep. Mike Hanna, D-Clinton/Centre, today announced that three applicants from Clinton and Centre counties received over $3 million in grant funding through the Commonwealth Financing Authority. Hanna said 78 new Solar Energy Program projects were approved in 22 counties. This announcement will expand solar energy implementation and promote development across the commonwealth. The following projects were approved in the 76 th Legislative District: Croda, Inc., Clinton County, was approved $950,000 for an alternative energy project; SEC Bald Eagle Area School District Solar One, LLC, Centre County, was approved $1.44 million for a solar energy project; and Clean Energy Inc., Centre County, was approved $642,894 for an alternative energy project. “This program positions Pennsylvania as a strong leader of clean energy innovation,” Hanna said. “And, this funding works to expand our solar energy footprint across the state and will work to provide these approved businesses with sustainable, renewable energy. I am thrilled to see Croda, Bald Eagle Area School District and Clean Energy receive this funding.” The approved projects include the installation of rooftop- or ground-mounted solar photovoltaic power generation facilities that will generate significant amounts of electricity – in some cases, allowing facilities to draw 100 percent of their power from the new solar-powered systems. Read more

HARRISBURG, March 13 – State Rep. Mike Hanna, D-Clinton/Centre, announced today that the Clinton County Office of Veterans Affairs was awarded a $5,000 grant for veterans’ outreach equipment. Hanna said the Clinton County Office of Veterans Affairs is one of 13 county veterans affairs offices that are slated to receive $150,000 in grants. Further, 18 charitable or veteran service organizations are also expected to receive $650,000 in grants. This funding is provided by the Veterans’ Trust Fund and administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. The VTF is funded by Pennsylvanians who voluntarily make a $3 donation when applying for or renewing their driver’s license or photo ID or renewing a motor vehicle registration. Additionally, proceeds come from the sale of the Honoring Our Veterans license plate and private donations. Since the grant program began in 2013, a total of $2.8 million has been awarded to organizations that serve Pennsylvania veterans. “This is a great program that really works to provide critical support services to our veterans,” Hanna said. “Our heroes deserve so much, and this funding is just one small way Pennsylvanians continue to give back to show their support for veterans and their families.” The county veterans affairs offices will utilize this funding for new, innovative or expanded programs or services. Nonprofit veteran Read more

HARRISBURG, March 13 – State Rep. Mike Hanna, D-Clinton/Centre, announced today that Lock Haven University was awarded $30,000 in “It’s On Us PA” grant funding administered by the Department of Education to help combat sexual violence on campus. In 2016, Pennsylvania joined the national “It’s On Us” campaign as more men and women were coming forward with allegations of harassment and assault. Hanna said he hopes LHU will utilize this funding to implement new policies and position themselves as a leader by developing best practices that can be replicated across the state. “Funding totaling over $950,000 was awarded to 39 postsecondary institutions across the state,” Hanna said. “I’m very happy to see that LHU has taken this issue so seriously and that they have taken necessary steps toward addressing these problems and protecting our students on campus.” According to the Department of Education, the “It’s On Us PA” campaign brings together students, families, community members, teachers and school administrators to play a role in ending campus sexual assault. The movement has allowed individuals to feel safe enough to talk more openly about sexual violence and pledge to be part of the solution. Hanna said he applauds Gov. Tom Wolf for joining this national campaign to foster discussions around the commonwealth about ways to combat campus sexual assaults. Programs or Read more

HARRISBURG, March 8 – State Rep. Mike Hanna, D-Clinton/Centre, announced today that Native Creations Landscape Services received a $94,750 grant from the Riparian Forest Buffer Grant Program. This funding is administered by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Hanna said Native Creations Landscape Services will use the funding to construct approximately 16 acres of multi-functional riparian forest buffers along waterways in the West Branch Susquehanna River Watershed located in both Centre and Clinton counties. Work will include landowner outreach and engagement, buffer plantings and post-planting establishment, and project sign and other related site improvements. "Riparian forest buffers improve local water quality and wildlife habitat and reduce nutrient and sediment pollution,” Hanna said. “This grant will allow Native Creations Landscape Services to better protect our waterways.” DCNR’s Riparian Forest Buffer Grant Program provides financial assistance to identify locations in need of riparian forested buffers and to design, establish, monitor and maintain those buffers. Pennsylvania has a goal of planting 95,000 acres of stream buffers by 2025. Maintaining and restoring buffers along rivers and streams is a key strategy for improving water quality and aquatic habitat. Through two previous grant rounds, DCNR has provided nearly $1.4 million statewide for stream buffers. Buffer grants Read more

HARRISBURG, March 8 – State Rep. Mike Hanna, D-Clinton/Centre, today said that his town hall meeting held Wednesday night provided residents with an opportunity to get their voices heard. “Since 1991, I have been honored to represent residents of Clinton and Centre counties,” Hanna said. “Being able to hear from multiple constituents at one time affords me the opportunity to better understand what’s important to them, which is always enlightening.” Hanna said a small crowd of constituents attended the event at the Milesburg Community Center and over 100 people viewed the live stream through Facebook. The following topics were discussed throughout the 90-minute event: Gov. Tom Wolf’s 2018-19 budget proposal, property taxes, Marcellus shale, school safety and security, the opioid epidemic, medical marijuana, agricultural issues, municipal concerns, transportation issues, the Game Commission, redistricting, gift bans and residential energy assistance concerns. “Having a small crowd in attendance tonight was nice,” Hanna said. “It allowed for constituents to feel comfortable, ask multiple questions and fully engage in the conversation. It also provided an opportunity to spend more time digging a little deeper into the issues affecting our everyday lives.” Hanna said he wants to thank everyone for participating either in person or online and reminds residents that he and his staff are always available to Read more

HARRISBURG, Feb. 26 – Twelve intersections along the Route 64 corridor from Interstate 80 to Nittany Valley Drive will receive an upgrade thanks to $57,600 in state grant funding supported by state Rep. Mike Hanna, D-Clinton/Centre, and released from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s Automated Red Light Enforcement (ARLE) grant program. Hanna said nearly $11.5 million in ARLE funds will be distributed among 41 total projects throughout 35 municipalities statewide. “Porter Township will use the funds to upgrade traffic signal cabinets with generator adapter kits, battery backups and new controllers,” Hanna said. “This project allows for greater safety and is sure to improve the flow of traffic.” Under state law, fines from red light violations at 30 intersections in Philadelphia supply this grant funding. Pennsylvania’s ARLE program aims to improve safety at signalized intersections by providing automated enforcement at locations where data shows red-light running has been an issue. The law specifies that projects improving safety, enhancing mobility and reducing congestion can be considered for funding. Hanna said it’s a competitive process. Projects are selected by an eight-member committee based on criteria such as benefits and effectiveness, cost, local and regional impact, and cost sharing. This investment brings the total dollars awarded through the ARLE funding Read more