Those interested in donating non-perishable food items may drop off their items at either of Burns’ offices: 535 Fairfield Ave. in Johnstown and 123 W. High St. in Ebensburg during regular business hours. Read more
EBENSBURG, Feb. 26 – A $50,000 state grant from the Keystone Communities program will improve and enhance the downtown area of the borough of Ebensburg, state Rep. Frank Burns, D-Cambria, announced today. “One of the clearest signs of a thriving, successful community is the vibrancy of its downtown area, and this grant will help ensure that Ebensburg -- the county seat of Cambria County -- is attractive to visitors, residents and businesses alike,” Burns said. “Investments like these make our communities stronger and more connected and also encourage job growth and business development.” Burns added that the grant, which is administered by the state Department of Community and Economic Development through its Keystone Communities program, will provide Ebensburg the funds to implement a façade-improvement program in the downtown business district to enhance the appearance of the downtown area. The Keystone Communities program is designed to support local initiatives that grow and stabilize neighborhoods and communities, encourage the creation of partnerships between the public and private sectors in the community, and enhance the overall quality of life for residents. Read more
EBENSBURG, Feb. 25 – Residents who need assistance in filling out their property tax or rent rebate applications are invited to attend a special outreach event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 4 at the Gallitzin Moose, located at 625 Main Street in Gallitzin, said Rep. Frank Burns, D-Cambria. “My staff will be on-hand to guide seniors through the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program application process and assist them in completing the paperwork at no cost,” Burns said. “No appointment is necessary to attend this event. We are here to help seniors who may be unable to fill out the forms, or who may have questions.” Applicants must be 65 or older, widows and widowers 50 or older, or people with disabilities 18 and older. Residents should bring their 2018 income statements and their 2018 rent certificate or real estate tax receipt. For more information, please call Burns’ district office at 814-472-8021. Read more
EBENSBURG, Feb. 21 – The generosity of an anonymous donor who contributed $500 has boosted to $1,500 the reward Cambria County Crime Stoppers is offering to catch anyone responsible for the pellet-gun killing of an albino deer, said state Rep. Frank Burns. Anyone with information on the incident – which was reported in the vicinity of Bates Drive in Westmont – is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-548-7500. “This cowardly and illegal occurrence has shocked many residents of our community,” said Burns, D-Cambria. “Those of us involved in offering this reward hope that it encourages cooperation that leads to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.” Last week, Burns joined officials from Crime Stoppers, the Pennsylvania Game Commission, and the West Hills and Upper Yoder Township police departments at a Hiram G. Andrews Center news conference to announce what was then a $1,000 reward. Read more
EBENSBURG , Feb. 21 – A longtime advocate of welfare reform, state Rep. Frank Burns, D-Cambria, has signed on as an early supporter of legislation that would create a pilot program to move welfare recipients to full-time jobs in one year. Burns said he decided to sponsor the “welfare to work” bill because it would establish a public-private partnership designed to wean welfare recipients off the system, by letting them continue to collect benefits while gradually phasing in pay for their full-time work. During this transition, Burns said, employers would initially pay program participants for 20 hours per week, rising to 30 hours after six months and ending at 40 hours – at which point their cash benefits from the public dime would be cut off. “The vast majority of people in my district feel as I do, which is that people who can work should be working, not living off of the system in perpetuity,” Burns said. “I decided to co-sponsor this bill, which is a bipartisan move on my part, because it removes the excuse that, ‘If I get a job, I’ll actually lose money, because I can make more staying on welfare.’” Burns said an added bonus of the legislation is that it relies on the private sector, not government, to supply people with the path necessary to obtain gainful, full-time employment. “I’ll support any and all good ideas when it comes to welfare Read more
EBENSBURG, Feb. 19 – Rural or volunteer fire departments serving communities with fewer than 10,000 people should consider applying for state grants with an application window that runs from Feb. 26 through May 2, said state Rep. Frank Burns, D-Cambria. “As these grants are designed to help unprotected or inadequately protected rural areas, this program is a natural fit for many of our communities,” Burns said. “It should be of particular interest to our small and rural areas – and my office stands ready to help with applications.” The Volunteer Fire Assistance Grants, awarded through the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, are for a maximum $10,000 and can be used for: Purchasing wildfire suppression equipment. Wildfire protective gear. Mobile or portable radios. Installing dry hydrants. Wildfire prevention and mitigation. Wildfire training. Certain projects involving converting and maintaining federal excess vehicles received from the DCNR Bureau of Forestry and used for fire suppression. Burns said a priority will be placed on projects that include purchasing wildland fire suppression equipment and wildland fire protective gear. Priority also will be given to fire companies which have established goals and objectives, and have developed plans to meet them. Brittany Blackham, who is available in Burns’ Portage office at (814) 736-7339, serves as an in-house grant writer and can Read more
HARRISBURG, Feb. 13 – The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board is accepting applications through March 15 to fund programs aimed at promoting responsible – and legal – alcohol consumption, announced state Rep. Frank Burns. A member of the House Liquor Control Committee, Burns, D-Cambria, said school districts, institutions of higher education, police departments and municipalities are eligible to apply, as are nonprofit and for-profit organizations. “Nearly $1 million of these alcohol education grants were awarded in the last cycle of funding, so I once again urge eligible entities in our district to apply,” Burns said. “Anything that promotes safe and responsible drinking by those of legal age, while hopefully discouraging and reducing underage drinking, is a positive for us all.” The current grant cycle is for one year, from July 2019 through June 2020. Grants will be awarded on a competitive basis with a maximum award of $20,000. Applications will be received and evaluated by the PLCB’s Bureau of Alcohol Education. The grant application and related information can be found at https://www.lcb.pa.gov/Education/Programs/Pages/Grants.aspx . For additional assistance, contact Burn’s Portage office at (814) 736-7339 and ask for grant writer Britany Blackham. Read more
EBENSBURG, Feb. 11 – Municipalities and organizations may want to take note of several varied competitive state grant programs with open application windows that close in the next month or so, according to state Rep. Frank Burns, D-Cambria. “I urge anyone and everyone who thinks they may be eligible to make application, because you’ll never know unless you try,” Burns said. “That’s why I’ve consistently touted these grant opportunities as a way to have more of your tax dollars returned to our communities.” For the past several years, Burns has made a priority of informing and encouraging government, nonprofit and other eligible entities to apply for available grants – and has offered the assistance of his own in-house grant writer. Burns said Brittany Blackham, who fills that role, can be reached in his Portage office at (814) 736-7339 to provide information or help with the following grant applications: Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission: Keystone Historic Preservation Eligibility: Municipalities and nonprofit organizations. Use: Community preservation projects or construction grants for publicly accessible, government/nonprofit-owned historic buildings. Application Deadline: March 1 More Information: https://www.phmc.pa.gov/Preservation/Grants-Funding/Pages/Planning-Projects.aspx or Read more
EBENSBURG, Feb. 6 – Urging counties and municipalities to potentially avail themselves of gas well impact fee monies, state Rep. Frank Burns, D-Cambria, is announcing that the Commonwealth Financing Authority is accepting grant applications today through May 31. Burns said numerous grants, sourced through the Marcellus Legacy Fund known as Act 13, will be awarded later this year for projects such as: abandoned mine drainage abatement; abandoned well plugging; sewage treatment; greenways, trails and recreation; baseline water quality data; watershed restoration; and flood control. “As in years past, I wholeheartedly encourage anyone who is eligible to apply,” Burns said. “My office can help, either by providing information and guidance, or assistance in helping prepare and submit your grant application.” Burns’ in-house grant writer/assistance is Brittany Blackham, who is available in his Portage office at (814) 736-7339. The CFA grants can be applied for in these categories: Abandoned Mine Drainage Abatement and Treatment Program – Grants for abatement of AMD and/or treatment of AMD through treatment facility system construction. Grants may also be awarded for treatment system repair, upgrade or operation and maintenance of existing passive and active treatment systems. Baseline Water Quality Data Program – Grants to fund statewide initiatives to establish baseline water quality Read more
HARRISBURG, Feb. 5 – State Rep. Frank Burns, D-Cambria, today issued the following statement regarding Gov. Tom Wolf’s budget address: “After years of the governor pushing different tax schemes, I’m pleased that he has proposed a no-new-taxes budget. As a fiscally conservative Democrat, I have consistently opposed tax hikes and will do so again, if needed. I look forward to working with leaders of both parties, in a bipartisan manner, to ensure we have an on-time budget. “During budget negotiations, I will insist the families in my district are heard. It’s time for everyone to put party affiliation aside and focus on what’s really important: investing in our children, taking care of the seniors of our community, fighting for working families and honoring the veterans who fought for this country.” Read more
EBENSBURG, Feb. 4 – Supporting local transit agencies and their riders, state Rep. Frank Burns is co-sponsoring legislation to delay potentially costly and disruptive changes to the state’s Medical Assistance Transportation Program. The program – which offers shared rides to medical appointments for Medical Assistance recipients when other means are unavailable – currently operates at a local level that takes account of each region’s geographic needs. A new law requires the state Department of Human Services to move to a statewide or three-region system. Burns joined a bipartisan group of lawmakers in supporting a bill that would require DHS to study the issue further before making changes to the program. “We cannot allow the state to dismantle a system that works simply because some bureaucrats claim they could save money when they haven’t looked at the true cost to our communities,” said Burns, D-Cambria. “Before any contracts are issued, DHS needs to bring local transit agencies to the table to negotiate the best way to provide Medical Assistance transportation moving forward.” Burns, chairman of the Northwest Democratic Caucus, said he’s heard from CamTran and other transit agencies that losing the ability to provide the Medical Assistance trips could lead to cutbacks in service areas and hours, as well as steep fare hikes. Moved by their concerns, Burns wrote a Read more
HARRISBURG, Feb. 1 – State Rep. Frank Burns said he wants to alert municipalities, institutions of higher education, counties and community-based organizations of a grant opportunity to help them implement violence-prevention initiatives. "This funding can help ensure our schools and the communities that surround them are safe places,” Burns said. “Public safety should be a priority, and I encourage those who are eligible to apply for this funding." Applicants for 2019 Community Violence Prevention Grants may submit proposals for up to two-year projects designed to reduce community violence, and may request up to $350,000. All applications must be submitted by Feb. 7 to the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency. Awards will be approved and announced at the public meeting of the School Safety and Security Committee in April. Those interested in applying must visit https://www.pccdegrants.pa.gov/Egrants/Public/OpenAnnouncements.aspx . Interested applicants that are not already registered in PCCD’s E-grants system must register here before applying: https://www.pccd.pa.gov/Funding/Pages/Egrants-Home.aspx . Additionally, school entities that applied for School Safety and Security Grant Program funding by Oct. 12, 2018, will be able to revise and resubmit their applications between Feb. 4 and 25. Those applications may be accessed through the E-grants system. The funding for these grants became available in 2018-19 under Act Read more
EBENSBURG, Jan. 31 – In furtherance of his multi-year effort to maximize local participation in grant opportunities, state Rep. Frank Burns is touting the availability of funds to help with parks, recreation and conservation projects. Burns, D-Cambria, said the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is accepting grant applications through April 10 for its Community Conservation Partnership Program. “These grants can fund planning, acquisition and development of public parks; recreation areas; motorized and non-motorized trails; river conservation and access; and conservation of open spaces,” Burns said. “I urge interested municipalities and their agencies, nonprofit organizations, state heritage areas, prequalified land trusts and for-profit enterprises that might qualify to make application.” Burns said the projects require a 50-percent local match and more information is available at https://www.dcnr.pa.gov/Communities/Grants . In a service Burns provides free of charge, any 72 nd Legislative District entity seeking help with preparing a grant application can contact his Portage office at (814) 736-7339 and ask for Brittany Blackham, who serves as in-house grant writer/assistant. Read more
HARRISBURG, Jan. 28 – On the heels of his re-election as Northwest Delegation chairman, state Rep. Frank Burns, D-Cambria, has been reappointed to four House committees for the 2019-20 legislative session of the General Assembly. Burns will again serve on the Consumer Affairs, Liquor Control, Tourism and Recreational Development, and Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness committees, as announced by House Democratic Leader Frank Dermody. “Combined with my continued leadership of the House Democrats’ Northwest Delegation, I’m looking forward to building on my body of work on these four important committees,” Burns said. “They vet and approve all legislation that falls under their respective jurisdictions, before it moves to the full House for a vote. So the work is very important.” Burns offered the following encapsulation of his committees’ duties: Consumer Affairs – Reviews bills pertaining to issues such as vehicle lemon laws, consumer privacy and contract language; and has jurisdiction over the Public Utility Commission, as well as many consumer issues. Liquor Control – Reviews any bills which pertain to the sale or distribution of alcohol in Pennsylvania; and handles legislation dealing with the state’s Liquor Code and oversees the operations of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, as well as the control of liquor by slot machine operators under the Gaming Control Board. Tourism and Read more
EBENSBURG, Jan. 25 – PennDOT is recruiting applicants for its 2019 Summer Maintenance Program, said state Rep Frank Burns, where college students, highway maintenance workers and custodial workers earn $13.56 an hour. Burns said pay for these full-time positions, available from April through October, rises to $15.28 an hour for semi-skilled laborers and $19.84 hourly for tunnel maintainers and certain equipment operators. “With so many people looking for steady work, especially college students during the summer, I wanted to make everyone aware of these opportunities,” said Burns, D-Cambria. “In addition to getting steady income and additional work experience, it’s equally important to note that these seasonal openings also provide a gateway to potential promotion into a permanent position.” Burns said more details on the PennDOT jobs can be obtained by visiting www.employment.pa.gov , clicking through the “Open Jobs” icons and searching for “PennDOT Summer Maintenance Program 2019.” People can also apply for jobs by following the above computer protocol, Burns said. Burns also issued the caveat that not all jobs are available in all counties. Read more
EBENSBURG, Jan. 17 – In the first-ever state grants of their kind, state Rep. Frank Burns today announced a combined $70,000 is coming to the Central Cambria and Penn Cambria school districts to expand computer science classes and teacher training. Burns, D-Cambria, said each of the districts will receive $35,000 under the PAsmart initiative, which has made Pennsylvania No. 2 in the nation for investing in K-12 STEM and computer science education. “These targeted grants are designed to help schools significantly boost their computer science offerings through equipment purchases and staff development,” Burns said. “We all know that ever-changing technology is rapidly altering our economy at the local, state and national levels. Our students must be computer science-proficient in order to keep pace.” Burns said Central Cambria and Penn Cambria are among this round of targeted grant recipients, which include 221 school districts, two career and technical centers, 18 charter and cyber charter schools, and eight intermediate units – each of which are receiving $35,000 Read more
EBENSBURG, Jan. 16 – Maintaining his House Democratic leadership role, state Rep. Frank Burns, D-Cambria, today was unanimously re-elected chairman of the Northwest Delegation. Burns’ peers in the region gave him a second term at the helm of the delegation, whose members coalesce around ideas, legislation and strategy of mutual benefit to them and the people they represent. “I am humbled and appreciative at the vote of confidence demonstrated by today’s action,” Burns said. “As a delegation, we’ve strived to present a united front on key issues. We’ll continue doing that, to amplify our voice in Harrisburg as we fight for issues of mutual importance.” Burns said he looks forward to cultivating a strong working relationship with the rest of the Northwest Delegation leadership team: Vice Chairman Rep. Ryan Bizzarro, Treasurer Rep. Robert Merski and Secretary Rep. Pat Harkins, all of whom are Democrats from Erie County. Read more
State Rep. Frank Burns, D-Cambria, is reminding graduating high school seniors and their families about the availability of the 2019 Pennsylvania House of Representatives Scholarship, which awards a four-year scholarship to two students preparing to enter post-secondary education. Read more
EBENSBURG, Jan. 10 – For the first time in recent history, the Democratic chairman of the influential House Appropriations Committee today visited state Rep. Frank Burns, D-Cambria, to gain a firsthand assessment of the 72 nd Legislative District and its most pressing needs. State Rep. Matt Bradford, from Montgomery County in eastern Pennsylvania, came to Burns’ district in one of his first official acts of 2019 since being elevated to the key committee chairmanship in November. “I cannot emphasize enough how much I appreciate Representative Bradford, a longtime House colleague of mine, coming to get a firsthand view of our district and its needs,” Burns said. “This is a first during my tenure as a state representative, and it’s an honor to welcome a House member of his stature who wants to help.” Burns said Bradford’s committee plays a pivotal role in forming recommendations for state budget and fiscal-related matters, and is integrally involved in the annual budget process. He said the committee also has jurisdiction over the state budget process, the offices of Auditor General and state Treasurer, and the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority. “We can’t forget about our small towns and rural districts across Pennsylvania, which is why coming to Representative Burns’ district was important to me. We’re committed to keeping their needs on the radar as our committee moves forward with Read more
EBENSBURG, Jan. 10 – Patton Borough will benefit from a $21,260 state grant to stabilize an area of stream bank along Chest Creek, state Rep. Frank Burns announced today. Burns said the state Department of Environmental Protection’s Growing Greener program funding will help protect Patton Borough from future flooding – and will repair damage that followed unprecedented rain and flooding across Pennsylvania last year. “These state funds will repair and restore fish habitat and also prevent future erosion along Chest Creek,” said Burns, D-Cambria. “It’s a vital investment to protect and restore a substantial section of stream bank to ensure residents enjoy this area for recreational use and enjoyment for years to come.” Burns said the grant will stabilize 300 linear feet of stream bank and will assist the area in reducing and controlling storm water, and to rebuild from last year’s weather-related devastation. Read more
Cresson-based Eternal Remembrance LLC was awarded a $75,000 grant from Ben Franklin Technology Partners, state Rep. Frank Burns announced today. Read more
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