NEW LOCATION for my Back-to-School Event Read more
NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Department of Community and Economic Development: Main Street Matters (MSM) Who May Apply: Units of local government, redevelopment and/or housing authorities, nonprofits, economic development organizations, housing corporations, community development corporations, business improvement districts, neighborhood improvement districts, downtown improvement districts, and similar organizations incorporated as authorities. Use: A flexible tool for use in community and economic development for a variety of uses including planning activities, façade grant programs, business improvement grant programs, accessible housing programs, and district development grants. Funds: Individual grant awards vary depending on the type of grant. Application Deadline: August 31, 2026 More information: DCED Website Department of Transportation: Rail Freight Grant Program Who May Apply: Railroad company, transportation organization, municipality, municipal authority, or user of rail freight infrastructure Use: Capital maintenance of freight or intermodal rail infrastructure and capital construction of freight or intermodal rail infrastructure Application Deadline: August 28, 2026 More information: PennDOT Website Department of Conservation and Natural Resources: Motorized Trails and Recreation Program (formerly known as the All-Terrain Vehicle and Snowmobile Read more
NEXT WEEK: My Community Town Hall and Back-to-School Event Read more
Read my Summer 2026 print newsletter here! Read more
READING, Aug. 3 – State Rep. Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz, D-Berks, will hold a community town hall to hear from her constituents on the issues that matter most to them from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 12, at the Centre Park Historic District Headquarters, Artifact Bank (705-707 N. Fifth St., Reading). The event will serve as an open community meeting to discuss the issues that matter most to residents of the 129th Legislative District and provide Cepeda-Freytiz the opportunity to give updates on her work in Harrisburg. “Hearing from my neighbors helps to inform my policymaking duties in Harrisburg and directly shapes the legislation I introduce,” Cepeda-Freytiz said. “I look forward to connecting with our local residents and hearing about the issues that are the most important to them.” The event is open to the public. The 129th Legislative District, which Cepeda-Freytiz represents, includes northwest Reading, parts of Spring Township, and the boroughs of Sinking Spring, West Reading and Wyomissing. Read more
WYOMISSING, Aug. 3 – State Rep. Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz, D-Berks, will host a kick-off to the back-to-school season from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 16 at her district office (1111 Penn Ave.). The event will include free backpacks with school supplies, free haircuts, school supplies for teachers, and an easy, accessible opportunity for members of the community to access state resources. “Access to a good education is crucial for our children to succeed, but the prospect of having to buy supplies can be daunting for many families,” Cepeda-Freytiz said. “This event will provide a great opportunity for children across our community to get the school supplies they need without the risk of financial burden.” The event is open to all families with school-aged children. The 129th Legislative District, which Cepeda-Freytiz represents, includes northwest Reading, parts of Spring Township, and the boroughs of Sinking Spring, West Reading and Wyomissing. Read more
My Upcoming Back to School Event, Advancing Art Therapy, and more! Read more
Learning More About Pennsylvania's Urban Farming! Read more
Passing a Budget for ALL Pennsylvanians! Read more
WYOMISSING, July 17 – State Rep. Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz, D-Berks, today announced that Wyomissing Borough will receive a $2 million grant from the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program to support the construction of a new, standalone building for the borough’s police department. “This will be an exciting development for both the government and residents of Wyomissing,” said Cepeda-Freytiz. “This will provide our local law enforcement with new opportunities to continue serving our community, while also expanding opportunities for the borough to support our neighbors. “I am proud to support our local police officers and ensure they have the resources they need. I look forward to seeing this new headquarters come to fruition and the new opportunities it will provide for Wyomissing.” In addition to the new police department building, there will also be renovations to house reception, offices and council chambers in the current borough hall. The building’s current parking lot will also be revised to support administrative parking, while the new police department will have a covered, police-only parking lot. The Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program, also known as RACP, serves to support the design, acquisition and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic, recreational and historical improvement projects and is administered by the Office of the Budget. Read more
HARRISBURG, July 14 – State Rep. Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz, chair of the PA Legislative Latino Caucus, celebrated the impact that the 2026-27 state budget will have on the district she represents in Berks County, all without raising taxes . “We have achieved major wins that will help our neighbors here in Berks County and every community across Pennsylvania,” said Cepeda-Freytiz. “From education funding increases and requiring transparency around AI data centers to increasing affordable housing and putting money back in Pennsylvanians’ wallets, House Democrats delivered for all Pennsylvanians in this budget.” This year’s budget will see $565 million invested into schools across the state, with districts in Cepeda-Freytiz’s community seeing the following budget increases compared to last year: Reading School District: $28.5 million (9.7% increase) Wilson School District: $2.2 million (9.7% increase) Wyomissing Area School District: $171,000 (3.6% increase) Other key highlights from the budget include: Further investments in public education, school safety, special education, career training, higher education, career and technical education, STEM programs, and after school programs. Putting $200 million back in the pockets of working Pennsylvanians through the Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit. Making sure everyone can afford to see a doctor when they get Read more
Heading Back to Harrisburg, Celebrating our Nation's 250th, and more! Read more
NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Department of Agriculture: Sustainable Agriculture Grant Program Who May Apply: Family farm corporations, family farm partnerships, farm enterprises, nonprofit education institutions Use: Reduce operating expenses through practices that are ecologically beneficial, improve soil quality and fertility, improve water quality, and reduce or eliminate the need for the purchase of off-farm inputs, such as chemical or synthetic fertilizers, insecticides and herbicides. Funds: Grants may not exceed $25,000 except as provided in this subsection. An additional amount of up to $25,000 may be granted if the grantee matches that additional amount dollar for dollar so that an individual grant may not exceed $50,000 in one calendar year. Application Deadline: August 28, 2026 More information: PDA Website Department of Transportation: Career and Technical Education Grant Who May Apply: Public, private, and cyber schools, career and technical centers, youth development centers, and institutions of higher learning Use: To develop and implement new technical training curriculum or to expand existing technical training curriculum and/or delivery, relevant to the heavy highway industry Funds: The total amount of direct grant reimbursement funding available under this program is $12 million. PennDOT intends to award a single individual grant up to $500,000 per eligible applicant. Read more
Happy Independence Day - How You Can Celebrate Locally! Read more
HARRISBURG, June 30 -- Today, the United States Supreme Court upheld the Constitution and reaffirmed the guarantee of birthright citizenship under the 14th Amendment—protecting thousands of Pennsylvania children born each year. Every year, over 400,000 children are born to immigrant families in Pennsylvania. Today's decision reaffirms that children born in the U.S., who are raised here and pledge allegiance to our flag, are just as American as those born to citizens. This ruling ensures that these children, along with all children born on U.S. soil, will continue to be recognized as citizens with full rights and protections. “This decision affirms what we have always known: that the Constitution does not discriminate,” said Rep. Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz, chair of the Pennsylvania Legislative Latino Caucus . “But while we celebrate today, we must remain vigilant. The rights of our communities should never be one court case away from being taken.” “The fact that this administration saw fit to challenge a founding tenant of this nation, birthright citizenship, is an indictment of a racist, nationalist governing theology,” said Rep. Napoleon Nelson, chair of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus . “It is also a doomed governing theology that simply doesn’t understand that to be an American and to love this country does not rely on the country loving us back. America has never loved all of its Read more
Seal of Biliteracy to Become Law, Celebrating the Arts in West Reading, and more! Read more
Recognizing Venezuelan Independence Day, Meeting with Miss Pennsylvania Contestants, and more! Read more
New Funding to Celebrate the World Cup, Making Progress in Harrisburg, and more! Read more
HARRISBURG, June 8 – The Pennsylvania House today passed legislation introduced by state Rep. Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz, D-Berks, aimed at helping businesses with repeated sales tax filing issues become compliant and avoid falling deeper into tax delinquency. The legislation, H.B. 2300 , would require businesses that either have three non-consecutive non-filed returns or have a delinquent sales tax balance greater than $5,000 to use an authorized service provider to report and remit their sales tax. “As a former small business owner myself, I know that balancing the books is vital for every business, regardless of how well a business owner can do that themselves,” said Cepeda-Freytiz. “This legislation will ensure 100% compliance with Pennsylvania’s sales tax collection and allow businesses to get back on track to continue serving our community.” Prior to her election, Cepeda-Freytiz owned Mi Casa Su Casa Café, a breakfast and lunch café in downtown Reading. The legislation would also require the Department of Revenue to cover the costs of this program for the taxpayer’s first year of enrollment. House Bill 2300 passed the House with a vote of 153-48 and will now move to the state Senate for consideration. Read more
My Bill for Natural Gas Transparency Passes Unanimously - and other Harrisburg updates! Read more
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1111 Penn AvenueWyomissing, PA 19610-2033
P*: (484) 577-2756
Hours of Operation - Monday through Fridays 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
We also host D.A.V Services (Disabled American Veterans) in my office every other Monday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
2850 Windmill Rd.Sinking Spring, PA 19608-1668
Hours of Operation - 1st and 3rd Friday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
880 Avenue AReading, PA 19601
Hours of Operation - 2nd and 4th Monday from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
25 N. 2nd St.Reading, PA 19601-4037
Hours of Operation - every Thursday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
104A East WingMain CapitolHarrisburg, PA 17120
P*: (717) 772-1858