STATE COLLEGE, April 19 – Faster, more reliable broadband is coming to underserved areas of Centre County thanks to new funding of nearly $17.6 million from the Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority, state Rep. Scott Conklin, D-Centre, announced today. Conklin, who is majority chairman of the House Commerce Committee, said the funding – which includes $16.1 million to Verizon Pennsylvania LLC and $1.5 million to Windstream Pennsylvania LLC – will bring residents and small business owners in underserved areas the connections they need. “Internet provides essential connections to the world, but for too long, residents lacking speedy, reliable access have faced a disadvantage when it comes to key online resources for job opportunities, training and education, shopping, telemedicine and more,” Conklin said. “Small businesses in underserved areas also lose a major competitive edge. “We have worked hard to get the necessary broadband infrastructure in place, and with this new infusion of funding, we can finally make those critical high-speed connections a reality for the residents and businesses who need them.” Conklin said that matching funding will bring the total project to nearly $40 million. The funding – which is part of a statewide package awarded under the Broadband Infrastructure Program – will also benefit underserved communities in Blair, Read more
“As chair of the House Commerce Committee, I believe we must fund minority businesses to ensure marginalized Pennsylvanians have the ability to start their business in our commonwealth,” Conklin said. “With more than 1.15% of businesses owned by minorities in 2020, we need to make the economy more equitable for Pennsylvania’s entrepreneurs by allowing minority businesses to prosper in our economy and remain competitive in our marketplace. By advancing this legislation to the House, we will invest in Pennsylvania’s businesses, ensuring that we keep Pennsylvania open for business.” Read more
NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Department of Agriculture: Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program Who May Apply: Agricultural producers or processors and nonprofits, for-profits, local government entities, and institutions such as schools, universities or hospitals that operate middle of the food chain activities or invest in equipment that will benefit middle of the supply chain activities. Use: Activities that expand capacity and infrastructure for the aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling or distribution of targeted local and regional agricultural products Funds: Grants will be awarded to the extent that funds are available. Grant requests shall be between $10,000 and $100,000. Application Deadline: May 15, 2024 More information: PDA Website Department of Health: WalkWorks Grant Program Who May Apply: Municipalities located in either a PA Department of Health State Physical Activity and Nutrition (SPAN) priority county or in communities with an overall percentile rating above 60 in the PA Department of Environmental Protection’s PennEnviroScreen Tool. The 10 current SPAN counties include Clearfield, Erie, Fayette, Greene, Lawrence, Luzerne, Lycoming, Mercer, Northumberland, and Philadelphia. Use: Funds and structured pre-planning assistance will be available to a limited number of municipal and/or multi-municipal applicants to complete the steps necessary to prepare to apply in the future for funds Read more
“With subscriptions contributing $650 billion to the economy and businesses monetizing relationships with customers through recurring subscriptions, we must regulate automatic contract renewals to ensure that they do not deceive consumers,” Conklin, who chairs the PA House Commerce Committee said. “That’s why we introduced this legislation so that businesses notify consumers that their contract is approaching its automatic renewal, as well as to offer time to shop for other subscriptions and consider canceling the subscription. By doing so, we ensure transparency, which is in the best interest of Pennsylvania’s consumers, businesses, and economy.” Read more
“With subscriptions contributing $650 billion to the economy and businesses monetizing relationships with customers through recurring subscriptions, we must regulate automatic contract renewals to ensure that they do not deceive consumers,” said Conklin, who chairs the PA House Commerce Committee. “That’s why we introduced this legislation, so that businesses notify consumers that their contract is approaching its automatic renewal, as well as to offer time to shop for other subscriptions and consider cancelling the subscription. By doing so, we ensure transparency, which is in the best interest of Pennsylvania’s consumers, businesses, and economy.” Read more
Conklin, along with Rep. Benjamin V. Sanchez (D-Montgomery), Rep. Danilo Burgos (D-Philadelphia) and Rep. Robert E. Merski (D-Erie), introduced House Bill No. 2164 March 27. If passed, the legislation would add wineries to the list of eligible organizations to conduct small games of chance including raffles, drawings and pull-tab games. Read more
"It’s House Bill 1983 and what people have to understand is that all the bill says is at the end of the year, boundary schools and non-boundary schools have their own separate tournament." Read more
“With nearly 300 wineries and Pennsylvania producing 2 million gallons of wine each year, we must support our commonwealth’s economy by allowing small games of chance, such as pull-tabs and raffles, at our wineries, just as we allow at breweries,” Conklin said. “Pennsylvania’s wineries date back to the 17th century when William Penn himself planted a vineyard in Philadelphia. By allowing wineries to offer small games of chance, we can also increase funding to programs for Pennsylvania’s seniors and other charitable purposes or public interest funds.” Read more
NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Department of Transportation: Automated Red Light Enforcement Transportation Enhancements Grant Program (ARLE Program) Who May Apply: Local governments, planning organizations, or Commonwealth agencies. Use: Eligible uses include, but are not limited to, roadway safety, mobility, and capacity upgrades, bicycle and pedestrian improvements, local technical assistance program projects, and traffic signal improvements. Funds: PennDOT anticipates $32 million available with the intent of funding worthwhile projects that can be completed at a relatively low cost. Application Deadline: A pre-application scoping form is required to be submitted by April 30, 2024. Feedback will be provided by May 31, 2024. The application period will be open from June 1, 2024, to June 30, 2024. More information: PennDOT Website Commission on Crime and Delinquency: Intermediate Punishment Treatment Program Who May Apply: Counties Use: Funds for the proposed program must be used to support restrictive conditions that are imposed as part of a county probation sentence and may be used for needed drug and alcohol-related services, and mental health treatment and supportive services for eligible individuals Funds: Funding is contingent upon the availability of funds in the FY 2024-25 budget. Application Deadline: May 1, 2024 More information: PCCD Website Department of Community and Economic Development: Multimodal Transportation Fund (MTF) Read more
“As technology advances and cryptocurrency continues to emerge, we must protect consumers from financial collapses,” said Conklin, who serves as the majority chair of the House Commerce Committee. “With the global cryptocurrency market valued at $4.67 million in 2022 and expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 12.5% from 2023 to 2030, consumers’ finances are at risk if the market goes under. House Bill 2081 would provide protections for consumers by requiring cryptocurrency lenders to reserve collateral. By doing so, we boost consumer confidence.” Read more
Currently, wineries are excluded from offering tavern games which are pull-tabs, tavern daily drawings, and tavern raffles. Read more
“With the right to repair laws, we would ensure manufacturers provide consumers with the necessary tools to repair their devices, support businesses that will repair devices at a lower cost than the manufacturers, and prevent electronic waste which comprised 53.6 million tonnes of waste produced in 2019 by ensuring the sustainability of our electronic devices. By doing so, we prevent monopolies from taking over the economy, allowing small businesses to thrive in our commonwealth.” Read more
NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Commission on Crime and Delinquency: Intermediate Punishment Treatment Program Who May Apply: Counties Use: Funds for the proposed program must be used to support restrictive conditions that are imposed as part of a county probation sentence and may be used for needed drug and alcohol-related services, and mental health treatment and supportive services for eligible individuals Funds: Funding is contingent upon the availability of funds in the FY 2024-25 budget. Application Deadline: May 1, 2024 More information: PCCD Website PROGRAMS OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS: Department of Agriculture: Farm Vitality Planning Grant Who May Apply: Farmers, prospective farmers, and others may apply. Use: Strategic business planning to expand or diversify farms or support transition of ownership. Funds: $500,000 in funding is available. Grants shall not exceed $7,500. Application Deadline: Applications will be received until funds are exhausted. More information: Pennsylvania Bulletin Commission on Crime and Delinquency: Recruitment Incentives for Law Enforcement Who May Apply: Local law enforcement agencies, campus or university police, railroad or street railway police, airport authority police, and county park police. Use: Funding is explicitly to support Act 120 training and recruitment activities for law enforcement officers that will take place between Oct. 19, 2023 and June 30, 2025. Funds: $14 million in Read more
“With right-to-repair laws, we would ensure manufacturers provide consumers with the necessary tools to repair their devices, support businesses that will repair devices at a lower cost than the manufacturers, and prevent electronic waste – which comprised 53.6 million tons of waste produced in 2019 – by ensuring the sustainability of our electronic devices. By doing so, we prevent monopolies from taking over the economy, allowing small businesses to thrive in our commonwealth.” Read more
“As we invest $613,989 to rehabilitate South Mountain Road and enhance Medical Center Drive, we build a foundation for safer journeys for drivers, as well as bridge connections throughout Centre County,” Conklin said. “This funding will allow us to build our infrastructure in Centre County back better, ensuring drivers may get where they need to go.” Read more
He explained, “As counties get more and more populated, the state has not put the resources into these types of facilities, such as humane districts, more officers to go out.” Read more
NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Commonwealth Financing Authority: Public School Facility Improvement Grant Who May Apply: School entities, defined as a school district or an area career and technical school. Use: Facility improvement projects, including but not limited to roof repair/replacement, heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment, plumbing systems, window repair/replacement, health and safety upgrades, and accessibility projects. Funds: $100 million in total funding is available. Grant requests shall not exceed $5 million per eligible improvement project. School entities may submit more than one application, but no school entity shall receive more than 20% of the total funding available. Application Deadline: May 31, 2024 More information: CFA Website Commission on Crime and Delinquency: STOP Violence Against Women Grant Program Who May Apply: County governments and non-profit victim service agencies are eligible to apply. Faith-based organizations may be eligible to apply under certain circumstances. Use: Funds may be used to support cross-system, collaborative efforts to respond to victims of violence against women crimes. This includes, but is not limited to, personnel and benefit costs associated with specialized units in law enforcement or core direct victim services, supplies and operating expenses related to the STOP project, equipment necessary for implementation, and training or professional development. Funds: A total of $12 Read more
“The funding from Department of Community & Economic Development will assist State College Borough residents in need, especially as Centre County works to address a surge in people experiencing homelessness,” Conklin said in a press release. “Now, more residents will have the opportunity to find their happiness as they make their home here in Happy Valley.” Read more
“With the COVID-19 pandemic amplifying the housing crisis and half of Americans describing the lack of affordable housing as a major problem, we must work to address this shortage in Pennsylvania,” Conklin said. “The funding from DCED will assist State College Borough residents in need, especially as Centre County works to address a surge in people experiencing homelessness. Now, more residents will have the opportunity to find their happiness as they make their home here in Happy Valley.” Read more
NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Department of Agriculture: Commonwealth Specialty Crop Block Grant Program Who May Apply: State and local organizations, producer associations, academia, community-based organizations, and other eligible specialty crops stakeholders. Use: The purpose of the Program is to enhance, but not replace, the Federal Specialty Crop Block Grant Program by establishing a Commonwealth Specialty Crop Block Grant Program for specialty crops that are not currently eligible for grant payments under the Federal Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, or that are otherwise designated high-priority specialty crops by the Secretary. Funding for the Program will assist the growth, certification of seed and marketing of these eligible specialty crops. Funds: $460,000 in funding is available. Application Deadline: April 19, 2024 More information: Pennsylvania Bulletin PROGRAMS OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS: Department of Agriculture: Farm Vitality Planning Grant Who May Apply: Farmers, prospective farmers, and others may apply. Use: Strategic business planning to expand or diversify farms or support transition of ownership. Funds: $500,000 in funding is available. Grants shall not exceed $7,500. Application Deadline: Applications will be received until funds are exhausted. More information: Pennsylvania Bulletin Commission on Crime and Delinquency: Recruitment Incentives for Law Enforcement Who May Apply: Local law enforcement Read more
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