Burns highlights need for Harrisburg to cut red tape for municipalities

Testifiers explain their needs, difficulty in applying for state grants

Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus    August 26, 2024 | 2:31 PM

NANTY GLO, Aug. 26 – Officials from small, local municipalities detailed the difficulty they have encountered in applying for the state funding they need to complete long sought-after projects and address essential needs like fixing closed bridges.

The livestream from the hearing can be found here.

“The officials we heard from today do not have dedicated attorneys or grant writers sitting on their boards,” said Rep. Frank Burns, who represents portions of Cambria County. “State grant money is a lifeline for many of these communities, it can help provide the money they need to upgrade water lines or purchase the equipment first responders need. But we know there are headaches, and we want to be able to cut the red tape for these smaller municipalities.”    

Officials detailed how overwhelming the grant process can be, especially for a municipality that does not have a dedicated grant writer. Officials explained they do not know where to find the best grant option for their municipality or know what went wrong when they do not receive grant funding.

“Grant writing is very detail-oriented, it can be challenging, and years of experience can often make the difference,” said Policy Committee Chairman Ryan Bizzarro, who represents portions of Erie County. “A key point we heard today was having an open line of communication with your state representative and state offices, but we also need to continue to listen to officials from our rural boroughs and find a way to cut more red tape.”

The House looked at this issue during the current legislative session, and it passed Rep. Abigail Salisbury’s Municipal Grant Assistant Program, H.B. 1216, in 2023. The bill would have helped eliminate the economic challenges and lack of expertise in grant writing for rural municipalities – which many times have an older or aging population. The program would provide municipalities with grant writing training and allow for professional grant writers to connect with municipalities to provide their services. The state Senate has not acted since the bill passed the House in June 2023.

Monday’s House Majority Policy hearing featured testimony from Bill Patterson, the president of Lily Borough Council; Claudine Falger, the secretary and treasurer from Lily Borough Council; Diane Holby, a council member for Nanty Glo Borough Council; and Rickey Price Jr., the chairman of East Taylor Township Supervisors.

Information about this hearing and other House Majority Policy Committee hearings can be found at pahouse.com/policy. Photos to be used for publication can be found at pahouse.com/PolicyCommittee/Galleries.