PROGRAMS NOW OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS: Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency: COVID Mitigation for Counties Who May Apply : This funding is available to 66 Pennsylvania counties. Each county’s Criminal Justice Advisory Board will be responsible for coordinating the application for their county and local confinement facilities, as funding is limited to that purpose. Use : Per the requirements of the CDC’s award, this grant has 15 allowable activities which are designed to detect, diagnose, trace, and monitor SARS–CoV–2 and COVID–19 infections, and mitigate the spread of COVID–19 in confinement facilities. These activities include hiring personnel related to testing/mitigation efforts, purchasing laboratory equipment used for COVID-19 testing, purchasing supplies, test kits, and other tools related to rapid identification of COVID-19, contracting with testing agencies, purchasing software and technology to track COVID-19, and other related activities. Funds : A total of $9,624,626 is available to 66 counties. Application Deadline : September 19, 2023 More information : PCCD Website Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency: 2024-25 Medical Marijuana Act Enforcement Who May Apply : Eligibility for these funds is open to municipalities and regional police departments proposing to implement projects and programs Read more
PROGRAMS NOW OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS: Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency: Regional Policing Assistance Program Who May Apply: Applicants for the Regional Policing Assistance Program may be any municipality – a city, borough, township, home-rule municipality, or county. Applicants may also be a public or quasi-public body, or its representative, duly authorized to act on behalf of one or more municipalities. All applications must be accompanied by fully executed Articles of Agreement or an Intergovernmental Agreement that establishes a Regional Police Department. Use: Funding will support efforts in establishing or expanding regional police departments that would improve the following: uniformity and consistency of enforcement across municipalities; recruitment; distribution and deployment of police personnel; training and personnel efficiency; career enhancement opportunities; enhanced professionalism; and reduction of costs. Funds: A total of approximately $1,000,000 in federal funds is being announced to support this initiative. Applicants may apply for up to $150,000 for the formation of a new regional police department or up to $50,000 for the expansion of an existing regional police department by adding a chartered municipality(ies). Application Deadline: September 6, 2023 More information: PCCD Website Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency: Legal Standing Video Read more
PA state Rep. Stephen Kinsey joins more than 2,000 SEIU 32BJ Union workers as they march through Philadelphia demanding a fair contract. Kinsey reminds us that these are the same union cleaners who showed up for work during the pandemic and continue working harder than ever today. Read more
HARRISBURG, Aug. 24 – The state budget signed into law earlier this month plans to invest heavily into Pennsylvania’s agriculture sector . This plan includes $2 million to fund the Fresh Food Financing Initiative. State Rep. Stephen Kinsey, D-Phila., introduced H.B. 580 to re-establish the Fresh Food Financing Initiative, which operated from 2004 to 2010. This program provided grants and low-interest loans for the construction, rehabilitation or expansion of grocery stores, farmers’ markets and other healthy food retail establishments in low- to moderate-income areas in need and other underserved communities. House Bill 580 passed the House in June and is currently sitting in the Senate. If this bill is voted out of the Senate and signed into law, this program would be reauthorized and the $2 million allocated for it in the budget can be utilized. “I’m glad to see the governor prioritizing bringing fresh and nutritious foods to communities across Pennsylvania that need them the most,” Kinsey said. “We took the necessary steps here in the House to make this program’s resurgence a reality. Now, we need our colleagues in the Senate to do right by these desperate communities and pass House Bill 580 so we can re-establish this crucial program and bring healthier eating options to our communities.” Read more
PROGRAMS NOW OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS: Pennsylvania Department of Economic Development: Keystone Communities Program Who May Apply : Units of local government, redevelopment and/or housing authorities, nonprofit organizations to include economic development organizations, housing corporations, etc., community development corporations, business improvement districts, neighborhood improvement districts, and similar organizations incorporated as authorities. Use : Multiple uses, including: Planning grants (address a particular need or circumstance within a community, undertake a study relevant to an identified need, or study the results of implementing a specific activity) Implementation grants (assist designated KC program communities in implementing critical components of their approved Five-Year Strategy) Façade grants (to stimulate private investment in properties, foster an attractive environment, and preserve the architectural heritage of properties and communities. The grant funds may be used for primary street-facing, exterior building improvements in a defined target area of a downtown or neighborhood such as storefront signs, exterior façade painting, design assistance, etc.) Development grants (available to fund a variety of physical improvements, see program guidelines for full list) Public improvement grants (available to assist communities in a variety of development projects to help Read more
HARRISBURG, Aug. 8 – The Pennsylvania State Police on Monday announced the commencement of a pilot program designed to ensure department readiness for implementing body-worn cameras. State Rep. Stephen Kinsey, D-Phila., has introduced legislation in the Pennsylvania House to direct law enforcement agencies using body-worn cameras to develop official policies governing when cameras are activated and disabled, accessing the recordings, retention of recordings and redaction of recordings. Kinsey offered the following statement on this initiative: “It’s important that the public understands what practices and policies police officers have to follow during their duty and to be able to see it in a real-life situation can help create transparency to prevent police interactions from escalating,” Kinsey said. “I believe this initiative that the state police are taking on is a great step in the process of implementing body-worn cameras across the commonwealth.” He added the following on how his legislation could help set policies to ensure the use of body-worn cameras works. “My legislation would help create the necessary policies on the use of body-worn cameras and how they go about recording interactions and display them to the public,” Kinsey said. “As legislators it is our duty to ensure that all Pennsylvanians, including our law enforcement and Read more
This article discusses how the House Bi-Partisan Caucus can be critical in moving Pennsylvania forward with the PA House being split by a one-seat majority. Read more
PHILADELPHIA, July 21 – State Rep. Stephen Kinsey, D-Phila., last night hosted a community prayer vigil in the East Germantown community. Kinsey hosted the Williams/Brister family who lost their 12-year-old son to gun violence, along with Ivory Bethune and Jeannine Shaw, who both lost young sons to gun violence. This peace prayer vigil was part of Kinsey’s “Third Thursday” Initiative, which he started in 2022 in efforts to making families and the community at large aware of the supports and resources available to them as our communities deal with the violence that has plagued them over the recent years. At last night’s event, Kinsey was joined by state Reps. Darisha Parker and Anthony Bellmon, along with Councilmembers Cindy Bass and Anthony Phillips. Also attending were his community partners, which included EMIR Healing Center, Chew & Chelten CDC, Men Who Care of Germantown, the Philadelphia Anti-Drug/Anti-Violence Network, clergy, the Pennsylvania State Police, 14 th and 35 th Police Districts, 14 th and 35 th Police District Chaplains, Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, LaSalle University, the City of Philadelphia and community members. “My heart goes out to the brave, strong mothers who were able to join me and speak up last night. As a father, my deepest condolences are with them during what is an unimaginable time they must be going Read more
In our state, 1.8 million adults struggle with a mental health condition – and the overwhelming majority of those people (1.7 million) do not live in a community with enough mental health professionals. Read more
PHILADELPHIA, July 13 – Today, state Rep. Stephen Kinsey, D-Phila., hosted a roundtable discussion on gun violence with Lt. Gov. Austin Davis at Grace Baptist Church of Germantown. Kinsey and Davis were joined by local organizations that provide support and services for victims of gun violence, including Cease Fire, Every Murder is Real, Men Who Care of Germantown, 7G’s, New Journey and Mothers in Charge. Other Philadelphia Delegation members and local officials who participated in the roundtable included state Reps. Darisha Parker, Morgan Cephas, Anthony Bellmon, and Ben Waxman; City Councilmembers Cindy Bass and Anthony Phillips; staff from state Sen. Art Haywood's office and state Rep. Chris Rabb's office; Sheriff Rochelle Bilal; School District of Philadelphia Chief Safety Officer Kevin Bethel; 35th District Police Captain Myesha Massey; police officers from the 14th District; and Adara Coombs for the city of Philadelphia managing director's office. Today’s roundtable was part of Davis’s statewide safer communities tour, highlighting local efforts -- funded by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency -- that are working to address gun violence and make Pennsylvania’s communities safer. “Governor Shapiro and I believe that government can and should be a force for good in our lives, that we can do big things – if we work together,” Davis said. “As public Read more
HARRISBURG, July 6 – House Democratic Human Services Chairman Stephen Kinsey, D-Phila., issued the following statement on the passage of the 2023-2024 fiscal year state budget. “I’m proud to support Governor Shapiro’s budget, a budget that provides investments in education, our workforce, families, and businesses throughout Pennsylvania,” Kinsey said. “It is a budget that will provide relief to seniors by expanding the states property tax and rent rebate program by raising the maximum rebate from $650 to $1,000, while increasing the eligibility limit to $45,000 for renter and homeowners. And, $50 million to help with home repairs for homeowners. “The 2023-24 budget included a $567 million boost for basic education. It also provides $50 million for special education, $16 million for state grants for college students, $125 million for school safety grants, and $100 million in Level Up funding to support PA’s poorest schools. In addition, this budget includes $100 million to help address school needs, and $46.5 million for the universal free breakfast program. “However, as House Democratic Chairman of the Human Services Committee, I recognize that we as a state have more work to do and that we need to invest more dollars to ensure that many of our most vulnerable citizens get the support that they need as well as increasing the wages of those staff who work to provide such Read more
Below are several grant programs that are currently open for applications. PROGRAMS NOW OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS: Historical & Museum Commission: Cultural and Historical Support Grant Program Who May Apply: Museums that are in Pennsylvania with annual operating budgets exceeding $100,000 (excluding capital and in-kind services) and at least one full-time professional staff person and that are not supported by other state agency funding programs and official County Historical Societies designated as the official historical society for the county. Use: The goal of this program is to strengthen Pennsylvania’s museums and allow applicants to determine how to use funds for operating expenses. Eligible expenses include, but are not limited to, salaries, benefits, insurance, food service, travel, professional development, marketing, and equipment. Funds: Grant awards range from $2,500 to $65,000. Application Deadline: November 7, 2023 More information: PHMC Website Department of Community and Economic Development: Pennsylvania Strategic Investments to Enhance Sites (PA SITES) Program Who May Apply: Municipality, Economic Development Organization, Redevelopment Authorities, Municipal Authorities, Industrial Development Agencies. For-profit businesses are not eligible to apply for the PA SITES Program. However, an eligible applicant may apply for a site owned and controlled by the Read more
HARRISBURG, June 30 – On Wednesday, legislation ( H.B. 1258 ) introduced by state Reps. Stephen Kinsey, D-Phila., and Jill Cooper, R-Westmoreland, was unanimously approved by the House Education Committee and will head to the full House for future consideration. House Bill 1258 proposes improvements to the current law pertaining to dual enrollment programs in Pennsylvania schools by temporarily removing the requirement that students enrolled in such programs are removed from the school’s average daily membership. State regulations require public schools that offer dual enrollment as part of the high school program to pro rate the students when calculating average daily membership for the time the student spends at the postsecondary institution, unless the public school pays the tuition, fees and textbooks on behalf of the student. The bill would allow public schools to fully include students who participate in a college in the high school program in their ADM regardless of whether the public school pays the tuition, fees and textbooks for the student. “It’s important that we allow students to have as many pathways to a successful education as possible,” Kinsey said. “Currently, students participating in ADM’s aren’t able to get the full credit they deserve for their work, and our legislation would ensure they get their earned credit.” “Requiring Read more
Pa. state Rep. Stephen Kinsey explains his resolution that would rename the current South Lawn at the state Capitol to “Irvis Circle of Equality” in honor of former House Speaker K. Leroy Irvis. In 1977, Irvis was the first African American elected as Speaker of any state legislature in the U.S. and dedicated much of his career to the fight for civil rights. Read more
HARRISBURG, June 28 – Today, H.B. 651 , introduced by state Reps. Stephen Kinsey, D-Phila., and Patty Kim, D-Dauphin/Cumberland, was unanimously approved by the House State Government Committee and will head to the full House for future consideration. Kinsey’s bill would rename the South Lawn of the Pennsylvania State Capitol Complex as the “Irvis Equality Circle,” in honor of K. Leroy Irvis, who was the first Black speaker of the Pennsylvania House, and of any state legislature in the country’s history since Reconstruction. The Harrisburg community through the “Gathering at the Crossroads” commissioned a monument that now sits outside of the Irvis Office Building on the South Lawn in honor of the old 8 th Ward and the work that Speaker Irvis was able to do while serving in the legislature from 1958 to 1988. The South Lawn sits outside of the K. Leroy Irvis Building. It is bordered by Walnut Street and Commonwealth Avenue. “Speaker Irvis was an important trailblazer in our state’s history, and it’s only right that we continue to honor his legacy,” Kinsey said. “I’m glad to see this bill move out of committee. Now I hope to see my House colleagues vote to honor Speaker Irvis and everything he’s meant to our commonwealth.” “The “Irvis Equality Circle” will remind us that we must protect our fundamental right to vote with Read more
Pa. state Rep. Stephen Kinsey points out the multitude of benefits his legislation would provide to all Pennsylvanians, not just the incarcerated. His Medical Parole Bill would expand the current Compassionate Release Program by allowing more latitude in granting parole for incarcerated individuals over the age of 55 who have served at least 25 years. Read more
HARRISBURG, June 21 – Today, legislation ( H.B. 580 ) introduced by state Reps. Stephen Kinsey, Danilo Burgos and Morgan Cephas, all D-Phila., passed the Pennsylvania House and will now head to the Senate for future consideration. This legislation would re-establish the Pennsylvania Fresh Food Financing Initiative , a program that operated from 2004 to 2010 and provided grants and low-interest loans for the construction, rehabilitation or expansion of grocery stores, farmers markets and other healthy food retail establishments in low- to moderate-income areas in need and other underserved communities. “Today, we in the Pennsylvania House affirmed our commitment to ensuring all communities in our state have access to healthy, nutritious and fresh food,” Kinsey said. “I’m glad to see us one step closer to bringing back the Fresh Food Financing Initiative- now, I urge my Senate colleagues to get this bill to the governor’s desk so it can be signed into law, and we can bring back this necessary initiative.” “I am proud to see that our efforts have paid off,” Burgos said. “We are now a step closer to providing more fresh food purchasing options to residents in underserved areas. Fresh food cannot be accepted as a privilege of a few. We are moving legislation forward for the benefit of all Pennsylvanians.” “We are determined to make the commonwealth a Read more
Measures to raise fees on millions of phone bills in Pennsylvania passed the state House of Representatives on Wednesday in a bid to bolster funding for county-run emergency communication centers and the state’s 988 suicide hotline. Read more
HARRISBURG, June 14 – Today, legislation ( H.B. 1305 ) introduced by state Rep. Stephen Kinsey, D-Phila., passed in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and will head to the state Senate for future consideration. Kinsey said the bill would establish sustainable funding for Pennsylvania’s 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline in line with Gov. Josh Shapiro’s budget proposal. The lifeline was launched in July of 2022 and allows anyone in the U.S. to call, chat or text 988 to receive support and resources during a suicide, mental health or substance use crisis. The proposed legislation would be similar to how communities fund 911 by creating a monthly fee on all wireless devices to ensure these emergency services will not experience any funding gaps. “With the ongoing mental health crisis affecting Pennsylvanians across the commonwealth, it’s crucial we ensure such a critical resource in 988 is funded sustainably so they can be reliable to help folks suffering with their mental health,” Kinsey said. “Today, we took a step toward strengthening and solidifying this lifeline that can help so many. I now urge my colleagues in the Senate to get this bill to the governor’s desk so it can be signed into law.” Read more
HARRISBURG, June 13 – Today, the Pennsylvania House Bipartisan Caucus hosted a news conference dubbed “Meet Me in the Middle” where they rolled out their agenda for this legislative term. This caucus was formed in 2021 by state Rep. Stephen Kinsey, D-Phila., and state Sen. Greg Rothman, R-Cumberland/Dauphin/Perry, who served as a state representative at the time. It was formed as a platform to bring Democratic and Republican members together to listen to people, organizations and businesses across the Commonwealth and work collectively to address issues facing Pennsylvania. Currently, in the Pennsylvania House, Democrats hold a one-seat majority, making bipartisanship extremely important in getting bills passed. Co-chairs of this caucus include Kinsey and state Reps. Jill Cooper, R-Westmoreland; Patty Kim, D-Dauphin/Cumberland; and Jamie Flick R-Lycoming/Union. They each gave their remarks on how this caucus can help cut through some of the partisanship in Harrisburg and move Pennsylvania forward. “I started this caucus with my former colleague as I saw how the political division boiling in Harrisburg was negatively affecting the lives of everyday Pennsylvanians,” Kinsey said. “We don’t have to agree on everything, but working together in a bipartisan fashion and listening to the people of our commonwealth is very important in moving Pennsylvania forward. I firmly believe Read more
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