“AI has the potential for technological advancements and benefits,” Shusterman said. “However, government must ensure frontier models are not causing catastrophic harm to society. This is my bare minimum expectation. Every other industry has governmental safeguards for good reasons – AI requires the same level, or more. The possibility of rogue AI agents is not acceptable to me, and I urge my fellow legislators of our Commonwealth, as well as officials at every level of government, to take these risks seriously and act quickly. Our citizens are counting on us.” Read more
NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Labor and Industry: Future Works Who May Apply: Local Workforce Development Boards Use: To strengthen Pennsylvania’s workforce and economic competitiveness by supporting workforce development strategies that help new or expanding businesses build a skilled workforce, address talent needs, and establish a foundation for long-term success Funds: $2,000,000 is available in funds and the Department of Labor and Industry expects to award four grants of up to $500,000. Application Deadline: December 9, 2026 More information: L&I Website Labor and Industry: Veteran Employment Program Who May Apply: Local workforce development boards, non-profit and non-governmental entities, community-based organizations, education and post-secondary organizations, labor organizations, business associations, and economic development entities who can serve veterans and spouses. Use: To enhance Pennsylvania’s capacity to support veterans as they transition into meaningful civilian careers Funds: $200,000 is available and the Department of Labor and Industry expects to award one grant Application Deadline: November 10, 2026 More information: L&I Website Labor and Industry: Veteran Employment Program – Delaware County Who May Apply: Local workforce development boards, non-profit and non-governmental entities, community-based Read more
Harrisburg has been busy since heading back for fall session and the House is wasting no time in passing good, commonsense legislation! I'm proud to announce that my legislation was voted out of the House and sent to the Senate. Read more
“Rushton Woods and Sedgley Farms play an important role in our communities. They support environmental health, protect our natural resources, and provide a space for residents to connect with each other and nature,” Shusterman said. “I'm grateful to DCNR for recognizing the importance of preservation and conservation of these spaces in our communities and all across the commonwealth.” Read more
Shusterman explained, “Menopause is more than a minor inconvenience; it is a health crisis. From years of lost sleep and debilitating brain fog to frozen joints and brittle bones, these severe symptoms demand action. Every single piece of legislation in the No Time for a Pause package serves a purpose in delivering better care, education and treatment for the women of PA. Read more
“The revolutionary potential of AI and the positive impacts this technology will have on business, government and society is undeniable,” Shusterman said. “Far too many children and adults are creating unhealthy emotional attachments with chatbots -- and are experiencing terrifying interactions. As AI chatbots continue to advance, our society is coming to a bipartisan consensus: we need government to step up. I’m determined to provide commonsense and reasonable safety guardrails.” Read more
NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Department of Transportation: Multimodal Transportation Fund (MTF) Who May Apply: Municipality, council of governments, business/non-profit, economic development organization, public transportation agency, port or rail/freight entity Use: The MTF provides grants to encourage economic development and ensure a safe and reliable system of transportation exists in Pennsylvania. The program is intended to provide financial assistance in order to improve public transportation assets that enhance communities, pedestrian safety, and transit revitalization. Funds: Project costs must be above $100,000 and no award shall exceed $3,000,000 Application Deadline: October 30, 2026 More information: PennDOT Website Department of Agriculture: Very Small Meat and Poultry Processor Reimbursement Grant Program Who May Apply: A person operating under a grant of inspection that meets the definition of ''very small establishment'' in 9 CFR 381.65(g)(1)(i) Use: To support the development and expansion of current or future very small meat and poultry processing operations in this Commonwealth by offering reimbursement grants to cover the cost associated with obtaining a grant of inspection from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS), opening a new very small meat and poultry processing operation, expanding the capacity of a Read more
YOU (bring friends!) are invited to join me in Harrisburg on September 29th! Women spend 1/3 or more of their lives in menopause, and yet there is a severe lack of medical research, support and education. Osteoporosis, heart disease, mental health and other risks increase for women as they enter menopause – whether naturally or surgically. Read more
YOU (bring friends!) are invited to join me in Harrisburg on September 29! Women spend one-third or more of their lives in menopause, and yet there is a severe lack of medical research, support and education. Osteoporosis, heart disease, mental health and other risks increase for women as they enter menopause – whether naturally or surgically. Due to inadequate treatment options and support, it’s estimated that lost workforce productivity and healthcare expenses related to menopause cost the US economy $26.6 billion each year. Read more
“I’m proud to have been able to bring money back to my district,” Shusterman said. “We’re thankful to live in a Commonwealth that continues to invest in our communities. Whether it’s urgent infrastructure needs, upgraded equipment for our first responders, or new innovations for county tourism, our economy works for the people who work hard to contribute to it.” Read more
“AI has the potential for technological advancements and benefits,” Shusterman said. “However, government must ensure frontier models are not causing catastrophic harm to society. This is my bare minimum expectation. Currently, AI has no federal regulatory standards. Every other industry has governmental safeguards for good reasons -- AI requires the same level, or more. The possibility of rogue AI agents is not acceptable to me, and I urge my fellow legislators of our Commonwealth, as well as officials at every level of government, to take these risks seriously and act quickly. Our citizens are counting on us.” Read more
NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Commonwealth Financing Authority: Local Share Account Statewide Who May Apply: Counties, municipalities, municipal authorities, economic development agencies, redevelopment authorities, land banks, or councils of government. Non-profits may partner with an eligible applicant to apply on their behalf. Use: Projects in the public interest. Projects that improve the quality of life of citizens in the community. Eligible projects must be owned and maintained by an eligible applicant or a nonprofit organization. Funds: The PA Race Horse Development and Gaming Act provides for the distribution of gaming revenues through the Commonwealth Financing Authority to support projects in the public interest. Grant requests must be at a minimum $25,000 and no more than $1,000,000. Application Deadline: November 30, 2026 More information: DCED Website Commission on Crime and Delinquency: 2026 PACTT – PA Academic, Career and Technical Training Who May Apply: All existing residential facilities, community-based providers, and juvenile probation departments that are current PACTT Affiliates in good standing and are not on provisional status Use: To advance academic and career/technical training among adjudicated youth receiving services in either residential facilities or from community-based providers or from County Juvenile Probation Departments that are PACTT affiliates Read more
“Women spend one-third or more of their life in menopause, and yet there is a severe lack of medical research,” Shusterman said. “Menopause comes with a variety of symptoms, the severity of which can significantly impact daily life and work productivity. It’s time for the government to step up and prioritize women’s health at every stage of their life. The ‘No Time for a Pause’ package of menopause-related legislation is working to deliver better care, education and treatments to the women of PA.” Read more
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NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Pennsylvania Creative Industries (formally Council on the Arts): Spotlight Program Who May Apply: Non-profit organizations with an annual average arts revenue of $10,000 to less than $100,000 and a history of at least two years of consistent arts programming in Pennsylvania Use: To support smaller creative arts organizations that deliver services, products, or programs Funds: Grant awards shall not exceed $5,000 Application Deadline: September 14, 2026 More information: PCI Website Commission on Crime and Delinquency: School Safety & Mental Health Grants Who May Apply: School Districts, Intermediate Units, Area Career and Technical Schools, Charter Schools, Regional Charter Schools, and Cyber Charter Schools Use: To provide grants to eligible school entities to support physical security enhancements and/or mental health initiatives Funds: A total of $138,779,000 in state funding is being announced to support this initiative. Funding is based on the formula included in 24 P.S. §13-1314.3-B, which stipulates school districts are to receive a $100,000 base amount for their grant, and an additional amount based on their 2024-25 Adjusted Average Daily Membership (AADM). All other eligible school entities (i.e., intermediate units, area career and technical schools, charter schools, regional charter schools, and cyber charter schools) are to receive $70,000 Read more
So far this year, I am thrilled to have brought $5.3+ million back to our community! This money will go toward vital improvement projects for our townships, help fund our fire and EMS programs, and expand the reach of our community’s health system. I look forward to continuing to advocate for our community at the state level and am excited about what’s to come! 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
“This grant will allow the township to improve traffic management and flow for a busy travel route which connects surrounding residential communities with local businesses, access to main highways and the Paoli Transit Center, and our main public transit hub for both SEPTA and Amtrak,” Shusterman said. “These projects will mitigate the delays that are routine at various intersections due to directions and adaptive functionality being inactive at many of the intersections on the system. I want to thank PennDOT for recognizing the need for safer and more efficient intersections in our community.” Read more
NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Commission on Crime and Delinquency: Nonprofit Security Grant Funds Who May Apply: Nonprofit organization based in Pennsylvania that serves primarily individuals, groups, or institutions that are included within a bias motivation category for single hate crime incidents identified by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Use: Security enhancements designed to protect the safety and security of the users of a facility including but not limited to safety and security planning, purchase of safety and security equipment, safety and security training, purchase of security-related technology, and specialty-trained canines, among other projects Funds: $10 million is available for projects. Application Deadline: September 10, 2026 More information: PCCD Website Commission on Crime and Delinquency: NCA Member Child Advocacy Centers Who May Apply: Eligibility for these funds is open to all CACs listed in the Appendix Use: Funding to support compliance with NCA standards, to improve the work of the CAC and to apply for or achieve accreditation/reaccreditation, or for equipment necessary to support NCA standards of accrediation Funds: A total of approximately $2.067 million in state Act 28 of 2014 funds is being announced to support this initiative. PCCD expects to fund forty-two (42) non-competitive, one-year grants with budgets allocated accordingly based on level of NCA membership Read more
HARRISBURG, July 21 – State Rep. Melissa Shusterman, D-Chester, announced that her legislation to require additional trainings and certifications for County Veteran Assistance Directors regarding trauma-informed care, including Military Sexual Trauma, PTSD and traumatic brain injury, has been signed into law as Act 38 of 2026. Act 38, previously H.B. 2024, ensures that the staff supporting our veterans are best equipped to meet their post-service needs. Shusterman says these requirements come at the suggestion of the commonwealth’s Women Veterans Health Care Task Force. “Pennsylvania is home to nearly 700,000 veterans – so many of whom return home from their service with visible and not-so-visible injuries,” Shusterman said. “As with other forms of trauma, survivors of MST live with their experiences in different ways, and their mental and physical health may be significantly affected for years to come. We owe it to our veterans to ensure that the resources and support we provide them are effective. “I extend my gratitude to my co-prime sponsor Rep. Scheuren and Chair Solomon from the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness committee for their work on this bill. This is a small step in continuing to provide for our commonwealth’s veterans. I look forward to finding more ways to continue serving those who sacrificed so much for us.” Governor Josh Shapiro signed the Read more
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