News Center

Fiedler, Green join legislators, coalition of community and labor organizations to oppose private school vouchers

(Apr 29, 2024) Rep. Ismail Smith-Wade-El

PHILADELPHIA, April 29 -- On Friday, state Reps. Elizabeth Fiedler and Roni Green, both D-Phila., attended a news conference at City Hall to voice their support for investing in public education and rejecting voucher schemes in the 2024 state budget. Organized labor, education advocates, and community organizations were in attendance to support fully funding Pennsylvania’s public schools. The event followed the bipartisan Basic Education Funding Commission’s recommendations to address Pennsylvania’s unconstitutional K-12 school funding system, recommendations that included $300 million for facilities upgrades last year. Private school vouchers divert tax dollars that could be used to repair school buildings, instead affording them to the elite (more than half the time to families making over $200,000 ) to support institutions that openly discriminate against students, the legislators said. “Every tax dollar given to voucher programs is another tax dollar diverted from our neighborhood public schools,” said Fiedler. “At a time when so many of our schools are struggling to stay open due to toxins and overdue repairs, our priority must be fully funding public schools and their buildings. As Democrats, we cannot allow vouchers to have a place in our state budget.” "We can't afford entitlement programs. We must first fix what's broken," said Green. Read more

 

Smith-Wade-El and Sturla help secure $3 million grant for Lancaster’s Water Street bike project

(Apr 26, 2024) Rep. Ismail Smith-Wade-El

LANCASTER, April 26 – State Reps. Ismail Smith-Wade-El and Mike Sturla, both D-Lancaster, helped the city of Lancaster secure a $3 million state grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to support the Water Street bike project. “Being on a bike offers the opportunity to see the world differently,” Smith-Wade-El said. “Having learned to ride a bike at the late age of 29, I can say it changed my life. I am thrilled that PennDOT has awarded Lancaster City $3 million to help execute the Water Street bike project. A city that is safer for cycling is safer for pedestrians, safer for people pushing strollers, safer for accessing public transit. This a smart investment in our city and in our future.” Sturla added, “I thank PennDOT for awarding this grant to enable the city of Lancaster to continue their successful strategy in making our community even more friendly to bike riders.” The Water Street bike project extends from Fairview Avenue up to Harrisburg Pike and includes a mixture of shared on-street bike facilities and a half-mile portion that will be off-road. According to Smith-Wade-El and Sturla, the project will include intersection improvements along the length of Water Street with raised intersections, speed humps, bump-out curb extensions, ADA compliant ramps, piano key crosswalks and rapid flashing beacons. Three intersections and one segment along Water Street are in the High Injury Network as Read more

 

Smith-Wade-El congratulates area school districts for receiving $480K in safety grants

(Apr 25, 2024) Rep. Ismail Smith-Wade-El

HARRISBURG, April 25 – State Rep. Ismail Smith-Wade-El, D-Lancaster, today announced that $480,760 in state grants have been awarded to public schools in the 49th District by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency to reduce gun and group violence in Lancaster County schools. The following public school districts have received funding: School District of Lancaster $ 269,655 Penn Manor $ 211,105 “All Pennsylvanians deserve to be safe, especially our kids and especially when they are at school,” Smith-Wade-El said. “These grants, which were funded by our votes in Harrisburg, will give our schools the tools they need to increase school security, provide mental health resources for students, and reduce violence. Thanks to this funding, our kids will be able to focus on what they should be doing at school — learning.” View a full list of awards, including dollar amount and school entities approved for funding, here: School Safety Awards . Nonpublic School Awards . Funds will advance the School Safety and Security Committee’s goal of ensuring that all Pennsylvania students can learn in safe, healthy school environments by helping school entities address basic safety needs and mental health services identified in the Committee’s recently adopted Revised Baseline Criteria Standards . Read more

 

Grants, April 22

(Apr 22, 2024) Rep. Ismail Smith-Wade-El

April 22 grants Read more

 

State Reps. Smith-Wade-El, Kenyatta and Benham applaud two state boards’ opposition to conversion therapy

(Apr 17, 2024) Rep. Ismail Smith-Wade-El

HARRISBURG, April 17 – State Reps. Ismail Smith-Wade-El, D-Lancaster; Malcom Kenyatta, D-Phila.; and Jessica Benham, D-Allegheny, today applauded the Pennsylvania boards of Psychology and Osteopathic Medicine for their recent adoption of new policies opposing the practice of conversion therapy on LGBTQ+ minors. The representatives issued the following statement: “We applaud the state Boards of Psychology and Osteopathic Medicine’s adoption of a new Statement of Policies (SOP) that opposes the use of the discredited, pseudoscientific practice of conversion therapy on minors in Pennsylvania. Conversion therapy, also known as conversion abuse, is a dangerous practice aimed at changing an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity or expression that has resulted in profound physical and psychological harm on patients, including depression, trauma, and suicide. “We hope that the state boards of Medicine, Nursing and Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Professional Counselors will vote in the coming weeks to adopt similar SOPs opposing the use of conversion therapy. “Although we are glad to see esteemed state medical boards gradually take steps to oppose the practice of conversion abuse, this is happening at too slow a rate. It is long past time that Pennsylvania joins the 20 other states outlawing the practice. Our bill, the Protection of Minors from Conversion Therapy Act, would prohibit a mental health Read more

 

Smith-Wade-El and Arkoosh visit Refresh Lancaster

(Apr 10, 2024) Rep. Ismail Smith-Wade-El

HARRISBURG, April 10 – Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Secretary Valerie Arkoosh joined state Rep. Ismail Smith-Wade-El, D-Lancaster, for a tour of Refresh Lancaster’s mobile unit at Union Community Care last Friday. Refresh Lancaster is a collaboration between Lancaster Emergency Medical Services Association and Lancaster County Homelessness Coalition that offers free weekly showers, hygienic kits, medical care and referrals to social services in a mobile unit at several locations throughout the county. “In my experience working as an activist in Lancaster, I found that many of the people most in need of social services were nervous about approaching state organizations for help,” Smith-Wade-El said. “I wanted to share with Secretary Arkoosh how Refresh Lancaster is successfully reaching out and building trust with these vulnerable members of our community by serving as a low-barrier entryway to the commonwealth’s extensive network of social and health services.” Smith-Wade-El and Arkoosh also toured Union Community Care’s new dental unit where the staff stressed dental care as a critical part of health care. The tour highlighted how managed-care organizations use Medicaid waivers to serve residents in need. “People who are unhoused experience higher health care spending and poorer long-term outcomes, and approachable, empathetic supports and assistance can be a bridge to stability and a Read more

 

Grants, April 9

(Apr 09, 2024) Rep. Ismail Smith-Wade-El

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 Read more

 

Grant Memo: Agricultural, Educational, Safety, Redevelopment and Additional Grant Opportunities

(Apr 03, 2024) Rep. Ismail Smith-Wade-El

April 2 Read more

 

African-American Health Fair

(Apr 02, 2024) Rep. Ismail Smith-Wade-El

African-American Health Fair, April 6 Read more

 

House Democrats Introduce Eviction Record Sealing Legislation

(Mar 25, 2024) Rep. Ismail Smith-Wade-El

HARRISBURG, March 25 – State Reps. Ismail Smith-Wade-El, D-Lancaster, and Elizabeth Fiedler, Rick Krajewski and Majority Appropriations Committee Chairman Jordan Harris, all D-Phila., today introduced H.B. 1769 that would seal some records in certain cases such as no-fault evictions. “Millions of renters across the commonwealth are struggling to find housing because one mistake or emergency had led to an eviction on their records,” Smith-Wade-El said. “After these no-fault evictions, households often struggle -- sometimes for months -- to find housing, which can result in devastating consequences, including the breakup of families, the loss of employment, and even ending up homeless. This legislation would help give Pennsylvania renters a fair chance at finding housing by establishing procedures for limited access to eviction records. Our Fair Housing Access legislation is a commonsense step that would make it easier for working-class Pennsylvanians to access housing.” According to the legislators, as soon as an eviction is filed, it becomes a permanent mark on someone’s background, making harder to find housing. The record remains even if the case was withdrawn, the tenant endured domestic violence, or the court found in favor of the tenant. Smith-Wade-El said that evictions disrupt workforce development for large swaths of communities and strain existing social support systems throughout the state. These records can put vulnerable Read more

 

Grant Memo: Agricultural, Educational, Public Safety, Redevelopment and Additional Grant Opportunities For Your District

(Mar 19, 2024) Rep. Ismail Smith-Wade-El

NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs: Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Drop-In Centers Who May Apply: Existing organizations that have the capacity to provide or expand drop-in center services for individuals with SUD, including single county authorities, DDAP licensed treatment providers, organizations that offer clinical services and recipients of DDAP’s prior funding opportunities for Drop-In Centers. Use: To expand drop-in center services for individuals with SUD. Funds: Up to $6,575,000 is available. DDAP expects to award approximately eight grants totaling $750,000 each. Application Deadline: April 12, 2024 More information: DDAP 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 Read more

 

Smith-Wade-El: $1.8 million in state grants awarded to Lancaster SD

(Mar 15, 2024) Rep. Ismail Smith-Wade-El

HARRISBURG, March 15 – State Rep. Ismail Smith-Wade-El, D-Lancaster, today announced that the Lancaster School District has been awarded more than $1.83 million in grant funding though the Pennsylvania Department of Education to help create safe, healthy, and supportive learning environments and to prevent and respond to acts of bullying, violence, and hate in schools. Read more

 

Grants, March 13

(Mar 13, 2024) Rep. Ismail Smith-Wade-El

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 Read more

 

Grant Memo: Agricultural, Educational, Public Safety, Redevelopment and Additional Grant Opportunities

(Mar 05, 2024) Rep. Ismail Smith-Wade-El

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

 

REVIEW: Expanded State Programs that are Cutting Costs for Working Families, Older Friends & Neighbors

(Mar 04, 2024) Rep. Ismail Smith-Wade-El

I hope you are well! In this e-newsletter, I want to highlight expanded government programs that cut costs for working families, seniors and neighbors, newly opened grant programs, the upcoming FAFSA deadline (May 1) and PHEAA’s March and April webinars. Read more

 

Government Grants, Feb. 26

(Feb 27, 2024) Rep. Ismail Smith-Wade-El

NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Department of Education: Tutoring Program for Adults Grant Who May Apply: School districts, intermediate units, area career and technical centers/vocational-technical schools, community colleges, literacy councils, local libraries, community-based organizations, any other educational entity recognized by the Secretary of education for providing appropriate and effective adult or family literacy programs. Use: Funds may be used to provide adult literacy education for eligible adults, family literacy education for eligible parents and children, training for volunteer adult literacy education instructors, and administration, support services for learns, and outreach activities. Funds: $1.084 million in funds is expected to be awarded. Application Deadline: March 20, 2024 More information: PDE Website Commission on Crime and Delinquency: Assessing Racial & Ethnic Disparities in Pennsylvania’s Juvenile Justice System Who May Apply: Institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, or for-profit institutions. Organizations must have experience, expertise, and credibility to conduct key project deliverables associated with this funding announcement. Use: To pay for expenses directly related to the activities, management and coordination of the project, to provide stipends/compensation for individuals contributing to qualitative research activities, for other Read more

 

PA House, Senate Dem Policy Committees convene joint hearing on eviction sealing

(Feb 15, 2024) Rep. Ismail Smith-Wade-El

The Pennsylvania House and Senate Democratic Policy Committees teamed up for a joint hearing Thursday morning to gather testimony on the need for eviction sealing in Pennsylvania. Read more

 

New Funding Opportunities for First Responders

(Feb 08, 2024) Rep. Ismail Smith-Wade-El

First Responder Grant Opportunities Read more

 

Open Grant Applications, Feb. 8

(Feb 08, 2024) Rep. Ismail Smith-Wade-El

Available Grant Opportunities, Feb. 8 Read more

 

REVIEW: Get a Sneak Peak at Gov. Shapiro's Budget Proposal

(Feb 02, 2024) Rep. Ismail Smith-Wade-El

February is Black History Month. This month we honor the history, achievements, and legacies of Black Americans. February is a time to focus on education recognize the tremendous impact the Black community has had on Pennsylvania and American History – and continues to have every day. Read more

 

Fiedler, Green join legislators, coalition of community and labor organizations to oppose private school vouchers
Apr 29, 2024

Smith-Wade-El and Sturla help secure $3 million grant for Lancaster’s Water Street bike project
Apr 26, 2024

Smith-Wade-El congratulates area school districts for receiving $480K in safety grants
Apr 25, 2024

Grants, April 22
Apr 22, 2024

State Reps. Smith-Wade-El, Kenyatta and Benham applaud two state boards’ opposition to conversion therapy
Apr 17, 2024

Smith-Wade-El and Arkoosh visit Refresh Lancaster
Apr 10, 2024

Grants, April 9
Apr 09, 2024

Grant Memo: Agricultural, Educational, Safety, Redevelopment and Additional Grant Opportunities
Apr 03, 2024

African-American Health Fair
Apr 02, 2024

House Democrats Introduce Eviction Record Sealing Legislation
Mar 25, 2024

Grant Memo: Agricultural, Educational, Public Safety, Redevelopment and Additional Grant Opportunities For Your District
Mar 19, 2024

Smith-Wade-El: $1.8 million in state grants awarded to Lancaster SD
Mar 15, 2024

Grants, March 13
Mar 13, 2024

Grant Memo: Agricultural, Educational, Public Safety, Redevelopment and Additional Grant Opportunities
Mar 05, 2024

REVIEW: Expanded State Programs that are Cutting Costs for Working Families, Older Friends & Neighbors
Mar 04, 2024

Government Grants, Feb. 26
Feb 27, 2024

PA House, Senate Dem Policy Committees convene joint hearing on eviction sealing
Feb 15, 2024

New Funding Opportunities for First Responders
Feb 08, 2024

Open Grant Applications, Feb. 8
Feb 08, 2024

REVIEW: Get a Sneak Peak at Gov. Shapiro's Budget Proposal
Feb 02, 2024