Registration NOW OPEN for the Nonprofit Symposium!; weigh in on PRT’s proposed bus line plan; check out this eLibrary – and more!

Rep. Abigail Salisbury August 19, 2026 | 9:12 AM

You can read my e-newsletter in a way that’s preferable to you by visiting my legislative website here and clicking on the accessibility icon in the lower right corner.

Registration is now open for the Fourth Annual Nonprofit Symposium!

Nonprofit managers and staffers: Today is National Nonprofit Day and the perfect time to open registration for our Fourth Annual Nonprofit Symposium! This year’s event at the Monroeville Convention Center (209 Mall Blvd.) will be the largest, most comprehensive symposium to date, with sessions to help you access and maximize state funding, cultivate recurring small donors, manage risk, tell your story, make the most of social media, and promote staff mental health and wellness. You can read more about the event here.

Registration is required, and you can register by visiting this page. Questions? Call our office at (412) 273-3400.

Celebrating our region’s unique (& rebellious!) history

An amazing crowd turned out for the Whiskey Rebellion celebration last Wednesday at Braddock’s Battlefield History Center, where residents of all ages learned about the historic uprising that happened here in the district 232 years ago.

Thank you to everyone, including our own “Best in the Southwest” district office staff (below right), who worked so hard to make the event a success!

I was proud to present the center with $100,000 in state funding to support their mission of preserving and promoting our region’s unique history.

Grow Pittsburgh secures funding for Wilkinsburg urban farm upgrades

I’m excited to announce that Grow Pittsburgh has secured more than $45,800 in funding through the Agricultural Innovation Grant Program for agricultural systems and efficiency upgrades to Garden Dreams Urban Farm & Nursery in Wilkinsburg. Visit this page to learn more about Grow Pittsburgh’s urban farming program and other community projects.

Weigh in on PRT’s proposed final bus line refresh plan

Pittsburgh Regional Transit is opening the formal public comment period today for the Bus Line Refresh Proposed Final Network, giving the community a chance to review the new proposed routes and connections and provide feedback directly to the PRT board before it considers whether to adopt the plan. There will be a public information session on Tuesday, Aug. 18, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Visit this page to register, learn about the upcoming public hearings, and more.

Around the District

Our staff celebrated with neighbors and provided state-related services at Braddock Community Day (above) and Churchill Community Day (below) earlier this month.

'Bridging the Gap' celebration offers music, resources, fun

Don’t miss the Increase the Peace “Bridging The Gap Celebration” on Saturday, Aug. 22 from noon to 5 p.m. at the Library Street Parking Lot in Braddock. You’ll find live music, including youth rap performances, free food and educational activities for kids, food vendors, community resource sharing, and more!

Check out our public libraries for back-to-school resources

The Allegheny County Library Association is reminding families that our local public libraries offer a wealth of back-to-school resources, including the eLibrary, which includes downloadable and streaming entertainment and educational content that is free with a public library card.

The library system also provides book collections in world languages, audio books for learners of all abilities, a dyslexic font through the Libby app, an online tutoring site for older students, preschool grab bags, and other resources. Visit this page to learn more.

Finding funding & help with state services

Local officials and nonprofits – if you’re searching for state grant funding, you can find the latest program openings here, a handy grant-finding tool at this page, and an online copy of the 2026 Pennsylvania Grant and Resource Directory here. Hard copies of the directory will be available for attendees of our upcoming Nonprofit Symposium. Learn more about the symposium above and register here.

Please remember that our office can help with a wide range of state-related matters – from filing a Property Tax/Rent Rebate or obtaining a Senior ConnectCard, to navigating state benefits and more. Contact us to find out how we can help!