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State Services & Veteran Recognition Day

On Saturday, July 20^th, I was joined by PA Treasurer Stacy Garrity, PA State Rep. Jamie Flick and PA State Rep. Joe Hamm for our State Services & Veteran Recognition Day Event.

Thanks to the help of Treasurer Garrity and her team, over $54,000 in unclaimed property was returned to its rightful owners! The Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs outreach team was also on hand to provide information and assistance to veterans. During the event, we were able to assist more than 50 individuals.

Navigating state government services and veterans’ benefits can be overwhelming. It was great to see so many constituents get the assistance they needed, while also raising awareness of unclaimed property sitting in the Treasury’s vault.

Thank you to all of our attendees, as well as our fantastic hosts and volunteers for making this a great event!

Summit Loop Driveway Project Groundbreaking

Recently, the Loyalsock Foundation held a groundbreaking ceremony at The Summit: Center for Wellness for the permanent driveway project at the Summit Loop in Sullivan County.

At the event, Craig’s Lookout was dedicated in memory of Craig Harting, a community member who served on the Foundation’s Advisory Board. Craig spent many hours clearing Meditation Ledge, which is a scenic spot just off the Summit Loop Trail.

Coterra Energy was also recognized for their contributions through the Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP). Their generosity has helped tremendously in helping to make this project a reality.

We had a great afternoon hiking the trail and seeing the progress being made at this fantastic regional wellness and community center. You can learn more about plans for The Summit: Center for Wellness HERE.

Local Fairs and Festivals Continue

The Lycoming County United Way Kid’s Carnival will take place this Friday, August 2^nd from 5 – 7:30 p.m. in Williamsport’s Pine Square. Games, face painting, prizes, food and more.

The 99^th Annual Union County West End Fair begins this Sunday, August 4^th at Lincoln Park and runs through August 10^th! Enjoy fun for all ages. More information on admission, parking and schedule of events HERE.

The 2024 Endless Mountains Music Festival continues through August 4 throughout the Pennsylvania Wilds, including in Wellsboro. More information, program, and ticket information HERE.

North Shore Railroad Company Veteran Organization Program Assistance Applications Open

The North Shore Railroad Company & Affiliates recently dedicated two of its locomotives to members of the United States Armed Forces- past, current, and fallen. The locomotives will be used in regular freight service and passenger excursion events. These passenger excursion events will be held for the sole purpose of raising money to assist organizations that support Veterans and their families.

If you are an authorized employee of – or authorized volunteer for – a Veteran organization, and you would like your Veteran organization to be considered as a beneficiary of these fundraisers, please complete the form HERE. For 2024 fundraising, applications must be received by September 1^st.

DCNR Funding Opportunities and Grant Workshops

Grant Funding for ATV or Snowmobile Projects and Programs

The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), Bureau of Recreation and Conservation announced the All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) and Snowmobile Program’s fall grant round.

The Program awards grants from the ATV and Snowmobile Management Restricted Accounts for projects proposing land acquisition, planning, development, rehabilitation, maintenance, equipment purchase or educational programs for ATV or snowmobile trails and facilities.

Eligible applicants include for-profit organizations, nonprofit organizations and municipalities in this Commonwealth. Applicants can apply for this funding starting Thursday, August 1, 2024. Applications are due by 4 p.m. on Monday, September 30, 2024 and must be submitted through the Department’s online portal and a grant application tutorial video is available HERE.

Grant Workshop Registration Open

Registration is now open for DCNR’s FREE annual grant workshop. The virtual workshop will take place on Thursday, November 7 from 9:00 AM to noon. Anyone interested in applying for Community Conservation Partnerships Program grants in 2025 is strongly encouraged to attend.

The 2025 grant round will open on Tuesday, January 21 and close on Wednesday, April 2.

The workshop will take place virtually via a Microsoft Teams Live Event. Videos of workshop presentations will be made available on the DCNR YouTube channel for those who cannot attend.

The workshop will explain:

• Who can apply
• What can be funded
• When funding will be available
• How to make project applications more competitive

Attendance is free, but pre-registration is required to ensure participants receive needed materials.

To register, visit the DCNR Events Calendar. Click “Register” to begin the registration process. Follow the prompts to complete your registration.

Department of Health Mobile Clinic Survey

If your organization operates a mobile clinic, the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) is seeking your input. The results of this survey will help DOH describe the current breadth of mobile services provided across the state, identify interest in collaboration among mobile service providers to share best practices and identify unmet needs/resources, and identify opportunities to promote and support the mobile clinics, including opportunities for expansion of services.

Complete the survey HERE by WEDNESDAY, July 31^st.

Program Increasing Digital Connectivity to Provide Laptops

The Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority (PBDA) is accepting applications for its Digital Connectivity Technology Program.

Through the new program, the PBDA will purchase and distribute $20 million in laptops for eligible public-facing institutions such as libraries, municipalities, workforce training organizations, not-for-profit organizations and other institutions that can offer internet access to individuals who lack the technology.

PBDA strongly encourages interested applicants to review the program frequently asked questions (FAQ), before applying. The FAQ, pre-recorded webinar providing an overview of the program, guidelines and online application are available here. Applications must be submitted by Monday, Aug. 19.

PASSHE Freezes Tuition for In-State Undergraduates

For the seventh year, the Board of Governors for Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) froze tuition for in-state undergraduates for the 2024-25 academic year. The tuition rate will stay the same at all 10 state-owned public universities.

PASSHE schools serve the most in-state students of any four-year college or university in Pennsylvania, at the lowest price. Nearly 90% of PASSHE’s 82,000 students are Pennsylvania residents, many from middle-income families.

To make higher education more affordable, Senate Republicans passed Grow PA – a package of bills that creates new programs to recruit the best talent to Pennsylvania schools in industries that will grow the state’s economy while also expanding existing financial assistance programs that are already working. Read more about the scholarship and tuition waiver programs.

Fighting Human Trafficking

World Day Against Trafficking in Persons is Tuesday, July 30, and this year’s theme is “Leave No Child Behind in the Fight Against Human Trafficking.”

Children represent a significant portion of trafficking victims worldwide, and they are twice as likely as adults are to face violence during trafficking. Traffickers use social media to recruit and exploit children.

Senate Republicans worked to support these young victims, unanimously passing a law that ensures sexually exploited children who are human trafficking victims always have full access to appropriate services and support.

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