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The latest news from the State Capitol |
In this Edition:
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Supporting Police-Community Partnerships During National Night Out |
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Funding Opportunities for Local Watershed Enhancements |
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Supporting PA Agriculture |
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Celebrating Agriculture at Ag Progress Days |
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Call Before You Dig |
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Pennsylvanians with Disabilities are ‘ABLE’ to Save with PA ABLE |
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Sign Up Today for These Upcoming Events! |
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Supporting Police-Community Partnerships During National Night Out
On Tuesday, we celebrated National Night Out, a day to promote police-community partnerships and engage all of us in the effort to support the health and safety of our friends and neighbors. I had a great time at the Lower Swatara Township National Night Out. So many great people and vendors showed up to meet and support our local law enforcement.
Unfortunately, due to the storms, many other communities had to postpone their events. South, West and East Hanover townships' joint event has been rescheduled for Aug. 13 and Derry Township's is set to be held on Aug. 20.
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Funding Opportunities for Local Watershed Enhancements
The Susquehanna River Basin Commission’s (SRBC) Stream and Watershed Enhancement Grant program provides funding for community-based environmental and water resource projects or events that improve, restore or protect the basin’s watersheds.
SRBC anticipates awarding approximately $150,000 in total grant funds, with an individual project cap of $5,000. The application period for the 2024 grant award year will close Oct. 31. Awards will be announced this December.
Watershed groups, county and municipal governments, school districts and nonprofit organizations are all eligible applicants. Summaries of the 34 projects awarded grant funding in 2023 can be reviewed here: SRBC Stream and Watershed Enhancement Grant 2023 Awardees. Projects that offer an intersection between watershed support and engagement with environmental justice areas will be prioritized.
Awards in 2023 for the 106th District included East Hanover Township receiving $2,100 for the purchase of an Enviroscape Model to provide watershed and water quality education and outreach at events throughout the year. Londonderry Township was awarded $5,000 to conduct outreach, provide education and share their mission relating to clean water. Londonderry Township and conservation partners also plan to identify and document flora and fauna at its floodplain restoration site, and document changes to biodiversity.
For full details on webinar registration, technical assistance requests, grant guidelines and how to apply, please visit the SRBC’s website.
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Supporting PA Agriculture
Agriculture is our state’s top industry, contributing $132.5 billion to our state economy annually and supporting more than 593,000 jobs paying wages of $32.8 billion. As importantly, it helps put food on our tables every single day.
Recognizing the value of agriculture in our Commonwealth, this year’s state budget continues to fund key ag-related programs. It includes $34 million for agriculture preparedness and response to address costs related to the avian influenza outbreak or similar crises affecting our farmers.
Funding for the “agricultural excellence” line item is increased to $4.1 million with a portion of the increase directed toward the beef industry. Finally, the budget directs more than $26.6 million to the State Food Purchase Program, which helps counties purchase and distribute food to low-income individuals and families.
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Celebrating Agriculture at Ag Progress Days
Penn State’s Ag Progress Days, the Commonwealth’s largest outdoor agricultural exposition, will be held next week, from Tuesday, Aug. 13, through Thursday, Aug. 15, at the Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center, 2710 W. Pine Grove Road in Pennsylvania Furnace.
The event is hosted by Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences and showcases educational programs, current research, and the latest innovations in agricultural equipment and technology. It features more than 400 exhibitors from the United States and Canada.
Both parking and admission are free. Learn more here.
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Call Before You Dig
Aug. 11 marks National 811 Day – a day dedicated to reminding residents, contractors and utility workers of the importance of calling 8-1-1 before digging to help ensure the safety of excavation projects across the state.
Every time an underground utility line is hit, there is a risk to the contractors or homeowners who are doing the digging; to utility workers and emergency responders who are mobilized to deal with the damage; and to bystanders who live, work or travel near the locations of the incidents.
State law requires contractors and residents to contact PA One Call at least three business days prior to excavation – triggering alerts to all utilities within an intended digging area and prompting utilities to mark where their facilities are located. Pennsylvanians can dial 8-1-1 to connect with the One Call system, while out-of-state residents or businesses can call 1-800-242-1776.
Learn more at www.PA1call.com.
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Pennsylvanians with Disabilities are ‘ABLE’ to Save with PA ABLE
This Wednesday, Aug. 14, is the first-ever National ABLE Savings Day! Our state’s PA ABLE program, like other ABLE programs across the country, gives individuals with disabilities a way to save money for the future without impacting important benefits like Medical Assistance (Medicaid) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
There are also great tax benefits for saving with PA ABLE, including:
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Contributions are deductible from PA state income taxes. |
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Earnings and contributions grow tax-free. |
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No taxes are owed for qualified withdrawals. |
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Accounts aren’t subject to the state inheritance tax. |
Pennsylvanians with a qualifying disability can start saving with PA ABLE today. There are seven savings and investment options to choose from. PA ABLE account owners, family and friends can contribute up to $18,000 annually to a PA ABLE account. The savings can be used to pay for a wide variety of disability-related expenses including rent, groceries, health care, vehicle adaptations, assistive technology and more.
To celebrate ABLE Savings Day, PA Treasurer Stacy Garrity, PA ABLE experts at the Pennsylvania Treasury Department, and ABLE experts from around the country are hosting free webinars to help everyone understand what ABLE programs are and how they can start saving.
Upcoming webinars include:
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Monday, Aug. 12, at 2 p.m.: ABLE Accounts 101. |
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Tuesday, Aug. 13, at 6 p.m.: Learn About PA ABLE. |
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Wednesday, Aug. 14, at 2 p.m.: How Can Employers Promote ABLE as an Accessibility Tool? |
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Wednesday, Aug. 21, at 2 p.m.: I Have an ABLE Account, Now What? |
For more information about PA ABLE, visit www.PAABLE.gov or call 855-529-ABLE (2253).
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Sign Up Today for These Upcoming Events!
I am hosting two upcoming events this fall; sign up today to reserve your spot by calling 717-534-1323.
Home Title Protection Seminar, Thursday, Sept. 19, from 10 a.m. to noon at Middletown Volunteer Fire Hall, 10 Adelia St., Middletown. The Dauphin County Recorder of Deeds Office will discuss a fraud alert service to protect your home’s title from theft.
Annual Veterans’ Appreciation Breakfast, Friday, Nov. 8, from 8-10 a.m. at the Lower Swatara Fire Department, 1350 Fulling Mill Road, Middletown. This event is open to active-duty military personnel and veterans. Accommodations can be made for disabled attendees requiring assistance. Registration is required.
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