federal funding Archives

Pa. to receive federal funding to expand broadband access

Federal funding in the amount of $200 million is being provided to expand broadband in unserved and underserved areas of Pennsylvania.

The Broadband Infrastructure Grant Program was announced Wednesday by Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority Executive Director Brandon Carson. The program will begin accepting applications this May and will provide funding to businesses, non-profits, local government, and economic development organizations.

Application guidelines will be posted on the authority’s website on April 10, and the application process will open on May 10.

As many communities in Pennsylvania lack access to high-speed internet and many more cannot afford it, a digital divide has been created between those who have internet access and those who lack access. Gov. Josh Shapiro has made extending and expanding access to broadband across the state and connections more affordable and reliable a top priority of his administration.

The Pennsylvania Broadband Infrastructure Program is funded through the Capital Projects Fund and will fund line extension and development projects, along with large-scale regional infrastructure projects.

Projects must deliver upon completion service that meets or exceeds symmetrical download and upload speeds of 100 Megabits per second, prioritization going to fiber-optic deployment. To ensure continued operation, projects must also include a viable sustainability strategy to maintain, repair, and upgrade networks.

“The authority is pleased to provide this funding to achieve last-mile connections and increase speed for underserved and unserved regions in Pennsylvania,” Carson said in a statement. “This is the first grant program the authority is offering, and we look forward to seeing the impact it makes as we work to close the commonwealth’s digital divide.”

Program requirements include the following:

Affordability: Applicants must participate in the Affordable Connectivity Program and will be requested to describe and document their digital equity efforts to ensure low- to moderate-income households in the proposed project area will have sustained and affordable access.
Grant amounts: The minimum request considered will be $500,000 and the maximum may not exceed $10 million.
Labor: The Pennsylvania Prevailing Wage Act may apply to projects funded under this program. Prevailing Wage requirements are applicable to grants for construction, demolition, reconstruction, alteration, repair work, renovations, build-out and installation of machinery and equipment of more than $25,000.
25-percent match: Federal, state, or local funding received by the applicant is eligible towards the match requirement.

Universal coverage: Applicants are required to ensure that all projects either achieve or are part of a plan to achieve universal broadband for the locality or region.

The application process closes July 10, at 11:59 p.m. Grants are expected by the authority to be awarded by the end of 2023.

State to receive $900 million in federal funding for climate-smart ag practices

Pennsylvania will receive more than $900 million in federal funding to support farm organizations, businesses and research institutions using climate-smart practices.

Gov. Tom Wolf and U.S. Senator Bob Casey, D-PA, said the funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities will help farmers implement “climate-smart” production practices that sequester carbon and reduce greenhouse gas emissions with targeted investments for small and underserved producers.

The program will also help promote and increase consumer awareness of climate-smart commodities like dairy, beef and eggs, while quantifying emissions reduction benefits, Casey said.

“Agriculture bears the brunt of the impact of climate change, from extreme weather to an environment that is more inviting to invasive pests, plants and disease,” Wolf said. “My administration has provided unprecedented support for the industry that feeds and sustains us – as seen through the PA Farm Bill and Clean Streams Fund – and I am pleased that our efforts will be multiplied exponentially with federal support. Farmers cannot tackle climate change alone.”

The 19 Pennsylvania projects were among 70 selected nationwide, investing $2.8 billion in the first of two rounds of Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities funding.

“Pennsylvania’s agricultural industry is central to our economy. This funding will give a boost to farmers and ranchers as well as manufacturers using climate-smart production to support local economies and increase PA competitiveness while combatting the climate crisis,” Casey said.

The projects will expand markets for climate-smart commodities, leverage the greenhouse gas benefits of climate-smart commodity production and provide direct, meaningful benefits to production agriculture, including for small and underserved producers.

Projects funded aim to:

Provide technical and financial assistance for putting climate-smart practices in place;
Develop innovative and cost-effective methods for monitoring, reporting and verifying greenhouse gas benefits; and
Develop markets and promote the benefits of commodities grown using climate-smart practices.

Lead partners of the 19 projects based in Pennsylvania or involving PA-based partners include:

Wolfe’s Neck Farm Foundation, Inc., $35,000,000

Cooperative Regions of Organic Producer Pools, $25,000,000

Truterra, LLC, $90,000,000

Pennsylvania State University, $25,000,000

PASA Sustainable Agriculture, $55,000,000

Farm Journal, Inc., $40,000,000

American Forest Foundation, $35,000,000

The Nature Conservancy, $60,000,000

National Fish & Wildlife Foundation, $95,000,000

The DeLong Co., Inc., $40,000,000

Low Carbon Beef, LLC, $10,000,000

Rodale Institute, $25,000,000

American Farmland Trust, $30,000,000

Dairy Farmers of America, Inc., $45,000,000

National Association of Conservation Districts, $90,000,000

Field to Market, $70,000,000

American Sustainable Business Institute, Inc., $35,000,000

The Conservation Innovation Fund, $25,000,000

Carbon A List, LLC, $70,000,000

Pennsylvania receives $25.4 million for electric vehicle infrastructure

Pennsylvania has been awarded $25.4 million to invest in clean transportation through the state’s plan for electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure deployment.

Gov. Tom Wolf said today the Biden Administration awarded the funding, making Pennsylvania one of the first states in the nation to be approved for the first round of funding under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). The state is to receive a total of $171 million over the next five years.

“Addressing the global threat of climate change is a top priority throughout my administration and it’s a priority that President Joe Biden and I share. Investing in EV infrastructure is a critical way to reduce greenhouse gases and make EV chargers accessible for more Pennsylvanians,” Wolf said. “I’m grateful that the Biden Administration has committed a significant portion of the landmark Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for clean transportation, and that Pennsylvania will receive this initial investment to support our state’s efforts.”

The federal funding is part of a new National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program under the BIL. The Pennsylvania NEVI Plan will be administered by the PennDOT.

“PennDOT and our partners have been hard at work preparing for a future filled with electric vehicles,” said PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian. “These new funds available to us through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law give Pennsylvania the opportunity to reinvent transportation in a way that is smarter, cleaner, safer, more equitable and more efficient than ever before, and we are ready to put them to good use.”

“Increasing access to electric vehicles and EV chargers is one of the best ways to cut down on air pollution and fight climate change,” said Acting DEP Secretary Ramez Ziadeh. “These investments into improving EV charger infrastructure will mean cleaner air for Pennsylvanians and will pay dividends for years and generations to come.”

There are more than 31,000 EVs registered in Pennsylvania, nearly triple the roughly 9,700 that were registered in March 2019.

Gov. Tom Wolf and Sen. Bob Casey highlight Lehigh Valley projects that benefit from Bipartisan Infrastructure law

Gov. Tom Wolf and Sen. Bob Casey highlighted projects slated for Lehigh Valley because of the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure law (BIL) today.

Wolf and Casey highlighted projects that will go out for bid and discussed the benefits coming to regional roads and bridges during an event that was held near the Interstate 78 interchange with Route 61 which is currently being reconstructed under a $125.6 million contract.

“Pennsylvania is greatly benefitting from the passing of the Bipartisan Infrastructure law,” said Wolf. “We are fortunate to have this funding which is being used to address additional infrastructure needs.”

“We have many meaningful projects that will modernize our infrastructure while creating sustainable, good-paying jobs that will be transformative for our transportation system and our local economies.” said Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Acting Executive Deputy Secretary Melissa Batula.

“Thanks to the infrastructure law we are beginning to rebuild our roads, bridges and more vital infrastructure across Pennsylvania, and we are jumpstarting projects that have been put on hold,” Casey said.

“Interstate 78 exchange project and others throughout Berks County and the region will make it easier and safer for Pennsylvanians to travel and commute,” he said. “These construction projects will also create good-paying jobs. We are making progress to rebuild our infrastructure and I will continue to work in Congress to bring infrastructure investments to the Commonwealth.”

The total value of projects under construction this year in PennDOT District 5 covering Berks, Carbon, Lehigh, Monroe, Northampton, and Schuylkill counties is approximately $500 million. Overall highlights in the district’s 2022 construction season include:

approximately 116 miles of paving
approximately 31 bridges will be repaired or replaced
approximately 265 miles of roadway will be seal coated

These improvements include projects supported and accelerated by the BIL. In 2022 alone the BIL is bringing at least $50.8 million in additional funding to the District 5 region to be allocated by the department and its local Metropolitan and Rural Planning Organization (MPO/RPO) partners:

Reading Area Transportation Study will receive at least $18.4 million more
Lehigh Valley Transportation Study will receive at least $20.3 million more
Northeastern Pennsylvania Alliance will receive at least $12.1 million more

“The BIL will advance multiple projects that may have otherwise been delayed,” said District 5 Executive Michael W. Rebert. “This funding is essential to move these projects forward.”

Notable ongoing projects that will continue this year include:

Project to improve I-78 including patching, milling, paving and bridge preservation in Berks, Lehigh, and Northampton counties, $23.3 million
Reconstructing I-78 between Exit 35 (Route 143/Lenhartsville) and Lehigh County line in Greenwich Township, Berks County, $168.3 million
Reconstruction and widening on I-78, including rehabilitating the bridge over the Schuylkill River and upgrading the Route 61 interchange, in Tilden Township and Hamburg Borough, Berks County, $125.6 million
Intersection improvements on U.S. 222 in Maidencreek Township, Berks County, $26.7 million

Reconstructing and widening of Route 443 in Lehighton Borough and Mahoning Township, Carbon County, $21.2 million

Repairing and resurfacing U.S. 22 in South Whitehall and Upper Macungie townships, Lehigh County, $17.3 million
Installing a roundabout at the intersection of U.S. 222, Route 863 and Schantz Road in Upper Macungie Township, Lehigh County, $14.2 million
Milling and paving Route 248 in East Allen Township, Lower Nazareth Township, Upper Nazareth Township, Bath Borough, and Nazareth Borough, Northampton County, $3.4 million
Traffic signal improvements on Route 512 in Bath Borough, Northampton County, $1.2 million
Milling and paving on U.S. 22 in Bethlehem Township, Palmer Township and Wilson Borough and Route 33 in Bethlehem Township and Palmer Township, Northampton County, $13.6 million

Notable projects that are expected to begin this year include:

Resurface Route 562 between Business Route 422/Perkiomen Avenue and Shelbourne Road in St. Lawrence Borough and Exeter Township, Berks County, $1.4 million-$1.6 million (est.)
Resurface Old Route 22 between the Bethel Township line and St. Michaels Road in Upper Tulpehocken, Upper Bern, and Tilden Townships, Berks County, $3.1 million – $3.4 million (est.)
Resurfacing Route 737 between Zettlemoyer and Eagle Point roads in Greenwich and Maxatawny townships, Berks County, $2.3 million-$2.5 million (est.)
Resurfacing Route 903/North Street between Front and Center streets in Jim Thorpe Borough, Carbon County, $1 million-$1.2 million (est.)

Resurfacing Route 29/Cedar Crest Boulevard from Chestnut Street to Briarwood Lane in Emmaus Borough and Salisbury Township, Lehigh County, $2 million-$3 million (est.)
Replacing Route 329 “Cementon” Bridge over the Lehigh River in Whitehall Township, Lehigh County and Northampton Borough, Northampton County, $13 million-$15 million (est.)
Resurfacing Route 873 from Route 309 to Iron Alley in Slatington Borough, North Whitehall and Washington townships, Lehigh County, $3 million-$4 million (est.)
Resurfacing Route 33 between the Northampton County line and Lower Cherry Valley Road in Hamilton and Ross townships, Monroe County, $5.9 million-$6.2 million (est.)

As construction projects are underway in the region, the traveling public can anticipate seeing many work zones and are urged to keep in mind their safety and the safety of highway workers, PennDOT said.

Motorists can check conditions on major roadways by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras.

511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional Twitter alerts.

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Pa. to receive federal funding to expand broadband access

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