funding Archives - Page 2 of 3

Awards for affordable rental housing total more than $92 million

Awards totaling more than $44.2 million in Low Income Housing Tax Credits, more than $20 million in National Housing Trust Funds for the construction of 1,459 affordable multifamily rental units in Pennsylvania, and more than $9 million in PennHOMES funding, were announced by Gov. Tom Wolf Thursday.

This is the first year the agency is announcing awards for the new Pennsylvania housing tax credit totaling more than $19.3 million in state credits. The federal and state tax credits were approved by the board and administered by the PHFA.

“The funding we award today will have a significant impact by adding 1,459 affordable rental units once construction is completed,” Wolf said in a statement. “In all communities across the state, affordable housing is in great demand, which is why the allocation of this funding is important for addressing that need.”

Developments receiving funding will preserve and create an additional 1,518 total rental units, including 1,459 for low-income Pennsylvania residents, with 123 units for people at or below 30 percent of the area median income supported by the National Housing Trust Funds.

PHFA Executive Director and CEO Robin Wiessmann said tax credits are important as they fill a void in the marketplace for the construction of affordable housing.

“Even before the pandemic there was clear demand for more rental housing that fits people’s budgets. That demand is even stronger today, and this new round of tax credits, plus the additional funding, are vital for creating and rehabilitating much-needed affordable housing.”

The 33 multifamily housing developments being awarded for tax credits can be viewed on the PHFA site at https://www.phfa.or/mhp/. Please see the list of tax credit recipients under “News: 2022” and dated 11/10.

Bethlehem, Easton-area projects get $18M in redevelopment money

Seven projects in the Lehigh Valley were awarded nearly $18 million from the state’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program, legislators reported this week.

State Sens. Lisa Boscola and Pat Browne and state Rep. Steve Samuelson announced $13.6 million in RACP funding to three redevelopment projects in the City of Bethlehem: The ArtsQuest Turn and Grind Shop, $7 million; the Steel General Office Building, $5.5 million; and the Machine Shop at Lehigh Heavy Forge, $1.1 million.

The ArtsQuest Turn and Grind Shop project is an adaptive reuse of the abandoned Bethlehem Steel Corp. plant to support programming entertainment, cultural attractions, science and kindred displays.

The Steel General Office project funding is for demolition and abatement of portions of the building.

And Lehigh Heavy Forge, a supplier of ultra-large, forged components essential to national defense, will use the grant for its Machine Shop Upenders project.

The Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program is used for the acquisition and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic, recreational and historical improvement projects.

Boscola and Browne also announced $4.35 million in RACP funding for four other redevelopment projects in the region.

The Easton 185 South 3rd Street Confluence project ($3 million) money will be for construction of a 183-space parking garage and podium to spur the development of three mixed-use buildings. A pedestrian bridge is proposed to connect residents and visitors with the Easton Transportation Center garage.

Treatment Trends Inc. ($500,000) will use the grant funds toward the cost of demolition and renovation of the property at 110 Main St. in West Easton. The building is in need of a new roof and sealing of exterior brick and windows, which will be completed prior to beginning the interior work.

Portland Power Plant, Upper Mount Bethel Township, will allocate its $500,000 grant toward remediation and asbestos removal as well as demolition of one of the decommissioned boilers on the site.

Hangdog ($350,000) is an outdoor entertainment venue in Easton to include the largest adventure ropes course on the East Coast, with a brewery and food garden. The project involves improving a 3.7-acre parcel that has been acquired by a related entity, allowing for

erecting the aerial attraction and beer garden, including bringing the stormwater maintenance up to zoning requirements.

Paula Wolf is a freelance writer

PennDOT to distribute $171.5 million in funding for electric vehicle charging

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) will receive and distribute $171.5 million in formula funds for electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure over the next five years as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). Funding for National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) in the first federal fiscal year is $25,4 million, and grantees will be required to provide a minimum 20 percent match.

Resources are available to help businesses and organizations to prepare in advance of the NEVI Notice of Funding Opportunity, PennDOT announced. The funding opportunity is expected to be announced in late December 2022 or early January 2023.

PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian said the NEVI program will help Pennsylvania build out its EV charging infrastructure.

“As this is a new program for Pennsylvania and the nation at large,” said Gramian, “we want to give our partners and businesses as much opportunity as possible to prepare for application submission to support our efforts of transparency and equity.”

Information regarding applicant eligibility, eligible projects, and costs both eligible and ineligible is included in the NEVI Grant pre-announcement resources. An interactive map identifying existing AFC-qualifying stations and grouped interchanges based on priority through a gap analysis has also been created by PennDOT. Businesses and organizations seeking recommendations on preparing for the grant opening can review the “How to Get Ready” section on PennDOT’s website.

An informational webinar on the 2022 NEVI Grant Program will be hosted by PennDOT on Tuesday, November 1, 2022, from 10 AM to noon. Aimed at audiences interested in applying for the NEVI grant program, the webinar will provide information on eligibility, types of projects funded, how to apply, eligible and non-eligible costs, and application best practices.

NEVI stakeholder sessions featuring an opportunity to expand professional connections and partnership are being held across the state. Individuals interested in the sessions can register on PennDOT’s “Learn About NEVI” webpage.

As Pennsylvania has more than 1,800 miles of designated Alternative Fuel Corridors (AFC), NEVI grant funding will support both the commonwealth and federal goal of expanding EV charging along AFCs and interstate lookalikes. NEVI formula funds must first be used to build out AFCs and meet U.S. DOT standards and requirements, per guidance from U.S. DOT.

Pennsylvania’s traveler information system – 511PA – includes EV charging station locations on its traffic map. This system is designed to enhance traveler information for EV drivers and lists locations across the commonwealth by connector type, including CCS, J1722, CHAdeMO, Tesla, and NEMA.

Individuals interested in additional information on NEVI funds in Pennsylvania or reviewing PennDOT’s announcement resources can visit the PennDOT website at penndot.pa.gov.

Reading nonprofits to get more than $4.8M in ARPA funds

At a special meeting Tuesday, Reading City Council approved the allocation of more than $4.8 million in American Rescue Plan funding to 21 nonprofit organizations.

Here are the recipients, from minutes of the meeting posted online:

• Berks Community Health Center, $400,000;

• Berks History Center, $20,000;

• Berks Latino Chamber of Commerce, $200,000;

• CARE Inc., $200,000;

• Centro Hispano of Reading and Berks County, $500,000;

• GoggleWorks Center for the Arts, $500,000;

• Habitat for Humanity of Berks County, $500,000;

• Hope Rescue Mission, $500,000;

• I-LEAD, $200,000;

• Olivet Boys & Girls Club of Reading & Berks County, $404,500;

• Neighborhood Housing Service, $200,000;

• New Journey Community Outreach, $125,000;

• Million Youth Chess Club, $5,820;

• Prospectus Berco, $200,000;

• Reading Pride Celebration, $50,000;

• Reading Symphony Orchestra, $100,000;

• The Real Deal, 610, $50,000;

• Salvation Army, $100,000;

• Star City Boxing Co., $215,963;

• The Village of Reading, $143,600;

• YMCA of Reading and Berks County, $200,000.

The American Rescue Plan Act was signed into law by President Joe Biden on March 11, 2021, to provide direct relief to cities, towns and villages in the U.S. In Pennsylvania, ARPA has allocated $6.15 billion to counties, cities and local government units to support COVID-19 response efforts, replace lost revenue, support economic stabilization for households and businesses, and address public health and economic challenges.

Paula Wolf is a freelance writer

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

Poultry farmers hit by avian flu to get aid to recover losses

Poultry farmers in Lancaster and Berks County hit by avian flu that killed more than 4.2 million birds this year will receive aid from the state to recover their losses.

Pennsylvania’s Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding PHOTO/PROVIDED

The state Department of Agriculture today announced its $25 million recovery and reimbursement program for poultry farmers hit by highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).

Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding was joined by Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) Director Randy Padfield, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and industry partners at a Mount Joy, Lancaster County farm to outline the program.

Farms that lost up to $100,000 will be reimbursed at 100%. Those that lost amounts over $100,000 may be reimbursed on a percentage basis, based on the number of applications received and available funding, according to the Department of Agriculture.

HPAI directly impacted 17 poultry farms in Lancaster and Berks counties this spring and summer.

“Pennsylvania’s poultry industry is $7.1 billion to the economy and 26,600 jobs. It’s food on the table here in the commonwealth and across the nation,” Redding said. “This $25 million recovery program was critical to secure, and I’m grateful to Governor Tom Wolf and the General Assembly for recognizing the value of this industry in the budget. Pennsylvania’s poultry producers and integrators will remain vigilant, and together we are prepared to continue fighting this threat to our food system and economy during upcoming migrations.”

This year, after years of pandemic and related supply chain and labor shortage issues, farmers are facing a historic outbreak of HPAI, said state House Speaker Brian Culter, R-Lancaster. “Creating jobs and literally putting food on the table, agriculture is our top industry.”

The grant program, administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, will provide reimbursement to farms, integrators, and allied industries directly impacted by HPAI by suffering demonstrable financial losses due to inclusion in a control or quarantine zone.

The HPAI Recovery Reimbursement Grant program is comprised of two rounds:

Round one is now open to only poultry farmers and integrators and to only those premises located in the 3-kilometer infected zones as defined by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s General Quarantine Order. The 91 impacted poultry farms that have been identified as part of the first round have received a direct mailing of the application this week. Round one applications are due September 10.
Round two will be open to those who suffered losses in the Control Zones. Additional information will be shared about the second round when it becomes available on agriculture.pa.gov.

As of July 27, 2022, all Control Areas (the 10-kilometer perimeter around an infected, quarantined farm) have been lifted.

The General Quarantine Order is still in place, enabling the state to place additional restrictions on HPAI-infected farms to control the spread of the disease. The prohibition on exhibiting poultry at fairs is also still in place.

To apply for the grant program, visit the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s website. To learn more about HPAI, visit the avian influenza web page.

Business owners face possible tax increase if UC Trust Fund not solvent by November

Business owners could be hit with increased taxes starting next year if the state Unemployment Compensation (UC) Trust Fund is not solvent.

Alex Halper, director of government affairs for the Pennsylvania Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber is working with legislators to make sure the UC Trust Fund is funded so business owners don’t see the tax increases.

“The pandemic and broad business shutdown orders prompted historic demand on Pennsylvania’s UC system, eventually depleting the UC Trust Fund and forcing the Commonwealth to borrow from the federal government to pay the state’s share of benefits,” he wrote in a memorandum to the state legislature.

The federal government has allowed states to use American Rescue Plan funds to replenish UC Trust Funds, he said, which would keep taxes at current rates. “Many states have already opted to do that,” he said.

He cited Democratic-majority states like Connecticut and Washington; Republican-majority states like Alabama and Texas; and neighboring states Ohio and Maryland.

If nothing is done, Halper said there will be a $360 million increase in corporate income taxes over the next several years.

“We’ve seen this before during the Great Recession,” he said. Employers were hit with tax increases and the state issued bonds to pay off the debt. Employers were assessed a fee until 2020 to pay off the bonds, he said.

But the current situation, caused by forced business closures due to the pandemic and fraudulent unemployment claims, that Halper said is estimated to be in the billions of dollars, is not anything businesses could control.

“The new budget allocated $42 million to the trust fund and is viewed as a first installment,” he said. “The agreement going forward is that employers’ taxes won’t be increased.”

However, if Pennsylvania still owes money to the federal government by November, a tax increase will automatically be triggered starting next year. “We are working hard to avoid that,” he said.

“We will continue working with the legislature to find the options that are out there. We need to make sure they understand the timeline and are committed to addressing the issue,” he said.

Countless employers have reported a large amount of fraudulent UC claims and while there is an effort to crack down on them, it is difficult to recoup any losses, he added.

While new UC claims have slowed, the need to borrow from the federal government remains, which will trigger the automatic increases in the years ahead, costing employers hundreds of millions of dollars beyond the billions in UC taxes already paid annually.

“Employers understand their responsibility to fund the UC, but they had no control over this situation,” he said. “We need to help them avoid any increases.”

One of the big problems the chamber sees is the extra incentive that was paid to UC claimants. “There was a disincentive to return to work as people made more money staying home,” Halper said. “Those incentives have expired but the impact is still being felt.”

Reading Hospital Foundation funds new programs at Reading Hospital

The Reading Hospital Foundation is providing funding for seven new programs at Reading Hospital.

The grants totaling $346,502 will fund:

How Do You Eat An Elephant? will support the stroke therapy program. Patients will be given a small stuffed elephant and a printed copy of the story of a stroke patients strength and resilience. Funding will also be used to create a video of a patient’s successful stroke journey to be shared with recovering patients.
Bike to Beds will support the purchase of in-bed cycling equipment for patients at Reading Hospital to improve function and mobility and aid in recovery of acute patients.
Emotional Support for Pediatric Emergency Room Patients will provide a certified, Child Life Specialist in the Pediatric Emergency Department who will utilize evidence-based tools to reduce fear and anxiety in pediatric patients, especially those patients with developmental disabilities.
Play Catch: An Innovative Approach to Therapy, Mobilization, and Recovery will purchase therapy balls for patients to use during inpatient therapy and then can be taken home by the patient following discharge for additional therapy.
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Program will train hospital staff who are part of the Critical Incident Stress Management Team (CISM) on Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR). This program will initially focus on training care-for-the caregivers who can then teach other staff in MBSR.

Nurse Call Tracking and Assignment Boards will purchase communication boards for nursing floors to help improve patient communication and safety. The communication boards will help quickly identify call lights and patient requests for assistance.
Pathways Initiative is a series of programs designed to provide healthcare career exploration opportunities for local students. Reading Hospital’s programs have an additional focus on supporting students belonging to racial and ethnic minorities and those that are traditionally underrepresented.

“I thank the Reading Hospital Foundation and the generous donors who make these programs possible,” said Dr. Charles Barbera, Reading Hospital president and CEO. “Our team members are our greatest asset and I am proud this grant program provides them another opportunity and resources to make a direct impact in the care and recovery of their patients.”

Katherine Thornton, president, Reading Hospital Foundation said, “What’s unique about Reading Hospital Foundation is that all generous gifts we receive stay right here in Berks County and benefit our patients, caregivers, family, friends, community, and team members. We are thankful to the grateful patients, community members, and employees that support our efforts to make our community a healthier place to live.”

Central Pa., Lehigh Valley airport projects get state money

Five airports in central Pennsylvania and the Lehigh Valley were among the recipients of $10 million total in state investments, announced Monday by Gov. Tom Wolf, through the Aviation Transportation Assistance Program.

Overall, funds were earmarked for 12 projects at 10 airports.

“Aviation plays a vital role in keeping our state’s economy moving,” Wolf said in a release. “These investments will help Pennsylvania’s airports operate safely, expand to meet current demands, and sustain growth well into the future.”

Approved aviation projects included:

Berks County, Reading Regional/Carl A. Spaatz Field – $3 million for air operations hangar complex infrastructure to accommodate the growth of an existing airport tenant.
Cumberland County, Carlisle Airport – $524,000 for design and construction of a terminal building to further continued economic development.
Lancaster County, Lancaster Airport – $750,000 to complete corporate hangar infrastructure to accommodate the growth of an existing airport tenant and provide space for a new operation relocating there.
Lehigh County, Lehigh Valley International Airport – $1.76 million to continue terminal connector and security checkpoint expansion and to enhance terminal commercial development connectivity.
York County, Capital City Airport – $150,000 for rehabilitation of airfield hangar roofs and structural reinforcement to repair rusted sheeting.

Pennsylvania cities to receive part of $617 million in federal public transit funding

Pennsylvania’s public transportation projects are set to receive $617 million in federal funding in 2022.

The funding is a result of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and will be administered by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). U.S. Senator Bob Casey announced the total funding this week.

“From our biggest cities to our rural communities, Pennsylvanians across the commonwealth rely on public transportation every day,” said Casey. “Thanks to the infrastructure law, Pennsylvania’s public transit systems will see more than $617 million in a single year to provide faster, safer and more convenient service to their communities.”

The funding can be used to upgrade vehicles, improve facilities and make public transport more accessible for seniors and people with disabilities, added Casey.

The first portion of the funding for Pennsylvania infrastructure was first announced in early February and totaled $234 million. With the passing of the federal spending bill by Congress, that amount is now $617,500,008.

Some of the cities receiving funding through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the funds they are set to receive include: Allentown, $12.7 million; Harrisburg, $14.3 million; Lancaster, $25 million; Reading, $5.5 million; and York, $4.9 million.

Pennsylvania communities will also be able to compete for a $1.75 billion grant program to improve accessibility at rail stations through the All Station Accessibility Program Act, which was incorporated into the federal infrastructure law.

Ben Franklin Technology Partners invests $465,000 in regional economic development

Several Lehigh Valley companies have been selected to receive financial support from Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania.

The Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania’s (BFTP_NEPA) Board of Directors has approved the investment of $465,000 in support of regional economic development.

Eleven companies and 12 business incubators from BFTP_NEPA’s 21-county service area received funding.

Among those selected, BFTP_NEPA is investing in MDS Link. Inc. Bethlehem as an early-stage company.

Ben Franklin TechVentures of Bethlehem chose the company to receive $100,000 in the form of loans with warrants to continue manufacturing and sales and marketing efforts of an inexpensive and patented hardware/software solution that enables gigabit data transmission across existing coax cable.

There is a growing market need to increase bandwidth rates in buildings like hotels and apartments that have pre-existing coax infrastructure. MDSlink’s module can be installed into modern networking equipment configurations to deliver massive increases in bandwidth at a substantially lower cost than the installation of new fiber lines through buildings, BFTP_NEPA said.

Ben Franklin will also provide 1:1 matching funds of $25,000 to Dynalene Inc., Whitehall, which is working with Lehigh University’s Center for Supply Chain Research to conduct product validation and testing for large customer specifications for manufacturing de-ionizing filter cartridges that are used in the coolant loops of fuel cells, electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, and heat-producing electronics and computers.

Dynalene develops, manufactures, and distributes industrial heat transfer fluids and related accessories. This work will allow Dynalene to improve manufacturing efficiencies and increase production yield to continue to grow in the fuel cell/automotive and electronics industry, BFTP_NEPA said.

Also, eti, Inc., Morgantown, Berks County will receive $25,000 for its work with Alvernia University’s O’Pake Institute to increase capacity to meet growing customer demand by focusing on Operational Process Excellence to improve output, Ben Franklin said.

eti manufactures chemical formulations for industrial water treatment for cooling and boiler water systems and membrane systems, as well as process, potable, and wastewater treatments. eti’s formulations are used by regional, national, and international water treatment companies.

Myers Emergency Power System, Bethlehem, Northampton County, will receive $7,500 for its work with Lehigh University’s Enterprise Systems Center to implement Lean Manufacturing processes and develop configure-to-order capabilities at this manufacturer of highly engineered emergency power backup equipment, such as emergency lighting, traffic, rail, and broadband, as well as components, Ben Franklin said.

Myers provides integrated technology solutions mandated by safety codes in industries including data centers, government buildings, and healthcare centers. The work will help Myers enhance manufacturing efficiencies and lead times, allowing the company to increase sales, the organization said.

Ben Franklin also supports business incubators, an important component of the entrepreneurial and technology ecosystem in northeastern Pennsylvania and is investing $60,000 in 12 incubators, each of which will receive $5,000.

Two of the 12 are Bridgeworks Enterprise Center, part of the Allentown Economic Development Corporation and O’Pake Institute for Economic Development and Entrepreneurship at Alvernia University, Reading, the organization said.

Senator Bob Casey secures funding for community projects in Lehigh Valley and Berks County

Senator Bob Casey, through letters to subcommittee members, secured $81.6 million for community projects across the state, including several in Lehigh Valley and Berks County.

“I am pleased to announce that I have secured critical funding for projects across Pennsylvania, including investments in infrastructure, workforce development programs, protections for natural resources, funding for childhood education and development, community health initiatives and more,” said Casey.

“These projects will revitalize communities across the Commonwealth and support the economic health of both rural and urban areas. I will continue to advocate for resources to come to the Lehigh Valley and advance measures to lower costs for families.”

Letters were submitted to the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development; Labor, Health and Human Services, Education; and Financial Services and General Government subcommittees, Casey’s office said.

Among the projects, the City of Bethlehem will receive $2,900,000 to support a food cooperative initiative in the City of Bethlehem, which will address food insecurity challenges in the community. The cooperative will provide easier access to healthy, affordable and locally sourced food.

Muhlenberg College will receive $231,000 for its Inside/Out Prison Exchange Program which is a partnership between Muhlenberg College and the Lehigh County Department of Corrections that seeks to improve access to postsecondary education for incarcerated individuals. This project funding will support the program, which enrolls Muhlenberg College students alongside incarcerated adults in a semester-long academic course.

Community Bike Works in Northampton County will receive $1,400,000 to support the development of a new bike shop and youth center in Easton.

In Berks County, the Borough of Sinking Spring will get $1,865,624 to realign an intersection at the western edge of the Central Business District to ease traffic congestion and accommodate tanker trucks hauling liquid gas, propane and ethanol to the highway.

Berks County will receive $750,000 to help complete the necessary capacity and environmental study to review the available capacity and potential impacts of adding passenger rail service to the existing freight lines between Reading and Philadelphia.

And the Berks Latino Workforce Development Corporation will receive $500,000 to establish an expanded technical center that will offer dual-language programs in adult education and occupational training in high-demand occupations. The organization offers culturally thoughtful workforce and economic development programs to Berks County, including job training and wraparound services.

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