(3/2023)  Local Fire, EMS Receive $204,000 In State Grants

Rep. Dan Moul announced that 12 fire and emergency medical services (EMS) companies in his legislative district will be receiving state grants through the 2022-23 Fire Company and Emergency Medical Service Grant Program. The grants, totaling $204,000, are the local share of more than $31 million being awarded statewide.

The grants may be used for construction or renovation of a unit’s station, the purchase or repair of equipment, training, debt reduction, education and public outreach, as well as staff recruitment and retention efforts.

"Over the past couple of decades, the number of volunteer firefighters, EMS and rescue personnel has declined sharply, leaving some communities vulnerable in cases of emergency," said Moul. "The General Assembly recently passed legislation that offers educational benefits, tax breaks and other incentives to encourage more people to volunteer for these critical public safety positions. I am pleased that these grants not only provide funding to help our fire and EMS companies maintain the infrastructure and tools they use but will also help with recruitment and retention of essential personnel."

The grant recipients within this paper’s distribution area include:

• Barlow VFC - $13,581.
• Cashtown VFC - $15,000.
• Fairfield VFC - $14,072.
• Fountaindale VFC - $14,809.
• Greenmount VFC - $11,861.
• Adams Regional Emergency Medical Service (EMS) - $30,000.

All fire companies, EMS services and volunteer rescue squads are eligible to apply for the annual grant program, which is funded solely with state gaming proceeds. The funding amounts are contingent on the recipients filing their grant agreements with the Office of State Fire Commissioner.

Agriculture Conservation Easement Purchase Program

In recent years, more and more prime farmland has been lost to development. According to Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, acres of farmland in Pennsylvania fell by 6% (7.3 million acres) between 2012 and 2017. The number of farms dropped by 10% (53,157) over that same period.

Pennsylvania’s successful Agriculture Conservation Easement Purchase Program is a nationwide model for farmland preservation. Under the easement program, 58 participating county programs receive state funds for the purchase of agricultural conservation easements. The easement limits the use of the property to agricultural purposes and the landowner is financially compensated for the sale of the easement.

Since 1988, the program has purchased permanent conservation easements on 5,979 Pennsylvania farms, covering 606,215 acres in 58 counties. Due to the popularity of the program, annual farm applications far outnumber the amount of available funding.

SB 288 will increase annual funding to the program by earmarking 10% of PA’s realty transfer tax revenue to go toward the easement program, equating to an average infusion of over $80 million in additional annual funds for farmland preservation. The bill also expands the eligibility of farms by reducing the minimum subdivision size for preserved farmland from 50 acres to 25 acres and allows parcels less than 10 acres that are adjacent to preserved land or used to produce crops unique to the area to be eligible.

"An abundance of agricultural land is crucial to maintaining food security and protecting against supply chain instability for the commonwealth and our nation," said Senator Mastriano. "The ag industry provides a $135.7 billion annual economic impact, represents close to 18% of Pennsylvania’s gross state product, and employs nearly 580,000 people with combined wages of $27 billion. Our agricultural lands provide scenic images of rural life landscaped across fertile valleys of surrounding hills and mountains. These open spaces are a beautiful backdrop and draw thousands to our state to spend money in the growing agritourism business. We must act now to preserve these lands before too many acres are lost to development forever."

SB 288 has the full support of Pennsylvania Farm Bureau and has been referred to the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee for consideration.

It is Time for State Employees to Return to Work

Gov. Josh Shapiro is cracking down on state government work-from-home situations that were prevalent during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic and persist in many state offices today. In a letter to his 2,300 state-employed senior managers, the governor is requiring them to return to the office at least three days a week. While I am pleased the governor is taking action, I believe it is time for ALL 78,000 state employees to return to the office – five days a week. Doing so, will help speed up licensing for our nurses and will alleviate logjams for permitting and other essential state services. My district office has been open during the pandemic we are no longer in an emergency situation. It’s time to get back to work.

Attention Medical Assistance and CHIP Enrollees

Effective April 1, the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) will return to normal renewal processing procedures for Pennsylvanians enrolled in Medical Assistance and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). That means all Medical Assistance and CHIP recipients will need to complete an annual renewal to see if they are still eligible for coverage. Renewals will be completed over 12 months. Renewals due in March 2023 will be the first affected by this change. To ensure you receive timely information about your coverage, it is important to ensure DHS has accurate information on hand. Updates about your contact information and the number of people living in your household can be made via dhs.pa.gov/compass.

Keystone State ChalleNGe Academy Now Accepting Applications for Summer 2023 Class

The Keystone State ChalleNGe Academy (KSCA) is accepting applications for its third class of cadets, which begins in July 2023. The KSCA is designed to give academically challenged teens a second chance at obtaining their basic education and learning leadership, self-discipline and responsibility to build a better life. The program is open to Pennsylvania residents – both male and female, ages 16 to 18, who are failing to progress in high school or may not be on a clear path to graduating.

Applicants must be willing to be drug free, free of felony convictions and voluntarily commit to the program. The program lasts for 17 months, with the first five months consisting of residential training at Fort Indiantown Gap followed by one year of mentorship back in the community. For detailed eligibility requirements and to begin the application process, click here.

You may also request a mailed application or ask questions by contacting the academy via email at RA-MVPACHALLENGE@pa.gov or by calling 717-861-7767 or 717-861-8831. The KSCA is a joint effort between the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and the National Guard Bureau in consultation with the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Get Your 2023 Happy Traveler Guide

The Pennsylvania Tourism Office released the 2023 Happy Traveler, Pennsylvania’s statewide travel guide dedicated to must-see attractions, exciting events and fun-filled getaways. The annual guide is for travelers looking to visit iconic locations, discover hidden gems, or take part in one-of-a-kind events and cultural experiences. Free copies of the Happy Traveler are available at visitPA.com, which also serves as a hub for trip recommendations and ideas to explore the state with articles like 20+ Must-Visit Places in Pennsylvania. Happy Travelers also can sign up to receive Happy Thoughts, a digital newsletter, in their inbox each month. Additionally, Happy Travelers can always refer to visitPA’s social media channels to discover the latest hot spots and get inspired for their next getaway.