Khan to roll out healthcare workforce legislative package

(Mar 14, 2024)

HARRISBURG, March 14 – State Rep. Tarik Khan, D-Phila., today announced that he plans to introduce two bills to help address shortages of healthcare workers so that all Pennsylvanians can receive high-quality medical care. These bills would provide for the recruitment and retainment of nursing faculty members and health care preceptors. The first bill would establish the New Nursing Faculty Grant Program to provide grants of up to $10,000 per year for newly employed, full-time nursing faculty members. The second bill would establish the Pennsylvania Health Care Preceptor Deduction to incentivize qualified individuals to serve as preceptors for advanced practice nurses, physicians, physician assistants and registered nurses by providing a $1,000 tax deduction for doing do. “As a nurse practitioner, I know how important it is to keep our healthcare workforce supply strong,” Khan said. “Recruiting nursing faculty is often difficult, and healthcare preceptors are often hard to find. Our bill will help ensure critical support for both nursing faculty and healthcare professional preceptors.” The nursing faculty grant program is modeled after a Maryland program that was highly successful. The second bill would make Pennsylvania the sixth state to take action to incentivize medical professionals to enter preceptorships. Nearly 80,000 applicants across the nation were not Read more

 

Grant Memo: Agricultural, Educational, Public Safety, Redevelopment and Additional Grant Opportunities

(Mar 13, 2024)

NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Commonwealth Financing Authority: Public School Facility Improvement Grant Who May Apply: School entities, defined as a school district or an area career and technical school. Use: Facility improvement projects, including but not limited to roof repair/replacement, heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment, plumbing systems, window repair/replacement, health and safety upgrades, and accessibility projects. Funds: $100 million in total funding is available. Grant requests shall not exceed $5 million per eligible improvement project. School entities may submit more than one application, but no school entity shall receive more than 20% of the total funding available. Application Deadline: May 31, 2024 More information: CFA Website Commission on Crime and Delinquency: STOP Violence Against Women Grant Program Who May Apply: County governments and non-profit victim service agencies are eligible to apply. Faith-based organizations may be eligible to apply under certain circumstances. Use: Funds may be used to support cross-system, collaborative efforts to respond to victims of violence against women crimes. This includes, but is not limited to, personnel and benefit costs associated with specialized units in law enforcement or core direct victim services, supplies and operating expenses related to the STOP project, equipment necessary for implementation, and training or professional development. Funds: A total of $12 Read more

 

Grant Memo: Agricultural, Educational, Public Safety, Redevelopment and Additional Grant Opportunities

(Mar 05, 2024)

NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Department of Agriculture: Commonwealth Specialty Crop Block Grant Program Who May Apply: State and local organizations, producer associations, academia, community-based organizations, and other eligible specialty crops stakeholders. Use: The purpose of the Program is to enhance, but not replace, the Federal Specialty Crop Block Grant Program by establishing a Commonwealth Specialty Crop Block Grant Program for specialty crops that are not currently eligible for grant payments under the Federal Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, or that are otherwise designated high-priority specialty crops by the Secretary. Funding for the Program will assist the growth, certification of seed and marketing of these eligible specialty crops. Funds: $460,000 in funding is available. Application Deadline: April 19, 2024 More information: Pennsylvania Bulletin PROGRAMS OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS: Department of Agriculture: Farm Vitality Planning Grant Who May Apply: Farmers, prospective farmers, and others may apply. Use: Strategic business planning to expand or diversify farms or support transition of ownership. Funds: $500,000 in funding is available. Grants shall not exceed $7,500. Application Deadline: Applications will be received until funds are exhausted. More information: Pennsylvania Bulletin Commission on Crime and Delinquency: Recruitment Incentives for Law Enforcement Who May Apply: Local law enforcement Read more

 

Kosierowski Talks Nursing and Medical Debt Relief at Budget Hearings

(Feb 28, 2024)

At a recent House Appropriations Committee Budget Hearing, Pa. state Rep. Bridget M. Kosierowski discussed the importance of the Nurse Compact Law in alleviating nursing shortages across the state. Kosierowski also highlights how medical debt relief and increased access to healthcare in rural areas could benefit both patients and the healthcare system. Read more

 

Agricultural, Educational, Public Safety, Redevelopment Grant Opportunities

(Feb 27, 2024)

There are multiple grant programs that are currently open for applications. Read more

 

State lawmakers highlight need to alleviate medical debt

(Feb 27, 2024)

HARRISBURG, Feb. 27 – Today, state Reps. Tarik Khan, D-Phila., and Bridget Kosierowski, D-Lackawanna, held a news conference at the State Capitol to discuss the importance of alleviating medical debt for Pennsylvanians who need it most. Last spring, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed legislation ( H.B. 78 ) that would establish the Pennsylvania Medical Debt Repayment Program, which would target the medical debt of low-income Pennsylvanians drowning in it and in need of relief. The legislation is currently sitting in the PA Senate Health and Human Services Committee. Medical debt relief is also a top priority for Gov. Josh Shapiro who, in his state budget address for the 2024-25 fiscal year, proposed investing $4 million to wipe it out for thousands of Pennsylvanians. State officials estimate that roughly 1 million Pennsylvanians carry some amount of medical debt. As of Dec. 2020, Pennsylvanians collectively share more than $1.8 billion in medical debt in a collections stage. “The toll of medical debt is staggering, with some reports showing that nearly half of all adults in the U.S. have gone into debt due to healthcare costs,” Khan said. “Medical debt makes us sicker because it prevents people from seeking preventative care and in some cases skipping healthcare services all together. It’s time the legislature addresses this issue that plagues countless Pennsylvanians.” Read more

 

Kosierowski: $183,000 in fire, EMS grant funding

(Feb 16, 2024)

“Many of our emergency service providers are volunteer organizations that have had trouble recruiting membership and fundraising, so this influx of dollars is important because it will enable them to buy needed equipment, provide training and build facilities,” said Kosierowski. Read more

 

Winter 2024 Newsletter

(Feb 14, 2024)

Read my Winter 2024 Newsletter Read more

 

Health Committee OKs Kosierowski medical test results measure

(Feb 12, 2024)

The state House Health Committee recently approved a bill written by Rep. Bridget M. Kosierowski that would balance a patient’s right to access their health information with the important role that medical professionals provide in helping patients understand their test results. Read more

 

Kosierowski congratulates CTC of Lackawanna County for winning $85,000 state grant

(Feb 08, 2024)

"This grant will ensure that students at the Career Technology Center of Lackawanna County have access to the highest quality equipment to ensure a smooth transition into the workforce,” said Kosierowski. Read more

 

Kosierowski lauds $315,000 grant for Dickson City road work

(Jan 30, 2024)

“This important project will provide crucial relief in traffic congestion and motorist and pedestrian safety," Kosierowski said. Read more

 

Kosierowski Helps Deliver Relief for Working Families and Seniors

(Jan 18, 2024)

Pa. state Rep. Bridget M. Kosierowski joined Governor Shapiro and fellow legislators at the Greater Wyoming Valley Area YMCA to promote two key programs benefiting working families and seniors - the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit and the expansion of the Property Tax/Rent Rebate program. Read more

 

$800,000 grant awarded for Dickson City ash, waste cleanup

(Jan 17, 2024)

Lackawanna County Planning and Economic Development today was awarded an $800,108 grant through Pennsylvania’s Abandoned Mine Lands and Acid Mine Drainage Program, according to state Rep. Bridget M. Kosierowski. Read more

 

Kosierowski secures $375,000 in state grants

(Jan 16, 2024)

“It is always great to see grant dollars being returned to our area, and I look forward to the completion of these outdoor projects,” said Kosierowski. Read more

 

RACP, Health, Environmental, Public Safety, Transportation, and Redevelopment Opportunities

(Jan 09, 2024)

Grants available as of Tuesday, Jan. 9 Read more

 

2024 Capitol Scenes Calendar

(Jan 08, 2024)

Download my 2024 Capitol Scenes Calendar. Read more

 

Grant Memo: Cultural, Health, Environmental, Public Safety, Transportation, and Redevelopment Opportunities For Your District

(Jan 03, 2024)

NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Department of Human Services: OCDEL Keystone STARS Continuous Quality Improvement Who May Apply: Eligible childcare providers will be notified via an eligibility letter from their Early Learning Resource Center. Providers must meet the requirements outlined here . Use: Staff qualifications and professional development, early childhood education programs, partnerships with families and communities, leadership and management, and accreditation costs. Funds: Grant amounts vary by provider. Grant funding comes from $12 million of federal Childcare Development Fund funds. Application Deadline: Feb. 15, 2024 More information: Keystone STARS Website Department of Transportation: State Transportation Innovation Council (STIC) Incentive Program Who May Apply: To be eligible for STIC Incentive funding, the STIC or other equivalent task force, committee or group must be formally established with a charter, include public and private members, meet regularly, and comprehensively consider sources of innovation. Use: The State Transportation Innovation Council Incentive Program provides funding to help STICs foster a culture of innovation and make innovations standard practice in their states. Examples of allowable activities include but are not limited to: developing standards and specifications; developing training to facilitate widespread use of innovation, developing Read more

 

Donahue, Kosierowski, Flynn announce $2.6M for Scranton stormwater projects

(Dec 19, 2023)

“I am glad to see this influx of funding from the federal American Rescue Plan because it will help Scranton complete some important infrastructure needs in the city,” Kosierowski said. Read more

 

Grants available as of Tuesday, Dec. 12

(Dec 12, 2023)

There are multiple grant programs that are currently open for applications. Read more

 

Cartwright: Return of rail service ‘a once in a lifetime opportunity’

(Dec 11, 2023)

At a news conference at his Scranton office Monday morning, Cartwright and U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Scranton, joined with state and local leaders to celebrate their recent announcement of a major milestone in bringing the Amtrak passenger rail service back between Scranton and New York City. Read more

 

Khan to roll out healthcare workforce legislative package
Mar 14, 2024

Grant Memo: Agricultural, Educational, Public Safety, Redevelopment and Additional Grant Opportunities
Mar 13, 2024

Grant Memo: Agricultural, Educational, Public Safety, Redevelopment and Additional Grant Opportunities
Mar 05, 2024

Kosierowski Talks Nursing and Medical Debt Relief at Budget Hearings
Feb 28, 2024

Agricultural, Educational, Public Safety, Redevelopment Grant Opportunities
Feb 27, 2024

State lawmakers highlight need to alleviate medical debt
Feb 27, 2024

Kosierowski: $183,000 in fire, EMS grant funding
Feb 16, 2024

Winter 2024 Newsletter
Feb 14, 2024

Health Committee OKs Kosierowski medical test results measure
Feb 12, 2024

Kosierowski congratulates CTC of Lackawanna County for winning $85,000 state grant
Feb 08, 2024

Kosierowski lauds $315,000 grant for Dickson City road work
Jan 30, 2024

Kosierowski Helps Deliver Relief for Working Families and Seniors
Jan 18, 2024

$800,000 grant awarded for Dickson City ash, waste cleanup
Jan 17, 2024

Kosierowski secures $375,000 in state grants
Jan 16, 2024

RACP, Health, Environmental, Public Safety, Transportation, and Redevelopment Opportunities
Jan 09, 2024

2024 Capitol Scenes Calendar
Jan 08, 2024

Grant Memo: Cultural, Health, Environmental, Public Safety, Transportation, and Redevelopment Opportunities For Your District
Jan 03, 2024

Donahue, Kosierowski, Flynn announce $2.6M for Scranton stormwater projects
Dec 19, 2023

Grants available as of Tuesday, Dec. 12
Dec 12, 2023

Cartwright: Return of rail service ‘a once in a lifetime opportunity’
Dec 11, 2023