ERIE, Oct. 14 – Erie residents will soon have greater options for affordable rental housing, thanks to nearly $700,000 in federal tax credit funding awarded today, state Reps. Pat Harkins and Bob Merski announced. The lawmakers, both D-Erie, said the funding to GMA Development Group, LLC, for Royal Homes development sites in Erie will fund construction of 26 units. “Lack of affordable housing is a persistent problem for Pennsylvania’s low-income households, and too many families already spend more than half of their income on rent, leaving little left over for groceries, prescriptions and other necessities,” Harkins said. “Securing this funding will help expand housing options that give families livable options. It won’t solve our housing shortage overnight, but it’s a good start.” Merski said, “A stable, permanent place to call home is such an important foundation in life, but not all families have easy access to safe, affordable housing. The tax credits awarded today should help boost the supply of affordable rental units for Erie families.” The Low Income Housing Tax Credits are administered by the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency and were approved by the agency’s board. The funding is part of a package of $43.6 million awarded statewide for the construction of 1,974 affordable multifamily rental units. More information on the awards is Read more

AMBRIDGE, Oct. 14 – Beaver County residents will have greater access to affordable housing, thanks to more than $2.4 million in federal funding awarded today, state Rep. Rob Matzie announced. Matzie, D-Beaver/Allegheny, said the funding to Hudson Companies for the Wayne Court Development in Ambridge includes approximately $1.25 million awarded under the Low Income Housing Tax Credit program and nearly $1.19 million from the National Housing Trust Fund. “For low-income families, housing expenses can eat up a huge chunk of the budget, and that problem has been growing as Pennsylvania families are facing rising rents and a shortage of affordable housing,” Matzie said. “The low-income tax credits awarded today will help offset this trend by bringing more low-cost housing options into the mix.” The federal tax credits are administered by the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency and were approved by the agency’s board. The funding is part of a package of $43.6 million awarded statewide for the construction of 1,974 affordable multifamily rental units. More information on the awards is available here . Read more

AMBRIDGE, Oct. 13 – State Rep. Rob Matzie, D-Beaver/Allegheny, issued the following statement regarding the state Department of Environmental Protection’s denial of PennEnergy’s request to withdraw 3 million gallons of water daily from Big Sewickley Creek: “I am pleased by the denial. DEP noted no less than seven areas of concern and deficiencies in the application by PennEnergy Resources to withdraw water from the Big Sewickley Creek, which flows through a portion of my legislative district. “While the clock on the appeal process begins, I am hopeful that PennEnergy finds a different source of water rather than go against the wishes of the communities and many individuals who care deeply about any possible damage to this valuable water source. In most cases, I believe we can have energy extraction and maintain a clean, healthy environment. I do not believe this is one of those cases. “Regardless of any decision by a regulator or the courts, abandoning the plan to withdraw water from Big Sewickley Creek should be the decision by PennEnergy Resources -- not because it’s the most sound business decision, but because it’s the right thing to do.” In a July letter to DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell, Matzie called on the department to deny PennEnergy’s request, citing concerns that withdrawing high volumes of water from the creek would escalate existing drought and Read more

My latest newsletter is now available online and offers a look at recent legislation, new funding, and pictures from around the district! You can read it here. Read more

HERMITAGE, Oct. 7 – State Rep. Mark Longiett i, D-Mercer, is hosting a free flu shot clinic in partnership with Primary Health Network. The clinic will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 15 at the Greenville Knights of Columbus , 170 Clarksville St. (Route 18) in Greenville. “Getting a flu shot now allows folks to get a jump on protection and shore up their immunity before flu activity starts ramping up in winter,” Longietti said. “This year, the clinic will also offer a limited number of Moderna COVID-19 vaccines, so residents who have not yet received the COVID-19 vaccine – or who are eligible for a third Moderna shot based on compromised immunity – will have an opportunity to get that, as well.” Longietti said participants must bring a valid photo ID and insurance card to receive a shot. Pre-registration is preferred (though not mandatory) and can be done by visiting www.primary-health.net or calling (724) 699-9211 and selecting option 3. Residents with questions may also call Longietti’s district office Monday through Friday at (724) 981-4655 or his satellite Greenville office on Tuesdays or Thursdays at (724) 588-1005. Read more

HARRISBURG, Oct. 7 – A bill recently introduced by state Rep. Chris Sainato, D-Lawrence, would expand the property tax exemption currently available to Pennsylvania’s disabled combat veterans so that it also benefits the surviving spouses of service members who were killed in action or passed away after receiving a disability rating. Sainato, Democratic chairman of the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, said he introduced H.B. 1953 – which would amend the state constitution – because he believes Pennsylvania needs to do more to recognize the sacrifices made by military spouses. “Military service resulting in disabling injury or death has a profound, life-altering impact on a service member’s spouse,” Sainato said. “Unfortunately, our laws do not do enough to recognize that sacrifice. Currently, Pennsylvania provides a property tax exemption for veterans who suffered disabling injuries in combat, but our state constitution limits that exemption to the veteran service members themselves. “That limitation creates an unfair result: it deprives the spouse of a military member who died from their injuries an important benefit they would have been guaranteed had their service member spouse survived, but with disabling injuries. My bill would correct that inequity and amend the state constitution to make the property tax exemption available to Read more

AMBRIDGE, Oct. 6 – State Rep. Rob Matzie announced today that a $1.24 million low-interest loan will fund the purchase of a multi-tenant commercial building in Hopewell Township. Matzie, D-Beaver/Allegheny, said the loan to Pauana Holdings LLC, through the Beaver County Corporation for Economic Development, is an investment that will spur economic growth for the region. “The funding to Pauana Holdings will allow it to purchase a multi-tenant, 40,000-square-foot building located in Hopewell Township that will offer a combination of office and industrial space,” Matzie said. “That spells great news for the local economy because it will generate new business activity and create at least 25 new, full-time jobs over the next several years. Matzie said the 15-year loan has a fixed 2.5% interest rate. The total project cost is $3.2 million. The loan was approved by the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority. More information about the project is available here , and more about PIDA is available here . Read more

ERIE, Oct. 6 – State Rep. Bob Merski is encouraging Erie residents to donate to “Coats and More for Kids” – a winter weather coat drive he is hosting Oct. 8-15 at his district office. Merski, D-Erie, said he is partnering with United Way of Erie to make sure every family has the warm-weather gear they need before the mercury starts plummeting. “Any parent or caregiver knows how quickly kids grow out of clothes,” Merski said. “That may be a simple nuisance for some households, but for others, keeping kids outfitted from year to year can be a real problem. “With another harsh Erie winter on the horizon, I’m encouraging residents to donate jackets, coats, scarves, caps, mittens, boots – even snow pants – to ensure every family has what they need to keep kids warm and protected.” Merski said residents should bring new or gently used items to his 3901 Liberty St. office between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. from Friday, Oct. 8 through Friday, Oct. 15. Anyone with questions should call the office at (814) 455-6319. Read more

NEW CASTLE, Oct. 5 – Grant funding of $296,092 will expand access to pregnancy and postpartum support services for Lawrence County women recovering from substance use disorder, state Rep. Chris Sainato, D-Lawrence, announced today. Sainato said the grant to the Center for Community Resources Inc. – administered by the PA Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs – will help the center provide services and make referrals for outpatient treatment. “Pregnant and postpartum women recovering from substance use disorder have a hard road as they work to transition from treatment back to the community and responsible parenthood,” Sainato said. “Securing this funding will help ensure that there are services and supports that pick up where inpatient treatment ends so they don’t have to go that path alone.” The funding is part of a package of more than $12 million in grants announced today to help Pennsylvanians in recovery. That funding is part of a larger package of $55 million in federal money awarded to Pennsylvania through the SAMHSA Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant Program COVID-19 Supplemental Awards. The grant will help the center serve residents in Lawrence, Beaver, Butler and Washington counties. More information about the funding is available here. Read more