NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Department of Transportation: Multimodal Transportation Funding (MTF) Who May Apply: Municipalities, councils of government, businesses, economic development organizations, public transportation agencies, ports and rail freight entities. Use: To improve transportation assets that enhance communities, pedestrian safety, and transit revitalization. Funds: The MTF requires a 30% match of the amount award. Awards are available for projects with a minimum cost of $100,000 and no more than $3,000,000. Application Deadline: February 13, 2026 More information: PennDOT website 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: March 13, 2026 More information: CFA Website Department of Military and Read more
LANCASTER, Dec. 30 – Safer and more efficient traffic flow is coming to the 96th Legislative District thanks to nearly $874,000 in grant funding from PennDOT, state Rep. Nikki Rivera, D-Lancaster, announced today. According to Rivera, the funding -- awarded through the Green Light-Go Program -- will support traffic flow and safety improvements in the city of Lancaster and Manheim Township. The funding includes: • City of Lancaster: $91,476 to study and remove unwarranted traffic-control signals. • City of Lancaster: $732,095 to modernize multiple intersections. • Manheim Township: $50,000 to install LED traffic signal modules at multiple locations. “These critical investments will help motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians get where they’re going more quickly and safely,” Rivera said. “This funding will increase the efficiency and reliability of our traffic signal systems, making travel on our streets safer for everyone. I want to thank PennDOT and our local partners for helping to bring this funding home.” Green Light-Go is a reimbursement-based grant program that requires applicants to provide a 20% local match. Grants may be used for operational improvements, such as installing light-emitting diode technology, retiming traffic signals, developing special-event traffic plans, monitoring signal performance, and upgrading traffic signals to the latest technologies. Read more
HARRISBURG, Dec. 18 – State Rep. Nikki Rivera, D-Lancaster, announced today that nearly $700,000 in state funding has been awarded to support community improvement projects and local museums in her legislative district. Rivera advocated for grants awarded through the statewide Local Share Account, funded by the Pennsylvania Race Horse Development and Gaming Act, as well as the Act 13 Greenways, Trails and Recreation Program, which supports the development, rehabilitation, and improvement of public parks, recreation areas, greenways, trails, and river conservation projects. “These grants will enhance the quality of life in our district by improving local trails and constructing a new pedestrian bridge in Manheim Township’s Stonehenge Linear Park,” Rivera said. “These projects will benefit our community in many ways, from providing opportunities for residents to achieve health goals by walking scenic trails, to improving park accessibility so people of all ages can enjoy it and fostering a stronger sense of community.” The project awarded LSA funding in Rivera’s legislative district is: $123,399 to Manheim Township to be used for construction costs to demolish and build a new pedestrian footbridge located in Stonehenge Linear Park. Rivera also worked with fellow lawmakers in the region to help secure the following LSA grant: $400,000 to East Hempfield Township for the Little Conestoga Creek Blue/Green Read more
Nearly $6 million for our district! Read more
NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Commission on Crime and Delinquency: Violence Intervention & Prevention (VIP) + Building Opportunities for Out-of-School Time (BOOST) Combined Grant Program Who May Apply: Community-based nonprofit with 501(c)(3) status (VIP or BOOST), municipality, county, or district attorney’s office (VIP only), institute of higher education (VIP only), school district or career and technical center (BOOST only), library (BOOST only). Use: VIP + BOOST funds can be used to support a wide range of eligible activities designed to reduce and respond to community violence. Funds: Approximately $60 million in state funding is available, with no less than $11.5 million designated for BOOST funding. Application Deadline: January 26, 2026 More information: PCCD website Commission on Crime and Delinquency: Statewide Building Opportunities for Out-of-School Time (BOOST) Program Who May Apply: Statewide youth-serving nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(4) status. Use: Funds for the proposed program may be used to support upstream prevention initiatives focused on school-age youth who are at risk, such as mentoring and OST programs. Funds: No less than $11.5 million in state VIP funding has been designated for BOOST funding. Application Deadline: January 26, 2026 More information: PCCD Website Commission on Crime and Delinquency: School Safety and Mental Health Read more
LANCASTER, Dec. 16 – State Reps. Ismail Smith-Wade-El and Nikki Rivera, both D-Lancaster, today announced the approval of over $4.7 million from the Neighborhood Assistance Program to help low-income people and communities and improve distressed areas in Lancaster County. The funding was approved this week by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. Through NAP, businesses can receive tax credits of up to 95 percent on contributions they make to a qualifying community project. “Thanks to NAP’s tax credits, our local businesses are investing in projects that will empower residents and energize our communities,” Smith-Wade-El said. “These public-private partnerships will go a long way to helping to address persistent socio-economic problems like the lack of affordable housing, food insecurity, workforce development, blight and public safety in Lancaster.” “NAP’s tax credits are a game changer for Lancaster County’s businesses and communities,” Rivera said. “They will help build up our communities, which in turn will drive our local economy. I am grateful to the Shapiro administration for its financial support of Lancaster County, and its faith in our future. I will continue to advocate for more dollars to be allocated for Lancaster-based projects.” The following programs received Charitable Food Program funding: $1,864,200 to Blessings of Hope to support its Read more
NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Department of Community and Economic Development: Local Share Account Philadelphia Who May Apply: Community Development Corporations, economic development organizations and redevelopment authorities, business improvement districts/neighborhood improvement districts, non-profit organizations with a 501(c) designation, the City of Philadelphia, the School District of Philadelphia. Any eligible organization must be located in Philadelphia. Use: Economic development projects, neighborhood revitalization projects, community improvement projects, projects in the public interest. Any eligible project must be located in Philadelphia. Funds: Grant amounts will vary based on the specific project requirements but are limited to a minimum request/award of $10,000 and a maximum request/award of $500,000. Application Deadline: January 31, 2026 More information: DCED Website PROGRAMS OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS: Department of Community and Economic Development: PA SITES Who May Apply: Municipalities, economic development organizations, redevelopment authorities, municipal authorities, industrial development agencies, and for-profit organizations. Use: To develop competitive sites for businesses to relocate or expand within Pennsylvania. Funds: $400 million in funding is available. Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and approved on a quarterly basis Read more
LANCASTER, Dec. 11 -- State Reps. Ismail Smith-Wade-El and Nikki Rivera, both D-Lancaster, today announced $1,227,352 in state grants was awarded to support crime victims, young children, justice-involved individuals with substance use disorders, and firearm suicide prevention in Lancaster County. “This smart use of state funding will go far into providing lifelines to our residents, from helping to prevent firearm suicides to giving non-violent offenders with substance abuse problems another chance at life,” Smith-Wade-El said. “I will continue to advocate strongly in Harrisburg for targeted state investments in our people.” The funding was approved by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency : $150,000 to Lancaster General Hospital to implement a firearm suicide prevention initiative in Lancaster County. $50,000 to Lancaster General Hospital to help maintain compliance with the National Child Alliance standards for child abuse support: multi-disciplinary investigative team, forensic interview, victim support and advocacy, medical evaluation, case review and coordination, and child safety and protection. $95,000 to support county Intermediate Punishment Treatment Programs that treat non-violent offenders with substance abuse problems. $543,901 to reimburse Lancaster County for costs incurred by counties for adult probation and parole services. $388,451 to Lancaster County Commissioners for crime victim and witness Read more
Rally for Transit in Lancaster TOMRORROW, Tues., Dec. 9 Dear Neighbor, I hope to see you at the rally to increase funding for Lancaster’s transit system this Tuesday, Dec. 9 at 10 a.m . We need your support! In this e-newsletter, I share with you information I hope you find helpful: Upcoming Events: Transit Rally (Dec. 9), SCTA Open House (Dec. 9), and PUC Hearing on PPL Rate Hikes (Dec. 11), Farewell Drop-In (12/29) Invaluable Lessons in Clean Energy In the District: Look for the Helpers and Learning about Women’s Health Home Heating Help Available Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program Read more
NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Commission on Crime and Delinquency: Nonprofit Security Grant Fund Who May Apply: Any nonprofit organization designated under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and the organization must primarily serve individuals, groups, or institutions that are included within a bias motivation category for single bias hate crime incidence identified by the FBI in its Hate Crime Statistics Publication (race/ethnicity/ancestry, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender, or gender identity). Use: For security enhancements designed to protect the safety and security of the users of a facility located in the Commonwealth. Funds: A total of $10 million in state funding is available for this round. Grants may range from $5,000 to $150,000 with match funding required above a request of $25,001 based on the size of the grant request. Application Deadline: January 12, 2026 More information: PCCD Website Commission on Crime and Delinquency: Continuing County Adult Probation and Parole Grant Who May Apply: Counties that provide adult probation staff and may be used for costs incurred by the county for adult probation and parole services, but only to the extent that the staff and program meet the qualifications and standards established by the Commission. Use: To provide funding from the Commonwealth for costs incurred by the county for adult probation and parole supervision. Read more
HARRISBURG, Nov. 24 — Today, Gov. Josh Shapiro signed into law state Rep. Nikki Rivera’s legislation that will ensure older Pennsylvanians do not lose their eligibility for the state’s prescription drug assistance programs due to Social Security cost-of-living adjustments. Rivera’s H.B. 923 , now Act 49 of 2025, will shield seniors from losing PACE and PACENET eligibility if their annual Social Security cost-of-living adjustment exceeds normal income-eligibility guidelines. This protection is currently in place but was scheduled to expire after Dec. 31. The new law will extend that protection for two more years -- until Dec. 31, 2027. According to Rivera, the Social Security COLA for 2025 is currently 2.5%. If the moratorium had not been extended, 10,039 PACENET enrollees would have lost their eligibility. Additionally, 12,594 PACE enrollees would have been moved to PACENET, resulting in the loss of their lower copayments and the PACE-paid Part D premium. “I am so glad that our seniors will have guaranteed continued access to PACE and PACENET in the nick of time thanks to this legislation becoming law,” Rivera said. “These programs are true lifesavers, making medication affordable. Because of this legislation, our seniors won’t have to worry about whether they can pay for medication if a necessary Social Security cost-of-living adjustment would have otherwise made them ineligible for a prescription program. Read more
LANCASTER, Nov. 20 –State Reps. Ismail Smith-Wade-El and Nikki Rivera, both D-Lancaster, together with Transit for All PA, will hold their rescheduled rally for increased bus services in Lancaster from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9 at the Queen Street Station at 225 N. Queen St. According to Smith-Wade-El and Rivera, the South Central Transit Authority will hit its fiscal cliff in January 2027, which will lead to service cuts and fare increases due to state funding shortfalls. “Our South Central Transit Authority, and all transit systems in PA, are at risk due to the state budget failing to fully address the crisis they are facing,” Smith-Wade-El said. “At our rally, local and regional elected officials, labor leaders, transit riders, advocates, and more will come together to demand a dedicated and expanded state funding stream to ensure that Lancastrians have the transit system they need and deserve.” “We're not going to accept the gradual decline of our transit systems in Lancaster,” Rivera said. “Our economy and our quality of life depends on Lancaster having a strong and stable transit system. We are coming together to fight for this essential service on which we all depend.” The rally will feature 8 to 10 people speaking about the importance of public transit in the region. Residents can sign up to attend the rally online at https://www.mobilize.us/ppt/event/862791/ . Read more
LANCASTER, Nov. 20 – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission will hold an in-person public hearing about PPL’s proposed rate increase for Manheim Township at 6 p.m. Dec. 11 in the Manheim Township Public Library Morgan Center, 595 Granite Run Drive. The hearings are being held due to PPL’s planned substantial rate increases. Under the proposal : The total monthly bill for a residential customer using 918 kWh per month would increase from $177.01 to $189.40 (7%). The changes would produce an overall annual revenue increase of $356.3 million (33.4%). “PPL’s proposed rate hike will have a serious impact on our residents’ wallets,” Rivera said. “I encourage residents to let the PUC know what these significant rate hikes will mean for their household finances.” If residents cannot attend in person, they are encouraged to attend one of two telephonic hearings on Monday, Dec. 15: Telephonic hearing #1 will begin at 1 p.m. Telephonic hearing #2 will begin at 6 p.m. The call-in information for the two telephonic hearings is: Toll-free Conference Number: 866-421-8851. PIN Number: 66640466. People who wish to testify at a telephonic hearing are encouraged to pre-register by 4 p.m. on Dec. 11. Failure to pre-register could result in missing the chance to testify to the PUC judges. To pre-register, those interested can call Pamela McNeal at 215-560-4228 or email Read more
“PACE and PACENET are true lifesavers for hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvania seniors, and so are Social Security cost-of-living adjustments,” Rivera said. “Our seniors should not have to stress over whether they can maintain eligibility for a program that helps them afford their prescription medications simply because the government has rightfully adjusted Social Security to keep up with the cost of living." Read more
Below are multiple grant programs that are currently open for applications. 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: To assist with the growth, certification of seed and marketing of eligible specialty crops. Funds: $460,000 is available for funding Application Deadline: December 19, 2025 More information: PDA Website Department of Agriculture: Federal 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: To enhance the competitiveness of eligible specialty crops. Funds: Approximately $1,000,000 is available for funding Application Deadline: December 19, 2025 More information: PDA Website PROGRAMS OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS: Department of Community and Economic Development: PA SITES Who May Apply: Municipalities, economic development organizations, redevelopment authorities, municipal authorities, industrial development agencies, and for-profit organizations. Use: To develop competitive sites for businesses to relocate or expand within Pennsylvania. Funds: $400 million in funding is available. Read more
HARRISBURG, Nov. 12 – As a high school teacher for over 30 years, state Rep. Nikki Rivera, D-Lancaster, said she was proud to support this year’s state budget because it makes historic investments in public education, supports Pennsylvania’s working people and industries, protects Pennsylvania’s environment and keeps Pennsylvanians safe without raising taxes or reducing the Rainy Day Fund. “Balancing fiscal discipline with compassion, this compromise budget spends a little over $50 billion to provide stability to Pennsylvanians by ensuring support for critical state services at a time when a totally unpredictable federal government is curtailing or eliminating federal programs on which millions depend,” Rivera said. Pennsylvania’s 2025-26 budget increases total funding for K-12 education by more than $700 million. Rivera said she is extremely pleased to see that the budget is allocating $600 million to ensure that all of Pennsylvania’s students and schools have access to the resources and opportunities needed for academic success. There would also be $178 million in savings for school districts statewide reflecting savings from reforms that adjusted tuition payments that better reflect the actual costs to teach kids. “A budget is a statement of our commonwealth’s priorities, and our top priority is making sure all our students have access to a first-rate education,” Rivera said. “This Read more
HARRISBURG, Nov. 12 – The Senate version of state Rep. Nikki Rivera’s bill to make sure older Pennsylvanians do not lose their eligibility for the state’s prescription drug programs (H.B. 923) due to Social Security cost-of-living-increases unanimously passed the House today with overwhelming bipartisan support. Senate Bill 731, which was introduced in the PA House by Rivera and state Rep. Shelby Labs (R-Bucks), would shield seniors from losing PACE and PACENET prescription eligibility due to their annual Social Security cost-of-living adjustment. This protection currently is in place until Dec. 31, 2025. Senate Bill 731 would extend it for two more years -- until Dec. 31, 2027. According to Rivera, the Social Security COLA for 2025 is currently 2.5%. Not extending the moratorium would result in 10,039 PACENET enrollees losing their eligibility. Additionally, 12,594 PACE enrollees would be moved to PACENET, losing their lower copayment and their PACE-paid Part D premium. “I am very glad that the Senate version of the bill passed the House today because these programs—PACE and PACENET—are true lifesavers,” Rivera said. “Thanks to them, a quarter of a million Pennsylvania seniors, many of whom require multiple medications to treat different chronic conditions, can purchase life-saving medications without having to go into medical debt or, even worse, decide they must give up treatment. “Unfortunately, Read more
LANCASTER, Nov. 6 –State Reps. Ismail Smith-Wade-El and Nikki Rivera, both D-Lancaster, together with Transit for All PA, will hold a rally for increased bus services in Lancaster from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 12 at the Queen Street Station at 225 N. Queen St. According to Smith-Wade-El and Rivera, the South Central Transit Authority will hit its fiscal cliff in January 2027, which will lead to service cuts and fare increases due to state funding shortfalls. “Our South Central Transit Authority, and all transit systems in PA, are at risk because Lancaster’s transit system does not have guaranteed funding in the state budget,” Smith-Wade-El said. “At our rally, local and regional elected officials, labor leaders, transit riders, advocates, and more will come together to demand a dedicated and expanded state funding stream to ensure that Lancastrians have the transit system they need and deserve.” “We're not going to accept the gradual decline of our transit systems in Lancaster,” Rivera said. “Our economy and our quality of life depends on Lancaster having a strong and stable transit system. We are coming together to fight for this essential service on which we all depend.” The rally will feature 8 to 10 people speaking about the importance of public transit in the region. Residents can sign up to attend the rally online at https://www.mobilize.us/ppt/event/862791/ . Read more
Some GOP lawmakers have claimed they don’t know much about the impact of the federal shutdown on Pennsylvania or about how the changes to SNAP and Medicaid have affected their constituents. Well, as state representatives for the 49th and 96th legislative districts in Lancaster, let us share what we’ve heard from our constituents at a Medicaid and SNAP Town Hall this week about the hardships they are experiencing and the terror they are feeling if the federal shutdown continues much longer. (It should be noted that all Lancaster-area state lawmakers, Republicans and Democrats alike, were invited to this important discussion with residents but only state Sen. James Malone joined.) Our constituents told us that they’re not just worried about where their next meal is coming from when SNAP benefits end in early November, but they also don’t know what they are going to do when the supportive services associated with the program dry up, from transportation services, which gets them to their jobs, to extra clothing, to child care (extended through December, but no one knows what will happen in January). We heard about the transportation deserts in some areas of the county that make it impossible to get to work or a community food pantry, about the language barriers that make it difficult for people to fill out paperwork or to understand critical changes to these essential programs. One constituent who doesn’t have his GED told us he does Read more
HARRISBURG, Oct. 28 – Legislation to establish a tax credit for educators with out-of-pocket expenses, co-sponsored by state Reps. Nikki Rivera, D-Lancaster, and Ed Neilson, D-Phila., was referred from the House Finance Committee this morning, 25-1. The legislation would provide a $100 refundable tax credit to teachers who spend their own money on classroom supplies and equipment. It would complement the $300 federal tax deduction for the purchase of unreimbursed classroom supplies. The tax credit proposal would be administered separately from the federal deduction to ensure Pennsylvania teachers always have this option available to them. “Our teachers give so much of themselves to educate our kids, and unfortunately this includes a good portion of their paychecks for necessary school supplies so their students can learn,” Rivera said. “I know from over 30 years of teaching experience in Lancaster County public schools that teaching is not a highly paid profession and school budgets don’t have enough funds to cover all the classroom expenses. This bill would recognize teachers’ financial sacrifice by establishing a $100 tax credit for unreimbursed classroom supplies.” According to Rivera, teachers across the country have reported that school budgets are insufficient to cover all classroom needs, so they’ve had to pay out of pocket for books, pens, paper, cleaning supplies, prizes, snacks, decorations, hand Read more
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