Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility Guzman welcomes more than $1 million in tax credit awards for 10 local organizations

Guzman welcomes more than $1 million in tax credit awards for 10 local organizations

Rep. Manuel Guzman    December 17, 2025 | 2:28 PM

READING, DEC. 18 – State Rep. Manuel Guzman, D-Berks, today announced that more than $1 million in tax credits were awarded to 0 organizations working to strengthen the 127th Legislative District through community support. The awards come from the Neighborhood Assistance Program and its subprograms Charitable Food Program, Enterprise Zone Program and the Special Program Priorities.

The grants were awarded to:

  • Helping Harvest Fresh Food Bank - $109,850 will be used for food purchases and distribution expenses, supporting over 350 locations, Mobile Markets, and a new Community Kitchen.

  • Reading Historic Properties, LP - $500,000 to help transform two underutilized buildings into the Community Support Center, a new hub for economic and social revitalization. This $2.67 million initiative will create 11 new jobs and restore the buildings' exteriors and interiors. The center will house a Real Estate Developer (RED) University to train local BIPOC entrepreneurs and provide classroom space for free HIV and STI testing. It may also serve as the headquarters for a statewide homeownership program.

  • Berks Encore - $22,750 to provide medically tailored meals to 100 aging adults with chronic conditions. Using funds to cover the $15 daily per-client food cost, the project aims to improve health, reduce hospital admissions, and boost independence.

  • Reading Science Center - $43,875 to expand its facility with a $77,200 project to add 6,781 sq. ft. of classrooms and a lunch area. This will help them serve 6,000 students and 2,000 public guests and increase interest in STEM careers.

  • 18th Wonder Improvement Association - $90,000 to create a safer environment for the 18th Ward. The Green Team project will employ at least 10 youths for daily beautification while providing training, mentorship, and matched savings to help them plan for the future.

  • Alvernia University - $12,500 to help the O’Pake Institute at Alvernia University to launch a Small-Dollar Micro-Lending Program to support underserved entrepreneurs in Reading. The project will offer loans up to $1,200 and provide technical assistance to remove barriers to business growth.

  • Berks Latino Workforce Development Corporation - $198,000 to launch a bilingual program to close the poverty gap. The project will offer ESL instruction, high school equivalency programs, and vocational training to place over 100 people in jobs.

  • John Paul II Center for Special Learning - $72,000 to launch a new cafe in Reading that will serve as a community-based classroom for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Using specialized equipment, the project will provide hands-on workforce training to 29 students and 10 adults to prepare them for jobs and reduce unemployment.

  • Kutztown University Foundation - $63,000 to combat economic barriers in Berks County's distressed areas. It will offer technical assistance and financial literacy to over 330 entrepreneurs, aiming to create or retain 50 jobs and help 100 businesses with digital transformation.

  • Safe Berks - $81,000 to upgrade its confidential safe house to enhance security for victims. The project will improve video surveillance and access control, install solar film on all windows to deter abusers, and repair a patio, all to ensure the safety of residents.

“I’m thrilled to welcome these Neighborhood Assistance Program tax credits to our community,” Guzman said. “Thanks to Governor Shapiro’s ongoing support of this program, local organizations will have the tools they need to help families, strengthen our neighborhoods, and create more opportunities here in the 127th Legislative District. This funding shows how partnerships between the public and private sectors can make a real difference in people’s lives.”

Through the Neighborhood Assistance Program, businesses can receive tax credits of up to 95 percent on contributions they make to a qualifying community project.

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