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In this Update:

• Over $8 Million in Infrastructure Grants Awarded to Our Local Communities
• Meeting with Mayors in Pottsville and Hazleton
• Heating Assistance Program Now Open
• Jim Thorpe & Palmerton Recognized as Two of the Friendliest Towns in PA
• Jan. 31: Deadline for High School Seniors to Apply for America250PA Scholarships
• Jan. 31 Submission Deadline for Student Anti-Litter Contest
• Watch Out for Black Ice

Over $8 Million in Infrastructure Grants Awarded to Our Local Communities

State grants to improve transportation and sewer and water infrastructure, totaling over $8 million, were awarded to our local communities this week.  Our local state representatives and I worked with local leaders to secure this highly competitive funding. We’ll review some of these grants in further detail in the future. 

This funding was awarded through the Multimodal Transportation Fund, and the PA Small Water & Sewer Program. Improved water and transportation infrastructure is very much needed in so many of our communities. Additionally, improved streetscapes are key to breathing new life into our older downtowns. I am pleased these local communities were awarded this highly sought-after funding.

Transportation projects in Schuylkill County:

• East Brunswick Township — $943,888 through to replace the Wild Turkey Lane bridge over the Indian Run Tributary.
• East Union Township — $350,000 to install sidewalks and streetlights along two blocks of Center Street.
• Frackville Borough — $335,000 for streetscape improvements along North Lehigh Avenue, the busiest street in the borough. This project continues Frackville’s downtown revitalization, which has received additional state funding over the past three years.
• City of Pottsville — $1,000,000, revitalizing the pedestrian corridor connecting the iconic Yuengling Brewery to downtown Pottsville businesses, helping to boost its economic impact across the city.
• Saint Clair Borough — $241,611 to resurface Ann Street, one of the busiest local roadways.

Water & sewer projects in Schuylkill County:

• Blythe Township Municipal Authority — $218,334 to replace the Llewellyn water transmission line in Branch Township.
• Hegins-Hubley Authority — $378,518 to upgrade the West Main and Good Spring Road water system.
• Mahanoy Township Authority — $89,250 to replace old controllers for the water filtration system at the authority’s existing water treatment plant.
• Mahanoy City Sewer Authority — $198,334 to complete a project to replace five aeration blowers and improve other equipment at its wastewater treatment plant.
• Minersville Municipal Authority — $270,000 to replace the New Castle Street waterline.            
• Orwigsburg Borough – $207,369 to replace the intake screen at the borough’s wastewater treatment plant.
• Plum Creek Municipal Authority – $317,000 to replace a portion of the water main on Mustang Cove and Wynonah Drive in South Manheim Township.
• Porter Township — $405,000 to replace the Joliett Street waterline.
• Ringtown Municipal Authority — $212,416 to make improvements to its wastewater treatment plant.

Transportation projects in Luzerne County:

• Hazleton City — $500,000 for streetscape enhancements along the Wyoming Street business corridor 
• West Hazleton Borough — $250,000 to rehabilitate Harvey Street, North Broad Street and Park Circle.

Water & sewer projects in Luzerne County:

• Borough of Freeland Municipal Authority — $245,851 to clean aging waterlines by removing scaling, sediment and internal buildup that restricts flow and reduces pressure throughout the water system.
• White Haven Borough — $93,500 to replace a drainage pipe at the State Route 940 and Interstate 81 interchange.

Transportation projects in Carbon County:

• $350,000 to refurbish County Bridge #18, which spans the Lehigh River between Kidder Township, Carbon County and Foster Township, Luzerne County.
• Lausanne Township — $586,000 to reconstruct and pave North and South Stagecoach Road and North Church Road.

Water & sewer projects in Carbon County:

• Beaver Meadows Borough — $284,622 for utility improvements.
• Bowmanstown Borough Authority — $100,000 for a booster pump station upgrade.
• Jim Thorpe Borough — $100,000 for water line improvements along Front Street.
• Lansford Coaldale Joint Water Authority — $100,000 for well pump and pump house improvements.
• Nesquehoning Borough Water Authority — $100,000 for improvements to West Estates water system.
• Summit Hill Water Authority — $117,009 to replace a bridge.

Meeting with Mayors in Pottsville and Hazleton

Representing 102 communities across three counties — including small towns like Penn Lake Park, Mary D, and Weissport — I had the opportunity today to meet with the leaders of our two largest cities, Pottsville and Hazleton.

Rep. Tim Twardzik and I met with newly elected Pottsville Mayor Tom Smith, as part of our ongoing commitment to breathe new life into downtown Pottsville, for our first bi-monthly meeting. We discussed ongoing progress and future projects in the city, including the recent $1 million state grant awarded to Pottsville to support a streetscape improvement project aimed at revitalizing the pedestrian corridor connecting the iconic Yuengling Brewery to downtown Pottsville businesses, helping to boost its economic impact across the city. Yuengling Brewery attracts more than 70,000 visitors annually.

Rep. Twardzik and I enjoyed working with Pottsville’s past mayors and councils, and we really appreciate the new mayor and council’s enthusiastic start in attacking bright and revitalization efforts in the downtown and across the city’s many neighborhoods, including the new Rosalia Hotel, the Yuengling Brewery, many small businesses and market-rate apartments downtown.

Rep. Dane Watro and I joined Hazleton Mayor Jeff Cusat at the Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce’s most recent Red Carpet Luncheon, where he discussed his primary goals for the city in the coming year.

Both communities have faced significant challenges in the past few decades. Our local state representatives and I look forward to continuing our work with their elected officials and community volunteers on a bipartisan basis to breathe new life into Pottsville, Hazleton, and all our communities, small and large, strengthening their downtowns and neighborhoods, across Carbon, Luzerne, and Schuylkill Counties.

Heating Assistance Program Now Open

Residents who struggle with their home heating bills can apply for assistance from the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). LIHEAP is a federally funded program that helps individuals and families pay their heating bills through home heating energy assistance grants. It also provides crisis grants to help in the event of an emergency or if a resident is in danger of losing his or her heat due to broken equipment, lack of fuel or termination of utility service.

Learn about income eligibility and other details here. Apply online at www.dhs.pa.gov/COMPASS or by phone at 1-866-857-7095. The program runs through April 2026.

Jim Thorpe & Palmerton Recognized as Two of the Friendliest Towns in PA

Proud to see Jim Thorpe and Palmerton recognized in this article as two of the friendliest towns in Pennsylvania!

Congratulations to both towns on earning this well-deserved recognition!

Jan. 31: Deadline for High School Seniors to Apply for America250PA Scholarships

High school seniors have until Jan. 31 to apply for $10,000 scholarships as part of the America250PA celebration. Twenty-five scholarships will be awarded throughout six regions to commonwealth high school seniors planning to attend a Pennsylvania college or university in the 2026-27 academic year.

More than three dozen schools will match the $10,000 if the student chooses their institution. You can learn more and apply here.

Jan. 31: Submission Deadline for Student Anti-Litter Contest

Students in grades K–6 have until Jan. 31 to submit entries for the latest Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful “Litter Hawk” anti-litter campaign.

This year’s theme is Celebrate America250 – Keep It Beautiful, incorporating the nation’s semi quincentennial. Students can craft their message through art, writing or video.

Winners will be announced in April and will be invited to take part in a Capitol ceremony. Contest details and application can be found here.

Watch Out for Black Ice

Nearly impossible to see, black ice is a thin, transparent layer of ice that forms on road surfaces creating a significant driving and walking hazard. It appears “black” because the dark color of the pavement or surface beneath shows through the clear ice.

Black ice typically forms when air temperatures are at or just below freezing. Common locations are bridges and overpasses, shaded areas and low-traffic roads.

Please proceed with caution in these conditions and get where you’re going safely. You can find other useful winter driving tips here.

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