January 31, 2022
WEST CHESTER (January 31, 2022) — State Senator Carolyn Comitta, a member of the Senate Education Committee, released the following statement in support of the Full Funding Plan announced today her Senate Democratic colleagues:
“Pennsylvania has a historic opportunity to make a landmark investment in our future. I stand with my Senate Democratic colleagues in support of the Full Funding Plan – the largest and most equitable education budget in Pennsylvania history.
The pandemic has highlighted a legacy of chronic underinvestment and inequality in our school funding system. It has exacerbated the impacts of that legacy – a widening achievement gap, a crisis of youth mental health, toxic and unsafe school facilities, staffing shortages, and an inexcusable lack of resources available to students, teachers, and families in our poorest school districts.
Now, we have an opportunity to begin to fix it. With billions of dollars in federal assistance on hand combined with strong revenue projections, we anticipate a year-end balance of well over $6 billion. Investing $3.75 billion to fix and staff our schools, implement the fair funding formula that the legislature has already endorsed, address impacts to academic growth and mental health largely stemming from the pandemic, is the right thing to do. And we should do it right now.
This plan requires no tax increase. It doesn’t drain our savings or call for incurring debt. Rather, it makes use of federal funds that were meant to invest in our economy, our educational system, and our safety net programs to help ensure a brighter future for all Pennsylvanians.
Investments in education have significant and sustained economic impacts in terms of job and career growth, innovation, and human capital. Education is the force that inspires the imagination and stokes the ingenuity of the next generation – the generation that will drive our economic competitiveness and success through the 21st Century and beyond.
For too long, the Commonwealth has been known as home to one of the worst school funding gaps in the nation. For too long, this disparity has significantly hindered the academic, career, and overall life goals of entire generations of students and families. And it’s been a drain on our economy.
Today, the question is very simple. In the words of children’s rights advocate Marian Wright Edelman, it is not ‘whether we can afford to invest in every child; it is whether we can afford not to.’
The Full Funding Plan is the path to robust, well-equipped, fully staffed, and safe schools for every child. It takes us further toward that goal than any other budget before it.
Next week, Governor Wolf will give his budget address, officially kicking off weeks of hearings, meetings and lobbying in Harrisburg. During that time, I will continue to work with my Senate Democratic colleagues to ensure that our voice is heard. Pennsylvania does not have a ‘money problem.’ And we should not have a ‘priorities problem.’ I am ready to work across the aisle to ensure that the future of our students, communities, and economy is and remains a top priority, especially given the significant funding on hand, the tremendous issues at stake, and the historic opportunity that awaits us.”
Read more at pasenate.com/fullfunding
January 26, 2022
WEST CHESTER (January 26, 2022) – Nine schools in Chester County will receive nearly $216,000 in total state funding to purchase safety equipment and enact new safety programs, state Senator Carolyn Comitta announced today.
The funding, which comes through the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s Office of Safe Schools, helps schools and local education agencies promote an environment of greater productivity, safety, and learning and reduce unnecessary student disciplinary actions. The investments also aim to enhance anti-violence efforts between schools and parents, local governments, law enforcement and community organizations.
“These investments in school safety infrastructure and programs help ensure that our schools continue to offer safe, healthy, and positive educational environments where all students are encouraged and inspired to learn to the top of the curriculum,” said, Comitta, who serves on the Senate Education Committee.
In Chester County, two types of school safety targeted grants were awarded to both public and nonpublic schools – equipment grants of up to $25,000 and program grants of up to $20,000.
The recipients are as follows:
- $24,000 for the Chester County Technical College High School for safety equipment.
- $40,860 for the Church Farm School for safety equipment ($22,910) and safety programs ($19,950).
- $20,260 for the Saints Phillip and James School for safety equipment.
- $24,938.00 for the Saint Agnes School for safety equipment.
- $22,700 for the Saint Norbert School for safety equipment.
- $21,515 for Villa Maria Academy High School for safety equipment.
- $12,580 for West Chester Friends School for safety equipment.
- $24,930 for Windsor Christian Academy for safety equipment.
- $22,125 for the Woodlynde School for safety equipment.
The funding, which comes as part of $8 million in competitive Safe Schools Targeted grants, has been awarded to 303 local education agencies across the Commonwealth. Statewide, seventy-eight LEAs received equipment grants totaling $1.74 million and 39 received program grants totaling more than $583,000.
Eligible equipment upgrades under the grant program include protective lighting, surveillance equipment, special emergency communications equipment and radios, electronic locksets, deadbolts, and theft control devices, student, staff, and visitor swipe-card identification systems, and training in the use of the security-related technology.
Eligible safety programs include conflict resolution or dispute management, restorative justice strategies, school-wide positive behavior initiatives and interventions, school-based diversion programs, peer helper programs, risk assessment and violence prevention curricula, student codes of conduct, emergency preparedness and all-hazards plans, counseling services, research-based programs that identify and address risk factors and more.
This grant program was established under Act 18 of 2019, which Comitta supported. It is separate from the School Safety and Security Grant program administered by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency.
January 20, 2022
WEST CHESTER (January 20, 2022) – Five projects to protect and restore watersheds in Chester County and the surrounding region will receive more than $1.3 million in total state funding through the Growing Greener Program, state Senator Carolyn Comitta said today.
“As we continue to face the growing impacts of climate change, including more intense precipitation and potential flooding, it’s imperative that we work together with local and regional organizations to better manage the impacts of stormwater runoff on our streams and waterways,” Comitta, who serves as minority chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, said. “Growing Greener funds continue to play a leading role in that effort.
The grants are as follows:
- $495,944 for the Stroud Water Research Center to implement agricultural Best Management Practices (BMPs) and forested buffers along the Red Clay Creek. The proposed project will implement 55 agricultural BMPs to address livestock impacts to water quality and more than 11 acres of riparian forest buffers on three equine operations in the Delaware River Watershed. The BMPs will address concerns related to equine manure handling and heavy use areas, including grass waterways to address erosion, riparian forested buffers, off-stream livestock watering, livestock exclusion fencing, and stabilized stream crossings. The projects are part of a focused effort to comprehensively address water quality threats and protect stream health. The project is estimated to reduce 5,522.5 lbs. per year of nitrogen, 753.7 lbs. per year of phosphorus, and 272.37 tons per year of sediment.
- $199,680 for the Chester County Conversation District to address the management of mushroom industry byproducts and reduce nonpoint source loading to local streams and tributaries, including within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. The estimated pollutant load reductions are 1,400 lbs. per year of nitrogen, 654 lbs. per year of phosphorus, and 33 tons per year of sediment.
- $12,740 for Tredyffrin Township for a program to educate citizens about the value of rain gardens by designing and constructing two public rain gardens and organizing educational events. The Tredyffrin Rain Garden Program, launched last year by the Tredyffrin Environmental Advisory Council and the TE Green Team, also provides incentives to residents who apply to receive and maintain a rain garden on their property. The grant funding will support the design and construction of 13 residential rain gardens.
- $340,000 for Tredyffrin Township for the Bair Road/Trout Creek Infiltration, Water Quality, and Flood Mitigation Project. The project seeks to capture, treat, control, and infiltrate stormwater runoff from over 19 acres of upstream residential drainage area with the construction of two subsurface storage and infiltration beds in the township-owned and managed right-of-way. Combined, the two infiltration beds with a high-capacity storage system will be able to store nearly 15,000 cubic feet (110,000 gallons) of stormwater runoff and will manage approximately 7,400 lbs. per yr. of total suspended solids.
- $269,298 for the Brandywine Conservancy to assess and improve water quality in the Brandywine-Christiana watershed. The project calls for working with organizations and partners to achieve measurable water quality improvements in the headwater reaches of the watershed by implementing agricultural BMPs in the Brandywine Headwaters, Red Clay Creek, and White Clay Creek Focus Areas of the Delaware River Watershed Imitative Brandywine-Christina Cluster. The project will also conduct Focus Area Feasibility and Opportunity Assessments to identify strategic watershed-scale water quality interventions on select properties that do not qualify for agricultural BMP funding, culminating in two pilot projects based on the results of the assessment.
The Chester County projects come as part of $3.5 million in total state funding awarded to 14 watershed restoration and protection projects in Southeast Pennsylvania. Grants are awarded for projects in three categories: watershed restoration and protection; abandoned mine reclamation; and abandoned oil and gas well plugging projects.
Growing Greener remains the largest single investment of state funds in Pennsylvania’s history to address Pennsylvania’s critical environmental concerns of the 21st century. Statewide, this year’s awards exceed $18 million and will fund projects focused on design, construction, education, and outreach.
Three other agencies also received funds to distribute for appropriate projects: the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture to administer farmland preservation projects, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for state park renovations and improvements, and the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority for water and sewer system upgrades.
Comitta is also a strong supporter of Senate Bill 525, bipartisan legislation to allocate $500 million in federal American Rescue Plan Funding to establish Growing Greener III in Pennsylvania.
The legislation overwhelmingly passed the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee in September and is now before the Senate Appropriations Committee.
January 18, 2022
WEST CHESTER (January 18, 2022) – State Senator Carolyn Comitta, state Rep. Christina Sappey, and state Rep. Dianne Herrin announced today that they have secured more than $2.1 million in total state funding to support expanding inpatient and emergency department capacity at Chester County Hospital.
The funding, made available through the federal American Rescue Plan, comes at a crucial time as communities across the county face Tower Health’s abrupt decision to close Jennersville Hospital in southern Chester County and impending plans to close Brandywine Hospital in the Coatesville area at the end of this month.
Comitta, who serves on the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, said the funds will significantly help Chester County Hospital and its emergency department deal with an expected influx of patients due to the closure.
“These are vital and timely investments in our public healthcare and emergency care infrastructure in Chester County – investments that were especially needed in emergency and behavioral health even before the pandemic and well before Tower abruptly announced the hospital closures,” Comitta said. “Of course, both those factors substantially added to the urgency and severity of the situation. Fortunately, we were able to respond quickly to access additional resources and are working to expedite the projects.”
“The growing mental health crisis and its increasing burden on law enforcement and hospitals is a major concern, so I’m particularly pleased that we were able to access this funding to help Chester County Hospital expand its behavioral health treatment area,” Sappey said. “Chester County Hospital has a longstanding tradition of service to our community and they are the right group at the right time to utilize this funding.”
“Chester County Hospital stepped up and helped lead our community through the pandemic from day one, providing vaccinations and emergency services that we very much needed,” said state Rep. Herrin. “This financial support is so well deserved, as the hospital now faces growing urgent care and mental health demands resulting from the new COVID-19 variants and the closure of the two Tower Health facilities. This will further our collective goal to ensure high-quality care for all of our residents.”
The funds are as follows:
- $1.4 million for Chester County Hospital to expand its emergency department capacity. The funds will build upon a project that is currently underway to increase its emergency room from 33 to 43 bays. Funds will also be used to construct a special behavioral health treatment area in the emergency department.
- $775,000 for Chester County Hospital to restore 20 in-patient beds that were decommissioned when opened its new Pavilion in the spring of 2020. The funds will support purchasing new equipment and recruiting and acquiring the staff necessary to return the remaining beds to operation in about one to two months.
“At Chester County Hospital, our mission is to serve the health care needs of all who come to us for care,” stated Michael J. Duncan, President and CEO. “Never in our history has our role been so significant. We are grateful for the support and partnership of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and our local government leaders as we work to advance our mission and care for our community.”
The lawmakers also thanked Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan for her support of the American Rescue Plan Act, which is providing billions of dollars in COVID-19 federal relief to the Commonwealth, as well as Senate Democratic Appropriations Committee Chair Vincent Hughes and House Democratic Appropriations Committee Chair Matt Bradford for their work and that of their staffs in accessing this vital support for Chester County residents and families.
“At a time when our community is experiencing hospital closures in southern Chester County and increased hospitalizations due to COVID-19, this couldn’t be more welcome news,” said Houlahan. “When the House passed the American Rescue Plan in March of last year, this is exactly the type of community investment I voted for. Senator Comitta, Representative Sappey, and Representative Herrin are tireless advocates for the people of Chester County, and we stand united in celebrating these federal funds that will expand medical services, including mental health, for countless Pennsylvanians.”
Comitta said the investments in more emergency and hospital beds and more treatment availability for those with behavioral health issues will help save lives and manage a potential increase in patients as officials keep working toward a long-term solution for Jennersville and Brandywine Hospitals and the many residents and families who rely on them.
She, Sappey, and Herrin also indicated that they, along with county officials and fellow members of the bipartisan state legislative delegation, continue to work diligently toward a sustainable solution for both hospitals.
January 17, 2022
PENN (January 17, 2022) – State Senator Carolyn Comitta recently secured $50,000 in state funding for Southern Chester County Emergency Medical Services/MEDIC 94 to support the purchase of new Philips Tempus ALS Cardiac Monitor defibrillators for its licensed paramedic units
The funding helped put the nonprofit organization over the finish line in its capital campaign to make the vital equipment upgrades to all its paramedic units.
Comitta, who serves on the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, said the investment comes at a critical time as residents, families and communities in southern Chester County face the impacts of Tower’s Health’s abrupt decision to close Jennersville Hospital.
“Our emergency first responders and response organizations need the most advanced tools and technology to provide the best care to residents in their time of greatest need,” she said. “These investments will help MEDIC 94 paramedics communicate seamlessly with emergency room doctors when lives are on the line and every second counts. I want to thank all of our paramedics and emergency first responders across Chester County for their ongoing work in the face of the unprecedented challenges of this evolving pandemic, coupled with the impacts of sudden hospital closures.”
The new monitors are critical to expanding the pre-hospital scope of care that first responders can provide while en route to emergency rooms, especially in light of the closure of Jennersville Hospital. They offer a unique combination of diagnostic tools that can communicate vital patient information directly to emergency rooms via a secure, real-time data stream. This complete end-to-end system allows emergency departments to better prepare for rapid treatment, leading to better patient outcomes.
“This valuable funding championed by Senator Comitta will allow MEDIC 94 to purchase this valuable piece of life-saving equipment,” said Bob Hotchkiss, Chief Executive Officer. “Our dedicated and talented paramedics will now have the Philips Tempus ALS monitor available for use with all of our patients.”
Southern Chester County Emergency Medical Services/MEDIC 94 updated and replaced its cardiac monitor defibrillators, which are nearing the end of their 15-year lifespan, through funding and support from the community, businesses, and municipalities, as well as the state. It is estimated that the monitors will be used an average of eight times per day, every day for the next 15 years, meaning nearly 44,000 patients will be treated with the Tempest ALS over its lifespan.
Comitta noted that she, along with county officials and the state legislative delegation, continue to work diligently toward a long-term solution for Jennersville and Brandywine Hospitals and the many residents and families who rely on them.
“While these improvements and upgrades may not be a substitute for brick-and-mortar hospitals and emergency rooms, they are much-needed and could not come soon enough to help ensure quality emergency care for our growing population,” she said.
MEDIC 94 is a regional advanced life support (ALS) service operated by Southern Chester County Emergency Medical Services, Inc., a nonprofit organization founded in 1983 to provide ALS services across southern Chester County. This is accomplished through strong partnerships with fire-company-based ambulance services in Oxford, West Grove, Avondale, and EMS in Cochranville.
To learn more about Southern Chester County Emergency Medical Services/MEDIC 94, visit medic94.org
January 14, 2022
WEST CHESTER (January 14, 2022) – Community Volunteers in Medicine (CVIM), a nonprofit organization providing free medical service to those in need, now has a designated area and equipment for its physical therapy program, thanks to $50,000 in state funding secured by state Senator Carolyn Comitta.
CVIM is using the funds to develop an onsite physical therapy room with therapeutic devices and physical therapy equipment – including tools that clients can borrow to continue their rehabilitation at home – to support its growing physical therapy program.
“It’s always important to support CVIM and the other free clinics throughout our area that make up an integral part of our healthcare infrastructure,” Comitta said. “I hope this investment will help more patients and residents access the benefits of physical therapy in recovering from illness or injury, reducing pain, avoiding surgery, and enjoying better mobility, balance and overall health and wellness.”
According to CVIM President and CEO Maureen Tomoschuk, CVIM currently serves approximately 25 patients a week in its physical therapy program, which is supported by a staff of dedicated volunteers, including two physical therapists, two physiatrists, an athletic trainer, and a hand therapist, as well as additional volunteer professionals offering chiropractic care and acupuncture therapy.
“We are so grateful to Senator Comitta for her ongoing advocacy for CVIM and our mission, and for securing the funding for our new physical therapy room,” Tomoschuk said. “Our volunteers are now fully equipped to help our patients get healthy and return to work. This is especially important as COVID-19 continues to spread in our community, and we work to make sure our patients are fully supported in all of their medical and dental needs.”
The dedicated physical therapy room and equipment upgrades are especially important as the organization serves a majority of patients who work physically demanding jobs in manual labor and the service industry. That means many CVIM clients are susceptible to injuries and may live in chronic pain, but struggle to access or afford physical therapy due to prohibitive out-of-pocket costs.
CVIM’s physiatrists and physical therapy team aim to empower patients through education, rehabilitation, and prevention, as well as nonopioid medications, injections, modalities, and therapeutic exercises.
The organization also now has a dedicated space for its own electromyography (EMG) machine, a diagnostic tool used to assess nerve and muscle function, which is particularly helpful for its many patients dealing with hand or wrist injuries, like carpal tunnel syndrome.
Comitta, who serves on the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, thanked Tomoschuk and all CVIM’s staff and volunteers for their ongoing work to provide compassionate medical and dental care and health education to Chester County residents and families who lack access to health care.
“It is a challenging time in healthcare as free clinics like CVIM continue to deal with the evolving pandemic,” she said. “That’s why we must continue to support and invest in our healthcare infrastructure so that all people have an opportunity to lead healthy, happy, and productive lives.”
Comitta also thanked CVIM for administering thousands of doses of the COVID-19 vaccine and continuing to assist so many residents and families in need throughout the evolving pandemic.
Founded in 1998, CVIM was the first community-based volunteer clinic of its kind in Southeastern Pennsylvania. Today, it continues to grow and expand to meet the needs of Chester County residents and families who lack access to insurance. Last year, CVIM treated 5,000 patients during more than 41,000 visits.
January 5, 2022
WEST CHESTER (January 5, 2022) – More than 150 acres of farmland in Cochranville and Oxford will be preserved thanks to state and county investments in agricultural land preservation, state Senator Carolyn Comitta said today.
“Local farms are already partners in preserving our agricultural heritage, supporting our economy, and helping ensure access to fresh and nutritious food,” said Comitta, who serves on the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee. “With these investments, they’re also partners in conserving the open spaces and scenic rural areas that continue to define Chester County.”
The farms, which are being preserved through investments from the Pennsylvania Farmland Preservation Program, are as follows:
- The Larry W. And John D. Althouse Farm, a 53-acre livestock farm in Cochranville, received $174,690 from the state program.
- The David K. and Katie F. King Farm, a 55-acre dairy farm in Oxford, received $14,500 from the state program and $204,350 from the county program.
- The Stewart Ramsey and Wendy Komnik Farm, a 28-acre equine farm in Cochranville, received $6,520 from the state program and $136,517 from the county program.
- The Peter L. Temple Farm, a 15-acre crop farm in Cochranville, received $4,000 from the state program and $61,700 from the county program.
Those farms, along with the David and Phoebe McElhenny Farm, an 18-acre crop and livestock farm in Honeybrook, received $202,425 in total state and $511,556 in total Chester County farmland preservation funding. The farmland comes as part of 2,569 acres on 30 farms across Pennsylvania protected from future development with more than $7.2 million in state, county and township dollars.
Last year, the Commonwealth approved 166 conservation easements covering 14,397 acres that will permanently remain productive farms.
Pennsylvania leads the nation in both the number of farms and acres permanently preserved for agricultural production. The Farmland Preservation Program, also known as the Pennsylvania Agricultural Conservation Easement Purchase Program, was developed to strengthen Pennsylvania’s agricultural economy and protect prime farmland. This program enables state and county governments to purchase conservation easements from farmers.
Since 1988, the program has purchased permanent conservation easements on 5,979 Pennsylvania farms, covering 606,215 acres in 58 counties, and ensuring they will remain farms in the future.
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December 29, 2021
WEST CHESTER (December 29, 2021) – The Chester County Conservation District will receive nearly $570,000 in state grant funding to improve the health of local streams, rivers, and lakes by reducing nutrient and sediment pollution.
The funds come as part of $17.4 million in total grant funding awarded to projects in 33 counties across the Chesapeake Bay Watershed to implement countywide action plan projects and verify pollution-reducing best management practices.
“These investments are important to building on our ongoing success in managing and stemming the impacts of agricultural runoff, a leading nonpoint source of pollution to our streams, rivers, and lakes,” Comitta, who serves as minority chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, said. “By working with Pennsylvania communities and farmers, municipalities, businesses, and other landowners, we can better protect our environmental health, our public health, and our economic health.”
Pennsylvania’s share of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed spans half the state and includes over 12,000 miles of polluted streams and rivers. Nutrient (nitrogen and phosphorus) pollution and eroded sediment enter streams, rivers, and lakes from widely dispersed human activities on the land, such as using too much fertilizer, plowing and tilling farm fields, stripping away trees and vegetation, and expanding concrete and paved surfaces.
The funding is geared toward enabling county teams and partners to build on the record progress Pennsylvania is making in the watershed. It includes $15 million from the Pennsylvania Environmental Stewardship Fund, primarily the Growing Greener Program, and $2.4 million from EPA.
“Pennsylvania has begun to achieve real change to improve the health of the watershed, thanks directly to hard work being done by county-level teams of government, nonprofit, and private-sector partners,” said Gov. Wolf. “It’s crucial that their unprecedented momentum be sustained by broad support. Their actions will benefit our drinking water, protect the long-term viability of our farms and outdoor recreation economy, and help our communities reduce flooding and attract business.”
“With 26 counties developing plans this year, all 34 counties that were asked to develop Countywide Action Plans to reduce nutrient and sediment pollution have now completed them,” said Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Secretary Patrick McDonnell. “Reaching this exciting milestone attests to the growing understanding among landowners and community leaders of the value of healthy water ecosystems to Pennsylvanians’ quality of life and livelihoods. DEP is committed to supporting these local partnerships as they follow now with action.”
Nitrogen runoff pollution was reduced by more than 4 million pounds in 2020, with half the reduction coming from agriculture and half from the wastewater treatment sector. Also, more than a half-million acres of cropland were in compliance with nutrient and manure management practices last year.
Farmers used enhanced nutrient management on more than 305,500 acres of cropland in 2020. Going above and beyond standard nutrient management, this approach applies fertilizer in a 4R approach: right time, right source, right place, and right rate.
“Increasingly, farmers recognize that soil, nitrogen, and phosphorus running off the land into streams is a symptom of a farm operating at less than peak efficiency. For many, the pandemic underscored the importance of ensuring their farm’s future viability, which requires stewardship of their soil and water today,” said Department of Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding.
In addition, last year more than 17 miles of streams were fully restored, and tens of thousands of trees were planted, many through programs by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.
December 22, 2021
WEST CHESTER (December 22, 2021) – Phoenixville senior citizens had a hand in making the holidays extra bright by contributing handmade ornaments to the 2021 Capitol Christmas Tree on display in the Main Rotunda of the State Capitol in Harrisburg.
The Phoenixville Area Senior Center was part of more than 32 senior community centers in 27 counties across the commonwealth that crafted and submitted ornaments for the tree as part of an annual initiative organized by the Pennsylvania Department of Aging
“Our Social Stitchers group resumed in person this fall and we’re thrilled to contribute to the Capitol Holiday tree after taking a year off. While we have not resumed eating meals together, our participants safely enjoy exercise, games, crafts, and educational activities here at the Phoenixville Area Senior Center. We look forward to more activities in 2022,” said Christine McManus, Program Coordinator at the Phoenixville Area Senior Center.
State Senator Carolyn Comitta welcome the Phoenixville Area Senior Center’s local contributions to the tree and thanked center volunteers and staff for their ongoing work. She also said it was uplifting and heartening to see the tradition of the Capitol tree, this year a 20-foot Douglas fir, officially resume after it took a hiatus last year due to the pandemic.
“It brings me great joy to see the talents of our local seniors on display in the state Capitol,” Comitta said. “The ornaments are also a beautiful and poignant reminder of the important work of our senior community centers in ensuring that our older friends and neighbors feel welcomed, valued, and included in our communities, especially during the holiday season.”
“Every year, the Department of Aging receives a tremendous number of ornaments from the senior centers with letters or cards thanking the department for inviting the seniors to make them,” Secretary of Aging Robert Torres said. “The seniors really get into the holiday spirit with their creativity and the work that they put into creating the ornaments. Each is unique and embodies the pride of being ‘made in PA’ along with the holiday tree that comes from a Pennsylvania tree farm every year. I would like to thank all of the seniors from across the commonwealth who devoted their time and talent in making the ornaments to support our holiday celebration.”
The tree will remain in the rotunda until January 10.
Individuals can get a closer look at the ornaments made by the older adults, as well as information about resources and programs for seniors, by visiting the Department of Aging’s Facebook page.
December 21, 2021
State Senator Carolyn Comitta recently joined Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn today announced $333,991 in Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund grant funding for a Stroud Water Research Center water quality pilot project aimed at finding market-driven solutions to improving environmental conditions.
The grant will help fund Stroud Center’s implementation of 60-acres of multifunctional riparian forest buffers. Mutlifunctional buffers are an agroforesty practice that provide ecological benefits while producing income. Stroud Water Research is partnering with Propegate Ventures to demonstrate proof of concept for investment in agroforestry practices that improve water quality and soil health, while assisting landowners in meeting their production and income goals.
“Our streams and watersheds not only a source of outdoor recreation in terms of fishing, boating, and supporting wildlife, they’re also a defining aspect of our regional landscape,” Comitta, who serves as minority chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, said. “I thank DCNR and Stroud Water Research Center for supporting this project. By investing in riparian buffers, we’re investing in the future of waterways and our ecosystems. And when we protect water, we protect our way of life.”
“This project represents a unique and innovative look at addressing a critical need to help improve water quality and stewardship of our freshwater systems in Chester County,” Dunn said. “We are proud to award this grant to Stroud Water Research Center and look forward to seeing the ecological and economic impact strategic agroforestry initiatives can have when focused on and incentivized.”
“Stroud Water Research Center deeply appreciates support from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to demonstrate agroforestry as a way of increasing forest cover in Pennsylvania to meet a long list of societal needs from clean water to climate change,” said Matthew J. Ehrhart, Director of the Robin L. Vannote Watershed Restoration Program within the Stroud Water Research Center. “The unique contribution of Propagate Ventures to this partnership is their ability to help a farmer plan and execute a financially sound and profitable business model that turns a profit while improving natural resources. We hope this 60-acre demonstration project on three farms will help unleash the private sector potential for this valuable work.”
Analysis supported by the William Penn Foundation supports this pilot project and its intent to encourage farmers to plant trees and shrubs to create or improve freshwater buffers with the long-term goal of measuring the impact buffers have on water quality. The project will focus on the lower Susquehanna and Delaware watersheds and will include landowner outreach and engagement, buffer plantings and post-planting establishment, and other related site improvements.
DCNR provides grants to myriad projects across the commonwealth annually. Its Community Conservation Partnerships Program grants can fund:
- Planning, acquisition, and development of public parks and recreation areas
- Motorized and non-motorized trails
- River conservation and access
- Heritage areas and facilities
- Conservation of critical habitat, natural areas and open space
Eligible applicants for these grants include counties, municipalities, municipal agencies, nonprofit organizations, state heritage areas, prequalified land trusts, and for-profit enterprises (for some grant types). Grant funding for the program comes from a variety of state funding sources including Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund, Environmental Stewardship Fund, ATV and Snowmobile Management Restricted Accounts, Pennsylvania Heritage Area Program and federal sources including the Recreational Trails Program and the Land and Water Conservation Fund. DCNR selects the most appropriate funding source based on the applicant and proposed project.
“Stroud Water Research Center, which is located in the 158th legislative district, is world-renowned for its research and conservation work. I’m thrilled they have been awarded these funds, especially for riparian buffer installation, something I have worked on for many years,” Rep. Christina Sappey said. “Riparian buffers prevent flooding and stream bank erosion, ensuring healthy waterways while also providing natural habitat. As our region faces more frequent and severe storms, these buffers are becoming an increasingly important investment.”
December 20, 2021
WEST CHESTER (December 20, 2021) – Two projects to upgrade rail freight infrastructure in Chester County will receive nearly $1.1 million in total state funding, state Senator Carolyn Comitta said today.
The investments, recently approved by the State Transportation Commission, are as follows:
- $700,000 to the East Penn Railroad to rehabilitate the Octoraro Branch by replacing approximately 7,000 ties, 1,100 feet of rail, and three mainline switches, as well as 10 miles of surfacing.
- $371,000 to International Paper Company to construct approximately 500 feet of new track to the new plant and rehabilitate 1,200 feet of track with new ties and ballast.
The Chester County projects come as part of 25 rail freight improvement projects statewide slated to receive $33 million in total funding through the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s Rail Freight Assistance Program. In total, the projects will create or sustain more than 200 jobs across the Commonwealth.
“Continued investments in our rail freight infrastructure help support job growth, reduce traffic congestion, strengthen our supply chain, and ensure businesses can connect with consumers effectively and efficiently,” Comitta said.
“Keeping goods moving efficiently has proven to be more important now than ever,” said Governor Wolf. “These investments in Pennsylvania’s rail system create jobs, support efficient freight travel, and help keep the business community connected to the global economy.”
Pennsylvania has 65 operating railroads, which is more than any other state. PennDOT is committed to working with private rail operators and rail-served businesses to construct new rail lines and assist in maintaining and improving Pennsylvania’s roughly 5,600 miles of freight lines.
According to PennDOT, the RFAP provides financial assistance for investment in rail freight infrastructure to preserve essential rail freight service where economically feasible, and preserve or stimulate economic development through the generation of new or expanded rail freight service.
The maximum state funding for an RFAP project is 70 percent of the total project costs, not to exceed $700,000.
December 20, 2021
WEST CHESTER (December 20, 2021) – Construction is set to begin in the first quarter of 2022 on International Paper’s state-of-the-art corrugated packaging plant in Atglen, a project that is expected to bring approximately 150 new jobs to the area.
State Senator Carolyn Comitta welcomed the company’s investment in Chester County, which was supported by news that it had been awarded a $371,000 grant through the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s Rail Freight Assistance Program.
The funds, which were recently approved by the State Transportation Commission, will be used to construct approximately 500 feet of new track to the new plant and rehabilitate 1,200 feet of track with new ties and ballast.
“This is promising news for southern Chester County as we continue to work to expand manufacturing, invest in our transportation infrastructure, and attract and retain family-sustaining jobs,” Comitta said.
“International Paper is pleased to receive the Rail Freight Assistance Program (RFAP) grant for our rail project at our new corrugated packaging facility in Atglen. The grant will enable IP to more efficiently and effectively move materials and goods into our plant while limiting truck traffic in the surrounding communities,” said Peter Heist, Area Vice President, North Area, North American Container, International Paper.
The company, one of the world’s leading producers of renewable fiber-based packaging and pulp products, expects the plant to be fully operational in the first quarter of 2023.
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December 17, 2021
East Bradford (December 17, 2021) — State Senator Carolyn Comitta and state Rep. Christina Sappey today joined Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn and local and county officials in announcing $1.2 million in federal Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grant funding for the acquisition of Starr Farm in East Bradford Township.
“The preservation of the historic Starr Farm property in East Bradford adds to our ongoing commitment to conserving our natural resources for all people, including generations yet to come,” Sen. Carolyn Comitta said. Increased opportunities for outdoor recreation and access to more open space leads to healthier communities, stronger environmental stewardship, and an overall better quality of life for families and children. I look forward to seeing our friends, neighbors, and visitors enjoy Starr Farm and the thousands of additional acres we’ve succeeded in saving here in Chester County.”
“This acquisition is particularly important because of the connection it makes to other preserved historic lands,” Rep. Christina Sappey said. “The residents of East Bradford have made a commitment to open space and I’m proud to stand with them to support this funding. Protecting this land provides opportunities for the public to use and enjoy the unaltered beauty that has existed here for centuries.”
With help from the grant, funding from the Chester County Preservation Partnership Program, and its own investment, the township will acquire the deed to the 156-acre property, which includes a half-mile stretch of West Valley Creek, for natural resource conservation and passive recreational public use and enjoyment. The township will manage the property as part of a 477-acre complex of contiguous public parkland under the township’s jurisdiction.
“With more and more people turning to the outdoors since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are pleased to support land acquisitions of this nature that help expand outdoor recreation opportunities in Pennsylvania communities,” Dunn said. “This grant will help ensure current and future generations can have nearby access to a large, beautiful park and I look forward to seeing the impact this acquisition has in East Bradford Township and for Chester County at large.”
“The acquisition of the 156-acre addition to the Starr Farm Park caps an over two-decade program of perpetually protecting the Paradise Valley and Harmony Hill Conservation Area, including virtually all of the remaining open spaces between the East Branch of the Brandywine and Valley Creek,” said Vince Pompo, chair of the East Bradford Township Board of Supervisors. “This would not have been possible without the continuing support of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, DCNR, Chester County, many conservation organizations, and mostly, the residents of East Bradford.”
DCNR provides grants to myriad projects across the commonwealth annually. Its Community Conservation Partnerships Program grants can fund:
- Planning, acquisition, and development of public parks and recreation areas
- Motorized and non-motorized trails
- River conservation and access
- Heritage areas and facilities
- Conservation of critical habitat, natural areas and open space
Eligible applicants for these grants include counties, municipalities, municipal agencies, nonprofit organizations, state heritage areas, prequalified land trusts, and for-profit enterprises (for some grant types). Grant funding for the program comes from a variety of state funding sources including Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund, Environmental Stewardship Fund, ATV and Snowmobile Management Restricted Accounts, Pennsylvania Heritage Area Program and federal sources including the Recreational Trails Program and the Land and Water Conservation Fund. DCNR selects the most appropriate funding source based on the applicant and proposed project.
More than 220 land acquisition projects have been awarded under the administration of Gov. Tom Wolf, leading to the permanent protection of 37,000 acres of publicly accessible open space across the commonwealth.
December 17, 2021
WEST CHESTER (December 17, 2021) – Two universities and one organization in Chester County will receive more than $55,000 in total state funding to support vaccine outreach and public health awareness efforts, state Senator Carolyn Comitta said today.
The grant funds, which come through the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development’s COVID-19 Vaccine Outreach Grant Program, support grassroots outreach efforts including local media buys, creation of outreach and training materials, sponsorship of vaccine-related community events, equipment rental to assist with scheduling vaccine appointments, and more.
The Chester County grant awards are as follows:
- $24,250 for the Maternal & Child Health Consortium of Chester County (MCHC)
- $20,000 for Lincoln University
- $11,000 for West Chester University
Comitta, who serves on the Senate Health and Human Resources Committee, said that, in light of new variants, it remains important for all eligible Pennsylvanians to strongly consider getting vaccinated and boosted.
“This week we marked one year since the first American received the COVID-19 vaccine. Tragically, we also saw the pandemic eclipse 800,000 total U.S. deaths,” said Comitta. “Increasing vaccination, reducing transmission, and saving lives begins with establishing a welcoming environment for trusted community leaders and organizations to educate and address hesitancy concerns and barriers to vaccination.”
Meanwhile, a new study from the Kaiser Family Foundation also found that more than 160,000 COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. could have been prevented by vaccination since June of this year and that the virus is one of the leading causes of death in all age groups.
The Chester County grant projects come as part of $2.5 million in funding awarded statewide through the COVID-19 Vaccine Outreach Grant Program for organizations to provide direction on where and how to schedule a vaccine appointment and improve uptake of the vaccine in hesitant communities for the health and safety of all Pennsylvanians.
Up to $100,000 was available to non-profit organizations and childcare and educational institutions through the program
Milena Oberti-Lanz, Executive Director of MCHC said, “We so are grateful for the support to continue educating our community. Our goal in 2022 is to increase knowledge on the COVID-19 vaccine among residents in Chester County, including the number of high-risk individuals vaccinated. With this support, MCHC will develop an outreach plan, coordinate staff training on COVID-19 vaccine information and disparities, incorporate this information into MCHC’s annual health insurance gatherings, and set up a community vaccine clinic.”
“West Chester University is deeply grateful to Governor Wolf and his administration for taking action and awarding significant grant funding to encourage Pennsylvanians to secure the vaccines they need to protect the Commonwealth from the devasting impacts of the COVID-19 virus,” said Dr. Chris Fiorentino, President of West Chester University. “With the abundance of vaccines that are now available, we encourage all citizens to engage in becoming vaccinated or receiving a booster. We absolutely must protect one another and getting vaccinated today is the very best way to do so.”
Approximately 70 percent of Pennsylvanians age 18 and older are fully vaccinated, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. However, many communities are still experiencing disparities in vaccination, including Black/African Americans, Latinx, the LGBTQ community, low-income persons, persons experiencing homelessness, persons less likely to use the Internet and others without Internet access, persons residing in rural or geographically isolated areas, and persons who have distrust in the government.
“Vaccines remain an absolutely essential element in combatting the COVID-19 pandemic, however there are still Pennsylvanians who are hesitant to get their first dose,” Governor Wolf said. “By providing funding to grassroots organizations for vaccine outreach efforts, we’re enabling them to serve as trusted messengers in vaccine-hesitant communities and promote the COVID-19 vaccine as a safe and effective way to protect themselves and their loved ones from the virus.”
“The Department of Health remains committed to eliminating obstacles and challenges that prevent Pennsylvanians from getting vaccinated,” said Physician General Dr. Denise Johnson. “Thanks to our incredible vaccine providers, and the ‘PA Unites Against COVID’ campaign, we are continuing to do that by providing educational materials, events, vaccine toolkits and posters in multiple languages to help encourage people to get vaccinated. I am impressed by the tens of thousands of Pennsylvanians who are stepping up every day to get their first, second, or third dose of vaccine to protect themselves, their loved ones, and their neighbors against COVID-19.”
All Pennsylvanians age 5 and older are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. If it’s been over six months since your second vaccine, you may be eligible for a booster vaccine. To find a COVID-19 vaccine provider near you, visit www.vaccines.gov to schedule an initial or booster appointment.
December 13, 2021
Recently, state Senator Carolyn Comitta held a healthcare enrollment townhall with experts from Pennie. If you were not able to attend, you can watch a video of the presentation.
In addition, Senator Comitta’s office compiled this list of 10 Takeaways from the meeting to help answer your questions.
- Pennie replaces Healthcare.gov for Pennsylvanians. The official and only website for Pennie is pennie.com.
- Pennie Customer Service can be reached at 1-844-844-8040.
- Please be aware that some companies and websites are attempting to pose as official Pennie representatives. When in doubt, hang up. If you receive an unsolicited call or e-mail, contact Pennie’s customer service to confirm that you are speaking with a Pennie certified broker/assister.
- If you sign up by December 15, you’re guaranteed to be covered by the New Year. Those who sign up by January 15 will start coverage on February 1, 2022.
- The American Rescue Plan Act brought significant savings to low-income families and even to those who may not have previously qualified for financial assistance. Compare plans and estimate your potential savings through Pennie.
- Enrolling for health coverage through Pennie will provide you with tax credits that go towards your plan’s premium. However, even if you enroll with a provider directly, you may be eligible for tax credits at the end of the year.
- Assisters can guide you throughout the process to buy coverage but cannot make recommendations on which plan to choose. Find an assister through Pennie here.
- Brokers are qualified and trained specialists to help residents choose the right healthcare plan. Find a broker through Pennie here.
- The special enrollment period begins on January 16 through December 31. This allows those with a qualifying life event (ex: birth of a child, marriage, loss of employment, etc.) to enroll in healthcare coverage throughout the year.
- In addition to health insurance plans for individuals and families, Pennie can help connect you with dental insurance plans.
If you have any additional questions, browse the Pennie FAQs or contact Pennie directly at 1-844-844-8040.
December 9, 2021
WEST CHESTER (December 9, 2021) – Important programs to prevent crime, support community policing efforts, assist victims in recovery, and enhance mental health services in Chester County will receive more than $830,000 in state and federal grant support, state Senator Carolyn Comitta and state Rep. Christina Sappey said today
Comitta, who previously served as Mayor of the Borough of West Chester, overseeing the West Chester Police Department, said the investments would support initiatives that aim to more efficiently and effectively manage public safety and address mental health needs.
“These investments help prevent crime, support victims, and reduce recidivism through a data-driven approach and better understanding of mental health and community needs,” she said. “Our county and local law enforcements agencies continue to be public safety leaders by utilizing these important resources to launch and maintain proven, innovative, and highly successful programs.”
Sappey said the grants would help Chester County continue to implement the latest public safety strategies and best practices while ensuring compliance with necessary standards and regulations.
“The PCCD grants that Chester County received will provide essential funding for programs serving the most vulnerable and working to keep our communities safe,” said Sappey. “I’m proud to see investments that will prevent crime, help victims of domestic violence and child abuse, update law enforcement policies and support crisis intervention services to better address our county’s needs.”
Chester County District Attorney Deb Ryan also welcomed the funding.
“These funds play a key role in protecting children, communities, and families in Chester County by giving our police, detectives, and law enforcement professionals the tools and resources they need to prevent crime, support victims, and focus their efforts and attention,” she said.
The grants, which were recently approved by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD), fall into several categories. They are:
- $374,951 for the Chester County Commissioners through the STOP Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Established in 1994, the STOP VAWA Program seeks to develop and implement law enforcement and prosecution strategies to effectively decrease violent crimes against women. These grant funds also help to develop and enhance services provided to the victims of violent crimes, including emergency housing, supportive counseling, transportation assistance and more.
- $150,000 for the Chester County Commissioners through PCCD Mental Health and Justice Advisory Committee (MHJAC) Funds. The funds will be used to develop a pilot program with a mental health assessor to assist Magisterial District Court Judges in diverting individuals with mental illness, co-occurring disorders, and/or autism spectrum disorders from the county prison and connecting them with comprehensive and appropriate diversion and treatment services.
- $104,911 for the Chester County Commissioners in federal Byrne Justice Assistance Grant funds. The funding will continue to support a fulltime Pre-Trial Program Resource Navigator position. The Pre-Trial Program Resource Navigator engages justice-involved individuals on pre-trial and or probation/parole supervision by assisting them in scheduling and attending Court-Reporting Network Evaluations, Alcohol Safe Driving School, Drug and Alcohol Evaluations, and any other Court-ordered conditions. By continuing this program, Chester County hopes to effectively provide support for services and programs to adult offenders and reduce court delays and recidivism.
- $47,000 for Chester County District Attorney in PCCD Children’s Advocacy Center Advisory Committee funds. The funding will support increased efficiency in handling child abuse reports submitted through ChildLine by continuing to employ an Administrative Assistant responsible for the processing of all ChildLine reports, including entering them into various record-keeping systems. Designating a professional to handle reporting requirements allows cases to be processed in a more timely and efficient manner and ensures detailed records are maintained. In addition, it also allows the detectives assigned to the CAC to focus on interviewing victims and investigating child abuse cases.
- $40,330 for the Chester County District Attorney in federal Byrne Justice Assistance Grant funds for a Policy Development Project for the Chester County Detectives. The funds will be used to create a comprehensive policy directive manual that is based on accepted best police practices and are compliant with current federal, state, and local statutes. This project aims to create an online platform to manage and update policies and procedures, revise current policies and write new policies to incorporate up-to-date industry standards and best practices, provide daily scenario-based training that reinforces the agency’s policies, and track acknowledgements of policy and training.
- $57,422 for the Oxford Police Department federal Byrne Justice Assistance Grant funds to support obtaining accreditation through the Pennsylvania Law Enforcement Accreditation Program. The project aims to integrate software tools and technologies required to secure accreditation and to facilitate transparency and information sharing, and to ensure best practices. Accreditation will provide a critical framework for Oxford’s continued effort to enact community-oriented strategies to solve problems and ensure consistency and accountability.
- $58,726 for Phoenixville Borough federal Byrne Justice Assistance Grant funds to expand the business district area cameras located on Bridge Street. This project will complete the goal of having the capability to review video of crimes that occur in heart of the community in order to protect citizens and all of those who come within the jurisdiction. Augmenting the existing camera system will provide law enforcement with an unbiased view of what occurred during the commission of a crime.
December 9, 2021
West Chester (December 9, 2021) — State Senator Carolyn Comitta today issued the following statement in response to Tower Health’s announcement that the sale of Jennersville Hospital and Brandywine Hospital to Canyon Atlantic will not take place. Tower Health now plans to close Jennersville Hospital on December 31, 2021, and Brandywine Hospital on January 31, 2022.
“To say I feel disappointed, frustrated, and even angry by news of the sudden reversal of course by Tower Health is an understatement. When it was announced that Jennersville would close, our legislative delegation, local municipalities, and county commissioners worked and acted sincerely and in good faith to do everything in our power to save it. When it was announced, days before Thanksgiving, that Tower had found a new buyer for both Jennersville and Brandywine, we took them at their word. When we raised questions about Canyon Atlantic, a largely unknown entity, we were met first with reassurances and later with silence.
Now, to learn that the sale will not go through and both hospitals will close feels like a betrayal. What the people of Chester County need and deserve is an honest, open, dedicated, and patient-centered approach to keeping both hospitals open as vital community health assets.
Like all our elected officials, I remain committed to saving both hospitals and finding solutions to preserve quality and affordable healthcare, emergency, and acute services. Like patients and employees, I am extremely concerned that by Tower raising our hopes and then dashing them just two weeks before Christmas, we have lost precious time.
Finally, please know that we will continue to work at the local, county, and state levels to address the vital and heightened urgency of this issue. And though our communities, leaders, and residents here in Chester County may have lost faith in Tower Health, given these developments, it seems that the very least it can do is delay the closures of both hospitals. In the spirit of the season and the spirit of its mission statement – ‘advancing the health and transforming the lives of the people it serves’ – Tower Health has a moral obligation to, at the bare minimum, keep these hospitals open until we can find a solution for those who rely on them.”
December 8, 2021
WEST CHESTER (December 8, 2021) – State Senator Carolyn Comitta announced today that she has helped secure $1.9 million in state funding for the new Kennett Library and Resource Center, a nearly 31,500-square-foot facility set for the corner of State and Willow Streets in Kennett Square.
“Education is the most powerful force for transformational change in the world,” said Comitta, an educator by trade and a member of the Senate Education Committee. “And I know that this new library and state-of-the-art resource center will be a place where children, families, residents, senior citizens, and community members can come together to learn, grow, and succeed for decades to come.”
The new Kennett Library and Resource Center, set for the corner of State and Willow Streets, will offer ample opportunity for residents and visitors to explore our cultural history and share life stories and experiences. Plans for the LEED-Gold certified facility call for a large adult library, a spacious children’s and teen space and study, quiet areas for private reading and reflection, and various-sized classrooms and flexible community rooms, all equipped with state-of-the-art audio/visual equipment, laptop, and computer access, as well as expanded digital communications technology. The facility will also include two Maker Spaces, equipped with 3D printers, large format scanner and printer, embroidery machines and computers with design software to foster creativity for both adults and children, and a resource for companies and organizations. In addition, it will offer a 110-seat auditorium for performances, discussions, meetings, and film screenings.
Located in the heart of historic downtown Kennett Square, the modern building is designed with large swaths of glass to allow abundant natural light and Avondale brown stone to reflect the region’s heritage and landscape. It will include outdoor common spaces, a sweeping second-floor terrace, and 19 off-street parking spaces. In addition to making room for an expanded book and media collection, the new facility will allow for the library to vastly expand its programming to launch new and build on existing offerings regarding adult literacy, English as a Second Language, student learning and tutoring, arts and culture, historical, and community discussion programs. The building design also incorporates energy-efficiency measures and modern health and safety systems. Perhaps most importantly, the new library will be free, open, and accessible to all, including vulnerable populations, like lower-income families, elderly residents, and those with disabilities.
Established over a century ago, the Kennett Library currently serves 45,000 residents in eight Chester County municipalities including the Borough of Kennett Square, as well as the townships of East Marlborough, Kennett, New Garden, Newlin, Pennsbury, Pocopson, and West Marlborough.
Ground was broken for the new $20 million facility in August and the organization has already raised nearly $12.5 million through public and private donations. The current facility, located just west of the new site at 216 E. State Street, is 60 years old and only 11,000 square feet.
The Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) is a Commonwealth reimbursement grant program administered by the Office of the Budget for the acquisition and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic, recreational, and historical improvement projects. RACP projects are authorized in the state budget, have a regional or multi-jurisdictional impact, and generate substantial increases or maintain current levels of employment, tax revenues, or other measures of economic activity.
To learn more about the new Kennett Library, visit https://campaign4.kennettlibrary.org/.
December 6, 2021
WEST CHESTER (December 6, 2021) – State Senator Carolyn Comitta announced $2 million in state funding for the construction of a new office building in Tredyffrin that will support hundreds of new high-wage jobs.
The funds will support the construction of a new corporate headquarters for Equus Capital Partners, a real estate investment manager that acquires and develops office, multi-family, industrial, research and development, and retail assets.
The shovel-ready project, planned for a 10-acre site on Swedesford Road, will be the first mass-timber office headquarters in the Philadelphia market. It also calls for a two-story parking structure. Upon completion, the new building will support 660 new, high-paying jobs.
“It’s important that we continue to support projects that bring new investment and job opportunities to our region while utilizing renewable materials and sustainable building practices,” Comitta said.
The Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) is a Commonwealth reimbursement grant program administered by the Office of the Budget for the acquisition and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic, recreational, and historical improvement projects. RACP projects are authorized in the state budget, have a regional or multi-jurisdictional impact, and generate substantial increases or maintain current levels of employment, tax revenues, or other measures of economic activity.
December 6, 2021
WEST CHESTER (December 6, 2021) – The Chester County Council, BSA will receive $750,000 in state funding for the construction and installation of expanded shower facilities at its Camp Horseshoe Scout Reservation in West Nottingham Township.
The funding, secured by state Senator Carolyn Comitta, will support the installation of three separate shower houses, as well as an additional 17 shower stalls in an existing shower house. Each of the proposed shower houses will include seven private, gender-neutral combination bathroom/shower stalls, in addition to the new shower stalls created through the renovation and modernization of the existing shower house. Both these parts of the project will help better serve all campers and leaders.
“Scouting has a rich heritage of developing character and leadership skills in our young people and it’s important that those opportunities are available and open to all children and teens,” Comitta said. “I support the Chester County Council, BSA in welcoming and encouraging equity and diversity in scouting programs and activities. These investments will help ensure that more young people can access and enjoy the wonders of summer camp while maintaining an emphasis on health and inclusivity.”
Last year, the Chester County Council, BSA was forced to close its camps due to the pandemic. With increased scout membership, camps experienced a surge in attendance this year and are already seeing more reservations for 2022. In response, the Council is now working to modernize its facilities to accommodate all campers with gender-neutral amenities.
Rated a top BSA camp in the area, Camp Horseshoe is located on the Mason-Dixon line separating Pennsylvania and Maryland, its name is derived from the Octoraro Creek, a tributary of the Susquehanna River, that makes a meandering 4-mile horseshoe through the property. The camp offers a multitude of scouting programs and opportunities, including more than 50 merit badges, a computer lab, STEM offerings, various outdoor activities, and programs for first-year and older scouts alike.
The Chester County Council, BSA is the local operation of Scouts, BSA (formerly the Boy Scouts of America), serving Chester County, Pennsylvania and the northwestern corner of Cecil County, Maryland. With a charter dating back to 1919, the Council has a rich heritage of developing character and leadership skills in youth, recently celebrating its 100th Anniversary. It serves nearly 5,000 youth annually through thousands of dedicated, talented volunteers and a small number of professional staff and it partners with over 110 community organizations to deliver quality scouting programs.
In 2018, the Scouting program began serving both boys and girls from kindergarten through fifth grade. The Scouts, BSA program launched in February 2019 and serves boys and girls, ages 11 to 18, thus allowing more young people than ever before to experience the benefits of a time-tested program that builds character and leadership.
The Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) is a Commonwealth reimbursement grant program administered by the Office of the Budget for the acquisition and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic, recreational, and historical improvement projects. RACP projects are authorized in the state budget, have a regional or multi-jurisdictional impact, and generate substantial increases or maintain current levels of employment, tax revenues, or other measures of economic activity.
