February 4, 2025
West Chester, Pa (February 4, 2025) – Firefighters and emergency first responders in the West Chester area will soon have access to additional equipment to keep them safe when responding to roadside emergencies.
State Senator Carolyn Comitta secured $100,000 in state funding for the West Chester Fire Department to purchase “blocking equipment,” a large piece of equipment or apparatus that is utilized at emergency sites to block vehicles from getting to the emergency scene. It is especially important in protecting emergency first responders from passing vehicles on highways or other heavily traveled roads.
“As a former Mayor of West Chester, I had the opportunity to witness the heroic and selfless work of our firefighters and emergency first responders time and time again. They deserve the tools and equipment they need to do their jobs safely and effectively, without having to risk being struck by a passing vehicle,” Comitta said. “This is an investment in protecting the people who protect our communities.”
The grant, which comes through the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, will help the department obtain blocking equipment that will be used by its three 100 percent-volunteer companies: First West Chester, Good Will, and Fame.
“We are very thankful for Senator Comitta and her unwavering support to ensure the safety of our first responders,” said Steve Pelna, past chief of the West Chester Fire Department.
According to fire officials, the Chester County Department of Emergency Services has a piece of blocking equipment but it can take up to an hour or more to mobilize it to the emergency scene, assuming it’s not already deployed to another location.
Without designated blocking equipment, the West Chester Fire Department is forced to use a $1.5-2 million dollar fire truck to block roadside emergency response efforts from passing traffic. Not only is this dangerous to the four emergency personnel staffing the truck, but a vehicle strike can prove costly to the department and result in vital emergency equipment being out of commission until repaired or replaced.
In 2019, an estimated 2,500 vehicles crashed into firetrucks parked as blockers (6.8 crashes every day or 16 percent of all firetruck collisions), according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Studies have also found that secondary collisions account for approximately 15 percent of all collisions and result in 18 percent of all traffic fatalities nationwide, according to the U.S Fire Administration.
The West Chester Fire Department provides fire/rescue services to the citizens of West Chester Borough, as well as West Goshen, East Bradford, Westtown, Birmingham, and Thornbury Townships.
For more information about the department and how you can volunteer, visit wcfiredept.org
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January 31, 2025
West Chester, Pa (January 31, 2025) – State Senator Carolyn Comitta reminds eligible seniors and adults with disabilities that they can receive up to $1000 back on property taxes or rent paid last year by applying for the Pennsylvania Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program.
“The Property Tax Rent Rebate Program helps put more money back in the pockets of our older neighbors and friends with disabilities,” said Comitta, who serves on the Senate Aging and Youth Committee. “I encourage all eligible individuals to apply for this program and please do not hesitate to contact my office if you have any questions about the application process.”
The program is open to seniors aged 65 and older, widows and widowers aged 50 and older, and adults with disabilities 18 and older with no more than $46,520 in household income. Half of Social Security income is excluded when calculating total income.
Thanks to Act 7 of 2023, which Comitta supported and voted for, the program’s income limit is now automatically increased to adjust for the cost of living so that no one loses eligibility due to the annual increase in Social Security payments.
Interested applicants can apply online at PA.gov/PTRR or by completing the PA-1000 paper application. Property owners must submit stamped paid receipts of property taxes paid in 2024 and renters must submit a completed PA Rent Certificate that is filled out by a landlord or property manager along with the application.
Application assistance is available by appointment at Senator Comitta’s district office in West Chester or one of eight satellite outreach hour locations throughout Chester County. To schedule an appointment call Senator Comitta’s office at (610) 692-2112 or go to pasenatorcomitta.com/contact.
January 29, 2025
Harrisburg, PA – January 29, 2025 − Members of the Democratic Caucus have introduced a package of bills designed to tackle systemic issues within Pennsylvania’s foster care and child protection systems. The proposed legislation prioritizes the well-being of children, families and caseworkers by advancing equity and accessibility in foster and adoption services.
The sponsors of the bill package, State Senators Maria Collett, Judy Schwank, Carolyn Comitta and Patty Kim, worked diligently to craft legislation that addresses the urgent needs of Pennsylvania’s foster care and child protection systems.
“As an attorney who advocated for children’s rights, I know how important it is that those entering the child protection system can access the services and supports they need – and that government inefficiencies aren’t hindering their wellbeing,” said Collett, Democratic Chair of Aging & Youth. “By establishing the Children’s Cabinet and reforming the county licensing process, my legislation will ensure our state and county agencies work more collaboratively and effectively to protect Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable population.”
Schwank added, “Kin care is a safe alternative to foster care that takes pressure off the foster care system and provides children with a familiar, supportive living arrangement. To improve foster care in Pennsylvania, making commonsense changes to remove non-safety-related barriers family members must navigate before getting kinship care certified is a necessary and important step.”
The package features five key bills:
- Creation of a Children’s Cabinet (Collett, Maria): This legislation establishes a Children’s Cabinet to ensure collaboration across departments and align priorities to improve outcomes for children and families.
- Licensing of County Child Welfare Agencies (Collett, Maria): Another bill from Sen. Collett focuses on improving collaboration between the Department of Human Services (DHS) and counties by reforming the licensing process to reflect federal outcomes such as timely investigations and enhanced family engagement.
- Kin Care Support Policy (Schwank, Judy): To expand kinship care opportunities, this bill reduces barriers for relatives to become certified foster parents and allows young adults, ages 18 and older, to care for related children in need.
- Protections for LGBTQ Foster and Adoptive Parents (Comitta, Carolyn): This legislation prohibits discrimination against foster and adoptive parents based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression, ensuring a fair and inclusive system for all.
- Addressing Staffing Shortages in Child Welfare (Kim, Patty): To address critical workforce shortages, this bill introduces student loan forgiveness for social workers.
“Thousands of Pennsylvania children who are in foster care or awaiting adoption deserve access to a system that works efficiently, effectively, and fairly in placing them in safe, supportive, and loving homes,” said Comitta. “For their sake, all qualified and eligible individuals deserve to be considered as potential foster and adoption parents regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or other factors.”
“Child welfare workers play a vital role in supporting our youth that may be in a vulnerable and often life-threatening situation,” Kim said. “Our case workers are the backbone and often the last resort in addressing foster youths’ safety concerns and in helping connect families with resources. Through their thankless work, lives are changed for the better. One of my priorities is to support the workers who support our communities, and I am proud to be part of this critical effort to help sustain and grow our child welfare workforce.”
The Democratic Caucus remains committed in its mission to ensure that every child in Pennsylvania has access to a safe, stable, and nurturing environment. These bills address critical gaps in the current system, providing the tools necessary to support children and the families who care for them.
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January 28, 2025
Harrisburg, Pa (January 28, 2025) – The Borough of Oxford was awarded state funding to develop rain garden bump-outs to better manage stormwater runoff, calm traffic, and beautify a roadway that is due for repaving, state Senator Carolyn Comitta said.
The funding, approved today by the Commonwealth Financing Agency, will support the construction of three, 45-foot bioretention bumps-outs on the north side of East Mt. Vernon Street. These basins will be able to capture a total of approximately 1,627 cubic feet of stormwater – equivalent to the runoff generated from approximately 0.5 inches of rain over the entire one-acre impervious area within the drainage area.
Comitta, who serves as minority chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and on the Local Government Committee, supported the borough’s successful application for $100,000 in grant funding.
“As a former mayor, I’ve seen firsthand just how effective and environmentally friendly these rain-garden bump-outs can be in managing stormwater runoff in both downtown and residential neighborhoods,” Comitta said. “I commend Oxford Borough Council and its staff for doing their due diligence in developing innovative solutions to prevent flooding, reduce pollution from runoff, calm traffic, and keep the borough looking beautiful.”
“This award will enable us to construct three rain garden bump outs along Mt. Vernon Street in the Borough,” said Kathryn Cloyd, Council President, “adding much needed green stormwater infrastructure and helping to slow down vehicles, making Mt. Vernon safer for motorists and pedestrians.”
The bump-outs are expected to address runoff from a drainage area that includes half of East Mt. Vernon Street and a few acres of land north of the street. The project calls for removing the existing sidewalk, grass median, and asphalt before excavating the subgrade, placing aggregate, and bioretention soils within the excavated area, planting the bioretention area, and installing new concrete sidewalks.
In addition, the Mt. Vernon project plans to use a “dig once” strategy that will also include structural repair and repaving of the street, replacement of a water main, and any necessary upgrades to public utilities.
In 2022, the Borough was awarded a $150,000 grant through the PA Department of Community and Economic Development’s Multimodal Transportation Fund Program to support the project’s related road improvements. In 2023, the Borough was awarded a $22,000 grant from the Chesapeake Bay Trust’s Green Streets, Green Jobs, Green Towns program to support the cost of final design and engineering of the bump-outs.
Comitta also commended borough leaders for working to help restore local watersheds and improve water quality, as Oxford is home to four different watersheds, all of which flow into the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
“Stormwater runoff is a leading source of water impairment in the Commonwealth. As we face increased rainfall and impacts related to climate change, it’s vital that local leaders and partners work together to develop proactive and creative solutions,” she said.
Work is expected to take place this year and completion of the project will help the borough meet its Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) regulatory requirements.
The project was funded by Act 13 of 2012 (the Marcellus Legacy Fund), which supports stream restoration and maintenance, as well as the planning and development of recreational trails, open space, parks, flood mitigation, watershed restoration, and beautification projects.
January 28, 2025
Harrisburg, Pa (January 28, 2025) – West Chester Borough was awarded state funding to upgrade its aging stormwater infrastructure, state Senator Carolyn Comitta and state Representative Chris Pielli announced.
The funding, approved today by the Commonwealth Financing Agency, will support the repair or replacement of portions of the borough’s existing brick stormwater infrastructure, some of which is more than a century old.
Comitta and Pielli supported the borough’s successful application for $200,000 in state grant funding.
“As we continue to face increased rainfall and precipitation, it’s important that we build a climate-resilient infrastructure to manage runoff, prevent flooding, and mitigate pollution,” said Comitta, who serves as minority chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and on the Local Government Committee. “These improvements are an investment in the public health, environmental health, and economic health of our West Chester community.”
“Pennsylvania has a multitude of important waterways that run through our communities, supplying millions of Pennsylvanians with clean drinking water, Unfortunately, too many of our waterways are being polluted by untreated stormwater runoff. Infrastructure upgrades are necessary to keep things running smoothly in West Chester,” Pielli said. “If one storm drain fails, it creates a domino effect of bigger problems that range from minor nuisance to major safety hazard. I thank the Commonwealth Financing Authority and state Sen. Carolyn Comitta for making these repairs possible.”
The project calls for installing an expand-in-place PVC liner in sections of the stormwater system that have surpassed their life expectancy. It will not only prevent future collapses but will also enhance flood control and mitigation and help the system operate more effectively and efficiently.
It was also supported by the Chester County Planning Commission and is consistent with Landscapes3, the comprehensive plan for Chester County.
The project was funded by Act 13 of 2012 (the Marcellus Legacy Fund), which supports stream restoration and maintenance, as well as the planning and development of recreational trails, open space, parks, flood mitigation, watershed restoration, and beautification projects.
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January 27, 2025
January 24, 2025
South Coatesville, Pa (January 24, 2025) – An important thoroughfare used by residents and emergency first responders in South Coatesville and the surrounding area will be repaired and reopened to traffic thanks to state funding secured by state Senator Carolyn Comitta.
Comitta secured $175,000 in state funding to restore Woodward Road in South Coatesville Borough, which has been closed since sustaining significant damage caused by the remnants of Hurricane Ida. The road is well traveled by residents in South Coatesville, Coatesville, and Modena, and also serves as a main route for Modena Fire and Ambulance Company.
“Even years later, our community continues to rebuild and strengthen our infrastructure following the damage caused by Ida,” said Comitta, who serves on the Senate Local Government Committee. “Repairing Woodward Road in South Coatesville is an important investment to ensure residents and emergency services can get where they need to go efficiently and safely.”
The grant funds, awarded through the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, will be used for engineering and construction costs.
“Due to the financial situation the borough has encountered in the past few years, the funding was not available to repair the roadway, one of the major thoroughfares through the borough that was also used by the Modena Fire and Ambulance Co,” said South Coatesville Borough Council President Bob Floyd. “With the help of Senator Comitta and her staff, they were able to get the funding needed to repair this critical roadway.”
With its proximity to the Modena Fire Company, re-opening the road will assist the company’s first responders and their response times to emergency calls. Local officials also noted that it will help reduce traffic congestion on surrounding roads and streets.
The road is expected to be reopened this summer.
January 14, 2025
West Chester, Pa (January 14, 2025) –Three organizations in Chester County will receive nearly $265,000 in funding to improve food security, reduce and prevent homelessness, and revitalize communities, state Senator Carolyn Comitta announce.
The investment was awarded through the Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP), which provides tax credits to businesses that help low-income individuals and improve distressed areas in Pennsylvania communities.
The funding, approved this week by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED), is as follows:
- $237,250 for the Chester County Food Bank to address challenges to food access, like rising costs, by distributing more than 4 million pounds of food (at least half of which is fresh fruits and vegetables) to people and families in need.
- $18,000 for the Coatesville 2nd Century Alliance for the Coatesville Culinary Collective, an outlet for entrepreneurs from diverse cultural backgrounds to develop their food products and bring them to market. The Alliance aims to foster culinary entrepreneurship, community collaboration, and economic growth by providing an affordable, code-compliant location and access to specialized equipment.
- $9,000 for Safe Harbor of Chester County to support 150 residents annually with individualized plans connecting them to healthcare, job training, and housing resources. The Intensive Housing Case Management aims to help residents achieve long-term stability and self-sufficiency by securing employment and stable housing.
“The Neighborhood Assistance Program is a way for businesses to contribute directly to the success, growth, and revitalization of local communities,” Comitta said. “Providing families with access to healthy food, offering people stable housing, and giving entrepreneurs opportunities to pursue their dreams, helps energize growth and support a strong quality of life throughout Chester County.”
The NAP has five main components: The Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP), Special Program Priorities (SPP), the Neighborhood Partnership Program (NPP), Charitable Food Program (CFP), and the Enterprise Zone Program (EZP).
The Chester County Food Bank investment came through the CFP. Support for the Coatesville 2nd Century Alliance and Safe Harbor of Chester County was provided through the SPP.
The Chester County investments come as part of the $34.3 million in total NAP support awarded to 218 projects across the Commonwealth, including 61 in the southeast region.
“The Shapiro Administration knows that when local communities are healthy and vibrant, Pennsylvania thrives,” said Pennsylvania DCED Secretary Rick Siger.
This year’s state budget, which Comitta supported and voted for, doubled the funding for the NAP from $36 million to $72 million, allowing for two rounds of awards.
In the fall, $65,000 in NAP funding was awarded to Kennett Area Community Service to support the construction of a new facility and $142,000 was awarded to the Coatesville 2nd Century Alliance to support the revitalization of the city’s downtown business district.
January 13, 2025
West Chester, Pa (January 13, 2025) – Unite for HER, a nonprofit organization that supports individuals battling breast and ovarian cancer, recently expanded their headquarters in Malvern thanks, in part, to state grant funding secured by state Senator Carolyn Comitta.
Comitta, who serves on the Pennsylvania Women’s Health Caucus and the Black Maternal Health Caucus, secured $50,000 in funding for Unite for HER, which supports breast cancer and ovarian cancer patients by providing integrative therapies, services, education, and resources at no personal cost.
“Having a strong community that lifts us up is vital, and the Chester County community has consistently demonstrated its unwavering support for our mission and outreach. We are truly thankful for this partnership and the opportunity to continue making a difference in the lives of those affected by breast cancer,” said Sue Weldon, Unite for HER CEO/Founder. “With this grant, we were able to complete necessary renovations on our new building to ensure Unite for HER has a home in Chester County for years to come.”
“Unite for HER offers wellness services, compassionate care, and a sense of community to thousands of women who are impacted by breast and ovarian cancer,” Comitta said. “Watching this organization grow to fill the vital needs of so many is a testament to the transformative power of its programs. I am proud to secure this state funding so Unite for HER can help even more women, especially those in underrepresented communities.”
Founded in 2009 by Weldon, a breast cancer survivor, Unite for HER aims to enhance the wellness and care of women diagnosed with breast and ovarian cancer by helping address their emotional, spiritual, and physical needs. Since then, the organization has grown and expanded to help heal, empower, and restore those impacted by these cancers nationwide.
“We are deeply grateful and honored by the trust and support extended by Senator Comitta and her team in choosing to back our community affected by breast cancer in such a meaningful way. This generous support will have a significant impact, enabling us to expand our programs and meet the growing needs of those we serve at Unite for HER,” Weldon said.
Comitta is a strong and consistent supporter of initiatives to improve the health and wellness of women, mothers, and girls. She supported Act 1 of 2023, the landmark legislation that requires insurers to cover preventive breast and ovarian cancer screenings for high-risk women at no cost. Comitta has also backed investments and legislation aimed at preventing maternal mortality, ensuring access to reproductive healthcare, and expanding access to postpartum care.
For more information on Unite for HER, visit www.uniteforher.org
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January 9, 2025
