Kulp Dairy Farm received a key permit four months ahead of schedule for their expansion project thanks to the Shapiro Administration’s work to cut red […]
By: Danielle Smith For Pennsylvanians on the hunt for employment opportunities, the Keystone State offers a favorable landscape. The state’s jobless rate stayed at a record […]
0
0
By: Danielle Smith
A proposed pumped-storage hydroelectric facility for Cuffs Run near the Susquehanna River in York County has been challenged by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.
The foundation filed a motion to intervene in the proceedings with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which is considering granting a preliminary permit to build a 1.8-mile-long dam for the project.
Harry Campbell, science policy and advocacy director for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, said they are working to stop the project in order to protect the unique Cuffs Run area and its ecological benefits for future generations.
“If approved, this project would destroy it about 580 acres of prime farmland, fields and forests, some of which have not been disturbed in about 100 years,” Campbell pointed out. “Those farms, fields and forests exist harmoniously with and in support of a plethora of plant and animal life.”
The foundation is circulating an online petition and encouraged Pennsylvanians to provide comments before Sunday.
The stream is home to naturally reproducing brook trout. Advocates worry the $2.5 billion project would also be harmful to the Susquehanna River. Campbell noted about 40 families would be displaced.
“For those who call Cuffs Run home, it’s more than just a place to live. It’s their heritage and they want it to be part of their legacy,” Campbell asserted. “This project just simply is the wrong idea in the wrong place. In order to honor that heritage and that legacy, we need to preserve this area.”
Campbell emphasized the Cuffs Run project is about 993 acres of land draining into a 2.5-mile unnamed tributary. He added in terms of stream habitat, the rocks, pebbles and woody material have been identified as among the best in the region for supporting critters living in the water.
0
0
Harrisburg, PA — With the tax filing season opening today, the Department of Revenue is encouraging taxpayers to use a free online option to file their Pennsylvania personal income tax returns. Taxpayers can visit mypath.pa.gov to file their PA tax returns through the department’s state-only filing system.
myPATH is user friendly and can also be used to make income tax payments. The deadline to submit 2023 personal income tax returns is Monday, April 15, 2024.
“If you’re looking to avoid paying a fee to file your personal income tax return in Pennsylvania, myPATH is a great option. This free, online filing tool helps us deliver on Governor Shapiro’s promise to keep costs down for Pennsylvanians and their families,” Revenue Secretary Pat Browne said. “You can access myPATH from a computer, tablet, or mobile phone, which makes it easy to file your return at a time and place that are convenient for you.”
Important Features in myPATH
Taxpayers do not need to create a username or password to perform many functions in myPATH. That includes filing the Pennsylvania Personal Income Tax Return (PA-40), making a payment, responding to department requests for information, and checking the status of a refund.
In order to file the PA-40, taxpayers will need to provide their Social Security number and either: (1) the tax liability for a previous tax year; or (2) their birth date, Pennsylvania driver’s license/photo ID number, and the expiration date for the license/photo ID. myPATH offers error-reducing automatic calculators and provides instant confirmation that your return has been successfully filed.
If you choose to create a username and password in myPATH, you’ll have the ability to update or view detailed account information and notices. You can also manage third-party access to your account, meaning you can give a tax professional or another person access to file your return and make payments on your behalf.
Spanish Resources for Filing
myPATH has an option for Spanish-speaking Pennsylvania taxpayers to file the PA Personal Income Tax Return (PA-40). In addition, the department has an informational video in SpanishOpens In A New Window with step-by-step instructions on how to use myPATH to file a PA-40 as part of its Revenue411 video series.
April 15 Deadline
All taxpayers who received more than $33 in total gross taxable income in calendar year 2023 must file a Pennsylvania personal income tax return by midnight, Monday, April 15, 2024.
Taxpayer Service and Assistance
Personal income tax assistance is available through the department’s Online Customer Service CenterOpens In A New Window and by calling 717-787-8201 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. The Online Customer Service Center contains answers to hundreds of common income tax questions and allows taxpayers to securely submit a question to the department through a process that is similar to sending an email.
Taxpayers may also visit a Department of Revenue district office for state personal income tax filing assistance. Assistance at district offices is available from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Customers are encouraged to call ahead to make appointments and they should also bring their Social Security cards and photo identification with them to facilitate tax filing.
Taxpayers can check the status of their refunds online by selecting the Where’s My Income Tax Refund? link on the department’s homepage; or by calling 1-888-PATAXES. Taxpayers will be prompted to provide their Social Security number and requested refund amount to obtain the current status.
Free tax forms and instructions are available at revenue.pa.gov.
0
0
Governor Shapiro’s proposed 2024-25 budget puts forth a bold vision to create economic opportunity for all Pennsylvanians.
New Holland, PA – Today, at New Holland Agriculture’s Lancaster County campus, Governor Josh Shapiro and Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding highlighted key pieces of Governor Shapiro’s 2024-25 budget, focused on creating economic opportunity for all in communities across the Commonwealth. Governor Shapiro and Secretary Redding took a hands-on tour of New Holland Agriculture’s Lancaster County campus, where innovative, high-tech machinery that is driving progress in agriculture and conservation is developed, manufactured, and sold.
Governor Shapiro understands that our economic success is dependent on our rural communities and our farmlands – and his 2024-25 budget proposal puts agriculture front and center in that conversation, investing $10.3 million in Agriculture and Conservation Innovation funds that will support innovative manufacturers and provide opportunities for farmers to be more efficient and productive, while enhancing the soil and water resources key to Pennsylvania’s future.
“For the first time ever, our economic development strategy isn’t limited in its focus to our high rises or our suburban office parks – we understand that our economic success is dependent on our rural communities and our farmlands. There’s real innovation happening all across our Commonwealth, especially on our farms. That’s why my budget places a special emphasis on agriculture, I want to help more farmers upgrade their equipment and take advantage of the latest technology through our Ag Innovation funding,” said Governor Josh Shapiro. “High-tech innovations like New Holland Agriculture develops and produces depend on investment. New Holland Equipment may be part of our heritage – but it’s also a major employer today and a world-leader in driving the kind of innovation in ag that’s going to help Pennsylvania farmers for years to come. If we want to compete and succeed as a Commonwealth, then we have to invest in our farmers.”
New Holland Equipment – a brand of CNH Industrial – has a 341-acre campus in Lancaster County that includes a 150-acre test farm and a 700,000-square-foot equipment manufacturing plant. The campus provides 600 jobs, including a Pennsylvania-certified earn-while-you-learn Ag Equipment Service Technician Apprenticeship designed to fill a pipeline for skilled technicians who can service cutting-edge, computerized equipment.
“When Pennsylvania invests in agriculture, everybody wins. Our family farmers have innovated and fought to stay competitive in a tough marketplace, all the while being the original leaders in conserving our environment and our priceless soil and water resources,” said Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding. “This budget demonstrates that the Shapiro Administration is in their corner, continuing to feed opportunities for agriculture to grow, and for Pennsylvania’s economy to grow along with it.”
Some of the innovative equipment developed and manufactured by New Holland runs on alternative energy sources and autonomous technology. The Pennsylvania-based business is helping make it possible for farmers to precisely target fertilizer and pesticide applications where problems exist, and deliver precision planting and harvesting to lower costs, increase productivity, and sustain their farms’ future.
“I know firsthand the economic impact of agriculture because my father worked over 30 years at New Holland Equipment creating multiple patents for them,” said Representative Mike Sturla. “To have such an innovative global company based in New Holland is a true asset to Pennsylvania. I commend Governor Shapiro on his comprehensive economic development strategy.”
“CNH Industrial has a long-standing foundation in Pennsylvania Agriculture since the New Holland brand was founded here in Lancaster County, more than 125 years ago,” said Richard Heisey, Vice President for Product Engineering at CNH Industrial. “A vital part of our longstanding success has been the close work we do with our customers to break new ground in innovation, sustainability, and productivity. As we look forward, we see the pace of this innovation only continuing to accelerate, so we welcome this commitment to the continued spirit of Pennsylvania as an innovator in developing new technologies that move and feed not only our state and country, but the world.”
The Innovation and Conservation Fund will magnify the impact of conservation investments in the PA Farm Bill, including the Resource Enhancement and Protection Program that helps farmers purchase conservation equipment, Conservation Excellence Grants, Farm Vitality Grants for planning, the Agricultural Conservation Assistance Program and others.
The Governor’s Economic Development Strategy, the first in nearly 20 years, puts agriculture front and center in the conversation. The strategy recognizes that the 53,000 farms across the Commonwealth support over 600,000 jobs and contribute $132 billion to our state’s economy.
The agriculture sector is a critical economic driver – and to continue Pennsylvania’s national legacy as an agriculture leader, the 2024-25 budget proposes investing:
You can read Governor Shapiro’s full 2024-25 budget in brief here.
0
0
The Governor’s proposed budget invests $25 million in main streets and small businesses and provides $600 million in total funding to grow our economy and create economic opportunity for all Pennsylvanians.
The proposed 2024-25 budget investments build on the Governor’s Executive Order to open up new opportunities for small and small diverse businesses and the $20 million secured in 2023-24 for the Historically Disadvantaged Business Program.
Philadelphia, PA – Today, while visiting small businesses in West Philadelphia, Governor Josh Shapiro joined Senator Vince Hughes, Representative Jordan Harris, Representative Rick Krajewski, Representative Amen Brown, and Enterprise Center President Della Clark to continue his ‘Main Street Matters’ tour and discuss the pieces of his proposed 2024-25 budget and economic development strategy that will create economic opportunity for all and help Pennsylvanians build generational wealth.
“My Administration is focused on creating real economic opportunity – and there’s no better way to do that than to help more Pennsylvanians start and grow small businesses of their own. That’s how we create generational wealth and lift up entire communities,” said Governor Josh Shapiro. “I believe the strength of our communities – and the number of opportunities we can create for Pennsylvanians – is directly tied to the strength of our local business communities and main streets. My budget calls for $25 million for our new Main Street Matters initiative, building off the Keystone Communities program to support small businesses, downtowns, and main streets all across Pennsylvania. These investments are going to make a real difference here in West Philly and across the Commonwealth.”
Governor Shapiro has visited with small business owners across the Commonwealth since taking office and has heard their stories and learned what they need from their state government to be successful. The Governor and his Administration worked to address the most pressing challenges small business owners face during his first year in office by:
Governor Shapiro knows that there is more work to be done to grow our economy and create a better future for Pennsylvanians — and his 2024-25 budget proposes more than $600 million in total new and expanded economic development investments, including $25 million for the newly proposed Main Street Matters program to support small businesses and commercial corridors that are the backbone of our Pennsylvania communities.
“When we invest in small businesses and local economies, we’re providing real opportunities for communities to grow, develop and thrive,” said Senator Vince Hughes. “We need to step up for hard working people, especially our Black and Brown neighbors, who have aspirations and ideas to build businesses, but just need that opportunity and support to get started. These new investments proposed by Governor Shapiro and existing programs like the Historically Disadvantaged Business Grant program can provide that opportunity.”
“Investing $25 million in the Main Street Matters program is not just a financial allocation; it’s a commitment to nurturing the heartbeats of our communities,” said Representative Jordan Harris, Majority Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. “Small businesses and commercial corridors are the pulse of Philadelphia, and these funds signify a crucial step in revitalizing and empowering these vital economic engines. As we modernize and expand the Keystone Communities program, we strengthen the very foundation upon which our economic future thrives, echoing the Governor’s vision for sustainable and inclusive growth.”
“As we fight for historic investments in our schools, housing and mass transit in this year’s budget, I’m grateful to see Governor Shapiro also position Pennsylvania as an economic leader,” said Representative Rick Krajewski. “In West and Southwest Philly, we cherish our many small businesses and know they bring vibrancy, community, and opportunity. Reinvesting in the Main Street Matters program will revitalize commercial corridors and their surrounding neighborhoods, here and across the Commonwealth.”
“Small businesses not only present a chance for economic growth and sustainability, but they bring community members together by providing goods and services that fill the specific needs of those communities,” Representative Amen Brown said. “They are not just economic engines; they are the lifeblood that sustains the spirit of Philadelphia, fostering connection, diversity and a shared sense of accomplishment for entire communities.”
“52nd Street is West Philadelphia’s Main Street, so it is fitting that we are here today to celebrate this historic investment in main streets across our state,” said Della Clark, President and CEO of The Enterprise Center. “Communities thrive when small, locally owned businesses thrive, and the investments we make to support successful entrepreneurs directly impacts the communities they serve. From small retail storefront all the way to Fortune 500 company, we want to create the conditions that will allow underrepresented business owners to build generational wealth for themselves. On behalf of The Enterprise Center, we are honored to join Governor Shapiro to reframe the conversation around supporting minority-owned businesses throughout the commonwealth, and we are excited to see Gov Shapiro’s 10-year economic strategy continuing to unfold.”
“We would like to thank Governor Shapiro and all of our community leaders present here today for choosing Two Locals Brewing Company as the host for this press conference. We very much appreciate your support,” said Mengistu Koilor, Owner of Two Locals Brewing Company. “As we all know, starting a business is never easy – but it can be an especially daunting task in the city of Philadelphia. Access to capital can be a significant hurdle, and often times we just don’t have access to the information for the resources that may be available to us. You don’t see many faces that look like us in this industry. But more importantly, this business is one that was created with a sense of community and pride – something we want to see more of in the City of Philadelphia. It’s important that businesses in these communities have access to resources and a network that can help them succeed. Let’s hold each other accountable and keep the momentum going.”
In addition to the $25 million for the Main Street Matters program, other proposed investments in economic development include: $500 million in PA SITES funding to bring more commercial and industrial sites to Pennsylvania; $20 million to support large-scale innovation and leverage Pennsylvania’s best-in-class research and development assets; and $3.5 million to create and launch the Pennsylvania Regional Economic Competitiveness Challenge to incentivize regional growth.
For more information on how the Governor’s proposed budget will continue to open up new doors of opportunity for Pennsylvania small businesses, visit shapirobudget.pa.gov.
0
0
Lancaster, Pa – First Lady Lori Shapiro met with members of the Governor’s Advisory Commission on Women and visited Patients R Waiting in Lancaster to learn more about how the organization is addressing the maternal mortality crisis by providing Black and Latina expectant moms with doula support and discuss steps the Commonwealth can take to improve access to women’s health care.
Patients R Waiting is focused on increasing the pipeline of minority clinicians and supporting minority clinicians in practice to help eliminate the disparities in care that hold women of color and low-income families back. 1 in 4 students in the United States miss school at some point due to a lack of access to period supplies. In Pennsylvania, Black women are two times more likely to die related to pregnancy and childbirth than white women.
The Shapiro Administration has taken big steps to close the gaps in women’s health care that too often hurt low-income families and communities of color. During his first year in office, Governor Josh Shapiro secured $2.3 million to expand maternal health programming – the first-ever state investment in reducing maternal mortality – and signed Senate Bill 262 to ensure improved access to timely data on maternal health and maternal mortality in Pennsylvania.
In his latest budget, Governor Shapiro has proposed an additional $2.6 million to continue capacity-building to enhance prenatal care, promote maternal health education, address racial disparities, and strengthen support systems, ensuring that every pregnant woman in Pennsylvania receives the comprehensive care necessary for a safe and healthy pregnancy and childbirth. On top of that, the Governor is calling for $3 million to provide feminine hygiene products in schools at no cost to students.
“Providing period products should not be treated like a luxury. For young girls, they are as much of a necessity as toilet paper,” said First Lady of Pennsylvania Lori Shapiro. “This funding will help move past antiquated stigma, provide essential health products for students, and reduce the trauma and stress of women and girls who don’t currently have access – but do have need – for period products.”
“The Governor’s Advisory Commission on Women is committed to improving health outcomes for all women and girls in the Commonwealth, which is why we are thrilled with the investments that Governor Shapiro proposed in his budget,” said Moriah Hathaway, Executive Director, Governor’s Advisory Commission on Women. “Commissioners like Dr. Sharee Livingston provide insights on how we can alleviate health disparities and create health systems that value, support, and listen to women and girls.”
Pennsylvania’s young women and girls deserve peace of mind so they can focus on academic learning, attendance, and health. This is an issue First Lady Shapiro has engaged on directly, visiting nonprofits that work to ensure girls have access to feminine hygiene products and hearing directly from them about the importance of that access.
“To address health disparities, particularly racial health disparities, we must address the contributing factors that allow them to exist,” said Dr. Sharee Livingston, Founding Board Member, Patients R Waiting. “At Patients R Waiting, we aim to increase diversity in medicine and strengthen the perinatal workforce – two solutions that research shows us work.”
Read more about the Governor’s budget proposal here.
0
0
Harrisburg, PA – Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding announced today that the PA Agricultural Business Development Center is taking applications for $500,000 in PA Farm Bill Farm Vitality Planning Grants, funded in the 2023-24 budget. The grants fund strategic business planning to expand or diversify farms or transition of ownership.
Governor Josh Shapiro proposed continued funding for Farm Vitality Grants and other PA Farm Bill initiatives in a 2024-25 budget that grows Pennsylvania agriculture through smart investments in economic development, job creation, and innovation.
“Strategic business planning is critical for farmers exploring what will keep their farm not just getting by, but thriving in years to come,” Secretary Redding said. “Whether passing a farm on to the next generation, expanding, innovating to bring in new revenue and meet consumer demand, or just changing with the times, Farm Vitality Grants are helping farmers bring in the market analysis, financial planning, risk management and other expertise they need to realize their vision and protect their legacy. These grants are just one of the real, tangible solutions the Shapiro Administration is investing in for the most pressing problems facing the people in Pennsylvania agriculture, and the people they feed.”
The Agricultural Business Development Center’s Farm Vitality Grants, created under the historic PA Farm Bill in 2019, have supported more than $2.2 million in project planning, and financial and technical expertise to support growth opportunities for 316 Pennsylvania farms. This includes planning to help 115 owners of preserved farms remain productive and protect the investment the farm family and the public have made to protect their land from development.
Farmers and prospective farmers are eligible for up to $7,500 to reimburse up to 75% of project planning costs. Applications will be accepted until funds are expended.
Apply online through the Department of Community and Economic Development’s single electronic application. Full program guidelines are published in the February 17 edition of the PA BulletinOpens In A New Window.
Farm Vitality Planning Grants can be combined with other PA Farm Bill funding, including these programs and others, to help plan and finance farm transitions:
For planning resources, financing and other information to support your farm business’ future, visit the Agricultural Business Development Center at agriculture.pa.gov.
Supporting the future of Pennsylvania agriculture on the family farm and in communities throughout the state, Governor Shapiro’s budget recognizes the agriculture sector as a critical economic driver. To continue Pennsylvania’s national legacy as an agriculture leader, the 2024-25 budget proposes investing:
LanChester NUZ 92.9 provides links to web sites of other organizations in order to provide visitors with certain information.
A link does not constitute an endorsement of content, viewpoint, policies, products or services of that web site.
Once you link to another web site not maintained by LanChester NUZ 92.9, you are subject to the terms and conditions of that web site, including but not limited to its privacy policy.
For full transparancy, the verbatim URL address will appear below.
Click on the link below to continue.
Click the link above to continue or CANCEL
