Lycoming County – Lycoming County Resource Management Services and Muncy Creek Township Officials have been working to maintain a clean, safe, and sustainable recycling drop off program located at Muncy Creek Township municipal building. Unfortunately, the recycling site has become a location for unwanted household waste and misuse of the site.

Certain individuals have been discharging waste at the recycling drop off site; waste has included household waste, tires, and unwanted plastic items. Certain individuals have also been improperly using the site by leaving their recycling next to the containers instead of depositing them into the containers.

Leaving such items at the sites is an expense to the Township and ultimately to the taxpayers’ dollars for disposal cost and enforcement fees. Leaving such items is illegal dumping/littering.

The Muncy Creek Township recycling drop off site will be permanently closing if this issue does not improve by the end of the year, December 31, 2020.

Muncy Creek Township Supervisors will be discussing the possible closure at their upcoming Township meeting on Monday, October 19 at 7:00pm. To voice your concerns regarding this closure you may attend the meeting, write to Muncy Creek Supervisors, or call the Township Building.

LIVE online events help students & families plan for an affordable postsecondary education

Harrisburg, PA (October 14, 2020) – PHEAA today announced that the Agency will host a series of virtual financial aid webinars throughout October and November, beginning October 15, to help students and families understand the application and awarding process, in addition to various funding options.

Understanding Financial Aid Offers and Balances

Financial aid offers that students receive from schools after completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) provide an idea of the costs associated with post-secondary education. However, these offers can be confusing since each school formats their student aid information differently. PHEAA representatives will present a one hour webinar to assist in understanding and navigating through the different types of financial aid, what students are being offered, identifying funding balances and next steps that are needed.

Event Dates:

• Thursday, October 15 – Noon (ET)
• Thursday, October 29 – Noon (ET)
• Thursday, November 5 – Noon (ET)
• Thursday, November 12 – 6:00 PM (ET)
• Thursday, November 18 – 6:00 PM (ET)

Covering the Gap – Pieces of the Puzzle to Help Pay Your Education Bill

Understanding education balances can be confusing. PHEAA representatives are offering one-hour webinars on how to cover any gaps in a student’s higher education funding plan. These webinars emphasize best practices (such as grants and scholarships first), remind families about additional resources, and discuss private/alternative loans as a last resort. The presentation will also include the basics of credit: what is a credit score, what factors impact a credit score, how can a credit score be improved and the effects on your borrowing capability.

Event Dates:

• Monday, October 19 – Noon (ET)
• Wednesday, November 4 – Noon (ET)
• Monday, November 9 – 6:00 PM (ET)
• Tuesday, November 17 – 6:00 PM (ET)

Students and families can participate in any of these events by registering [pheaa-events500.webex.com/mw3300/mywebex/default.do?siteurl=pheaa-events500&service=6]here (pheaa-events500.webex.com/mw3300/mywebex/default.do?siteurl=pheaa-events500&service=6).

Students and families are also encouraged to follow PHEAA on Facebook at facebook.com/pheaa.aid or Twitter at twitter.com/pheaaaid and joining the conversation with the hashtag #PHEAAFinAid.

PHEAA’s Facebook page is an excellent resource to learn more about the student financial aid process, to discover what’s needed to successfully plan for higher education, and to sign-up for reminders of financial aid deadlines. Additionally, video tutorials explaining the student aid process and types of aid available can be found at YouTube.com/PHEAAstudentAid.

Harrisburg, PA – Governor Tom Wolf and Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine today released a weekly status update detailing the state’s mitigation efforts based on the COVID-19 Early Warning Monitoring System Dashboard.

The update includes the following:

• Level of community transmission as a basis for the recommendations for Pre-K to 12 schools to determine instructional models.
• Data on cases among 5-18-year-olds.
• Cases that reported visiting a business among potential locations where exposures may have occurred.
• Updated travel recommendations.

The dashboard is designed to provide early warning signs of factors that affect the state’s mitigation efforts. The data available on the early warning monitoring dashboard includes week-over-week case differences, incidence rates, test percent-positivity, and rates of hospitalizations, ventilations and emergency room visits tied to COVID-19. This week’s update compares the period of October 2 – October 8 to the previous seven days, September 25 – October 1.

“Our percent positivity and incidence rate for the commonwealth both increased this week as we see a resurgence of cases in Pennsylvania,” Gov. Wolf said. “We cannot emphasize enough the importance of Pennsylvanians being united in taking actions to protect ourselves and others, such as wearing a mask, practicing social distancing, washing our hands and avoiding large gatherings. Together, Pennsylvanians can work to prevent the spread of the virus.”

As of Thursday, October 8, the state has seen a seven-day increase of 7,269 cases; the previous seven-day increase was 6,137, indicating a 1,132-case increase across the state over the past week.

The statewide percent-positivity went up to 3.9% from 3.7% last week. Counties with concerning percent-positivity include Northumberland (8.6%), Centre (7.6%), Bradford (7.4%), Lebanon (7.4%), Lawrence (6.9%), Potter (6.3%), Westmoreland (6.3%), Fulton (6.2%), Montour (6.0%), Berks (5.9%), Indiana (5.9%), Huntingdon (5.8%), Lackawanna (5.4%), Schuylkill (5.0%). Each of these counties bears watching as the state continues to monitor all available data.

Community Transmission
As of Friday’s data, Bradford, Centre, Lebanon, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder and Union counties were in the substantial level of community transmission. The departments of Education and Health will speak with school district representatives in these counties to discuss the implications of this level of transmission.

For the week ending October 8, 14 counties were in the low level of transmission, 46 counties in the moderate level, with seven with substantial transmission:

• Low – Cameron, Clinton, Elk, Forest, Fulton, Greene, Jefferson, Juniata, McKean, Potter, Sullivan, Warren, Wayne, Wyoming
• Moderate – Adams, Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Bedford, Berks, Blair, Bucks, Butler, Cambria, Carbon, Chester, Clarion, Clearfield, Columbia, Crawford, Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware, Erie, Fayette, Franklin, Huntingdon, Indiana, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lawrence, Lehigh, Luzerne, Lycoming, Mercer, Mifflin, Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton, Perry, Philadelphia, Pike, Schuylkill, Somerset, Susquehanna, Tioga, Venango, Washington, Westmoreland, York
• Substantial – Bradford, Centre, Lebanon, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder, Union

Cases Among 5-18-Year-Olds
The Department of Health is providing weekly data on the number of statewide cases of COVID-19 among 5 to 18-year-olds.

Throughout the pandemic, there have been 11,171 total cases of COVID-19 among 5 to 18-year-olds. Of that total, 623 occurred between October 2 – October 8. For the week of September 25 – October 1, there were 615 cases of COVID-19 among 5 to 18-year-olds.

Cases by demographic group is available on the DOH website.

Business Visits
The Department of Health is providing weekly data on the number of individuals who responded to case investigators that they spent time at business establishments (restaurants, bars, gym/fitness centers, salon/barbershops) and at mass gatherings 14 days prior to the onset of COVID-19 symptoms.

Of the 6,812 confirmed cases reported between September 27 and October 3, 38 percent (2,599) provided an answer to the question as to whether they spent time at a business establishment.

Of those who did provide an answer, 16.7 percent, or 434, answered yes, they visited a business establishment 14 days prior to onset of symptoms:

• 53 percent (231) of those who said yes reported going to a restaurant;
• 25 percent (108) of those who said yes reported going to some other business establishment;
• 14.5 percent (63) of those who said yes reported going to a bar;
• 10.6 percent (46) of those who said yes reported going to a gym/fitness center; and
• 7 percent (30) of those who said yes reported going to a salon/barbershop.

Of the 6,812 confirmed cases, 38 percent (2,612) answered the question as to whether they attended a mass gathering or other large event. Of the 38 percent, 16 percent (424) answered yes to whether they attended a mass gathering or other large event 14 days prior to onset of symptoms. With less than half of those asked responding to the question, the department is reminding Pennsylvanians that it is essential to answer the phone when case investigators call and to provide full and complete information to these clinical professionals.

Compared to data reported on October 5, this week’s data saw an increase in people going to a bar (14.5 percent vs. 12 percent), to a restaurant (53 percent vs. 51 percent), to a salon or barbershop (7 percent vs. 5.5 percent) and up marginally for going to a gym/fitness center (10.6 percent vs. 10.5 percent). Numbers went down for this week’s data for people who reported going to some other business (25 percent vs. 29 percent). The number of those who attended a mass gathering or other large event went up (15 percent vs. 16 percent).

Travel Recommendations
Also, the Department of Health updated its travel recommendations, originally announced on July 2, to add Alaska, Indiana and North Carolina to the list of states recommended for domestic travelers returning from to quarantine for 14 days upon return to Pennsylvania.

It is important that people understand that this recommendation is in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Pennsylvania. A concerning number of recent cases have been linked to travel, and if people are going to travel, we need them to take steps to protect themselves, their loved ones and their community, and that involves quarantining.

Gov. Wolf continues to prioritize the health and safety of all Pennsylvanians through the COVID-19 pandemic. Pennsylvanians should continue to take actions to prevent the spread of COVID-19, regardless of in what county they live. This includes wearing a mask or face covering anytime they are in public. COVID-19 has been shown to spread easily in the air and contagious carriers can be asymptomatic.

Harrisburg, PA – The Department of Health today shared its weekly update on Pennsylvania’s COVID-19 case investigation and contact tracing data and encouraged Pennsylvanians to download the COVID Alert PA app to aid in contact tracing efforts.

“As Pennsylvania experiences increases in cases, the demand for case investigations and contact tracing increase,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said. “Case investigations and contact tracing are proven public health strategies to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, but in order to work successfully, we need Pennsylvanians to answer the phone. When you are confirmed positive, a public health professional will call to find out where you went while infectious and with whom you came in contact. Pennsylvanians can unite against COVID-19 by wearing a mask, washing hands, practicing social distancing, downloading the COVID Alert PA app and answering the call to stop this virus in its tracks before it affects your loved ones, co-workers or friends across the state.”

Contact tracing is the process of identifying, notifying, and monitoring anyone who came in close contact with an individual who has COVID-19 while they were infectious. The contact tracing process is not possible without a case investigation by a public health professional. Case investigators make the initial call to those with positive COVID-19 test results.

During the case investigation, public health professionals spend 30 to 60 minutes asking questions to ensure all potential close contacts are identified. They collect information about with whom the case came in contact and where the case went while infectious. Information collected during the case investigation process is not shared publicly unless doing so would help the department in its efforts to stop the spread on a broader scale. Between Sunday, September 26 and Saturday, October 3, there were 6,812 COVID-19 cases statewide and 52 percent of all cases had a case investigation started within 24 hours of receiving the positive report.

After the initial case investigation is complete, contact tracing begins. Within the same time period of September 26 to October 3, there were 1,548 contact tracing staff working with local and county health entities, partner organizations and the Regional Response Health Collaboration Program within the Department of Human Services as well as volunteers from Co-County Wellness in Berks County and Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health.

Currently, 790 paid employees have been onboarded through a partnership with Insight Global. An additional 210 paid staff will be hired through the end of October. These new positions include contact tracing supervisors and care resource coordinators, who will help to refer Pennsylvanians to services during quarantine.

These staff monitored 10,909 contacts that were identified during the case investigations.

On September 22, the department launched COVID Alert PA, a free mobile app that uses Bluetooth technology to let a person know that they have been exposed to COVID-19 without compromising the identity or location of either the person using the app, or of the person to whom they may have been exposed. This app helps the contact tracing process by identifying and notifying those people identified as close contacts through Bluetooth technology when a person with COVID-19 does not remember everyone with whom they may have come in contact while infectious, for example, the someone they sat next to on a bus. To best support those close contacts identified through the app, there are contact tracers specifically assigned to support if those close contacts would like to talk to someone and ask questions about their next steps.

As the contact tracing program expands, the Department of Health continues to work in partnership with over 150 organizations, in addition to the county and municipal health departments, through regional partnerships to help gather and answer questions, identify problems and find solutions to improve contact tracing efforts within the region. Each regional partnership has met at least once, and includes public health staff, health providers, academic institutions, community organizations, and other stakeholders interested in helping to coordinate and engage around contact tracing efforts.

Organizations and entities interested in partnering in these efforts should reach out to RA-DHCONTACTTRACING@pa.gov.

You can find more information on the state’s contact tracing efforts and all available contact tracing positions at the Department of Health’s website here.

Pennsylvanians are reminded that mask-wearing is required when visiting businesses or in any setting outside the home where social distancing is difficult. Remember: My mask protects you; your mask protects me.

The Wolf Administration stresses the role Pennsylvanians play in helping to reduce the spread of COVID-19:

• Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
• Cover any coughs or sneezes with your elbow, not your hands.
• Clean surfaces frequently.
• Stay home to avoid spreading COVID-19, especially if you are unwell.
• If you must go out, you are required to wear a mask when in a business or where it is difficult to maintain proper social distancing.

Updated Coronavirus Links: Press Releases, State Lab Photos, Graphics

• Daily COVID-19 Report
• Press releases regarding coronavirus
• Latest information on the coronavirus
• Photos of the state’s lab in Exton (for download and use)
• Coronavirus and preparedness graphics (located at the bottom of the page)
• Community preparedness and procedures materials
• Map with the number of COVID-19 cases

All Pennsylvania residents are encouraged to sign up for AlertPA, a text notification system for health, weather, and other important alerts like COVID-19 updates from commonwealth agencies. Residents can sign up online at www.ready.pa.gov/BeInformed/Signup-For-Alerts.

• Require all customers to wear masks while entering, exiting or otherwise traveling throughout the restaurant or retail food service business (face masks may be removed while seated). Further, employees are required to wear masks at all times.
• Provide at least six feet between parties at tables or physical barriers between customers where booths are arranged back to back.
• Ensure maximum occupancy limits for indoor and outdoor areas are posted and enforced.

Harrisburg, PA – Multiple health care organizations and professionals recently voiced support for the health care reform plan the Wolf Administration announced to help make health care affordable, accessible, equitable, and of value for every Pennsylvanian.

“The support of respected organizations and health care professionals is vital to the success of these important reforms,” Gov. Wolf said. “Thank you to PAFP, Altarum, United States of Care, Center for Advocacy for the Rights & Interests of the Elderly, and the Rehabilitation and Community Providers Association for voicing their support for these health care reforms that represent those they serve.”

Here’s what these organizations had to say:

Pennsylvania Academy of Family Physicians:
“We are pleased with Gov. Wolf’s focus on primary care and health care disparities in our great Commonwealth,” said Tracey Conti, MD, President of the Pennsylvania Academy of Family Physicians (PAFP). “Alongside the American Academy of Family Physicians, we have been touting enhanced spending by payors for primary health care for years. Pennsylvania is behind the national average of payor spending at 4.2%, compared to 5.6% nationally. Furthermore, while we applaud the creation of an Interagency Health Reform Council in order to address the state’s health care costs, we look forward to broader legislation that will implement a ‘health in all policies’ strategy to help ensure health equity for all Pennsylvanians. The PAFP looks forward to working with the governor and legislature on these important topics.”

Altarum’s Healthcare Value Hub:
“The Wolf Administration’s Health Reform Plan is unique in its comprehensive focus on affordability, access, equity and value for all health needs,” said Healthcare Value Hub leadership Lynn Quincy, Amanda Hunt and Sabah Bhatnagar. “It recognizes the inequities of the current healthcare system and, most importantly, proposed evidence-based approaches to address key system problems. For example, interagency data-sharing and coordination is a key component of better delivery of state provided healthcare. Regional Accountable Health Councils recognize that local healthcare markets differ in important ways and require a customized set of solutions to achieve the aims of this announcement. But what may resonate the most with Pennsylvanians is the Health Value Commission the governor is asking the legislature to establish. If successful in keeping payors and providers accountable for health care cost growth, this council will provide long sought relief to Pennsylvanians who suffer from unaffordable healthcare and inequitable health outcomes. As the Hub’s repository of evidence shows, we have strong evidence on how to produce more equitable, more affordable health for patients but Pennsylvania is one of only a handful of states to act upon this evidence.

United States of Care:
“Amid the worst public health crisis in 100 years, COVID-19 has laid bare the gaps in our health care system that require innovative solutions,” said Emily Barson, Executive Director of United States of Care. “Since March, Pennsylvania unemployment has remained above 10%, severing people from job-connected health insurance and leaving them with unknown out-of-pocket health care costs. Between March and April 2020, nearly 50,000 people enrolled in Pennsylvania’s Medicaid program, at a time that the state’s budget is under pressure. Sadly, though not surprisingly, people of color in Pennsylvania — which make up 19% of the population — account for a disproportionate number of deaths from COVID-19 (29%) and infections (34%).

“The COVID-19 pandemic has illuminated the need for practical solutions that address both these immediate challenges and the long-term structural issues and gaps to ensure Pennsylvanians can access affordable high-quality health care moving forward. We applaud Governor Wolf and the General Assembly for making it a priority to lower health care costs and advance reforms that take into account a person’s whole health- physical, social, and financial. We look forward to seeing a Health Value Commission passed by the Assembly in 2021.”

Center for Advocacy for the Rights & Interests of the Elderly:
“We were pleased to learn of the Governor’s Whole Person Health Reform which is critical to contain costs and improve access to health care for all Pennsylvanians,” said Diane A. Menio, Executive Director of the Center for Advocacy for the Rights & Interests of the Elderly. “Pennsylvania elders too, need this protection from the increasing costs of their healthcare as well as containment of costs in critical safety net programs, Medicare and Medicaid.”

Rehabilitation and Community Providers Association:
“The governor’s new initiative really elevates the importance of behavioral health care and underscores just how important it is for individuals in need to have access to affordable and effective treatment options to improve their overall health and quality of life,” said Richard S. Edley, Ph.D., President and CEO of the Rehabilitation and Community Providers Association. “The integrated approach of whole-person care, which addresses both physical and behavioral needs, helps to lower health-care costs even as it improves overall outcomes for the individual we serve,” Edley said. “And, by integrating essential government functions across several state agencies, we can be sure we are tackling addressing social determinants that affect an individual’s health and well-being on the front end and ultimately deliver the best care possible.”

Harrisburg, PA – Governor Tom Wolf announced today the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency is improving the COVID Relief Mortgage and Rental Assistance Grant Program to help more renters and homeowners remain in their homes. Effective Oct. 17, landlords and mortgagees will have a new option to reach agreements with renters and homeowners for repayment of rent and mortgage payments above the program’s $750 monthly cap. The program previously required them to forgive the balance of the payment.

Earlier this week the governor signed an executive order extending the application deadline to Nov. 4.

“We cannot allow thousands of families to become homeless because of the pandemic,” said Gov. Wolf.  “Improving the program and giving people more time to apply will help families to stay in their homes. That will reduce the strain on social services and help landlords to pay their mortgages.

“These are positive steps, but we still need a larger solution. I continue to urge the legislature to fix the program’s other flaws so more struggling families have a place to live.”

The program has been helping fewer renters and homeowners than intended. Under the new guidance, landlords can still forgive the balance of rent and mortgage payment above $750, but creating the option to enter into repayment agreements with tenants and homeowners, and therefore recoup balance of payments, should encourage more participation in the relief program.

The federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, passed by Congress in March, provided $3.9 billion for Pennsylvania. As part of Pennsylvanian’s response to the pandemic, the governor signed legislation in May directing $175 million of the CARES funds to PHFA to provide $150 million for rental assistance and $25 million for mortgage assistance.

Governor Tom Wolf has repeatedly urged the General Assembly to remove the barriers so more Pennsylvanians can qualify.

The governor’s proposal would:

• Raise the $750 monthly cap on rent relief to at least 130% of HUD limits – In some parts of the state rent payments exceed $750 a month, therefore landlords decline to participate, leaving tenants without payment assistance.
• Eliminate the requirement that households be 30 days behind on rent to be eligible for assistance – The requirement creates an unfair burden on applicants who prioritize rent and mortgage payments over paying for food, medicine or other bills.
• Eliminate verification that applicants applied for unemployment compensation – The added administrative step creates unnecessary processing delays of applications and availability of assistance.

“Program changes are still needed to keep people in their homes, but in the meantime, these changes will let more people get rental assistance and avoid eviction,” said Gov. Wolf. “I continue to urge the General Assembly to make changes to allow more affected residents to qualify because, now more than ever, all Pennsylvanians need and deserve an affordable and safe place to live.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention halted some rental evictions nationwide until Dec. 31; however, some tenants and all homeowners are still at risk.

Annville, PA – The PA Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) reminds veterans who suffer from service-connected blindness to apply for the Blind Veterans Pension. The program provides eligible Pennsylvania veterans with a $150 per-month pension.

“October is Blindness Awareness Month, a key time to remind everyone that the DMVA offers a Blind Veterans Pension,” said Maj. Gen. (ret.) Eric Weller, deputy adjutant general of Veterans Affairs. “Veterans often pay an incredible price – like service-connected blindness – while serving our country and protecting our freedoms. They deserve this benefit and should apply to start receiving their monthly premium.”

Eligibility criteria to receive the pension includes a veteran who:

• Served in the military honorably.
• Was a resident of Pennsylvania upon entering the military.
• Suffered a service-connected injury or incurred a disease that resulted in loss of vision.

Weller said that DMVA continues to process payments for those enrolled in the Blind Veterans Pension program during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“When COVID-19 hit, we knew that veterans could be faced with financial hardship, so we pledged to make sure premiums were paid on time and new applications were processed,” he said. “Our staff never wavered in its commitment to serve our veterans and make sure they received the benefits they earned.”

To make the application process effortless, veterans should have the following documentation when they apply:

• A copy of last military service DD-214
• Proof of Pennsylvania residency upon entering the military
• A United States Department of Veterans Affairs disability claim number

To apply, veterans should contact the County Veterans Affairs Director in the county they reside.

To learn more about the Blind Veterans Pension program, including eligibility, go to DMVA Blind Veterans Pension. Learn more about the DMVA by visiting us online at www.dmva.pa.gov or follow us at www.facebook.com/padmva or www.twitter.com/padmva.

Tobyhanna, PA – Governor Tom Wolf visited The Mountain Center in Tobyhanna, Monroe County today to talk about the economic growth potential and restorative justice benefits of legalizing adult-use cannabis, something the state General Assembly has not yet done despite multiple requests from the governor and Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman to take up legislation this fall.

“This year, I again went to the General Assembly and asked them to make legalizing adult-use cannabis a priority for the fall as we work to find ways to overcome the economic hardships of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Gov. Wolf said. “To date, there has been no movement to advance legislation. So, I’m here today to ask again, and to focus on two particular benefits of legalization – potential economic growth and much-needed restorative justice.”

The governor described how legalizing adult-use cannabis offers the same potential for economic growth that the historic farm bill of 2018 did for hemp farming after decades of government prohibition of the industry.x

Hemp was once a widespread crop in Pennsylvania, cultivated in the commonwealth for more than 250 years and grown for seeds, fibers and extracts. Though they look similar, the governor was quick to point out that hemp is not marijuana. Hemp and marijuana are two different varieties of the same plant species, but hemp does not contain high levels of THC, the chemical that makes marijuana a controlled substance.

“Much of our knowledge about how to grow, process and use hemp was lost after industrial hemp was regulated and banned along with marijuana in the 1930s,” Wolf said. “And Pennsylvania lost the benefits of an industry with a long history of providing jobs and resources here in the commonwealth. When hemp and marijuana were banned, we didn’t just lose jobs, we lost decades of research opportunities, innovation and economic growth.”

The governor was joined by Representative Maureen Madden and hemp farmer Eric Titus White.

White described how his hemp farm has provided him with economic opportunities along with a chance to literally put down roots in his home state of Pennsylvania.

“The cannabis plant is capable of stimulating our economy, healing our soil, and bringing the focus back to natural medicine and natural farming,” White said.

“I fully support the administration’s efforts to introduce the legalization of adult recreational cannabis in such a way that invests much-needed financial resources in our underserved communities and enacts restorative justice programs throughout the Commonwealth,” Rep. Madden said.

Monroe County Senator John Blake offered his support for adult-use cannabis legalization.

“I appreciate the work of the Governor and the Lt. Governor to gauge public support for the legalization of adult use cannabis and also to weigh the potential economic benefit of legalization in PA,” Blake said. “Pennsylvania’s medical marijuana program has proven to be among the best in the nation and I believe strongly that many of the protocols, regimens and controls could be replicated to ensure positive economic benefit and proper regulation of adult-use cannabis in our Commonwealth.”

Along with stressing that legalizing adult-use cannabis will create economic growth opportunities, the governor focused on how cannabis criminalization laws have disproportionately harmed minority communities in Pennsylvania, and contributed to economic harm and trauma in historically disadvantaged areas of the state.

“Every year in Pennsylvania, another 20,000 people get cannabis-related criminal charges that can keep them from getting the jobs and housing they want,” said Lt. Gov. Fetterman. “It’s time we stop ruining people’s futures over something that’s already legal in several states and something that most Pennsylvanians don’t even think should be illegal.”

“We are taking steps to reverse the injustices caused by marijuana criminalization,” Gov. Wolf said. “In 2018, I signed the Clean Slate bill, which allows for the sealing of records for certain low-level offenses if a person has been free from convictions for ten years. That law can be applied to certain marijuana-related offenses, and the Board of Pardons has expedited pardons for low-level marijuana offenses. But there is much more that needs to be done to reverse decades of injustice. And we need to start by decriminalizing cannabis and legalizing it for adult use.”

Harrisburg, PA – Today, Governor Tom Wolf announced the approval of new funding through the Industrial Sites Reuse Program (ISRP) to the Regional Industrial Development Corporation (RIDC) to perform environmental remediation on the three main bay cranes located at Mill 19 in the City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County.

“The ongoing Mill 19 project is a major investment in western Pennsylvania and an example of productively utilizing and bringing new life to unused and unsafe spaces in the commonwealth. This property was shuttered and left vacant with the collapse of the steel industry, and these investments now allow for renovations to ensure a safe and updated property equipped for new opportunity,” said Gov. Wolf. “This funding will bring purpose back to Mill 19 for many years to come and revive the surrounding communities.”

Mill 19 at the Hazelwood Green site is one of three existing structures that remain standing from when the site was used for steel production. The cranes are part of Mill 19’s 265,000 square foot complex on the 178-acre Hazelwood Green site, which contains two newly constructed buildings and one in the planning stage. Each crane contains lead-based paint and a small amount of asbestos-containing materials.

The ISRP grant will provide $300,000 to conduct asbestos and lead-based paint remediation on all three large cranes’ surfaces. The RIDC will provide matching funds of $100,000. Once remediated, the site will include flex office space, a ground floor garage, and lab and workshop space that conforms to the high-performance building characteristic.

“This funding is so important to remove toxic and unsafe chemicals as Mill 19 continues to be revamped. It makes certain that the property is safe for incoming tenants and Pittsburgh as a whole,” said Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Secretary Dennis Davin. “The RIDC’s commitment to transforming this space for productive use is going to bring countless new jobs and businesses to Allegheny County, and we can’t wait to see this project come to completion.”

Mill 19 has been designed to be eco-friendly, environmentally sustainable, and LEED v4 Gold certified. Mill 19’s first building will house Carnegie Melon University’s Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing Institute (ARM) and CMU’s Manufacturing Futures Initiative (MFI). In 2018, construction began on the second building, a new 70,000 square foot workspace that will house a corporate research and development center for a global technology company.

In the past, the RIDC has received $9.6 million in grants and $14.4 million in loans through Business in Our Sites (BOS) project funding through the Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA) and an additional $300,000 in ISRP funds to continue with the redevelopment of Mill 19.

“Environmental remediation like this provides multiple benefits by getting harmful pollutants like lead paint and asbestos out of the environment and spurring economic development,” said Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Secretary Patrick McDonnell. “Through funding programs like ISRP we can continue building the economy of the future without being limited by pollution from the past.”

The ISRP provides loans and grants for environmental assessments and remediation carried out by eligible applicants who did not cause or contribute to the contamination. The program is designed to foster the cleanup of environmental contamination at industrial sites, thereby bringing blighted land into productive reuse.

For more information about the Industrial Sites Reuse program or DCED, visit www.dced.pa.gov.