NANTY GLO, PA — Small municipalities across Pennsylvania are encountering significant challenges in accessing state funding, a critical lifeline for infrastructure and essential services. Local officials, gathered at a recent hearing, detailed their struggles with the complex grant application process, which remains inaccessible to many due to limited resources.
Rep. Frank Burns, representing parts of Cambria County, highlighted the absence of dedicated legal and grant writing staff in these communities. “State grant money is a lifeline for many of these communities,” Burns stated. “It can help provide the money they need to upgrade water lines or purchase the equipment first responders need. But we know there are headaches, and we want to be able to cut the red tape for these smaller municipalities.”
Officials shared their frustrations, noting the overwhelming nature of the process and the difficulty in identifying appropriate grants. Policy Committee Chairman Ryan Bizzarro, from Erie County, emphasized the importance of communication between municipalities and state representatives. “Grant writing is very detail-oriented, it can be challenging, and years of experience can often make the difference,” Bizzarro remarked. “A key point we heard today was having an open line of communication with your state representative and state offices, but we also need to continue to listen to officials from our rural boroughs and find a way to cut more red tape.”
During the legislative session, the House addressed these issues by passing House Bill 1216, introduced by Rep. Abigail Salisbury. The bill proposes the Municipal Grant Assistance Program to offer grant writing training and connect municipalities with professional grant writers. However, the state Senate has yet to take action since the House passed the bill in June 2023.
Testimonies from local leaders, including Bill Patterson of Lily Borough Council and Diane Holby of Nanty Glo Borough Council, underscored the urgency of reforming the grant process to support aging populations in rural areas. As the bill awaits Senate consideration, municipalities remain hopeful for a streamlined process that can alleviate their financial burdens and allow them to address pressing community needs.
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