32,795 new cases of COVID-19 were reported last week. The statewide COVID-19 total case count now stands at 1,380,364. The commonwealth continues to rank 36th in cases per 100,000 nationally, with Tennessee, West Virginia, and Alaska now making up the top…
IFO Report Shows Inflation Slowing, Increased Rental Rates
The Independent Fiscal Office released its Monthly Economic Update, which features August Consumer Price Index data for the Philadelphia metro region at a 4.6% inflation rate down from 4.9% in June. Cars, energy and healthcare costs are growing at a slower rate than before. The…
Economic Council to Hold Briefing on Resource Recovery for Northeast U.S.
The International Economic Development Council is hosting a virtual economic recover briefing on Friday, September 24, from 1-5 p.m., for Mid-Atlantic communities affected by Tropical Storm Ida. Participants will hear from federal and state partners, as well as disaster recovery specialists. Click here for more.
DCED Business Waiver Process Flawed
Auditor General Timothy L. DeFoor has released a performance audit of the Wolf Administration’s waiver process for businesses that asked to remain open early in the COVID-19 pandemic. On March 19, 2020, Gov. Tom Wolf ordered Pennsylvania businesses that were…
Commonwealth Releases Data on Vaccinated vs. Unvaccinated
The state Department of Health has released a report on COVID-19 post-vaccination cases, including the number of cases, hospitalizations, and deaths in the state that were seen in vaccinated and unvaccinated Pennsylvanians. Since January 2021, 95% of hospitalizations, 94% of…
SAVE the DATE . . . PennDOT Virtual Innovation Days, Nov. 2-4, 2021.
The event will provide PennDOT employees, local government representatives, and other transportation partners and stakeholders with the opportunity to learn about and discuss transportation innovations being used across Pennsylvania. The PennDOT Virtual Innovation Days will consist of: Two concurrent sessions in the morning and afternoon of each day; these sessions will also…
Treasury Issues Final ARPA Municipal Payments
State Treasurer Stacy Garrity has announced that the 10th and final batch of payments under the American Rescue Plan Act’s Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery program has been sent to qualifying Pennsylvania municipalities. Disbursements made this week include payments to 72 municipalities totaling nearly $5 million….
Don’t Miss PSATS’ Business Meeting, Centennial Celebration
Don’t miss out on PSATS’ Centennial Celebration Dinner and Annual Business Meeting in Hershey in October. Register for either or both events, which will be held at the Hershey Lodge. The Business Meeting is scheduled for Friday, October 15, and the Centennial Celebration will…
Biden Approves Federal Individual Assistance Request
President Joe Biden has approved a major disaster request for Pennsylvania following Tropical Depression Ida. The approval releases individual assistance for Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia, and York counties and makes the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program available on a cost-share basis to all 67 counties. Residents and business owners…
PennDOT Accepting Multimodal Grant Applications
The state Department of Transportation is now accepting applications for a new round of Multimodal Transportation Fund grants. Applications are due November 5, 2021. Townships and councils of governments may apply for these grants. Awards will be made next year and funded in…
