State Senator Lisa Boscola

The senate and governor have enacted Senate Bill 115, which will cut red tape and qualify more nurses for licensure in Pennsylvania through authorizing the commonwealth to join the Nurse Licensure Compact. The Compact is an updated licensure solution for the 21st century that allows nurses to have one multistate license with the ability to practice in all compact states – via telemedicine or in person. The Compact offers a flexible and adaptable solution to streamlining care while maintaining the public’s protection at the state level. Nurses who practice in a compact state must meet 11 uniform licensure requirements, including state and federal criminal background checks. Act 68 makes Pennsylvania the 36th state to become a member of the Compact, joining neighboring states Delaware, New Jersey, Maryland and West Virginia. Apart from the pandemic, Boscola added that the state’s substantial increase in elderly residents (65 and older) has made the need to recruit more nurses critical today and in the future.

$331,600 in “Green Light-Go” funding has been awarded to two Northampton County municipalities in the 18th District to improve traffic safety. Wlson Borough was awarded $306,000 for the modernization of the traffic signal at Butler Street and Freemansburg Avenue/South 18th Street/Palmer Street and Bethlehem Township was awarded $25,600 for LED upgrades at six intersections.

State Rep. Jeanne McNeill

$101,962.25 will be awarded to local volunteer fire and emergency medical services companies. McNeill explained the funding is provided by the Fire Company and Emergency Medical Service Grant Program. Overseen by the Office of the State Fire Commissioner, this annual program provides funding opportunities for volunteer and career fire companies, emergency medical services and rescue squads. This included $12,767.97 for the Fountain Hill FD. According to McNeill, grants can be used by eligible organizations for facilities and equipment, debt reduction, training and education, recruitment and retention, and to supplement operational expenses incurred by lack of opportunity for fundraising and inability to create revenue due to compliance with measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. More information on the grant program can be found by www.osfc.pa.gov.

U.S. Senator Bob Casey

In a release July 1, Casey said, “I am pleased that the Department of Transportation has awarded a $7,972,341 grant to the Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority for taxiway construction and runway rehabilitation at Lehigh Valley International Airport. The funding will enable the airport to maintain its standard of safety and make improvements in infrastructure, which will help to bolster the Lehigh Valley’s economy. I will continue to fight for Pennsylvania communities to receive federal support for physical infrastructure as the economy recovers from the COVID-19 crisis.” The airport also received $6.3 million in funds from the American Rescue Plan.

Bethlehem Redevelopment Authority

In partnership with the city of Bethlehem, $700,000 total from Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement fund and the Commonwealth Financing Authority’s new Blight Initiative funding. The money will help redevelop five blighted properties in the city.

Lamont McClure, NORCO exec

Lamont McClure and the Department of Parks and Recreation have announced the awarding of a $212,500 Livable Landscapes Grant to the Borough of Hellertown for Dimmick Park Phase III Improvements. A $96,200 Livable Landscapes Grant has also been awarded to Lower Saucon Township for the Polk Valley Park Trail Rehabilitation.