NORCO Executive Lamont MacClure

CDBG Block Grants announced

$3.04 million has been awarded from Housing and Urban Development The grant includes $2,170,520 for the Community Development Block Grant program, $682,646 for the HOME Investment Partnerships program and $189,113 in an Emergency Solutions Grant. In addition the county has $10,578,600 in available Section 108 borrowing authority. CDBG grants are used for affordable housing, programs to benefit low-to-moderate income persons and infrastructure needs. HOME grants are used to provide housing, services and shelter to individuals experiencing homelessness and other vulnerable populations. The purpose of an Emergency Solutions Grant is to assist individuals and families to quickly regain stability in permanent housing after experiencing a housing crisis or homelessness.

State Senator Pat Browne

Dirt bike legislation clears hurdle

Legislation aimed at providing law enforcement new tools to crackdown on the rampant illegal operation of dirt bikes and all-terrain vehicles on public roads cleared a key hurdle May 25, securing passage through the Senate Transportation Committee SB1183 amends current law, providing for the seizure, forfeiture and disposal of dirt bikes and ATVs operated illegally on public roadways to be subjected to the state’s asset forfeiture law. This will provide local police departments a variety of disposal options, including allowing for their sale or destruction, helping to keep these illegally operated vehicles off of the streets. The bill will now be sent to the Senate Floor for consideration.

State Senator Lisa Boscola

Learning resources funds secured

$500,000 has been secured to provided supplemental learning resources to students in the 18th Senatorial District. The grant funding will provide First In Math services to all K-8 students at every school district in the 18th. First In Math is a supplemental resource that school districts may utilize to improve a student’s fluency in mathematics. First In Math features hundreds of engaging math games designed to strengthen fact fluency, automaticity, computational thinking and other critical skills.

U.S. Senator Bob Casey

Student debt cancellation approval

U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D) has announced his approval of the Biden administration’s federal student debt cancellation. “President Biden eased the burden for millions of Americans who are struggling under the weight of their student debt. This will give them the freedom to invest in their future, buy a home, or take a risk and start a business. It’s an important first step forward in helping borrowers saddled with student debt. Moving forward, we must work to lower the skyrocketing costs of college so that future students are able to get an education without signing up for a lifetime of debt.” According to a statement by Casey, this includes $10,000 of student debt for people making less than $125,000 a year. Borrowers who received Pell Grants are eligible for up to an additional $10,000 of forgiveness. President Biden also announced that the pause on federal student loan repayments will be extended for one final time through December 31, 2022. Additionally, President Biden is taking steps to make the student loan system more manageable for current and future borrowers by cutting monthly payments in half for undergraduate loans and holding schools accountable when they hike up prices.