The Data Center Regulation Bills on the Table in PA

With the rise of data centers across the state, The Pennsylvania House has passed bills in recent months in efforts to regulate the new projects.

From energy disclosure mandates to water usage requirements, each proposal passed has received bipartisan support.

Spotlight PA discusses which regulation bills are focused on data centers and their backgrounds.   

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NEPA Will Improve Transportation Routes with Millions in State Grants

Thirteen communities, municipalities, and organizations in Northeast and Northcentral Pennsylvania have been awarded approximately $16.6 million from the Department of Transportation’s 2025 Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside (TASA) program.

Funded through the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Surface Block Grant Program, these funds support activities and projects defined as transportation alternatives.

WVIA Public Media highlights key local projects including trail expansion and restoration, bridge construction and maintenance, and transportation economic development. 

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Feeding Pennsylvania Celebrates Ten Years of PA Agricultural Surplus Program

Members of the Shapiro Administration met with Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding and Feeding Pennsylvania to celebrate a decade of their partnership in the Pennsylvania Agricultural Surplus System (PASS).

This program supplies families across the state with high-quality, fresh food and gives state farmers a reliable market for surplus crops.

Since 2016, PASS has reduced food waste, spread food insecurity awareness, and provided $31.9 million to the Feeding Pennsylvania food bank network, which has provided 38.3 million pounds of surplus food to families and organizations. 



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How Governments Can Help Small, Medium Businesses Adopt Apprentice Programs

Registered Apprenticeships are a data-backed solution for helping employers meet talent needs and increase career pathway accessibility.

However, only a small number of businesses and workers participate in these apprenticeship systems.

The Urban Institute explains how governments can get involved with small and medium-sized businesses to create registered apprenticeship programs and reduce financial and administrative barriers.   



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A Tool for Mapping and Planning Family and School Partnerships

Schools around the world assess learning outcomes, challenges, and goals at the end of each academic year, some of which have no family involvement or participation.

Families play a crucial role in the learning process, via transportation and reinforcement of education at home.

Brookings Research discusses the Center for Universal Education (CUE)’s Family Engagement in Education Network tool, which helps families directly partner with schools to increase outcomes and accessibility. 

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Nonprofit Venture Development Organizations: What They Are and Why They Matter

Venture Development Organizations (VDOs) combine entrepreneurship with innovation to increase regional growth strategies.

VDOs are a nonprofit or quasi government organization that focus on innovation-centered economic development within a specific region and allocate direct financing and entrepreneurial support to service areas and businesses.

SSTI explains how VDOs function and why this approach matters for the emergence of strong regional business ecosystems. 



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