The PA Race Horse Development and Gaming Act provides for the distribution of gaming revenues through the Commonwealth Financing Authority to support projects in the public interest. Grant requests must be at a minimum $25,000 and no more than $1,000,000.

Counties, municipalities, municipal authorities, economic development agencies, redevelopment authorities, land banks, or councils of government may apply. Non-profits may partner with an eligible applicant to apply on their behalf.

Eligible projects are those that are in the public interest, improving the quality of life of community residents. Eligible projects must be owned and maintained by an eligible applicant or a nonprofit organization. See program guidelines for specific eligible uses of funds.

The deadline to apply is November 30, 2024.

This program within the PA Department of Community and Economic Development is open to technical and trade schools, school districts, post-secondary academic institutions, workforce investment boards, economic development organizations, and nonprofit organizations. For-profit entities are not eligible.

Projects must focus on the development and deployment of workforce training programs for individuals with barriers to employment, engage youth or those with barriers in awareness building activities of manufacturing career opportunities, and advance capacity for local or regional manufacturers to meet the needs of local and regional manufacturers that cannot be met through existing programs such as WEDnet and Industry Partnerships.

Funds are available on an annual basis and vary based on recommendations and constraints set in the annual budget. Applications will be accepted and evaluated on an ongoing basis as long as funds remain available.

The PA Commission on Crime and Delinquency has funding available to schools with physical safety and/or behavioral health needs. Eligible school entities are defined under 24 P.S. §13-1314.1-B of the PA Public School Code.

The program has $100 million available to be distributed via a formula that stipulates school districts are to receive $100,000 base average and an additional amount based on their 22/23 Adjusted Average Daily Membership. Other eligible school entities are to receive $70,000.

The application deadline is September 26, 2024.

Funding is also available through the PA Commission on Crime and Delinquency for nonpublic schools as defined under Section 924.3-A of the PA Public School Code, municipalities, law enforcement agencies, or approved vendors.

Funding may be used to assist schools with physical safety and/or behavioral health needs. A total of $19,665,000 in state school safety and security funds is available to support this initiative.

The application deadline is September 26, 2024 

Environmental Education Grants Program

The PA Department of Environmental Program (DEP) offers funding for non-formal and formal environmental education projects that ensure an environmentally literate citizenry to take positive actions to help ensure the safety of the state’s natural resources.

Eligible applicants include public schools and school districts (including intermediate units and charter schools), private schools, conservation and education organizations and institutions, universities and colleges, county conservation districts, incorporated nonprofit organizations, businesses.

Funding is supported by five percent of the money collected from environmental fines and penalties and is appropriated to DEP and the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

The application deadline is November 15, 2024.

Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA)

The CFA was established in 2004 as an independent agency of the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) to administer Pennsylvania’s economic stimulus packages. The CFA holds fiduciary responsibility over the funding of programs and investments in Pennsylvania’s economic growth, including Local Share.

The agency next meets on Tuesday, September 17, 2024.