The Delaware County Office of Sustainability will host the 1st Annual Delaware County Sustainability Conference on Thursday, April 21, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at Subaru Park in Chester, bringing together local and regional sustainability experts and everyday ‘sustainability heroes’ to share experiences and provide a forum for a cross-pollination of ideas related to climate change, environmental stewardship, health, and sustainability. 

The conference is a vegan, zero waste, admission-free event that aims to inform and inspire attendees through the lens of six sustainability focus areas: Health and Wellness, Climate Resiliency, Natural Resources, Transportation, Energy, and Zero Waste. 

Participants will enjoy a keynote address by Ruth Abbe, a nationally renowned expert on zero waste, as well as panel discussions, presentations, and plenty of opportunities for discussion and networking. The conference will also include a tour of Subaru Park and the stadium’s organic garden, an electric vehicle ‘ride and drive’ demo, a short Sustain Delco Award Ceremony, and more.

Representatives from Bryn Mawr College, Drive Electric Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, the City of Philadelphia’s Office of Transportation, Infrastructure, and Sustainability (OTIS), the Penn State Agriculture Extension, the Pennsylvania Resources Council, the Office of Environmental Justice, the Delaware County Health Department, Conscious Connections, Inc., and members of the Chester County Planning Commission, the Montgomery County Planning Commission, and the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) will be in attendance. 

Opening remarks and introductions will be provided by Delaware County Council Chair Dr. Monica Taylor, Chester City Mayor Thaddeus Kirkland, Delaware County Executive Director Howard Lazarus, Delaware County Chief Sustainability Officer Francine Locke, and Rob Fogel, Local Government Liaison from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

The agenda, as well as detailed bios of all participants, can be viewed at delcopa.gov/sustaininfo. 

WHERE TO WATCH

Although registration for the in-person event is now full, residents are encouraged to attend virtually; the conference will be livestreamed at delcopa.gov/sustaindelco, and a recording of the conference will be available at this link shortly after the conference’s conclusion.

With the entire Delaware County fleet of vehicles consisting of over 300 cars, trucks, and specialty law enforcement vehicles, the new grant will enable the County to make a significant improvement in the percentage of sustainable no-emission EVs in the County fleet and aggressively transition away from fossil-fuel burning vehicles. Overall, the new EVs are poised to displace 33,253 gallons of gasoline per year and reduce greenhouse gases emissions by 178 tons per year.

The transition to EVs and the related reduction in fossil-fuel burning vehicles is part of the Delaware County Sustainability and Climate Action Plan, which is currently in the final stages of development. This plan will provide the County with a variety of action items to address human-caused climate change, which Delaware County Council and global experts agree is a threat to public health today, with the most vulnerable populations (including the oldest and youngest, as well as those already facing economic and health challenges) at the highest risk.

Delaware County Council thanks PA DEP for this highly impactful grant that will help shape the future of Delaware County residents for years to come.

On Wednesday, April 13, Delaware County was honored to receive the prestigious Governor’s Award for Local Government Excellence, in recognition of the County’s successful Emergency Rental Assistance (Delco ERA) Program. The award, presented to Delaware County at the Local Government Day Awards Ceremony held at the State Museum of Pennsylvania in downtown Harrisburg, is given annually to a select group of exemplary local officials for their successes in undertaking innovative initiatives to improve the quality of life in their communities.

William F. Martin, the Delaware County Solicitor and a key contributor to the implementation of the Delco ERA program, traveled to Harrisburg to receive the award on behalf of the County and took the opportunity to praise the significant contributions of numerous government departments, community partner organization, as well as Capital Access Inc., a local grants management firm that was selected by the County to help design and administer the program in early 2021.

“Delaware County is proud to accept the Governor’s Award for Local Government Excellence, and this program is a wonderful illustration of how government can effectively and efficiently serve our community,” said Mr. Martin. “Delaware County Council, the Delaware County Department of Human Services under the guidance of Sandy Garrison, Deputy County Solicitor Jon Lichtenstein, Capital Access under the direction of Jeremey Newberg, numerous staff members from many other State and County agencies, as well as our many community partners—including the Multicultural Community Family Services, the Delaware County Foundation, the Chester Housing Authority and Chester City Hall—have all played a significant role in making the Delco ERA program a success, and we’re incredibly appreciative of the opportunity to serve the residents of Delaware County.”

The ERA Program, first created by Congress through the Consolidated Appropriations Act enacted in 2020 and then expanded under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, established a mechanism by which states and local governments could provide financial assistance to households in danger of eviction, the loss of utilities, and homelessness as a result of financial disruption and loss of income during or due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  

The speed and efficiency by which the grants were processed relative to other counties, the safeguards put in place to prevent fraudulent applications, and the extent of community outreach and efforts to work with residents in-person and on a case-by-case basis were all contributing factors that led to Delaware County being selected to receive the Governor’s Award and recognized as one of the top performing programs in the country. 

To-date, Delco ERA has approved over 8,900 grants, totaling over $55.6M, for Delaware County tenants—including $47.4M for rent assistance and nearly $7.4M for utilities. By the completion of the program later this year, it is expected that over $67M will be distributed, with an average grant totaling over $6,000.

“The magic of Delco ERA is that Delaware County leadership, community partners, renters, landlords, and Capital Access have all embraced the values of shared investment and shared success. Delco ERA presented an opportunity to go bigger and deeper in terms of community impact and scale for service delivery to help Delco neighbors recover with dignity,” added Jeremey Newberg, CEO of Capital Access and Program Manager for Delco ERA, who was also in attendance at the awards ceremony.

In addition to processing applications, Delco ERA has convened nearly 100 1:1 in-person application intake sessions, helping over 3,100 applicants and landlords bridge the digital divide and navigate the fair but stringent process designed to ensure only qualified applicants receive assistance. The Delco ERA program team also worked closely with the Eviction Courts and Legal Aid organizations to help hundreds of tenants catch up on past due rent and avoid eviction and the risk of homelessness.

Delaware County renters experiencing housing instability should register on the Delco ERA website at www.delco-era.com while funds remain available. Individuals wanting additional information can also contact Delco ERA by email at info@delco-era.com or by phone at (484) 729-4200.

Delaware County Council joined Senator Bob Casey, Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon, State Representative Joanna McClinton, and SEPTA Deputy General Manager Scott Sauer at the intersection of 6th and Main Streets in Darby on April 11 to announce that Delaware County will receive $1M as part of the funding for Congressionally Directed Spending Projects throughout the Commonwealth. This money has been earmarked to be used for the Darby Borough Safety Improvements Project. 

“Thanks to the funding that Senator Casey worked to secure for Delaware County, critical safety improvements can be made,” said Delaware County Councilwoman Christine Reuther. “The project will result in much needed and long overdue safety improvements for motorists, pedestrians, and trolley riders. The project will significantly improve the roadways, sidewalks, pedestrian crossings, and warning devices—including new traffic signals and crossing gates—for motorists and pedestrians. Ultimately, it will reduce injuries and deaths in this community.”

The grade crossing at 6th and Main Streets in Darby Borough is the only grade crossing in the nation where an active freight line crosses an active fixed-rail transit line with pedestrians, bikers, and vehicles traveling through the intersection. This poses a significant safety concern for the residents of Darby.

The crossing accommodates significant train traffic from a major interstate freight line, vehicular traffic from two roads, and pedestrian traffic, with several schools and businesses nearby. Throughout the day, residents are driving or walking through this intersection to take their kids to school, grocery shop, go to work, or visit family. 

Adding to the crossing's complexity is SEPTA's Trolley Route 11 that bisects the freight rail line, with trolley stops on both sides of the grade crossing. Pedestrians, including school children, have been injured by trolleys and trains at this intersection. In December 2021, six people were injured when a trolley collided with a train at this intersection. 

The grade crossing was the subject of a two-phase study conducted by the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) and was overseen by a broad-based steering committee. The focus of the Phase II work was to identify and explore implementation strategies to improve the safety and efficiency at the crossings. 

“This funding is possible because for the first time in a decade, Congress is sending federal dollars directly to community projects here in Southeastern Pennsylvania and across the Nation,” said Senator Casey. “The $1 million in federal funding will help make this dangerous intersection safer, prevent future injuries and create jobs. I will continue working to ensure federal funds reach Pennsylvania communities that need it.”

On April 6, Delaware County Interactive Gaming Revenue Authority (DCIGRA) Board Chair Paul K. Johnson presented a $25,000 check to the Share Food Program (Share), which will be used to address both short-term and systemic problems around food insecurity and inequities in Delaware County.

Delaware County recently approved a five-year contract with Share to manage the charitable food system within the county. Through this collaboration, Share—the largest food bank and hunger relief organization in the region—has become the County’s lead agency for state and federal food distribution and will serve as the headquarters for the County’s food pantry network.

“This impactful funding will enable us to help reduce food insecurity among vulnerable residents of Delaware County, and further promote an equitable food distribution system,” said Share’s Executive Director, George Matysik, who along with Share’s Delaware County Program Director, Ellie Crowell, were on hand to receive the check. “We thank the Delaware County Interactive Gaming Revenue Authority Board for their generosity.”

According to 2020 Census data, roughly ten percent of Delaware County residents live under the Federal poverty line, and many residents experience food insecurity. Share is addressing this insecurity by serving an expansive, quality partner network of community-based organizations and school districts engaged in food distribution, education, and food justice advocacy. 

The new revenue will help Share launch its centrally-located Food Bank in Delaware County, which will be located at 101 Amosland Road in Holmes, PA, and will serve all 49 municipalities within the county. Share’s goals for the next year include:

• Supporting equitable food access among Delaware County food pantries
• Strengthening the capacity of local pantries to provide ongoing food distribution to their constituents
• Increasing outreach to community members facing food insecurity
• Building a robust home delivery program to deliver food directly to seniors and those with disabilities and/or are homebound.

Delaware County Council thanks Share and the Delaware County Interactive Gaming Revenue Authority for their efforts to help alleviate food insecurity in our region.

PA CareerLink^® Delaware County, in partnership with Delaware County Workforce Development, is encouraging local employers to register for two upcoming job fairs being held for high school youth and college age residents in Delaware County.

Employers looking to fill full-time, part-time, and seasonal positions, as well as internships and apprenticeships are encouraged to register. There are no registration fees and all employers in attendance will be provided with a free table and two chairs.

The first job fair is scheduled for Thursday, April 28, from 3 p.m. – 6 p.m., at the Springfield YMCA, located at 194 Sproul Rd., in Springfield, PA.

The second job fair is scheduled for Tuesday, May 3 from 4 p.m. – 7 p.m., at the Ridley YMCA, located at 900 South Ave., in Secane, PA.

The current line-up of employers includes American Wood Design, Carpenters Local 255, Chester Community Charter School, the Community YMCA of Easter Delaware County, the Delco Transportation Management Association, the Delta Marriott Hotel at the Philadelphia Airport, Discovery Place Preschool, Drexelbrook Catering, Dunwoody Village, Educational Data Systems, Inc., Future Stars Summer Camp, Heron Companions, Liberty Coca-Cola, the Merion Cricket Club, S2STEM, the Radnor Hotel, the TSA, White Horse Village, with more businesses registering each day.

Job seekers should bring copies of their resume with the expectation that on-site interviews will be held for qualified candidates and same-day hiring may occur for some positions.

EMPLOYERS: RESERVE YOUR SPACE TODAY!

Employers interested in registering can complete the form linked below, or contact Allison Francis Barksdale, Employer Engagement Manager with Workforce Development, via email at BarksdaleA@co.delaware.pa.us.

Acceptable waste includes, but is not limited to: oil-based paints, oil-based sealers, paint thinner, gasoline, kerosene, gas/oil mixtures, heating and motor oil, batteries (including lead, rechargeable, lithium, Ni-Cad, and button batteries), pool chemicals, rust/paint remover, antifreeze, herbicides, pesticides, lawn chemicals, cleaners and solvents and mercury containing devices (including thermostats, thermometers, and fluorescent tubes).

Unacceptable items include: latex paint, all electronic items, smoke detectors, asbestos, explosives, gas/propane cylinders, PCBs, pressurized CFCs, tires, medical waste. No 50-gallon drums will be accepted.

Additional household hazardous waste events will be held on June 11 at Rose Tree Park, September 10 again at the Emergency Services Training Center in Sharon Hill, and October 15 at the Upper Chichester Township Municipal Building. Online registration is available six weeks prior to each event.

For additional information regarding hazardous waste disposal, residents should contact the Delaware County Solid Waste Authority at (610) 892-9627.

Delaware County Govt Official 2022 Calendar

Meet your Delaware County Council members

The Delaware County Health Department website