Community grants awarded in Reading and Delaware

Eight projects in northwest Reading, Pennsylvania, will receive a total of $1,776,291 through the Neighborhood Assistance Program. Announced by State Representative Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz, the funding targets issues such as education access, food insecurity, and healthcare.

Key recipients include GoggleWorks Art Park for green space transformation, Helping Harvest Fresh Food Bank for building remediation and food distribution, and Habitat for Humanity of Berks County for a neighborhood revitalization plan. Other funds are allocated to the Olivet Boys & Girls Club, Reading Hospital Foundation, United Way of Berks County, and Centro Hispano.

In Delaware, the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) has awarded over $523,000 in community grants through the Community Environmental Project Fund (CEPF). These grants, funded by environmental violation penalties, support twelve projects aimed at pollution mitigation and environmental enhancement. This follows the passage of the Pollution Accountability Act, which increased the percentage of penalty funds returned to communities from 25% to 40%.