With American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds, Pennsylvania is building lasting assets. Recovery Act awards are helping to pave roads and fix bridges, fund clean water projects, strengthen a public education system that continues to produce academic gains for students, and improve our state's environment and energy efficiency. The Recovery Act is also helping those most in need through extended unemployment benefits, food assistance and health care. In the process, Pennsylvania is creating tens of thousands of jobs. For more detailed information about projects in your county, follow the corresponding project link below. In instances where projects impact more than one county, the project and funding amount may appear in other county summaries. Many other projects in the county are funded by Recovery Act dollars distributed directly from federal agencies. Information on those projects is available at http://www.recovery.gov/.
Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin: Watershed based surface water assessments of selected Pennsylvania tributaries in the Potomac River Basin
The project provides financial assistance and services to prevent individuals and families from becoming homeless or help those who are experiencing homelessness to be quickly re-housed and stabilized. Funds will be used for activities to address the jurisdiction’s homelessness needs such as: financial assistance with rental payments; security deposits; utility payments or deposits; arrearages; moving costs; and, motel/hotel vouchers; and housing relocation and stabilization services such as case management; outreach and engagement; housing search and placement; legal services; and, credit repair.
The project will provide outreach, case management, employment services and job training, emergency services, income management, educational services and training to assist families and individuals who are at or below the 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Priorities include child care and emergency food assistance; utility assistance to include water/sewer bills; educational expenses such as tuition, books and testing fees; employment and outreach assistance through the Circles Initiative; financial counseling and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA); micro-enterprise business development through commercial kitchen training; shelter, employment services and staff training for the Family Development Specialist Credential.
* Totals reflect only funding flowing through state agencies.
Direct Benefits to Families
How PA Benefits
People Helped in Franklin County
Explanation of Benefits
Reporting as of
Food Assistance
12,429
The Recovery Act will help low income individuals and families with a 13.69% increase in the maximum Food Stamp (Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program or SNAP) benefit. It also suspends the 3 month limit on assistance for many unemployed childless adults.
March 2010
Health Insurance
17,934
Low income children and adults will continue to have access to health care through Medical Assistance.
March 2010
Health Insurance for Unemployed
6,900
The Recovery Act will help make health care available to individuals who are involuntarily separated from their jobs. A COBRA subsidy will pay 65 percent of the monthly premium for individuals earning less than $145,000 and couples earning less than $290,000.
March 2010
Taxpayer Relief
63,102
Individuals earning up to $75,000 will receive a $400 tax credit in 2009 and 2010. Married couples filing jointly and earning up to $150,000 will receive a $800 tax credit.
October 2009
Unemployment Compensation
6,900
The Recovery Act will help these Pennsylvanians with a $25 per week increase in unemployment benefits through the rest of the year. It also provides additional weeks of benefits.
March 2010
All numbers are estimates, and will fluctuate over time.
The Stimulus Oversight Commission reviews, monitors and advises PA’s plans for stimulus spending to assure that citizens get the best from the program. Learn more.
Hotline
Concerned about suspected illegal or irresponsible actions regarding Recovery spending? Call 877-888-7927. Learn more.
Do you want to view Recovery project contracts?
Contracts awarded for American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds by state agencies are posted online through the Pennsylvania Treasury’s office. Search for ARRA contracts.
