Enews Updates - November 4, 2022

In this Update:

I-83 Closure Starts Tonight in Dauphin County
Senate Passes PA Edge Program to Bring Jobs to Pennsylvania
Senate Votes to Provide Critical Aid to Fire & EMS Companies
Tuesday is the General Election
How Are Invasive Species Affecting You?
Reminder: Turn Clocks Back Saturday Night

I-83 Closure Starts Tonight in Dauphin County

PennDOT has announced that Interstate 83 will be closed in Dauphin County this weekend, beginning tonight with a planned reopening by 6:00 AM Monday. The closure will allow crews to remove damaged beams from the Paxton Street Bridge. PennDOT is encouraging motorists from the West Shore to take Route 581 westbound to northbound I-81 to I-83. In addition to the interstate closure, I-83 Exit 41B at Lemoyne and the Lowther Street on-ramp to I-83 northbound will be closed.

Senate Passes PA Edge Program to Bring Jobs to Pennsylvania

New jobs and more investment could be coming to Pennsylvania after the Senate voted to create and expand tax credit programs to support targeted investments in key industries.

The legislation would make new resources available for job growth under the newly established Pennsylvania Economic Development for a Growing Economy (PA EDGE) tax credit program. The program will be made up of four components to attract major new investments to Pennsylvania communities.

One of the new programs is the Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub Tax Credit program, which is designed to support projects requiring a capital investment of at least $500 million. Projects would also be required to make a good faith effort to use the local labor market and create at least 1,200 permanent and new jobs.

The bill would also establish a new Pennsylvania Milk Processing Tax Credit program to support Pennsylvania’s dairy industry. The tax credit would be equal to 5 cents per gallon of milk purchased and processed from within Pennsylvania. The program would also require capital investment of at least $500 million, efforts to use local labor and the creation of at least 1,200 permanent and new jobs.

The legislation would also create the Semiconductor Manufacturing, Biomedical Manufacturing and Research. The Tax Credit program tax credits would be split evenly between semiconductor manufacturing and biomedical projects.

In addition, House Bill 1059 would increase the cap on the Local Resource Manufacturing Tax Credit Program, while ensuring tax credits remain available for construction of a smaller project facility in the near future. The bill was sent to the governor for enactment.

Senate Votes to Provide Critical Aid to Fire & EMS Companies

In the latest effort to help Pennsylvania’s fire and emergency medical services, the Senate passed a comprehensive measure that would provide essential funding and support for these critical first responders.

The assistance is especially vital for volunteer fire companies struggling to recruit members and cover rising costs. As amended by the Senate, the measure would:

Put in place a Volunteer Tuition and Loan Assistance Program.
Establish recruitment, training and retention initiatives – including higher and secondary education partnerships for EMS.
Provide financial assistance for career and volunteer fire companies to shore up their facilities.
Increase the maximum amount of fire and EMS grants and allow merged companies to receive higher grants for 20 years.
Provide funding for online fire training.
Require the State Fire Commissioner to establish an online registry of firefighters’ courses.
Set up a Fireworks Safety Education Program.

The measure was sent to the governor for enactment.

Tuesday is the General Election

The General Election will be held Tuesday, and polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Voters who are voting for the first time in their election district will be required to show an ID. Acceptable IDs for first-time voters:

Driver’s license
U.S. passport
Military, student or employee ID
Voter registration card
Firearm permit
Current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck or government check
Any ID issued by the Commonwealth or federal government

If you are unsure where to vote, you can find your polling place here. You can learn about the voting system your county uses here.

How Are Invasive Species Affecting You?

The impact of invasive species on Pennsylvania citizens, local governments, businesses and others is the focus of a survey being conducted by the Governor’s Invasive Species Council.

The Invasive Species Impacts Survey will be used to chronicle the effects invasive plants, insects, animals and pathogens are having on land and waterways.

Invasive species include more than 140 invasive plant types, 25 plant diseases, 18 insects, 60 aquatic animals, five bird and mammal species, and more. The survey takes a few minutes to complete and is open through Nov. 13.

Reminder: Turn Clocks Back Saturday Night

Daylight saving time ends Sunday at 2 a.m., so don’t forget to set your clocks back one hour Saturday night.