Harrisburg, PA – May 3, 2023 − Today, Senator Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) joined legislative leaders and Executive Director Robin Wiessmann to celebrate the creation of the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) 50 years ago by the General Assembly.
Today’s celebration coincides with the introduction of Senate Bill 679 by Senators Costa and Michele Brooks (R-Crawford). The legislation amends the Tax Reform Code to increase the cap on the amount of available tax credits under the Mixed-Use Development Tax Credit (MUDTC) Program from $4.5 million to $15 million.
MUDTCs are used by the PHFA to fund the development of projects in targeted areas of the Commonwealth that are often underserved and have significant need. The program is intended to provide support to developers and organizations that are committed to increasing affordable housing and commercial corridor development through the rehabilitation or creation of mixed-use developments.
“In its short time since the Mixed-use Development Program was established in 2016 the program has been enormously successful,” said Senator Costa. “Each year, interest in the tax credits and applications for development have greatly outpaced their availability. By increasing the available credits, we will further jumpstart essential investments in mixed-use development around the Commonwealth. The MUDTC Program is another tool in PHFA’s toolbox for ensuring that there is a safe, affordable home for every Pennsylvanian.”
PHFA is tasked with providing affordable housing opportunities to seniors, low- and moderate-income families, and individuals with special needs through mortgage assistance programs. It also provides financing and funding for the development of community projects, multifamily housing, and mixed-use projects and provides a wide range of housing services.
“This Mixed-Use Development Tax Credit Program has been extremely beneficial to the 50th Senatorial District,” said Senator Brooks. “In the past three years, it has benefitted all three counties I represent, providing funding for the Titusville Iron Works in Crawford County, the Wright Project in New Castle, Lawrence County, and the Flats Center in Sharon, Mercer County. I fully support this revitalization program as I have seen the benefits communities reap. This is only one of the successful and vital programs that PHFA offers to better the citizens of Pennsylvania.”
Over the 50 years since its establishment by the Legislature, the Agency has assisted in the purchase or refinancing of over 191,800 homes, saved over 50,000 homes through the Homeowners’ Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program (HEMAP), and helped develop over 100,000 affordable rental units.
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HARRISBURG, PA − April 26, 2023 − Today, Members of the Pennsylvania Legislative Arts and Culture Caucus gathered in the Capitol Rotunda to celebrate “Arts Advocacy Day” along with Citizens for the Arts in Pennsylvania, a nonprofit advocacy group.
The four co-chairs of the caucus – Senator Jay Costa, Senator Pat Stefano, Representative R. Lee James, and Representative Joe Ciresi – joined advocates to praise the artists who contribute their talents to their communities, and called for continued investments in arts and culture in order to boost local economies, tourism, and downtown revitalization.
“Art is a communication tool that humans have used for centuries, connecting us to one another,” said Senator Pat Stefano. “People are instinctively drawn to beautiful things because we crave the release that’s triggered when we see or hear something that resonates with us. That in its simplest form is connection.”
“We all deserve to live in communities full of artists and art,” said Senator Jay Costa. “I am a proud patron of the arts and I was proud to join with advocates today to celebrate Pennsylvania’s contribution to the arts. I look forward to working with this bipartisan, bicameral caucus as we continue supporting a thriving arts hub in our beautiful commonwealth.”
The press conference included performances by Harrisburg poet Rick Kearns, Poetry Out Loud State Champion Peachy Lee, and the Altoona Area High School Jazz Ensemble.
“The Arts matter in PA,” said Kelley Gibson, Board Chair for Citizens for the Arts advocacy group. “Citizens for the Arts in Pennsylvania strongly believes that it is time for Pennsylvania to take the lead in supporting Arts and Culture. PA’s creative sector added more than $28.6 BILLION to the commonwealth’s economy in 2021, and these creative jobs and businesses are in every county in our community. The dance classes, local music festivals, and hands-on arts experiences that PA citizens experience are supported by these critical funds.”
Citizens for the Arts in Pennsylvania praised Governor Josh Shapiro for a 2023-24 fiscal budget that includes an increase to the Grants to the Arts line item, administered by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, for the first time since the 2015-2016 budget. The advocacy group also supports several other initiatives such as:
- The Pennsylvania Arts Education Association in support of their advocating for the need to update the Arts & Humanities standards.
- The Pennsylvania State Task Force for Music Therapy in supporting Professional Licensure of Music Therapy.
- Funding to support the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.
Footage of today’s presser is accessible at PASenate.com. More information about the caucus is available at PAArtsCultureCaucus.com.
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Local elected officials gathered at the Allegheny County Fire Academy training grounds on Tuesday to announce funding for the creation of a Western Pennsylvania Type 1 urban search and rescue team and to request further support from their colleagues.
Currently, the state’s only Type 1 urban search and rescue team — which respond to large-scale disasters — is based in Philadelphia, so when the Fern Hollow Bridge collapsed in January, it took rescue teams about six hours to get to the scene.
There were no deaths and only a few injuries from the collapse; however, many were concerned about the team’s response time if someone had been seriously hurt or trapped beneath the rubble.
State Sen. Jay Costa reintroduced legislation that he said could help to provide relief for certain homeowners paying property tax in the city of Pittsburgh.
Democratic lawmakers are promoting a new state bill that could enable longtime homeowners in certain Pittsburgh neighborhoods to claim property tax freezes.
During a press conference this morning to promote the initiative, State Sen. Jay Costa (D-Forest Hills) along with State Rep. Sara Innamorato (D-Lawrenceville) and Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey, spoke of soaring property values that have spiked property taxes in recent years and driven many longtime homeowners out of East End neighborhoods like Lawrenceville and East Liberty.
