COVID case counts decreased for the sixth week in a row, with 6,362 new cases of COVID-19 reported this week, 36% less than last week. The statewide COVID-19 total case count now stands at 1,201,375. Pennsylvania’s new case rates are now…
Pennsylvania’s COVID-19 Mitigation Orders Are History
All Pennsylvania mitigation orders except for masking have been lifted. This includes restrictions on employers, businesses, and restaurants and limits on social distancing, gatherings, facility capacity, restaurant dining capacity, and employee safety requirements. Click here for more. The governor’s Proclamation of Disaster Emergency for the COVID-19 Pandemic remains in place for now….
PSATS Releases Updated American Rescue Plan Fact Sheet
PSATS has released a newly updated American Rescue Plan Fact Sheet that incorporates the U.S. Treasury Department’s Interim Final Rule, as well as additional guidance from Treasury released last week. Last week’s guidance detailed how the states are to distribute…
IFO Releases Revenue Estimates for 2021-2022
The Independent Fiscal Office (IFO) has released its initial revenue estimate for the commonwealth’s fiscal year 2021-2022. The report examines the impact of federal funds, possible labor shortages, and expiring programs on growth. Click here for more.
PUC Issues Cybersecurity Advisory
The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) has issued a cybersecurity advisory to public utilities across Pennsylvania highlighting cybersecurity best practices. All townships may use these federal resources to help decrease their risk for cyberattacks by ransomware and know what to…
Reminder: Pennsylvania’s COVID-19 Mitigation Orders to Be Lifted May 31
All COVID mitigation orders except for the masking order are scheduled to be lifted on Monday, May 31. However, the revised orders have not yet been released. The masking order will be lifted when 70% of eligible Pennsylvania adults are fully vaccinated. Click here for the May 4 press release. When the mitigation orders…
DCED Expected to Be Designated Lead Agency for ARP Funds
The state Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) is expected to be designated as the lead commonwealth agency for managing American Rescue Plan (ARP) payments to non-entitlement communities (municipalities with populations of less than 50,000). The economic development team that…
Pennsylvania Falls to 13th for Vaccine Doses Administered Per Capita
According to the Centers for Disease Control, Pennsylvania has fallen to 13th for total doses administered per capita. Nationally, more than 131 million people have been fully vaccinated, 50% of the adult population. The commonwealth has now administered more than 10 million…
US Treasury Releases More Guidance for States on Federal Funds
The U.S. Department of the Treasury has released new guidance for states to use when distributing American Rescue Plan funds to municipalities with populations of less than 50,000, called non-entitlement communities. This includes grant award terms and conditions, calculations for…
Natural Gas Production Up in PA
The Independent Fiscal Office (IFO) has released its Natural Gas Production Report for the first quarter of 2021. Natural gas production volume from horizontal wells was up by 5.4% compared to the first quarter of 2020, and 133 new horizontal…
