Here’s a roundup of the latest news and resources for Pennsylvania townships and boroughs:
Grants and Funding
- PennDOT Regional Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Funding Rounds Open in SE, West: PennDOT is opening four regional NEVI Community Charging funding rounds in 2026, with $34 million for the southeast region (including Montgomery County) closing August 21, 2026 and $25 million for the western region closing November 20, 2026. (https://www.psats.org/penndot-regional-electric-vehicle-infrastructure-funding-rounds-open-in-se-west/)
- Reminder: PennDOT Automated Red Light Enforcement (ARLE) Grant Applications Due 6/30: PennDOT is accepting applications for the 2026 ARLE Funding Program until June 30, 2026 for safety and mobility projects, including traffic signal upgrades and bicycle and pedestrian improvements, with a pre-application scoping form required. (https://www.psats.org/reminder-penndot-automated-red-light-enforcement-arle-grant-applications-due-6-30/)
- Rural Emergency Medical Services Training Grants: The U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration is accepting applications through July 16, 2026 for grants to recruit and train rural EMS personnel, with townships that operate EMS agencies eligible to apply. (https://www.psats.org/rural-emergency-medical-services-training-grants/)
- EPA Announces $25.5 Million Grant Funding Available to Address Wastewater Challenges: The EPA is accepting applications until August 14, 2026 for $25.5 million in grants for technical assistance providers helping small and rural communities address wastewater infrastructure challenges. (https://www.psats.org/epa-announces-25-5-million-grant-funding-available-to-address-wastewater-challenges/)
- Reminder: Federal Bridge Investment Program Funding Applications Due 6/29: The U.S. Department of Transportation is accepting applications until June 29, 2026 for over $4 billion in FY2026 Bridge Investment Program funding to replace, rehabilitate, preserve, or protect bridges on the National Bridge Inventory. (https://www.psats.org/reminder-federal-bridge-investment-program-funding-applications-due-6-29/)
- Reminder: DCNR Wild Resource Conservation Program Grant Applications Due 6/30: Townships, COGs, and municipal authorities are eligible to apply through June 30, 2026 for Wild Resource Conservation Program grants that maintain and restore Pennsylvania’s native non-game wildlife, wild plants, and their habitats. (https://www.psats.org/reminder-dcnr-wild-resource-conservation-program-grant-applications-due-6-30/)
- National Register of Historic Places Accepting Grant Applications until 7/7: The National Park Service is accepting applications through July 7, 2026 for the Underrepresented Communities Grant Program, which funds surveys and nominations of historic sites tied to communities underrepresented in the National Register. (https://www.psats.org/national-register-of-historic-places-accepting-grant-applications-until-7-7/)
Legislation and Advocacy
- Pa. House Passes Data Center Bills That Strengthens Local Decision-Making: The state House passed two bipartisan bills on data centers and land development affirming that land-use decisions belong to local officials, and PSATS is urging the Senate to act quickly in the same spirit. (https://www.psats.org/pa-house-passes-data-center-bills-that-strengthens-local-decision-making/)
- Congress Sends Housing Affordability Legislation to President Trump: Congress passed the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which streamlines federal regulations for new residential housing and appears to preserve local land use control. (https://www.psats.org/congress-sends-housing-affordability-legislation-to-president-trump/)
- PSATS Files Concerns with ADA Website Mandate: PSATS filed comments on the federal ADA website compliance rule, citing cost, feasibility, and liability concerns ahead of compliance deadlines of April 26, 2027 for municipalities of 50,000 or more and April 26, 2028 for those under 50,000. (https://www.psats.org/psats-files-concerns-with-ada-website-mandate/)
- Legislative Committee Releases Report on Recruitment and Retention of Law Enforcement: The Joint State Government Commission released a report finding that employed police officers have declined since a 2019 peak and recommending statutory and policy changes to improve recruitment and retention. (https://www.psats.org/legislative-committee-releases-report-on-recruitment-and-retention-of-law-enforcement/)
- Court Rules “Skills” Games Unlawful, Stays Order for 120 Days: The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled on June 15, 2026 that skill games are subject to the Gaming Act and Crimes Code, staying its order for 120 days and leaving any remedy to the General Assembly. (https://www.psats.org/court-rules-skills-games-unlawful-stays-order-for-120-days/)
- Reminder: PennDOT Accepting Public Comment on Proposed Funding for State and Local Transportation Projects Until 6/30: Township officials can review and comment on the draft 2027 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program, a four-year list of proposed federal, state, local, and private transportation funding, until 5 PM on June 30, 2026. (https://www.psats.org/reminder-penndot-accepting-public-comment-on-proposed-funding-for-state-and-local-transportation-projects-until-6-30/)
Administrative and Planning
- Reminder: Open Records Officer Survey About RTKL Experiences Closes Today: The Office of Open Records surveyed agency open records officers about the impact of the Right-to-Know Law through June 26, 2026, with results expected in early fall 2026. (https://www.psats.org/reminder-open-records-officer-survey-about-rtkl-experiences-closes-today/)
- Basic Planning for Data Centers Webinar 6/25: PSATS hosted a webinar on June 25, 2026 covering land use ordinance options for townships new to data centers, and an in-depth on-demand class on data centers and zoning is also available. (https://www.psats.org/basic-planning-for-data-centers-webinar-6-25/)
We hope this update provides valuable information for Montgomery County townships. Please check the PSATS website for more news and resources.