Shapiro Administration Invests More Than $1.3 Million to Help Local Governments Plan for Improvements to Their Communities

This funding, through the Municipal Assistance Program (MAP), will support projects in 22 counties.

Governor Josh Shapiro is focused on strengthening Pennsylvania's communities through strategic investments and secured another $2 million to support MAP in the bipartisan 2026-27 budget.

Since January 2023, the Shapiro Administration has invested $5,845,351 to support 118 community projects through the Municipal Assistance Program.

Harrisburg, PA - Today, Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Secretary Rick Siger announced $1,341,652 in grants to municipalities across 22 counties through the Municipal Assistance Program (MAP) to help local governments plan for and effectively implement a variety of services and improvements that support residents and strengthen communities.

During his first year in office, Governor Josh Shapiro secured a $1.5 million increase - nearly 266 percent - in Municipal Assistance Program funding to help local governments plan for and effectively implement a variety of services, improvements, and soundly managed development. Since then, Governor Shapiro has secured a total of $5,845,351 for the MAP program, including another $2 million in the 2026-27 state budget.

"Through the Municipal Assistance Program, we're giving communities the resources they need to plan for growth, strengthen essential services, and make strategic decisions that will help them prepare for future opportunities and challenges," said Secretary Siger. "The Shapiro Administration is committed to partnering with local leaders across Pennsylvania to build stronger, more competitive communities where people want to live and work, and where businesses want to invest."

These MAP awards can be used to cover costs related to comprehensive community plans, land use ordinances, transit revitalization studies, regional police and fire services, shared personnel agreements, boundary change studies, and more.

This round of awards includes the following. The full list of awards can be found here.

• Hopewell Township in Beaver County received $55,000 to create a new comprehensive plan. The effort will advance coordinated regional planning, modernize infrastructure, and create economic competitiveness.
• Bensalem Economic Development Corporation in Bucks County received $47,510 to develop a Strategic Economic Revitalization Plan, aligned with township operations, to address aging commercial corridors, underutilized waterfront areas, stalled redevelopment efforts, and the need for a unified planning framework.
• City of Lebanon in Lebanon County received $39,500 to update their comprehensive plan that was last adopted in 2004. By analyzing existing conditions and planning efforts, the updated plan will provide a clear prioritization framework to guide land use decisions, development policies, infrastructure planning, and capital improvements for the next ten to fifteen years.
• Lackawanna County received $90,000 to update the 2009 Scranton-Abington multi-municipal plan and update the 2021 cooperative zoning ordinances on behalf of nine participating municipalities. The original municipalities, that have all chosen to participate again, include the City of Scranton, the Borough of Clarks Green, Clarks Summit, Dalton, Dunmore, the Townships of Newton, South Abington, Waverly, and West Abington.
• City of Bradford Office of Economic and Community Development in McKean County received $59,540 to update the 2009 multi-municipal comprehensive plan of the City of Bradford, Bradford Township, and Lewis Run Borough. The project will address the lack of a modern, coordinated, comprehensive plan guiding growth and investment, and will establish a unified vision and implementable roadmap for the Tuna Valley region.

MAP grants provide a full range of services, training, and support vital programs to resolve problems at the local level. Municipalities and counties can apply for this funding to cover up to 50 percent of eligible costs related to the development and implementation of community planning and shared services programs.

For more information about DCED, visit the agency's website, Facebook, X, and LinkedIn.

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