STATE COLLEGE, Jan. 26 – To support and grow Pennsylvania’s agricultural industry, the Department of Agriculture awarded $877,290 to the Pennsylvania State University, announced Reps. Paul Takac and Scott Conklin, both D-Centre. The funding includes: $500,000 for Penn State’s Agriculture and Environment Center . $127,424 for research on planting hairy vetch and industrial hemp to remediate abandoned coal mine land, sequester carbon, and serve as a potential market commodity for environmentally sustainable technology practices. $100,000 for Penn State’s Center for Agricultural and Shale Law . $75,000 for research to identify marginal lands across the commonwealth suitable for solar energy production and determine implementable management practices for solar farms to benefit soil, water, and vegetation. $74,866 to research the effects of acetylsalicylic acid during the dry off period of Holstein dairy cows, approximately 60 days prior to calving. “I’m excited to announce these new significant grant awards, which showcase Penn State’s key expertise and leadership at the intersection of agriculture, energy and the environment,” Takac said. They include funding for the important work of both the Center for Agricultural and Shale Law and the Agriculture and Environment Center in tracking the latest legislation and regulations, as well as addressing water Read more
STATE COLLEGE, Jan. 11 – To combat food insecurity, state Reps. Paul Takac, and Scott Conklin, both D-Centre, announced that the PA Department of Education awarded $60,000 to the Pennsylvania State University. The funding will make fresh produce more accessible, as well as expand the University Park Basic Needs Hub and food pantries at all Penn State campuses across the commonwealth. Takac said, “Hunger affects every community, including among students here at Penn State’s University Park campus. Fortunately, there are several student groups and organizations working with university administrators to address this problem and ensure that every student has reliable access to healthy, nutritious food. This PA Hunger Free Campus grant will help address food insecurity on campus, including expanding access to food options, creating awareness, and developing innovative and flexible solutions to meet the unique needs of college students.” “Penn State is dedicated to ensuring food access for all students,” said Leanne Lenz, associate director of Student Care and Advocacy. “The PA Hunger Free Campus grant allows us to advance our food security and other basic needs initiatives in a way that increases accessibility and contributes to the overall wellbeing and success of Penn State students.” “As the cost of tuition and meals continues to increase Read more
STATE COLLEGE, Jan. 10 – Reps. Paul Takac, and Scott Conklin, both D-Centre, announced more than $3 million to provide for electric vehicles and infrastructure at the Pennsylvania State University. The Department of Environmental Protection awarded $3,305,011 from the Medium and Heavy-Duty Zero Emission Vehicle Fleet Pilot Grant Program to replace five Class 6 and Class 7 box trucks with battery electric vehicles, install four DC fast EV chargers, and one Level 2 EV charging plug at three locations across Penn State’s campus. “I am excited to announce this multi-million grant award to help support Penn State’s efforts to transition to electric vehicles in order to reduce their impact on the environment, while also saving money,” Takac said. “Sustainability and environmental responsibility are critical to the future of our Commonwealth and our world. As Pennsylvania’s land grant institution, Penn State’s commitment and leadership on this issue are critically important.” “By providing infrastructure for EVs, we make EVs more accessible for rural Pennsylvanians, but also to those who travel through central Pennsylvania so they may charge their vehicles,” Conklin said. “Rural areas cover 97% of the country’s land and with the lack of EV charging stations in rural Pennsylvania, it poses a barrier for rural Pennsylvanians and Read more
COLLEGE TOWNSHIP, Jan. 5 – A project to aid watershed restoration along Slab Cabin Run in the Millbrook Marsh Nature Center has been selected to receive a $211,341 grant, state Rep. Paul Takac, D-Centre, announced today. “As a nearby neighbor of both Slab Cabin Run and Millbrook Marsh, I am proud to announce this Growing Greener Program grant to support this important rehabilitation and restoration project. The funding will help rehabilitate the upper Spring Creek ecosystem by building out riparian buffers, helping control stormwater, and restoring critical habitat to support the great variety of native plants and wildlife that rely on this local treasure. The marsh also serves as a first-class educational and recreational resource and this project will help contribute to that mission, and I’m proud to have written a letter of support in 2023 for funding this project,” Takac said. “And as former chair of the Spring Creek Watershed Commission, I know first hand the incredible work that the Spring Creek Chapter of Trout Unlimited has done in our area. Their expertise and dedication is unmatched and I am delighted to help support their continuing efforts to protect and enhance this watershed and the many natural resources that we are so blessed with here in Centre County.” Ford Stryker, Spring Creek Chapter of Trout Unlimited board member and chair of the Conservation Committee, stated, “We (Spring Creek Read more
State Budget Finalized, Grants Awarded, and Happy Holidays! Read more
HARRISBURG – Sen. Cris Dush (R-25) and Rep. Paul Takac (D-82) today announced the Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA) has awarded more than $1 million in grants for infrastructure improvement projects in Centre County. Read more
HARRISBURG, Dec. 19 – State Rep. Paul Takac, D-Centre, today announced more than $4.3 million in state grants for local water and sewer projects, with the lion’s share going toward the Calder Way infrastructure improvement project. Read more
Tele-Town Hall Wrap-Up Grants Secured Sustainability Expo Read more
Find out what our friends & neighbors had to say about the issues impacting our communities. Read more
Rep. Paul Takac invites residents to ‘Town Hall’-type events next week Read more
?Supporting Veterans • ?? Upcoming Tele Town Hall • ? Funding Penn State Read more
HARRISBURG, Nov. 15 – Rep. Paul Takac, D-Centre, released the following after House passage of H.B. 1461: “While I am pleased that this long-overdue funding for Penn State and our other state-related institutions is finally nearing completion and the governor’s signature, I am disappointed that continued resistance from many Pennsylvania Republicans has resulted in flat year-over-year funding rather than the much-needed increase requested by the universities and supported by both the Shapiro administration and by House and Senate Democrats. “State funding provides direct financial support to reduce tuition for Pennsylvania students and families. Therefore, this unnecessary delay has forced university administrators to make very difficult decisions -- decisions that have negatively impacted employees and their families, communities and vital programs across the commonwealth. This has been entirely due to the insertion of unrelated and divisive political issues by certain members of the Republican Caucus and their leaders. House Democrats voted on three separate occasions to increase support for Pennsylvania students, but each time fell short of the necessary two-thirds majority thanks to these harmful, politically motivated tactics. “As a member of the House Education Committee -- and as someone who is both a beneficiary of, and lifelong advocate for, public education -- I remain fully committed to doing Read more
HARRISBURG, Oct. 31 – State Reps. Paul Takac and Scott Conklin, D-Centre, announced the PA House of Representatives has passed legislation to provide funding to PA’s state-related universities. The bill would allocate more than $259 million to Penn State, $28 million to the Pennsylvania College of Technology, $165 million to the University of Pittsburgh, $169 million to Temple University, and $19 million to Lincoln University. The bill also would freeze tuition for the 2024-25 school year. It increases funding for Penn State by 7%. “House Bill 612 would provide the necessary funding for Penn State University and the other state-related universities,” Conklin said. “This will support Penn State students in Centre County and students all across Pennsylvania.” “For months I have been a strong and persistent advocate for finding a way to move forward with long-overdue funding for Penn State and the other world-class universities we support,” Takac said. “This unnecessary and politically driven impasse has created difficulty and uncertainty for not only students and their families, but also real hardship for employees, agencies, and communities across Pennsylvania. “I am hopeful that today’s bipartisan vote in the House is quickly followed by action in the Senate to finally resolve this urgent issue. While H.B. 612 is not ideal, it does Read more
I really love the district that I’m in. It truly represents the diversity of Centre County. I have everything north of I-80. I promised that I would represent the whole district, not just part of it. Read more
HARRISBURG, Oct. 17 – State Reps. Joe Hohenstein, D-Phila.; Nancy Guenst, D-Montgomery; Paul Takac, D-Centre; Ismail Smith-Wade-El, D-Lancaster; Tarik Khan, D-Phila.; the PA Coalition for Trans Youth; Transgender Advocates Knowledgeable Empowering; NEPA Stands Up and allies held a rally for safe and equal schools on the state Capitol steps in Harrisburg on Tuesday. Speakers highlighted a package of bills that would protect students from gender-based discrimination, bullying and harassment, and provide inclusive accommodations and curriculum. The package includes: Legislation introduced by Guenst that would create a statewide policy for all public schools to prohibit student discrimination and harassment based on actual or perceived sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression through anti-discrimination and harassment prevention and early intervention policies to create a supportive and equal opportunity learning environment. “Our children deserve to step into their learning environments across the commonwealth feeling safe and respected. No child should be made to feel less than their peers due to the real or perceived distinction of belonging to classes that do not currently hold statewide protections,” Guenst said. “This legislation would bridge the gaps currently being filled by individual school districts through policies that cover a wide spectrum; Read more
“As a member of the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee and the former chair of the Centre region’s Public Safety Committee, I understand how important it is to support our local volunteer fire departments,” Takac said. “This grant to Citizens Hook and Ladder Company #1 in Milesburg will help support their efforts to protect the forest and wilderness areas of Centre County and to keep our communities safe.” Read more
Rep. Takac's fall newsletter Read more
Help Comes in a Bipartisan Coalition Read more
“These are two projects that I have been deeply involved with since my days serving on College Township Council and in the Centre Region Council of Governments,” Takac said. “This $511,600 in funding from the Community Conservation Partnerships Program will help ensure that these important projects continue to move forward and make these local treasures more accessible and enjoyable for residents of all ages. Rehabilitating Spring Creek Park and developing Musser Gap Greenway Trail will help showcase the best of Centre County and the central Pennsylvania region.” Read more
“It directly feeds into the economic benefit, especially our rural communities,” state Rep. Paul Takac (D., Centre) told Spotlight PA of the outdoor recreation industry. Read more
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