May 8, 2026
May 8, 2026 − State Senator Steve Santarsiero (D-10) and State Representatives Tina Davis (D-141) and Jim Prokopiak (D-140) announced today that Bucks County has been awarded almost $45,000 in environmental education grants from the PA Department of Environmental Protection.
The Heritage Conservancy was awarded $30,000 for the “Building Inclusive Environmental Literacy for All Students” program, a partnership with the Bucks County Intermediate Unit, Bristol Township School District, and Silver Lake Nature Center, that will expand inclusive Environmental Literacy (ELit) practices to increase access for students and educators in Environmental Justice communities. Focused on land use and water, the project includes two Inclusive ELit professional development days, adapted lessons for diverse learners, and nature-based activities that support K–5 self-regulation and connection to the environment.
“In our increasingly digital world, programs like this are essential for helping our children reconnect to our environment,” said Senator Santarsiero. “This program will help students learn more about the world around them, understand the importance of our natural world, and support both students and teachers in learning more about environmental literacy.”
“Teaching kids that taking care of the environment is important and fun is one of the best ways to ensure the next generation cares about our planet,” said Representative Davis. “I am always proud to advocate for more funding towards education, especially for topics like these.”
Pennsbury School District was awarded $14,975 for the “Advancing Sustainability Education Through STEELS Science Standards in the Pennsbury School District” program. Pennsbury School District will advance sustainability education by integrating Pennsylvania’s Science, Technology & Engineering, Environmental Literacy and Sustainability (STEELS) standards into the district’s K–12 curriculum. In addition to the new sustainability curriculum, the school district will construct a greenhouse on their middle school campus as a hands-on learning hub. This program will enhance STEM learning, promote critical thinking and environmental literacy, and connect students with local farms and other environmental organizations.
“This project is a great example of how a small grant can make a big difference,” said Senator Santarsiero. “Incorporating environmental literacy and sustainability into the curriculum at Pennsbury will teach our students environmental responsibility and engage both students and faculty in community-based projects and environmental efforts. This will prepare our young people to address future and current environmental challenges, something that will become even more important in the years to come.”
“Teaching kids about recycling, protecting the environment, and practicing responsibility go a long way in ensuring that the next generation is an eco-friendly one,” said Representative Prokopiak. “As a former member of the school board myself, I am always happy to support new educational opportunities and programs for young minds.”
More information on this grant program and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection can be found on their website: Environmental Education Grants | Department of Environmental Protection | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
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April 15, 2026
April 15, 2026 − State Senator Steve Santarsiero (D-10) and State Representative Tina Davis (D-141) announced today that four recipients in the Bristol area have been awarded $1,500,000 in grants from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PDDC) through their Building Opportunities for Out-of-School Time (BOOST) and Violence Intervention and Prevention (VIP) programs.
“These kind of proactive investments in our students are some of the best investments we can make as a state,” said Senator Santarsiero. “Every dollar we invest in our students now leads to better life outcomes, lower crime, and greater economic activity for our area later. These programs also include strong partnerships with local organizations that will connect our youth with public safety professionals, environmental and nature groups, and other local organizations who serve our community. I’m proud to support these grants for the Bristol area.”
“Investing in after-school, summer, and prevention programs across Bristol Borough, Bristol Township, Bucks County Technical High School, and No Longer Bound strengthens our entire community by giving young people the academic support, enrichment opportunities, career exploration, and safe spaces they need to thrive,” said Representative Davis. “These grants are about more than programs—they’re about building pathways to success, reducing risk, and ensuring every student has the opportunity to reach their full potential.”
Bristol Borough School District is receiving funding to launch a new, comprehensive out‑of‑school time initiative serving youth ages 12–18. The project aims to reduce risk factors tied to academic underperformance, absenteeism, social‑emotional challenges, and exposure to unsafe community conditions by operating structured after‑school, evening, weekend, and summer programming at multiple school and community sites, including the Bristol Borough Middle/High School, St. Mark’s Middle School, and the Bristol Borough Fire Association. The initiative targets approximately 170 youth each year disproportionately impacted by poverty, housing instability, disability, limited English proficiency, chronic absenteeism, and gang/drug‑related recruitment pressures. Core activities include academic tutoring, homework help, STEM/STEAM enrichment, career readiness programming, industry‑aligned certification opportunities, mentoring, wellness activities, and specialized prevention programming. The project also includes a public‑safety focused Junior and Youth Fire Cadet Program delivered in partnership with the Bristol Borough Fire Department, providing leadership development, civic engagement, and supervised skill‑building during high‑risk hours.
“This grant will provide students in Bristol Borough with greater opportunities beyond the school day and connect them to new opportunities to pursue their passions and find career opportunities,” said Senator Santarsiero. “From academic tutoring to the Junior and Youth Fire Cadet Program with the Bristol Borough Fire Department to mentoring, these programs will give our most vulnerable kids the tools and resources they need to thrive.”
“This investment gives students a safe, supportive place to learn and grow beyond the school day,” said Representative Davis. “By expanding access to tutoring, STEM enrichment, mentoring, and prevention programs—including the Junior and Youth Fire Cadet initiative—we are helping young people build skills, confidence, and positive connections that will guide them toward successful futures.”
Bristol Township School District is receiving funding to launch a new districtwide after‑school initiative that combines evidence‑based literacy tutoring with prevention‑focused enrichment, social‑emotional learning, and structured supervision for students in grades K–12. The program will serve approximately 450 youth each year. Through partnerships with local organizations, the initiative will provide small‑group tutoring, nature‑based and hands‑on STEM activities, mentoring, and prosocial enrichment clubs. At the high school level, the project expands access to interest‑based, identity‑affirming clubs and career‑readiness supports that strengthen belonging, reduce disengagement, and offer supervised alternatives during high‑risk after‑school hours.
“This program is focused on providing students across grade levels with incredible opportunities to further their learning and development,” said Senator Santarsiero. “From providing opportunities for students to explore our beautiful natural areas like Silver Lake Nature Center to expanding access to clubs that support students and help them find their place in high school, this funding will make sure students are supported in Bristol Township.”
“After-school programs like this make a real difference for students and families,” said Representative Davis. “This funding will provide hundreds of students with academic support, reading help, enrichment activities, and a structured, supervised environment where they can continue learning and stay engaged in positive opportunities outside the classroom.”
Bucks County Technical High School is receiving funding to expand its Exploratory Academy, a prevention‑focused out‑of‑school time initiative serving students from Bucks County Technical High School and Conwell‑Egan Catholic High School. As regional schools, students do not return to their sending districts for after‑school or summer services, leaving a substantial supervision gap during high‑risk hours. The program aims to serve 130 youth each year and provide safe, structured after‑school, evening, weekend, and summer programming that integrates academic tutoring, credit recovery, STEM/STEAM enrichment, workforce and certification pathways, mentoring, wellness activities, leadership development, and public safety career exposure. Through partnerships with local organizations, the initiative strengthens protective factors including school connectedness, adult mentorship, academic engagement, and career readiness while reducing risks linked to unsupervised time and disengagement.
“This funding will help close a critical gap at BCTHS and expand the incredible work they are able to do for our students in career and technical education,” said Senator Santarsiero. “These students will now have access to after school and summer services that will give them access to STEM/STEAM enrichment, mentorship, leadership development, and much more.”
“Career and technical education thrives when students are given hands-on, real-world experiences,” said Representative Davis. “Expanding the Exploratory Academy will give students more opportunities to explore STEM fields, receive academic support, and connect with local partners who can help them prepare for future careers and leadership roles.”
No Longer Bound is receiving funding to sustain and enhance their structured out‑of‑school time services for elementary and high school youth in Bristol Township and Levittown. The project will provide safe, supportive, and academically aligned programming during critical after school and summer hours for students attending Title I schools, many of whom face significant economic hardship, academic barriers, and social‑emotional challenges. The initiative will include homework help, curriculum‑aligned enrichment led by certified teachers, social‑emotional learning activities, and partner‑delivered arts and environmental programming, as well as two Saturday-only prevention cohorts for high school students using the evidence‑based “Too Good for Drugs” curriculum.
“Investing in out-of-school time programming is one of the most effective ways we can support student success,” said Senator Santarsiero. “No Longer Bound is expanding access to academic support, social-emotional learning, and drug prevention programming for students in Bristol Township and Levittown. This funding will strengthen both our education system and our community.”
“This funding supports critical work to keep young people engaged in safe, structured, and empowering environments,” said Representative Davis. “Programs like ‘Too Good for Drugs,’ along with academic and enrichment activities, help students build resilience, make positive choices, and stay on a path toward long-term success.”
The goal of the Violence Intervention and Prevention (VIP) and Building Opportunities Through Out-of-School Time (BOOST) grants from PCCD is to support a wide range of local community violence prevention and intervention strategies, including upstream prevention for at-risk school-age youth.
Additional information about the PCCD can be found on their website: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/pccd/programs-and-services/reducing-gun-violence/gun-violence-grants-and-funding.
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December 19, 2023
BUCKS COUNTY — December 19, 2023 — Senator Steve Santarsiero (D-10), along with State Representatives Tim Brennan (D-29), Perry Warren (D-31), Tina Davis (D-141), and Shelby Labs (R-143) today announced $3,458,844 in state grants were awarded for 12 small water and sewer improvement projects across the 10th Senate District.
“These projects will help make critical improvements to our municipal water and sewer systems, strengthening our infrastructure, protecting our environment and maintaining quality drinking water for our community,” said Sen. Santarsiero.
The awards in House District 29 are as follows:
- Chalfont Borough will receive $423,804 to replace stormwater piping in the borough;
- Doylestown Township Municipal Authority will receive $268,405 for the Forest Park Regional Water System Interconnection;
- North Wales Water Authority will receive $337,954 for the Yorkshire Meadows Project to replace and upgrade a 2,000-gallon Hydro-Pneumatic storage tank and arsenic removal system in Solebury Township;
- North Whales Water Authority will also receive $313,559 for the Ingham News Project to replace and upgrade a potable water Hydro-Pneumatic storage tank and the addition of an arsenic removal system in Solebury Township; and
- Doylestown Borough will receive $424,864 for the rehabilitation of the Maplewood Tank located in the borough.
“I was pleased to work with Rep. Brennan to secure these funds for Chalfont Borough, Doylestown Borough, Doylestown Township and Solebury Township,” said Sen. Santarsiero. “Each project will make critical improvements to our water and sewer infrastructure.”
“We’re still putting ARPA funding to good use, which puts people to work and is solving issues in our backyard here at home,” said Rep. Brennan. “We need to continue to focus on building and preserving the essential infrastructure these grants support. State support for these projects also frees up local and county resources, which ultimately helps provide relief to local taxpayers across Central Bucks County.”
The awards in House District 31 are as follows:
- Township of Falls Authority will receive $343,388 for an inflow and infiltration elimination project in Lower Makefield Township; and
- Lower Makefield Township will receive $147,462 for stormwater improvements.
“I have been working with Lower Makefield Township to address ongoing stormwater management concerns in the Maplevale neighborhood area and I was happy to advocate for these funds to help implement projects to make necessary improvements,” said Sen. Santarsiero.
Rep. Warren added, “These grants of state funds will improve storm water management and filtration in Lower Makefield. Between these grants and Governor Shapiro signing into law the Flood Insurance Premium Assistance Task Force bill, the Governor, Senator Santarsiero, the Lower Makefield Board of Supervisors and I are working to reduce the impact of flooding upon our communities. The storm water management grant will directly benefit the areas most likely to flood during heavy rains and due to the flow of storm water.”
The awards in House District 140 are as follows:
- Township of Falls Authority will receive $71,400 for improvements to the Vermillion and Twin Oaks Interconnection in Falls Township;
- Township of Falls Authority will also receive $412,905 for the water main lining along Brentwood Road and Chestertown Road in Falls Township;
- Bucks County will receive $110,721 to improve drainage conditions at the Morrisville Senior Center; and
- Tullytown Borough will receive $93,184 to repair storm inlets and grates throughout the borough.
“Each of these projects will increase the effectiveness of important water supply and stormwater management infrastructure, helping to keep our communities safe and healthy,” Sen. Santarsiero added.
The award in House District 141 is as follows:
- Bristol Borough will receive $90,000 for the Howell Street vegetated swale to help reduce sediment discharge to the Mill Creek Watershed.
“A key component of protecting our environment is working to reduce the amount of sediment that is discharged into our waterways,” noted Sen. Santarsiero. “The project in Bristol Borough will keep the Mill Creek Watershed healthy.”
Rep. Davis said, “I whole-heartedly supported funding for this project. It is crucial that we work to reduce sediment pollution in the Mill Creek Watershed and, in doing so, protect our streams and aquatic life. I am pleased that the state agreed that this was a project worth investing in.”
The awards in House District 143 are as follows:
- Plumstead Township will receive $418,198 for a water interconnection between two distribution systems in the township.
“Quality drinking water and reliable sewer services are critical services for our residents,” said Sen. Santarsiero. “I was proud to support these state funds for this project to help lessen the burden on Plumstead Township and local tax payers.”
“I am thrilled to see Plumstead Township receive this grant,” said Rep. Labs. “This necessary investment into our infrastructure will secure a brand-new water interconnection between two existing systems. The new interconnection will improve water reliability in Plumstead Township, and make our system less reactive to drought, system failure, and other potential issues.”
Grants for small water, sewer, and storm water infrastructure projects include activities to assist with the construction, improvement, expansion, or rehabilitation or repair of a water supply system, sanitary sewer system, and storm water system projects. Act 54 of 2022 appropriated $105.6 million of American Rescue Plan Act funds to the PA Small Water and Sewer Program.
Additional information about PA Small Water and Sewer Program funding can be found on the DCED website.
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November 4, 2022
HARRISBURG, November 3, 2022 – State Sen. Steve Santarsiero and Rep. Tina Davis, both D-Bucks, announced today that they secured $500,000 in Neighborhood Assistance Program tax credits to revitalize Croydon and Bristol through support for local business projects.
“I am very glad to have secured these state funds for our district as they will provide critical financial assistance to local businesses, which will in turn help keep Lower Bucks on the path towards revitalization,” Davis said. “These tax credits will be used to improve the functionality and aesthetics of a business property in Croydon and aid in the achievement of long-term plans for a company expansion in Bristol. This state funding will help to drive economic development in Lower Bucks, reaping benefits for local businesses, their employees and area residents. I want to thank Senator Santarsiero for working with me to secure this funding and Gov. Tom Wolf for allocating them.”
“These Neighborhood Assistance Program funds are a key investment to help businesses keep jobs in our community and continue to grow,” Santarsiero said. “The tax credits offered through this program help boost our local economy and incentivize businesses to be strong community partners.”
The tax credits will assist in the rehabilitation of these local projects:
- $250,000 to EDC Real Estate, LLC to purchase and improve the Croydon property that their operating company (B-Tec Solutions) has leased for many years. The company is making necessary improvements to the property, including repairs to the leaking roof and landscaping to beautify the property and clear the vacant lots across the street. All 88 B-Tec Solutions jobs (86 full-time, 2 part-time) will be retained within the Bucks Enterprise Zone through the project. All approximately 40 current Neshaminy Creek Brewing jobs will also be retained.
- $250,000 to Grundy Commons, LLC to purchase the Bristol building in which it currently operates to protect TESCO’s leasehold and to allow for future expansion and utilization of the building to best suit their long-term growth plans. It will help them purchase the building, replace a portion of the roof in addition to some other structural improvements, and make improvements to tenant spaces. This project will retain all of the TESCO jobs in Bristol plus remote jobs. To accommodate the operating company’s ongoing growth, it is estimated that 12 new jobs will be created in the next year.
The Neighborhood Assistance Program is a tax credit program administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Economic Development. NAP encourages private sector investment into projects that will help improve distressed communities by providing tax credits to businesses that donate capital to support projects that address neighborhood and community problems. NAP can be used for projects in categories including affordable housing, community services, crime prevention, education, job training, food access, blight, special population issues, veteran’s initiatives and long-term community revitalization.
The program has five main components: The Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP), Special Program Priorities (SPP), the Neighborhood Partnership Program (NPP), Charitable Food Program (CFP), and the Enterprise Zone Program (EZP). A description of each of these components is available within the NAP fact sheet.
October 26, 2022
BUCKS COUNTY – October 26, 2022 – State Senator Steve Santarsiero (D-10) and Representative Tina Davis (D-141) announced $1.3 million in state funds from the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) for Bristol Borough to redevelop multiple properties along Chestnut and Elm Streets in the Borough.
“Bristol Borough has seen great economic growth and revitalization in recent years, attracting new businesses and residents to the area. The redevelopment of the vacant properties at Chestnut and Elm Streets will help the Borough continue to expand its appeal and breathe new life into the area,” said Sen. Santarsiero. “I’d like to thank Governor Wolf for allocating RACP funds for this project, which will help Bristol Borough complete a vision two decades in the making.”
“I am so proud that Sen. Santasiero and I were able to secure $1.3 million in RACP funding to redevelop the vacant properties at Chestnut and Elm Streets,” Rep. Davis said. “This funding will help to rehabilitate these dilapidated properties and help rejuvenate the entire area. This redevelopment is one more sign of Bristol Borough’s revitalization.”
The project is a partnership between Bristol Borough and the Redevelopment Authority of Bucks County to complete a project to revitalize properties along Elm & Chestnut Streets in Bristol Borough. Specifically, the funds will used to purchase seven units on Chestnut Street, clearing the way for the demolition and redevelopment of vacant units in the area.
“This project is so vital to the continuing Renaissance of Bristol Borough,” said Bristol Borough Council President Ralph DiGuiseppe. “On behalf of Council and Mayor DiGuiseppe, I would like to thank Senator Steve Santarsiero and Representative Tina Davis for their hard work to bring this crucial funding back to Bristol Borough.”
RACP is a Commonwealth grant program administered by the Office of the Budget for the acquisition and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic, recreational, and historical improvement projects. RACP projects have a regional or multi-jurisdictional impact and generate substantial increases or maintain current levels of employment, tax revenues, or other measures of economic activity. RACP projects are state-funded projects that cannot obtain primary funding under other state programs.
To learn more about RACP projects and grants, visit the Pennsylvania Office of the Budget website.
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September 21, 2022
BUCKS COUNTY – September 21, 2022 – State Senator Steve Santarsiero (D-10) and State Representatives John Galloway (D-140) and Tina Davis (D-141) announced today that Bristol Borough will receive $110,000 in state funding for a watershed restoration project benefitting the Borough.
The project will create a vegetated swale at the wooded area between Green and Howell Streets in Bristol Borough. The existing swale has severe erosion, little-to-no vegetation in the flow area, and sediment buildup.
“As we see increased rainfall and flooding impact the residents of Bristol Borough, it is clear we need to implement solutions that help protect the homes and businesses in the area, while combating the devastating effects of climate change,” said Sen. Santarsiero. “Vegetated swales, like the one that will be constructed on Howell Street, will use native plants to help manage stormwater runoff, filter pollutants and improve water infiltration.”
Converting the existing stormwater swale to a vegetated bioswale will help effectively treat and control the runoff going into the swale by filtering out pollutants and sediments, slowing runoff, and promoting infiltration. Native plants with deep roots and grasses will assist in building up the soil structure and allow water to infiltrate the ground more easily.
“This money will provide critical assistance to Bristol Borough in reducing the impact of heavy rainfall on our communities by constructing the Howell Street Vegetated Swale,” Rep. Galloway said. “We need support from our local, state and federal government to prepare our communities’ infrastructure for the increasingly violent impact of climate change. This state grant is a step in the right direction.”
“As we are affected by increasingly violent storms, we must be innovative and resourceful in our approaches to mitigating their impact on our communities,” Rep. Davis said. “It’s not enough to have innovative ideas—we need the money, too, to make these ideas reality, and the Commonwealth has thankfully provided critical fiscal support to Bristol Borough so it can implement one such innovation to its infrastructure.”
Bristol Borough Manager James Dillon echoed the environmental impact of the project saying, “Borough Council will be grateful for this grant, which will be used to benefit the environment.”
For more information on the Watershed Restoration and Protection Program, visit the DCED website.
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May 28, 2020
BUCKS COUNTY – May 28, 2020 – Senators Steve Santarsiero (D-10) and Maria Collett (D-12) were joined by State Representatives Perry Warren (D-31), Tina Davis (D-141), John Galloway (D-140) and Wendy Ullman (D-143) in asking Governor Wolf to issue an executive order permitting personal services businesses, such as barbers and salons, located in counties in the yellow or green phase to reopen with enhanced safety measures.
The letter references a plan for reopening of the personal service industry used in neighboring Ohio, developed by a personal services workgroup at the request of Ohio’s Governor. The Ohio plan includes a list of requirements and best practices for businesses to implement, such as maintaining six feet of social distancing (except between the client and employee when appropriate), requiring employees to wear facial coverings (with some exceptions), requiring businesses to clean high-touch items after each use, and requiring employees to wear gloves and dispose of gloves in between tasks.
“During a productive call with 45 barbers and hair stylists from across the Commonwealth, they shared the process for reopening their industry that is being implemented in Ohio,” said Sen. Santarsiero. “Based on the precautions they recommend, paired with the hundreds of hours of training that licensed professionals in the industry receive in sanitation, sterilization and hygiene, I believe it is time to safely reopen this sector of Pennsylvania’s economy.”
“I have heard from many hair, nail, and tanning salon owners in my district, the majority of these salons being women- and minority-owned, who are ready and able to implement these expanded safety guidelines and return to serving our communities,” said Sen. Collett. “It is important that we continue to generate and propose creative solutions and compromises so that businesses in yellow phase counties can begin to resume operations and rebuild while we continue to protect the public health.”
The full text of the letter to Governor Wolf can be found here.
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June 10, 2019
BUCKS COUNTY − June 10, 2019 − In front of the former office of Liberation Way in Yardley, an addiction treatment center accused of defrauding patients and health insurance companies, state Senator Steve Santarsiero (D-10), and state Representatives Tina Davis (D141) and Perry Warren (D-31) introduced SB 713 and HB 1018, legislation that would charge fraudulent addiction treatment facilities in Pennsylvania with a felony at the state level.
“Patient brokering, a practice relied upon by Liberation Way, essentially trades patient referrals for kickbacks,” Sen. Santarsiero said. “This facility was unregulated and ill-equipped to be of any help to the patients seeking treatment. This legislation would create three different felonies relating to the number of patients affected. It is my hope that by putting a stop to patient brokering, people in need of treatment will have access to real resources and programs that will help them into recovery.”
In the House, Rep. Davis introduced HB 1018, which mirrors SB 713.
“I strongly believe we need to pass this legislation immediately,” Rep. Davis said. “People’s lives are at stake and we cannot allow profiteers to take advantage of families when their loved ones are in this vulnerable state. They demand our support and protection.”
“The addiction crisis is tremendous and it effects all of our communities,” Rep. Warren said. “Every dime that is allocated to preventing opioid addiction and encouraging recovery should be spent on recovery and prevention, not on bribes, kickbacks, and brokering. Regulations like this benefit the centers and organizations that do it the right way.”
Senator Santarsiero and Representatives Davis and Warren were joined by Bryan Kennedy, CEO of Independence Lodge, and Michele Butler, a New Britain resident who has witnessed what happens when addiction treatment facilities are left unregulated and unsupervised.
“Patient brokering is an unethical and inappropriate practice,” Kennedy said. “It hurts our field, it hurts our programs, and most importantly, it hurts our patients.”
“My neighbors and I believe this bill is an important step in building regulated, transparent, effective, and affordable systems of treatment for people struggling with addiction,” Butler said. “What we have witnessed and continue to witness is the devastation businesses built on brokering and fraud create. We are here today to put an end to these practices.”
“This industry, like so many others, is rife with people who are trying to take advantage through unscrupulous business practices like patient brokering,” Santarsiero said as he ended the press conference. “By passing Senate Bill 713 and House Bill 1018, we can make a difference on the state level.”
Video of the press conference can be found here.
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