One of the campuses of HACC, the Community College of Central Pennsylvania. Photo courtesy of Aneri Pattani / Spotlight PA.
HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania. – The Pennsylvania State Department of Education (PDE) on Wednesday, August 28, awarded more than $33 million to 12 community colleges to help them finance current state-approved short-term and long-term debt service projects, capital leases and cash equity financing.
“The Shapiro administration is committed to reversing decades of disinvestment in our post-secondary education system, and these grants will help Pennsylvania’s community colleges modernize buildings, make improvements, and better serve learners on their campuses,” said Education Minister Dr. Khalid N. Mumin. “Investments like this, combined with a focus on accessibility and affordability, will have a real impact on learners both today and in the years to come.”
The winners are:
- Butler County Community College; $300,000; Information technology infrastructure improvements
- Community College of Allegheny County; $1.5 million; Endowment Fund for Milton Hall
- Delaware County Community College; $10 million; Southeast Campus, Phase II
- Erie County Community College; $410,000; window replacement throughout campus
- Harrisburg Area Community College; $500,000; replacement of electrical panels across campus
- Lehigh Carbon Community College; $625,000; Public safety system improvements
- Luzerne County Community College; $149,023; campus water main replacement
- Montgomery County Community College; $10.3 million; deferred maintenance across campus
- Northampton Community College; $2 million; roof and paving for the entire campus
- PA Highlands Community College; $843,500; Centre County campus expansion
- Reading Area Community College; $6.5 million; dorm renovation
- Westmoreland County Community College; $500,000; renovation of PSTC Burn building
Eligible projects included: new facilities to serve new or currently growing populations and/or to meet urgent workforce facility needs; major repairs and critical deferred maintenance; renovations and replacements of existing, aging facilities that no longer meet program requirements; and projects to achieve ADA compliance based on a formal action plan, regulatory compliance, and life-saving repairs.
Governor Shapiro’s 2024-25 budget calls for nearly $60 million in investments to make postsecondary education more accessible and affordable for Pennsylvania residents, including a $35.1 million increase for Pennsylvania State System universities, $15.7 million for community colleges, and an additional $143 million for PHEAA to make college more affordable for Pennsylvania students. This includes: a $54 million increase for tuition grants, a $5 million increase for scholarships for disadvantaged students, a $36 million increase for the Ready to Succeed Scholarship and expanded criteria to increase the number of eligible students, and $25 million for the new Grow PA Scholarship Program.
Additionally, this budget creates a State Board of Higher Education to coordinate the state’s higher education sectors — including community colleges. Its mission is to develop a statewide strategic plan and collect data from postsecondary institutions to inform decision makers. It will also develop a performance-based funding formula for state universities, develop procedures for closing postsecondary institutions, and establish a comprehensive data system and collect data from colleges and universities statewide.