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Mapping Project Identifies Broadband Accessibility for Pennsylvania School Districts
Maps have been developed on broadband availability for public school districts in Pennsylvania. These maps were developed by Penn State Rural Extension (PSU Rural Extension) in response to a suggestion from the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission’s Consumer Advisory Council (CAC). The CAC suggested that a map showing broadband for public school districts, similar to that developed by PSU Rural Extension in consultation with the PUC for the upcoming auction of $16B in federal support in the Auction 904, would be very useful to the public. They made that suggestion in the wake of the COVID epidemic. Regional maps are available at these links: SE https://bit.ly/PSUEXT_SESDs , NE https://bit.ly/PSUEXNESDs , NW https://bit.ly/PSUextNWPAservice , SW https://bit.ly/PSUEXT_SWPASDs
The maps show what areas (census blocks) within a public school district boundaries (district) do/do not have access to broadband at the federally-defined definition of broadband. This was an expansion of the PSU Rural Extension already done in Pennsylvania for the upcoming Auction 904 in the Rural Development Opportunity Grant Program (RuDOF). Auction 904 will occur in October 2020.
Currently, the federal definition of broadband is 25 megabits per second down/3 megabits per second up (25/3, or the so-called “Netflix speed” because is it the speed deemed necessary for optimal streaming of data and video content, a factor in education). The map shows which areas do/do not have broadband at 25/3.
The PSU Rural Extension map is a regional map made up of groups of counties. This was done so that a user can access the information faster than would otherwise be the case if it were one statewide map. The user can click on the county map which, in turn, will show each school district boundaries broken down to the census block area. There is a set of instructions for using the map. There are also some notes explaining the federal broadband definition and mapping polices at the current time to better explain the details revealed by the map.
The Census Block is the minimum area the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) uses when mapping where broadband is/is not in the United States as part of its policies aimed at deploying broadband to unserved areas (primarily rural and tribal) within America. This information relies on reports filed by service providers with the FCC in their Form 477 filings. This reflects the most recent public information and will be updated as the FCC releases broadband updates. Other maps may be available but they are typically proprietary and/or require a considerable expenditure to map.
This PSU Rural Extension map is a cost-effective result that addresses the CAC’s suggestion and the pressing needs for information about broadband in our public school districts. This map is simpler than the detailed financial and support information laid out in the earlier Auction 904 map. This is limited only to public school districts and households within those districts.
PSU and the PUC are willing to provide a tele-conference explaining this map as well as the earlier Auction 904 map, particularly the differences between those maps, if desired.
Pennsylvania Department of Health Requesting Applications for Providers to Supply Services for Pennsylvania WIC Program
The Pennsylvania Department of Health announced the RFA (Request for Applications) process for Pennsylvania’s Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) is now open. This competitive bidding process will be used to identify the local agencies that will provide nutrition assessment, education, referral, food prescription and outreach activities for the WIC program.
“The WIC program makes a measurable difference in the health of more than 226,000 women, infants and children in our state each month,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said. “The department has held sole source agreements with local agency providers across the state to ensure Pennsylvanians have access to the nutritional services and resources they need. The competitive bidding process will make sure the program can continue to provide these services, allow opportunities for vendors interested in providing services, and extend services to additional residents across the state.”
Sole source agreements were established because of the extensive infrastructure required to stand up and operationalize providers. However, technological advances over the past 10 years, such as the installation of 4G cellular connectivity to replace hard-wired inter- and intranet service, have brought these costs in line with other behavior and/or social services that have used the competitive bid process in the past. Additionally, our federal funder, the USDA, advised the department to bid this service out. Sole source agreements are not preferred for WIC grants and existing agreements will end in September 2021.
The Request for Information (RFI), the first phase in the process, was initiated in May of 2019 and was completed in December of that same year. During that time, stakeholder input was collected statewide and incorporated into the RFA document during the RFA process that started in January 2020. The RFA posted today is set to conclude by August 2021 and all services should be transferred to the new providers by October 2021. Even though transition activities may be completed more quickly, providers will be given 12 months to accomplish the task and the effective date for new grant agreements with the bid awardees will be October 1, 2022.
This year, Pennsylvania WIC celebrated 46 years of providing services to families across the commonwealth and made numerous technological and service advancements, including:
- Successfully migrating from paper checks to Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) before the September 30, 2020 mandate;
- Simultaneously replacing the program’s Management Information System (MIS);
- Introducing a tele-health service model to support social distancing in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic;
- Achieving candidacy status for Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) accreditation and approval to schedule the initial intern class to prepare for the professional dietetic exam; and
- Successfully establishing and transitioning to statewide management through field offices and telework methodology.
For more information about the WIC program, visit www.health.pa.gov or follow the Department of Health on Facebook and Twitter.
MEDIA CONTACT: Nate Wardle, ra-dhpressoffice@pa.gov
Pennsylvania Launches COVID-19 Job Hiring Portal
The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry has launched a new online job portal. People seeking employment can visit www.PAcareerlink.pa.gov and select the green “PA COVID-19 Jobs – Hiring Immediately” job portal banner to see active job openings. Selecting the “Apply Now” button for a listed position will redirect individuals to the employer’s website or email where they can apply directly with the employer and speed up the hiring process.
Life-sustaining businesses can feature their job openings on the portal through an easy to use the online form. Businesses must meet the criteria of a life-sustaining business and must have more than 10 job openings.
The PA COVID-19 job portal is updated daily so businesses in need are spotlighted and people searching for employment have the latest job information.
Pennsylvania Department of Health Launches COVID-19 Early Warning Monitoring Dashboard
The Pennsylvania Department of Health launched an online early warning monitoring dashboard that provides information statewide and county COVID-19 prevalence to track increases in disease in the community on a weekly basis.
“This dashboard provides the entire community with early warning to changes in COVID-19 infection so that we can take action to prevent spread,” Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine said. “Recent increases in COVID-19 cases in parts of the state have shown the need for Pennsylvanians to continue to take simple steps to prevent the spread of this virus. Wear a mask, wash your hands frequently, maintain social distancing and stay home if you are sick.”
The dashboard shows data points being used to assess the spread of the virus in the state and in each county, including:
- Difference in confirmed cases (last 7 days vs. previous 7 days);
- Incidence rate (last 7 days and previous 7 days) per 100,000 residents;
- PCR positivity rate (last 7 days and previous 7 days);
- Difference in the average daily number of COVID-19 hospitalizations in the last 7 days and the previous 7 days;
- Difference in the average daily number of COVID-19 patients on ventilators in the last 7 days and previous 7 days; and
- Percent of hospital emergency department visits in the last 7 days and previous 7 days due to COVID-like-illness (CLI).
The dashboard will be updated on a weekly basis to assist in providing information regarding the prevalence and severity of COVID-19 in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania Governor’s Administration Announces $4.2 Million to Support Agricultural Projects in Five Counties
The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) announced the approval of 13 agricultural projects being funded through the First Industries Fund (FIF). These projects, located in five counties, will help existing farms expand their operations, bring in additional revenue, and transition agribusinesses to the next generation of farmers.
The press release can be found here.
Pennsylvania Invites Farmers to Take Survey to Better Understand Where Improvements Can be Made
The Natural Resources Conservation Service-PA is inviting farmers and forestland owners to fill out a new survey to help USDA understand what it is doing well and where improvements are needed, specifically at the Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service and Risk Management Agency.
The survey consists of 20 questions and takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. Responses are confidential, and individual responses will be aggregated.
The survey will be open for at least six weeks and will be closed once USDA receives a 30 percent response rate.
Click Here to take the survey and learn more.
Pennsylvania Governor’s Administration Grants Hazard Pay to Front-Line Workers in Life-Sustaining Industries
Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf announced the recipients of $50 million in grants to help employers provide hazard pay to employees in life-sustaining industries during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Created through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, this reimbursement-based grant is available to employers offering hazard pay during the eligible program period and will be administered by the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED).
The total list of recipients can be seen here.
Pennsylvania Governor’s Administration Grants Hazard Pay to Front-Line Workers in Life-Sustaining Industries
Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf announced the recipients of $50 million in grants to help employers provide hazard pay to employees in life-sustaining industries during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Created through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, this reimbursement-based grant is available to employers offering hazard pay during the eligible program period and will be administered by the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED).
The total list of recipients can be seen here.
New USDA Survey to Measure Areas for Improvement
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a new annual survey of farmers, ranchers and private forestland owners. The survey will help USDA understand what it is doing well and where improvements are needed, specifically at the Farm Service Agency (FSA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Risk Management Agency (RMA).
This survey is part of the President’s Management Agenda. It requires High Impact Service Provider agencies across the federal government, including FSA and NRCS, to conduct annual surveys to measure and respond to areas needing improvement.
The survey consists of 20 questions and takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. Responses are confidential, and individual responses will be aggregated. The survey will be open for at least six weeks and will be closed once USDA receives a 30% response rate.
A selection of 28,000 producers will receive the survey over the next few weeks, but all farmers are encouraged to take the survey at farmers.gov/survey.
USDA Accepting Applications to Help Cover Costs for Organic Certification
USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced that organic producers and handlers can apply for federal funds to assist with the cost of receiving and maintaining organic certification through the Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP). Applications for eligible certification expenses paid between Oct. 1, 2019, and Sept. 30, 2020, are due Oct. 31, 2020.
OCCSP provides cost-share assistance to producers and handlers of agricultural products for the costs of obtaining or maintaining organic certification under the USDA’s National Organic Program. Eligible producers include any certified producers or handlers who have paid organic certification fees to a USDA-accredited certifying agent. Eligible expenses for cost-share reimbursement include application fees, inspection costs, fees related to equivalency agreement and arrangement requirements, travel expenses for inspectors, user fees, sales assessments and postage.
To apply through FSA, you can find an FSA county office near you with the Service Center Locator. The FSA OCCSP application form is available at USDA’s eForms site, by selecting “Browse forms” and entering “OCCSP” in the “title or keywords” field on the search page.
State agencies may apply to administer OCCSP for 2020 through Grants.gov (Opportunity numbers USDA-FSA-SND-NOCCSP-2020 and USDA-FSA-SND-AMA-2020).