September 15, 2022
Reading − September 15, 2022 − Yesterday the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency approved grant funding for three Berks County projects.
Kutztown University received $133,300 in Federal State Opioid Response Funds in support of the SBIRT Enhancement Project. SBIRT is an acronym for Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment, a public health approach that delivers intervention services to individuals at risk of developing substance abuse issues. Kutztown University offers SBIRT screening to students.
Berks Connections/Pretrial Services received two Federal Byrne Justice Assistance Grants for a total of $499,998. The funding will go towards the reentry services for Berks County residents with previous justice system involvement.
Brecknock Township received $9,128 in grant funding from the Federal Body Warn Camera Policy and Implementation Program in support of the Brecknock Township Police Department BWC Program.
Sen. Judy Schwank said all three projects demonstrate a commitment to making Berks County a better place to live.
“These funds will go towards a wide range of initiatives that will be of great benefit to the entire county,” Schwank said. “Addressing substance abuse, investing in reentry services, and body cameras that help keep officers safe and strengthen evidence quality are all items I believe the vast majority of Berks Countians wholeheartedly support. I commended this group of award recipients for putting together strong applications and taking advantage of these grant funding opportunities.”
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March 28, 2016
READING, March 28, 2016 – Women business owners and entrepreneurs will have the unique opportunity to learn how to grow their businesses Wednesday, March 30, during a special seminar in Reading sponsored by Sen. Judy Schwank and a group of private and public partners.
The “W.E. R.O.A.R. Summit: Women Entrepreneurs, Relationships, Opportunities, Assistance and Resources,” is a free event that will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Doubletree Hotel, 701 Penn St., Reading.
“Women business owners and entrepreneurs are critical to the strength and vitality of our local, state, and national economies, but they face many unique challenges and obstacles in achieving success,” said Sen. Schwank. “The ‘W.E. R.O.A.R. Summit’ will bring together, in one event and at one place, a diverse array of business experts, agencies, and organizations, whose purpose is to help women-owned businesses succeed.”
Schwank said the summit is designed to benefit seasoned business owners, start-ups, and entrepreneurs alike.
Erin Andrew, director of the Office of Women’s Business Ownership for the United States Small Business Administration, will deliver the keynote address.
The event will also include breakout sessions led by business experts on: “Starting and Growing A Business,” “Securing Financing,” “Strategic Planning,” and “Taking Your Business to the Next Level.”
A variety of economic development organizations, financial institutions, and agencies will be available to provide information and guidance to help attendees succeed with their businesses.
Schwank said the summit is a collaborative effort with The Pennsylvania Community Development and Finance Corp, Tompkins VIST Bank, and the Kutztown University Small Business Development Center, with special assistance from the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Even though the event is free to attend, registration is required. For more information or to attend, people may call 610-898-6151 or visit https://weroar2016.eventbrite.com.
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June 11, 2015
READING, June 11, 2015 – Berks County communities working to help teenagers and young adults better understand the consequences of drinking and alcohol abuse today received nearly $260,000 in grants from the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board.
Sen. Judy Schwank, Rep. Tom Caltagirone, and PLCB Chairman Tim Holden announced the grant recipients today during a press conference at Penn State-Berks. Representatives from area colleges and municipal governments joined them.
“Our purpose here today is not to take credit, get attention, or seek congratulations,” Sen. Schwank said. “Instead, we gather here today to share some great news: three of our local colleges and universities, two local governments, two police forces, and one school district have been awarded nearly $260,000 in grants from the PLCB to better help our children who might be tempted by underage drinking.”
“With the PLCB’s help, these Berks County communities and organizations will use these new investments to make lives better for minors, their families and the neighborhoods they call home,” Rep. Caltagirone said. “‘Drink Responsibly’ is a marketing slogan that is too often ignored by minors and these funds will be used to raise awareness of the dangers and consequences of underage drinking.”
The PLCB is awarding nearly $2.3 million in grants to organizations statewide. In Berks County, eight awards are headed to the following:
Kutztown University – $40,000
Kutztown School District – $40,000
Kutztown Borough – $32,622
Wyomissing Borough Police – $25,536
Alvernia University – $40,000
Penn State Berks Campus Police – $21,817
Albright College – $39,793
Spring Township Police Department – $19,108
Today’s announcement is nearly 60 percent greater than the PLCB’s investment two years ago when just Kutztown University ($40,000), Kutztown Borough ($36,615), Albright College ($27,254), Wyomissing Borough PD ($24,478), and PSU-Berks ($20,065) received grants.
Grant recipients will invest the PLCB dollars in efforts that involve training, law enforcement patrols, and other prevention programs.
Schwank said alcohol is the most commonly used and abused drug among youth in the U.S. and is responsible for more than 4,300 annual deaths among underage drinkers. Every year, she added, hospitals across the country are visited by thousands of underage persons for alcohol related incidents.
“The value of Pennsylvania’s liquor store system is evidenced by the investment made today in our Berks County communities,” Caltagirone said. “These grants represent significant backing and education for our children and the places we call home.”
“I want local residents and officials to know that though the statistics are daunting, real work is being done to educate students and young people about the dangers of illegal and dangerous alcohol use,” Schwank said. “These participants that have gathered here today are working to ensure that our community is a safe one where alcohol is consumed responsibly and legally.”
The other participants joining Caltagirone, Schwank and Holden included:
- Dr. Keith Hillkirk and Chief Kevin Rudy from Penn State Berks
- Dr. Lex O. McMillan III, Albright College
- Dr. Joe Cicala, vice president of university life at Alvernia University
- Dr. Carlos Vargas, Kutztown University
- Dr. Ed Meyers and Mr. Barry Flicker, Kutztown School District
- Chief Jeffrey Beihl, Wyomissing Police, and
- Kutztown Mayor Sandra Green
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February 12, 2015
READING, Feb. 12, 2015 – Berks Countians looking for help in paying college tuition can get free guidance and tips this Saturday, Feb. 14, during a FAFSA Preparation Seminar in Sen. Judy Schwank’s district office.
“While improvements have been made to the online Free Application for Federal Student Aid, it can still be overwhelming and confusing, so I am encouraging anyone who plans to attend college or is planning to help someone cover their tuition to attend my free seminar Saturday morning,” Sen. Schwank said.
Financial aid experts from the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency, or PHEAA, and Kutztown University will be on hand to guide participants.
Computers will be available for attendees so they can complete and submit their FAFSA applications.
Seating is limited, so interested residents should call Sen. Schwank’s office to reserve a spot at 610-929-2151.
Media coverage is welcomed.
WHAT: Sen. Judy Schwank to hold FAFSA Preparation Seminar
WHEN: 11 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 14
WHERE: Sen. Schwank’s district office, 210 George St., Reading, Suite 201
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