Pennsylvania Perspective for October 23, 2023

October 23, 2023

Pennsylvania

Shapiro Announces $175.7 Million for Water Infrastructure Projects

Last week, Governor Josh Shapiro’s Administration announced $175.7 million in water infrastructure projects through the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST) to help deliver clean drinking water to Pennsylvanians across 16 counties. The investment will fund 25 drinking water and wastewater projects to replace lead pipes, rehabilitate aging water pumps, and reduce costs resulting from water loss.

Shapiro Administration Partners with Pennsylvania State University on Generative Artificial Intelligence

Building on his executive order signed last month, Governor Shapiro announced his Administration is partnering with Pennsylvania State University’s (PSU) Center for Applications of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to Industry (AIMI). PSU faculty will provide research expertise for the generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) Governing Board and create opportunities for advisory support and collaboration on generative AI usage to empower the state workforce.

Millions of Federal Dollars Could Help PA Build a Climate-Ready Electric Grid

Last week, the federal government announced up to $3.46 billion in grants through the Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) Program for 58 projects across 44 states. The funding will help strengthen electric grid resilience and reliability in the state. WESA has more.

 

Philadelphia

October 23rd is the Last Day to Register to Vote

Voters hoping to cast a vote for a new Philadelphia mayor on election day November 7 have until today, October 23, to register to vote. NBC 5 Philadelphia has more.

PHL Restaurant Workers Vote to Strike

Food service workers at two restaurants in the Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), who are employed by the company OTG, have voted to authorize a strike. The union represents Independence Prime and Local Tavern employees, who have gone five years without a contract. The Philadelphia Inquirer has more.

Philadelphia Region Wins Federal Tech Hub Designation

The Philadelphia region has been selected as one of 31 federal innovation and technology hubs under a new U.S. Department of Commerce program designed to spur advanced manufacturing, the Biden Administration announced Monday. The Greater Philadelphia Region Precision Medicine Tech Hub was selected from more than 370 applications and will look to advance the manufacturing and commercial development of cell and gene therapies. The Philadelphia Inquirer has more.

UPenn Hospital Set to Receive $86 Million in Medicare Drug Settlement

The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania will receive $86 million from the government under a legal settlement involving cuts made to the 340B drug discount program. The payout is the sixth largest to any hospital in the nation. The Philadelphia Inquirer has more.

Why Is There a Scarcity of Family-Sized Apartments in Philadelphia?

Neighborhood groups persistently ask developers about their lack of family-sized units, but little is being built in Philadelphia. Some Philadelphia developers say that the market may be shifting, with urban dwellers looking to stay in the city longer and spiking interest rates that make home buying less appealing. The Philadelphia Inquirer has more.

 

Pittsburgh

Some Pittsburgh-Area Universities Back Away From Shared-Services Consortium

After five small Pittsburgh-area colleges and universities announced joining a shared-services consortium to manage back-office work last month, the colleges seem to have reconsidered their participation now that plans are public. WESA has more.

 

Federal

Beltway Briefing: A House GOP Exorcism 

As President Biden manages instability abroad, the House GOP Conference continues its search for a speaker. Howard Schweitzer, Mark Alderman, Hon. Rodney Davis, and Towner French discuss this and more on the latest Beltway Briefing podcast.

Campaign Finances for PA’s 2024 Congressional Field 

A breakdown of Q3 campaign finance statistics for Pennsylvania’s 17 congressional races can be found here.

Authors

About Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies

Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, an affiliate of the international law firm Cozen O’Connor, is a bipartisan government relations practice representing clients before the federal government and in cities and states throughout the country. With offices in Washington D.C., Richmond, Albany, New York City, Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Chicago, and Santa Monica, the firm’s public strategies professionals offer a full complement of government affairs services, including legislative and executive branch advocacy, policy analysis, assistance with government procurement and funding programs, and crisis management. Its client base spans multiple industries, including healthcare, transportation, hospitality, education, construction, energy, real estate, entertainment, financial services, and insurance.

About Cozen O’Connor

Established in 1970, Cozen O’Connor has over 775 attorneys who help clients manage risk and make better business decisions. The firm counsels clients on their most sophisticated legal matters in all areas of the law, including litigation, corporate, and regulatory law. Representing a broad array of leading global corporations and middle-market companies, Cozen O’Connor serves its clients’ needs through 31 offices across two continents.

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