RepHARRISBURG - Rep. Marty Causer (R-Turtlepoint) encourages local senior
centers to apply for $4 million worth of grants now available to help senior
centers improve their facilities and services.
The Senior Community Center Grant Program is administered by the Department
of Aging and is designed to support and enhance the role of senior community
centers in the continuum of aging services.

Grant applications will be accepted until Sept. 22, 2006. To expedite the
awards, money will be granted to centers on a rolling basis.

Grants awarded to senior centers will be divided into two categories:
capital assistance projects and the capacity building projects. Assistance
projects will receive up to $200,000 toward renovations, repairs, equipment,
furnishings or acquisition of land or facilities and construction, while
building projects will receive up to $10,000 to help pay for administration,
fundraising or help in growing the programs and services offered at senior
centers.

Last year's state budget, for 2005-06, included $3 million in funding for
senior centers. These funds though were later vetoed by the governor. Since
the governor's 2006-07 budget proposal did not include the needed funding
for senior centers, the legislature fought to appropriate the $4 million in
the current state budget. As some senior centers closed for lack of funding
last year, these grants will help support senior centers located throughout
Pennsylvania that provide major benefits to the state's older residents.

Senior centers that want to apply can visit Causer's Web site at
www.RepCauser.com for more information and to download a grant application.

Senior centers with questions about the grant process should contact the
Department of Aging at 717-783-6207 and ask to speak with someone from the
Division of Consumer Community Support Services.

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