May 26 – WILKES-BARRE – Governor Josh Shapiro brought the Great American Getaway RV tour to Lake Wallenpaupack and the Poconos this weekend to showcase Pennsylvania’s breathtaking outdoor adventure experiences that provide unforgettable experiences for the whole family.
Last week, Governor Shapiro launched Pennsylvania’s new state tourism brand: The Great American Getaway. The new brand showcases all the Commonwealth has to offer as a premier weekend getaway destination with thousands of attractions – including blockbuster events coming to PA in 2026 such as America’s 250th Anniversary celebration, the 2026 NFL Draft, the FIFA World Cup and the MLB All Stars Game in 2026.
While visiting Pike, Wayne, Monroe and Carbon counties, Governor Shapiro visited Lake Wallenpaupack, Camelback Resort and Skirmish Paintball Field to encourage more people to visit Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania is a premier destination for outdoor recreation, connecting our communities and supporting our economy – and Lake Wallenpaupack is one of Pennsylvania’s largest reservoirs, spanning 13 miles and 53 miles of uninterrupted shoreline in Wayne and Pike counties .
While visiting the lake, Governor Shapiro and the first family took a Wallenpaupack Scenic Boat Tour and enjoyed outdoor water activities, including fishing and jet skiing, on Lake Wallenpaupack in Wayne and Pike counties.
In the afternoon, Governor Shapiro and the first family visited the Camelback Resort in Monroe County. The resort offers multiple family-friendly activities for the entire family, including bumper cars, indoor rock climbing and the longest zipline in Pennsylvania, measuring over 4,000 feet.
Located just 90 minutes from major urban hubs such as New York City and Philadelphia, Camelback offers one of Pennsylvania’s best destinations for the entire family to enjoy the Pocono Mountain region and enjoy an array of indoor and outdoor recreation activities and experiences.
To end the day, Governor Shapiro and the first family visited Skirmish Paintball Fields in Carbon County. Skirmish Paintball Fields is the world’s largest paintball field, with more than 50 playing fields spread over 750 acres of land in the Pocono Mountains.
Tourism is a key part of the Governor’s economic development strategy, generating $76 billion and supporting more than 486,000 jobs annually in PA – and the new brand builds on Governor Shapiro’s proposed $18 million tourism investment to boost our economy incentives, attract more visitors and support well-paid jobs.
A new report released in March by the Pennsylvania Tourism Office shows Pennsylvania’s tourism industry:
—Generated $76.7 billion in economic impact.
—Supported 486,871 jobs.
—Contributed to $4.7 billion in state and local taxes.
—Welcome 192.4 million visitors in 2022.
The Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau reported in 2023 that the Pocono Mountains are among the top destinations in the Commonwealth, welcoming between 27 and 30 million visitors annually, generating $4.3 billion in revenue and supporting more than 35,000 jobs.
From our hospitality and entertainment industries to our state parks, trails and outdoor recreation businesses, tourism is a powerful economic engine, benefiting nearly every corner of Pennsylvania and giving every traveler the opportunity to pursue their dreams.
The state awards $2.07 million to 57 food banks,
pantries and soup kitchens throughout Pa.
Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding announced this week that more than $2.07 million has been awarded to 57 food banks, pantries, shelters and soup kitchens across Pennsylvania through the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) Reach and Resiliency Grants.
“Pennsylvania has an incredible abundance of natural resources and generous communities willing to help feed those in need,” said Secretary Redding. “Expanding the capacity of community organizations to deliver fresh, healthy food to families in need is a key element of the Shapiro Administration’s strategy to invest in a healthier and safer Pennsylvania.”
TEFAP Reach and Resiliency Grants are awarded to organizations that distribute USDA foods through TEFAP contracts with the state, county, or a county-designated Lead Agency.
Funded projects include mobile food pantries, expanded cold storage and warehouse space, delivery trucks and other investments that expand TEFAP’s reach to isolated or underserved rural or low-income communities.
This is the second round of TEFAP Reach and Resiliency Grants. In September 2023, Pennsylvania awarded $1.6 million to 39 organizations working to reduce food insecurity across the state.
According to the Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap report, in 2022, 11.9% of Pennsylvanians, more than 1.5 million people, did not know the source of their next meal.
For the 2024-2025 period, Governor Josh Shapiro has proposed $3 million in new funding to provide emergency food assistance to low-income people in Pennsylvania, to restore surplus food donated by farmers through the Pennsylvania Agricultural Surplus System to food pantries and food pantries across the statewide, to support low-income families and seniors with fresh, local food through the Farmers Market Nutrition Program, and provide low-income seniors with Senior Food Boxes filled with nutritious food products.
Announced recipients of TEFAP Reach and Resiliency grants include:
—Luzerne/Wyoming Counties Committee on Economic Opportunity/Weinberg Food Bank, $50,000.
– Lackawanna County, Friends of the Poor, $50,000.
—Wyoming County Commissioners Food Pantry, $50,000.
Pennsylvanians are encouraged to apply now
for the property tax/rent rebate program
Treasurer Stacy Garrity this week encouraged eligible Pennsylvanians to apply for the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program as soon as possible for this year’s rebate, noting that the Pennsylvania Treasury Department will begin sending rebates on July 1 to approved applicants.
“Many more Pennsylvanians will qualify for the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program this year because the General Assembly and the Governor made the smart decision to expand the program,” said Treasurer Garrity. “I encourage everyone who is eligible to apply as soon as possible. The Treasury Department will begin making payments on July 1, which is the earliest we can do it under the law – and we will continue making payments on an ongoing basis after that. The Essential program makes a huge difference for so many, including older Pennsylvanians and people with disabilities, and I am committed to delivering these payments as quickly as possible once applicants are approved by the Treasury Department.
The new law increased the household income limits for rebates to $45,000 for homeowners and renters (an increase from $35,000 and $15,000, respectively). Claimants can exclude half of their Social Security income. The maximum standard discount is now $1,000 (was $650).
Treasurer Garrity especially encouraged new applicants to apply as soon as possible, as the Treasury Department has indicated they will need more time to verify information on new applicants as part of their efforts to combat program fraud.
The Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program benefits Pennsylvanians age 65 and older, widows and widowers age 50 and older, and people with disabilities age 18 and older. Some homeowners may qualify for additional rebates. The deadline to apply for this year’s discount is June 30, 2024.
Since the program’s inception in 1971, more than $8 billion in rebates have been paid.
Pashinski welcomes $70,000 to community
improvement funding for downtown WB
State Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski this week announced $70,875 in state funding to improve downtown Wilkes-Barre.
“The Diamond City Partnership is a nonprofit organization that does a lot of important work to improve our community,” said Pashinski, D-Wilkes-Barre. “Wilkes-Barre is a beautiful place with many amenities to improve the quality of life, especially in the downtown area. The Diamond City Partnership is Wilkes-Barre’s alliance that aims to revitalize and make downtown Wilkes-Barre a premier place to live, work and visit. Their work helps boost our economy, improve our environment and create the best version of this area of funding for one of the historic caretakers of our community’s vision for downtown Wilkes-Barre.”
The project was funded through the Keystone Communities Project, which supports Pennsylvania’s main streets throughout the Commonwealth, allowing communities to pay for new sidewalks and improved street lighting, small businesses to renovate their facades and developers to build more affordable housing.
Led by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, the KCP encourages the creation of partnerships between the public and private sectors that support the growth and stability of neighborhoods and communities; social and economic diversity; and a strong and safe quality of life. Local governments, redevelopment and housing authorities, nonprofit organizations, community development corporations, and business, neighborhood and urban improvement districts are all eligible for KCP grant funding.
Reach Bill O’Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.
