Bristol, Nonprofit Awarded State Grants

April 7, 2025

State officials meeting with borough and county officials on Mill Street last year. Credit: Elisa Baxt/LevittownNow.com

Bristol Borough and Habitat for Humanity of Bucks County will receive state grants to support community projects, Gov. Josh Shapiro announced.

The grants are part of the Main Street Matters program and were unveiled at the 2025 National Main Street Now Conference in Philadelphia.

Bristol Borough will receive $200,000 for decorative streetlight upgrades on Mill Street, and Habitat for Humanity of Bucks County’s Accessible Housing Program will receive $150,000.

The grants are administered through the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.

“Every community in our Commonwealth — rural, urban, or suburban — has a Main Street, and I’ve seen firsthand how critical they are to local economies,” Shapiro, a Democrat, said in a statement. “Our Main Streets are the beating hearts of our communities — and the economic strength of our towns and cities is directly tied to the success of small businesses and our Main Streets. That’s why my Administration has made investing in our Main Streets a priority, and today we’re delivering a historic amount of support for dozens of projects across the Commonwealth. Every Main Street matters — and I’ll continue bringing people together to invest in and improve our communities.”

The 81 grants awarded were funded through $20 million allocated in the 2024-2025 state budget.

“This program is an exciting funding tool that will help main streets and downtowns across our Commonwealth achieve their full potential as economic hubs,” said Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Rick Siger. “The Shapiro Administration is focused on making these types of bold, meaningful investments to provide a higher quality of life for Pennsylvanians as well as our growing businesses and thriving communities.”

Shapiro’s office said the program received 200 grant applications.

The grant program is designed to update downtowns, help small businesses grow, and improve infrastructure, officials said.

The governor’s 2025-2026 budget proposal includes another $20 million for the Main Street Matters initiative.

Last year, state officials visited Bristol Borough to see how its central business district has been revitalized.