State of Pennsylvania Incentives

 

adultBasic Insurance Program: Low cost insurance coverage for low wage earners.

The PA adultBasic Insurance Program. This program -adultBasic- is administered by the Pennsylvania Insurance Department and offers basic benefits, including, preventive care, physician services, diagnosis and treatment of illness or injury, in-patient hospitalization, out-patient hospital services and emergency accident and medical care to individuals with no other available coverage or folks that have had an insurance gap of over 90 days. For more information about Pennsylvania’s adultBasic insurance.

Go to Top

Client Assistance Program (CAP)

 The Pennsylvania Client Assistance Program is a free legal advocacy program for people with disabilities. CAP helps people who are seeking services from the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, Blindness and Visual Services, Centers for Independent Living and other programs funded under federal law. Its purpose is to ensure that the rehabilitation system in Pennsylvania is open and responsive to the needs people with disabilities. The CAP style of advocacy includes a wide array of strategies and techniques including information and referral, consultation, mediation, negotiation, as well as administrative and legal representation.

Go to Top

Enterprise Zone Program

The Enterprise Zone Program offers grants and loans to businesses located in any one of Pennsylvania’s designated Enterprise Zones. This funding can be used for many different business endeavors, including job creation, land and building acquisitions or machinery/equipment purchases or repairs.

Click here for information on a tax credit for businesses that invest or make physical improvements to properties located within enterprise zones.

Go to Top

First Industries Fund

The First Industries Fund is a grant and loan program aimed at strengthening Pennsylvania's agriculture and tourism industries. The First Industries Fund is part of PA Grows, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture's new initiative designed to assist agricultural producers in gaining access to the capital they need to begin, continue, or expand their businesses. This funding can be used for many different business endeavors, including, land and building acquisitions or machinery/equipment purchases or repairs.

These loans can be used to purchase ADA compliant property or Assistive Technology to make a disabled employee more productive on the job.

Go to Top

Independence Capital Access Network (ICAN)

The ICAN fund assists businesses in Pennsylvania in creating good jobs for all Pennsylvanians. It is designed to help maximize employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. The ICAN fund has been established for the purpose of providing grants to small businesses to support the purchase of specialized or adaptive equipment necessary to hire qualified individuals with disabilities.

PROGRAM GUIDELINES

I. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

The ICAN Fund assists businesses in Pennsylvania in creating good jobs for all Pennsylvanians. It is designed to help maximize employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. The ICAN fund has been established for the purpose of providing grants to small businesses to support the purchase of specialized or adaptive equipment necessary to hire qualified individuals with disabilities. Such accommodations are not otherwise required by state or federal law.

II. ELIGIBILITY: Application Requirements

To be eligible to receive funding under the ICAN grants, small businesses must meet the following criteria:

  1. The applicant must be a private-sector business and employ no more than one hundred people.
  2. The applicant must be located in Pennsylvania or be moving to Pennsylvania within thirty days of the application for ICAN funds.
  3. The applicant is not otherwise obligated under the Americans with Disabilities Act or any other legal mandate to provide the accommodations for which funding is sought.
  4. The new modification is necessary for the employment of an individual with a disability, or the advancement of a current employee with a disability.
  5. The accommodation(s) must be designed to promote the most cost-effective way of enabling the person(s) with a disability(ies) to perform essential job functions.
  6. The individual(s) with a disability(ies) must be a current resident of Pennsylvania or be moving to Pennsylvania within thirty days of the application for ICAN funds with the intent of becoming a Pennsylvania resident.
  7. The applicant must be current in its payment and reporting status with Commonwealth agencies and must be in good standing with state and federal contracting compliance programs.
  8. The availability of grants are subject to the availability of state funding.
  9. The ICAN program reserves the right to waive requirements upon a showing of good cause or exceptional circumstances.
 
Link to Independent Capital Access Network Guidelines download form

Independent Capital Access Network Guidelines Download Form

 
 
Link to Independent Capital Access Network Application

Independent Capital Access Network Application Download Form

 

Go to Top

Job Creation Tax Credit

Job Creation Tax Credit: Pennsylvania offers eligible businesses a $1,000-per-job tax credit to create new jobs in the Commonwealth. This tax credit can be used as an incentive for an employer to create new jobs, especially for people with disabilities. The tax credits may not be utilized by the business until the jobs are actually created and the business must create at least 25 new jobs equaling at least 20% of their existing workforce.

 
Job Creation Tax Credit download form

Job Creation Tax Credit Download Form

 

Go to Top

Keystone Innovation Zone

Keystone Innovation Zone (KIZ) provide grant funds to community/university lower rightpartnerships to generate job growth through technology transfer and entrepreneurship, focused around college and universities’ property.

This plan is designed to create jobs in technology-oriented fields. People with disabilities who are educated in this area and have the appropriate employment backgrounds could be the recipients of the jobs created by this program.

 
PDF image of Keystone innovation guidelines

Keystone Innovation Zone Guidelines

 
 
Keystone Innovation Zones to date

Keystone Innovation Zones to Date

 

Go to Top

Medical Assistance for Workers with Disabilities (MAWD)

MAWD lets Pennsylvanians with disabilities take a fulfilling job, earn more money and still keep their full medical coverage. With MAWD you can keep Medicaid while you work, even if your earnings increase above the limits for other Medicaid programs. Now you don't have to choose between a job and your health.

PROGRAM GUIDELINES

For people with disabilities, sometimes one of the biggest obstacles to returning to work is securing healthcare coverage. When earning too much money can mean the risking the loss government healthcare benefits, the decision to enter the job market can be intimidating. Now there's a new option-Medical Assistance for Workers with Disabilities (MAWD).

MAWD lets Pennsylvanians with disabilities take a fulfilling job, earn more money and still keep their full medical coverage. With MAWD you can keep Medicaid while you work, even if your earnings increase above the limits for other Medicaid programs. Now you don't have to choose between a job and your health.

MAWD is a Pennsylvania program, but 21 other states offer Medicaid buy-in programs.

Sierra Group CEO, Janet Fiore, serves in an advisory capacity to the PA Department of Public Welfare in its granted MAWD program.

Benefits to eligible workers may include:

To be eligible for MAWD, you must:

For more information on MAWD, or to apply online then click on the Register/Login link to start the process. You can also contact your local Human Services Provider. Locate a Human Services Provider using the Human Services Provider On-Line Directory .

Go to Top

New PA Venture Capital Investment Program

New PA Venture Capital Investment Program: Loans are available to life sciences and technology-oriented businesses that are in their growth-stage. Job creation, especially for people with disabilities, is an appropriate use of these loans. The Program is a $60 million fund designed to provide loans to venture capital companies looking to make investments in companies located in the Commonwealth. It will allocate 50% of the funds available to venture capital
partnerships which operate locations in historically underserved areas of Pennsylvania.

New Pennsylvania Venture Guarantee Program is a similar program.

Go to Top

Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR)

The Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) is a State Agency that provides services to help individuals with mental or physical disabilities prepare for, start, and maintain competitive employment, thus, achieving independence for people with disabilities in their communities.

There are 15 OVR district offices throughout the state. Some of the services OVR provides to their customers include the following: vocational evaluation, education/training, job placement assistance, Assistive Technology and home/workplace modifications.

Go to Top

Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) – Job Training

Office Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) can reimburse employers a percentage of the weekly wage for a specified period of time for a trainer to provide on-the-job training to a disabled employee. Both the percentage and the time are negotiable. The employer is responsible for providing the trainer. Job Coaching is also available for individuals needing intensive on site job training. OVR can hire a Job Coach who does the actual skill training rather than the employer.

Go to Top

Pennsylvania Initiative on Assistive Technology (PIAT)

Pennsylvanian Initiative on Assistive Technology (PIAT) provides information and assistance to individuals with disabilities who are searching for funding for Assistive Technology they need for employment purposes. PIAT can help work through the maze of health insurances, public programs including "waivers," recycling programs, cash loan programs, and non-governmental funding sources to determine which ones might help.

Assistive Technology is any device that enables a person with a disability to be more functional. Using the proper technology at work will allow a disabled person to be more productive, and in turn, a better worker. Because of the increased productivity, it is wise for an employer to invest in Assistive Technology for disabled employees.

Go to Top

Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation

The Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation (PATF), another potential source for funding Assistive Technology. PATF is committed to providing borrowers with low-interest loans so they can afford devices that make their lives easier, more productive, and more independent.

 
Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation Application

Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation Application Form

 

Go to Top

Pennsylvania's Assistive Technology Lending Library (PAATLL)

Pennsylvania's Assistive Technology Lending Library is a free service that loans assistive technology devices to people with disabilities. It's available to Pennsylvanians of all ages and disabilities – even to workplace locations.

For a complete list of devices, see the equipment catalog listed below. Requests for devices can be made by you, a family member, friend, an employer, an advocate, or someone who is helping you with your assistive technology needs (e.g., a therapist, teacher, rehabilitation counselor).

To view the lending library equipment catalog.

To view the lending library borrowing procedures.

Go to Top

PennSafe - Workers’ Compensation Premium Discounts

PennSafe is a state resource helps companies set-up workplace safety committees that may help the company qualify for a 5% reduction in workers' compensation premiums for up to 5 years. The program provides a technical assistance manual, free employer training for committee certification, and speakers.

 
to download pennsafe completion guide and form

PennSafe Application Guide Download Form

 

Go to Top

Pennsylvania's Employment Incentive Payment (EIP) Tax Credits

Employers may become eligible to earn the EIP credits through the qualified hire of a person (1) receiving welfare cash assistance under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families or General Assistance categories, or (2) who completed or is completing rehabilitative services approved through a State plan for vocational rehabilitation services or the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs.

When persons currently receiving cash assistance or vocational rehabilitation are hired, the employer completes the required EIP Tax Credit Certification Request Form for each hire. The completed form must be postmarked on or before the 21 st day after the date the new employee actually begins work. Within about six weeks, the employer receives a certification letter to keep on file. The employer earns the direct credits as a percentage of actual wages paid to the employee for up to three years. The maximum credits for each hire are:

If the employer provides or pays for child care or transportation services for each new employee, an additional $1,800 in credits may be earned over the three years of EIP eligibility. The employer must retain the person in the firm's workforce for at least a year, unless the person voluntarily quits, becomes disabled, or is fired for cause. If any of these happen, the tax credits are prorated for the portion of the year that the person was employed by the firm.

 
thumbnail of Pennsylvania Employer Incentive Program PDF

Pennsylvania Incentive Payment Download Form

 

Go to Top

School to Work Transition

 Any high school student with a disability who may need vocational guidance and assistance in pursuing employment should be considered for referral to the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation prior to graduation for School to Work Transition services. These would include students who have an Individualized Education Program (IEP), students who are covered under Chapter 15 (Protected Handicapped Students), and any other students with disabilities who may or may not require specialized services in school.

Go to Top

Various Miscellaneous Pennsylvania Incentives

Go to Top

Understanding Medicaid Waivers

The name Waiver comes from the fact that the Federal government waives Medicaid rules for institutional care in order for Pennsylvania to use the same funds to provide supports and services for people in the community. Many of these programs allow for pre-vocational, vocational (including attendant support), or transportation supports to be funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare – through a qualified Service Coordinator and Provider Agency. The state must make specific assurances to the Federal government when requesting a Medicaid Waiver – these form the basis of the rules and procedures for each of the below defined Waiver programs. Federal and state funds are combined in Medicaid Waivers. Click here to open a page that describes the available Pennsylvania Waiver programs.

Go to Top

We would like to receive your suggestions or comments. Please sign our guestbook.

 
Accessibility | Guest Book | Privacy Policy | ©2008 Sierra Group's Workplace Foundation