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BELLEFONTE -- The Centre County Board of Commissioners convened Tuesday morning to address affordable housing awards, victim service grants, infrastructure improvements and human service contract renewals.
The meeting opened with official recognition for local hunger relief efforts.
Commissioners adopted Proclamation 46 of 2026, officially declaring September 2026 as "Hunger Action Month" in Centre County.
"We are unfortunately at a time where food insecurity is an increasing issue as a nation, and something we need to continue to work to address," Zach Zook, Chief Strategy Officer at the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, said.
In public safety action, the board authorized Hoffman Leakey Architects to advertise an Invitation for Bids for upcoming renovations at the Centre County Probation Office.
Commissioners also approved two grant applications through the district attorney's office to support victim and witness services under the Victims Bill of Rights. Combined funding for calendar year 2027 totals $136,669, including $109,327 for the Rights and Services grant and $27,342 for the Victim of Juvenile Offenders grant.
Affordable housing was another major focus of the meeting, with the board approving $215,000 in Act 137 funding distributed through the 2026 Construction and Acquisition/Rehabilitation for Sustainable Housing Grant Program.
Funding was allocated across four community projects, including $50,000 to the State College Community Land Trust for two properties, $50,000 to The HOME Foundation, $65,000 to Habitat for Humanity for the Woodycrest Street Project and $50,000 to Habitat for Humanity for its Homeowner Repair Program.
"We are able to develop affordable housing opportunities in Centre County, and the particular home that we requested funds for this year is in pretty dire need of a serious renovation," Morgan Wasikonis, executive director of The HOME Foundation and Housing Transitions, said.
Under Human Services, commissioners moved several mental health, intellectual disability and early intervention agreements forward to next week's consent agenda.
Action items included a $100,000 contract renewal with Blair Therapies and a $60,000 contract renewal with Cen-Clear Child Service for early intervention care. The board also advanced contract addendums for Community Services Group in the amount of $4,000 and Crossroads Counseling in the amount of $11,000 to expand psychiatric and therapy services.
For Children and Youth Services, the board approved an affiliation agreement with Widener University allowing a staff member to complete required field placement work at no cost to the county.
On the consent agenda, commissioners approved a Child Welfare Education for Leadership agreement for an employee pursuing a master's degree in social work part-time. The board also finalized foster care and residential service contract renewals with Community Specialist Corporation for $115,000, Summit School for $97,000 and Professional Family Services for $40,000.
In other business, commissioners finalized a three-year lease renewal on the consent agenda with S-C Joint Venture for Magisterial District Judge 49-3-05's office at 121 S. Pugh St. in State College, capping total expenses at $243,000 through August 2029.
The board also authorized a CNET sponsorship to cover the broadcast taping of a Voter Education Expo scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 13, at the Nittany Mall Active Adult Center.
County offices will be closed on Monday, Sept. 7, in observance of Labor Day.