Pennsylvania FY2026–2027 Senior Community Center Competitive Grant Program
The Pennsylvania Department of Aging (PDA) has announced a new competitive grant round opening November 2, 2026 for currently operating, qualifying Pennsylvania Senior Community Centers (SCCs). Funding supports projects that attract and serve older adults, improve programming, and provide safer, more accessible senior center environments. This is a restricted applicant-facing financial-assistance competition, not a purchasing contract or an unrestricted grant for all nonprofits.
Individual funding, statewide allocation and timing
The competitive program offers $5,000 to $150,000 per awarded SCC application, from $2,000,000 in statewide competitive funds. The statewide amount is a program pool, not an individual applicant award. The application window is scheduled to open Monday, November 2, 2026 at 8:00 a.m. and close Friday, December 11, 2026 at exactly 5:00 p.m. The public instructions do not expressly name a time zone; applicants should confirm the portal time display and submit early. Award notification is anticipated in April 2027.
Who is eligible
Only Pennsylvania senior community centers that were operating as of October 1, 2026 and have an existing contractual relationship with an Area Agency on Aging (AAA) to monitor compliance with Pennsylvania Aging Program Directive #96-04-01 qualify. Prior SCC awardees must have met earlier award obligations. A center or collaborating group of centers may submit one application. A collaborative project must request substantially the same program or equipment at each participating SCC and have one lead center. General nonprofits, housing providers, assisted living facilities and individual seniors are not eligible solely by virtue of their activities unless the SCC relationship and operating requirements are met.
Allowable expenses and restrictions
Illustrative eligible activities include new educational or recreational programs for older adults; instructors or contracted presenters directly associated with new programs; technology, program equipment and supplies; improvements to existing program spaces; accessibility and safety upgrades; replacement of essential kitchen or HVAC equipment; and marketing or outreach to reach center participants. Ineligible costs include staff or personnel expenses, rent, utilities and general overhead, vehicles, travel, unrelated off-site renovations, building additions that change the facility footprint, landlord-responsibility repairs, celebratory meals, gifts and grant administrative fees.
Capital improvement and renovation portions exceeding $10,000 carry an ongoing service-location obligation of one year for each $10,000 of capital funds, up to five years. Rented sites need the current lease and a signed landlord assurance for eligible renovation projects. The published seven-page instructions do not establish a fixed percentage matching contribution or a universal reimbursement/advance schedule; applicants must review the full Electronic Single Application (ESA) requirements and grant agreement before relying on either condition. Separately, PDA reports a $1,000,000 noncompetitive allocation; applying for the competitive round makes a center ineligible for the noncompetitive award even if the competitive proposal is not selected.
Application steps and required documents
Submit the complete application through the Commonwealth Electronic Single Application (ESA) system during the November 2–December 11 window. The submission must include the AAA Director’s signed Letter of Support on PDA’s template and an itemized budget on PDA’s required Excel spreadsheet; use the attached program forms in ESA. Capital projects on leased property may need a signed landlord assurance and current lease. Explain the identified need, expected participation or quality improvements, cost effectiveness and sustainability, and measurable outcomes. The published scoring framework allocates 30 points each to need, quality/participation and sustainability, and 10 points to outcomes. Email submissions and late or incomplete ESA applications are not accepted.
Controlling official sources: Pennsylvania Department of Aging 2026–2027 SCC Grant Program Application Submission Instructions (7 pages) and PDA’s official Senior Community Center Grants page. Official-source verification: October 31, 2026. Program questions: SCCgrants@pa.gov or 717-772-2551.