The Municipal Assistance Program was created to help local governments efficiently and effectively plan and
implement a variety of services, improvements, and soundly managed development. The program provides
funding for two groups of activities – 1) shared service; and 2) community planning. The program is administered
by the Governor’s Center for Local Government Services (GCLGS) in the Pennsylvania Department of
Community and Economic Development (DCED).
Grants under this program are processed under the authority of subsections (e), (h), (i) and (m) of Section 2501-C
of the act of April 9, 1929, known as the Administrative Code of 1929, as amended, (71 P.S. Section 670-101),
which authorizes the Department of Community and Economic Development to: (e) .... do any and all things
necessary as an aid to better local and area government and community development; (h) coordinate and
wherever provided by law supervise or administer the various programs of State and Federal assistance and
grants, including but not limited to housing, redevelopment, urban renewal, urban planning assistance … and
furnish comprehensive planning and technical assistance on any programs set forth in this subsection; and (i)
furnish assistance to political subdivisions in the preparation of and advise on enforcement of codes and
ordinances; and (m) make grants to two or more counties, cities, boroughs, incorporated towns, townships or any
other similar general purpose unit of government; or to any body which is authorized to act in behalf of two or
more units of government to assist them in acting in concert in the performance of any local governmental
function or functions; or for the purpose of conducting studies and investigations to determine the feasibility and
desirability of acting in concert in the performance of local government functions.