Two regional community colleges are among 12 institutions in Pennsylvania that will receive more than $33 million from the Pennsylvania Department of Education to assist with funding short-term and long-term debt service projects in the commonwealth.

Announced as part of the Shapiro administration’s commitment to the state’s postsecondary education system are awards of $625,000 and $2 million to Lehigh Carbon Community College and Northampton Community College, respectively.

The LCCC money will go toward public safety system improvements, while NCC will use the $2 million for campuswide roofing and paving projects.

Also among the projects is $149,023 that has been awarded to the Luzerne County Community College for a campus water line replacement project.

Shapiro’s 2024-25 budget invests nearly $60 million to make postsecondary education more accessible and affordable to Pennsylvanians, with a $35.1 million increase for Pennsylvania State System universities, a $15.7 million increase for community colleges, and an additional $143 million to PHEAA to help make college more affordable for students.