HARRISBURG, PA. – Scranton Mayor Paige G. Cognetti, members of her administration, and representatives of Scranton City Council accepted the Secretary’s Award for Municipal Excellence from Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Secretary Rick Siger during the 2025 Governor’s Awards for Local Government Excellence in Harrisburg on Wed., April 16.
“This recognition is validation of the incredible amount of work our team has put into making Scranton a wonderful place to live, work, study, and retire,” Mayor Cognetti said. “We are honored by Secretary Siger’s recognition of the City’s continued progress toward financial stability, economic growth and business investment, rich community partnerships, and overall improved quality of life for our residents.”
Scranton is the second-ever recipient of the Secretary’s Award for Municipal Excellence, which celebrates Pennsylvania places where local leaders are committed to dynamic change for the betterment of its residents, businesses, and neighborhoods.
Unlocking the Future of Scranton
In January 2022, the City of Scranton shed its status as a financially distressed municipality after 30 years. That critical benchmark unlocked opportunities for the City to improve its credit rating to BBB+ with progress made throughout 2023 and 2024, among other achievements. Operating as an investment-grade city has allowed leaders to refinance bonds and save $2.2 million in the last year alone, and to generate more than $6.6 million in interest.
Ongoing financial stability has also allowed the City to propose a 2025 budget without a municipal tax increase. Further, the City has not needed a Tax Anticipation Note since 2023. Understanding the City’s current and future obligations has allowed Mayor Cognetti and her team to consistently deliver the improvements needed.
The City’s rigorous planning has allowed it to obtain $155 million in grants and other awards to accomplish critical goals. Continuing projects include the $4.8 million restoration of Scranton City Hall which includes a $1.5 million Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program grant from the Commonwealth, and nearly $23 million in stormwater infrastructure projects.
In improving residents’ overall quality of life, Mayor Cognetti and her team have invested more than $26 million into City parks through the American Rescue Plan Act, multiple grant awards, and additional City investments. Park improvements include the creation and restoration of multiple outdoor pools, the installation of colorful playground equipment surrounded by soft place surfaces, the inclusion of accessible park features for children of all abilities, and more dog parks. A unique partnership with the Scranton School District is also creating safer schoolyards transformed by students at three elementary schools.
Public safety is a top priority in any strong city, and financial commitments made to training and equipment in Scranton over the last four years have vastly outpaced investments over the last 20 years. Scranton received $3.5 million in federal grants to support a variety of police safety equipment, and 46 new police vehicles were added to the department’s fleet since 2022. In 2024, the Scranton Fire Department purchased a new $1.4 million ladder truck that is uniquely outfitted for the City’s needs.
Providing Improved and Transparent Service
In just the last few years, Scranton has transformed the way that it conducts business and improved the way that residents and businesses can operate in the City. Through an open and transparent bidding process, the City has issued nearly 140 requests for proposals (RFP) to advance essential projects.
Additionally, the City has reduced permit fees and brought the permitting process online for greater accessibility. As a result, the City has issued more than 9,600 building permits since 2022. In 2024 alone, builders poured $5.8 billion in construction projects into the City of Scranton. These numbers illustrate the power of providing accessible services that meet the modern age.
Mayor Cognetti has also brought good government back into neighborhoods by offering almost 40 City Hall Pop-Up events and Sprucin’ Up Scranton community cleanups in 2024 alone. The City has upgraded over 4,500 street signs over the course of a five-year project, and the Department of Public Works has restored over 200 priority crosswalks as it works to improve City streets and other infrastructure. Further, the City has demolished six dozen hazardous structures in an effort to remove dangerous buildings and blighted properties.
Building an Electric Atmosphere
In her 2025 State of the City address, Mayor Cognetti said, “The work will always be ongoing.”
That passion for progress is shown in Scranton’s planned $20.1 million in streetscape projects to help build a more beautiful, environmentally friendly, and walkable city. As Scranton prepares to become the hub of restored train service to New York City, the administration is committed to building achievable housing and continuing to improve public safety.
Scranton continues to work with partners throughout the city to address issues including hunger, homelessness, and youth violence, and foster arts and cultural events. The work toward municipal excellence is, indeed, ongoing.
ABOUT THE CITY OF SCRANTON: Incorporated in 1866, the City of Scranton has a population of approximately 76,000 residents and is the sixth-largest municipality in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Scranton City Hall is located at 340 N. Washington Ave., Scranton, PA 18503. Residents requiring services should visit www.scrantonpa.gov
ABOUT MAYOR PAIGE G. COGNETTI: Paige G. Cognetti was sworn in as the 36th Mayor of Scranton in January 2020. Her administration is focused on driving economic growth, upgrading infrastructure, ensuring public safety, fostering government transparency and efficiency, and improving residents’ overall quality of life.
Last modified: April 16, 2025
