UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Local governments impact their communities in many ways, such as through zoning laws, building regulations, water and sewer systems, transportation, human services, public health and safety, and education.

To provide residents with a better understanding of local government in Pennsylvania, Penn State Extension will offer the free webinar “What is Pennsylvania Local Government?” from 2 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. on Thursday, March 21, and from 6 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. on Monday, March 25.

The program is designed for interested members of the public, landowners and business owners.

Pennsylvania contains nearly 2,600 units of local government, including counties, cities, boroughs, townships and towns. This can be confusing to longtime residents of Pennsylvania as well as new or potential future residents, organizers noted.

Each local government unit is separate and operates independently. The state created all Pennsylvania local governments and therefore grants these entities their authority, including their basic rights and responsibilities.

Attendees will learn:

• How Pennsylvania defines local government
• The role local government plays for residents, workers and visitors in Pennsylvania
• The various elected and appointed officials that make up local governments
• An overview of a few appointed local government boards, commissions and committees

This webinar is free, but preregistration is required. Those who register also will receive a link to watch the recording of the program.

For more details and to sign up, visit the Penn State Extension website at https://extension.psu.edu/what-is-pennsylvania-local-government.

For more information, contact Peter Wulfhorst at 570-832-2803 or by email at ptw3@psu.edu.