Pennsylvanians can now text 717-788-8990 to connect with Gov. Josh Shapiro and his administration directly, the governor announced Friday.

Pennsylvanians can now text 717-788-8990 to connect with Gov. Josh Shapiro and his administration directly, the governor announced Friday.

The two-way communication system is made possible through Community, an SMS engagement platform that connects elected officials, businesses, public figures, and sports teams to their audiences through unique 10-digit phone numbers.

The new resource will allow Shapiro and his administration to text directly with Pennsylvanians and provide first-hand updates, according to a news release. Shapiro’s office unveiled the phone number on social media Friday.

“Whether I’m visiting small businesses in Scranton, making a major announcement in Erie, or coming to your area to meet with you and your neighbors – I want to share it with you directly,” Shapiro said. “To best serve the people of Pennsylvania, we have to meet people where they are – and do it effectively and efficiently.

“No matter how you choose to access government, you need to know you’re going to get help, whether you're walking into a building or sending me a text.”