Valley communities awarded share of $1.9M in economic development grants
The money came from the Pa. Gaming Economic Development Tourism Fund.
The money came from the Pa. Gaming Economic Development Tourism Fund.
Several Mon Valley communities received economic development funding for various projects.
State Sen. Nick Pisciottano, D-West Mifflin, announced his district received over $1.9 million in Gaming Economic Development Tourism Funds (GEDTF), Greenways, Trails, and Recreation Program and Watershed Restoration and Protection Program grants.
“These grants will help local leaders complete a variety of projects to improve our neighborhoods,” Pisciottano stated. “I was happy to support these projects and bring these funds back to Allegheny County to help our communities in a variety of ways from parks and recreation to community centers to bridge rehabilitation and much more.”
About 20 projects received Gaming Economic Development Tourism Funds funding, which is administered by the Redevelopment Authority of Allegheny County, and provides financial assistance to awardees to carry out important economic development projects.
Pisciottano thanked former senator Jim Brewster and several state officials for their roles in bringing these funds back to the district, including partnerships with state representatives including the late Matthew Gergely, D-McKeesport, John Inglis, D-West Mifflin, Andrew Kuzma R-Elizabeth Township, Brandon Markosek, D-Monroeville, and more.
“I was grate ful to be able to work with Sen. Brew ster and these incredible state representatives in Allegheny County,” Pisciottano stated. “We all have the goals to help our constituents and bring funds back from Harrisburg to boost our communities, and it is a pleasure to work with these lawmakers to do just that.”
Some grant funding included $50,000 for building and grounds improvements at Save Sports Arts & Video Education in McKeesport, $50,000 for community building improvements in Liberty Borough, $50,000 for sewer rehabilitation in Versailles Borough, $50,000 for custom healthy food box deliveries to low-income families at Mission: Agape in White Oak, $140,000 for Community Park ADA accessible restrooms in Clairton and $205,000 for the Boston Road improvement project in Elizabeth Township.
Glassport also received $50,000 for municipal building renovations, and according to borough manager Elaina Skiba, this project is something they had on their list since moving buildings – to make sure everything was as energy efficient as possible.
“We’re very excited,” Skiba said. “Glassport did apply for the GEDTF funds for specifically replacement of light fixtures to replace LED lights, along with occupancy sensing controls and this will really help the borough become more energy efficient and an upgrade to the building, which we are happy we were able to receive these funds and move on with this project.”
North Versailles received $85,000 for community center improvements, according to the release, and township manager Joe Varhola said the borough is grateful to get the money, even though the project costs around $389,000, to fix the space.
“We house our library and our seniors go in there and use it and people can rent it out for graduation parties,” Varhola said. “ It’s not really big; it holds about 100 people, and below it has a garage, where some of the public works equipment and in the basement. The ground shifted and made it unsafe. There was structural damage from the ground. We are very appreciative of the money we did get, even though we didn’t get what we asked for.”
According to Port Vue Borough Manager Malisa Migliori, they were awarded $50,000 for upgrades to the parking area at Vigilant Hose Co. No. 1 Of Port Vue, Station 237.
Even though the project costs around $258,893.75 and included drainage and a retaining wall, Port Vue is also very grateful, according to Migliori, and the borough council will make a decision next week on what to do with the money for the parking lot.
“It included a lot of groundwork, so now we are going to possibly try to match some and scale back, to make it fit,” she said. “Ultimately, that’s a council decision and council has yet to discuss it.”
Additionally, West Mifflin Sanitary Sewer & Stormwater Authority director Jessica Emerick said the organization was awarded $50,000 for upgrades to the dated Pleasant Hills Pump Station. She stated that it was nice of Pisciottano to get the funds for their organization.
Connie Rosenbayger, borough manager of East McKeesport, said the area also received funding: $150,000 for community center improvements.
Rosenbayger stated that the borough had a whole list of items they applied for, but the GEDTF funding will help replace the floor of the building as well as redoing everything.
“When our community center was built, it was built in three different parts,” she said. “They kept adding on, so there are three different heaters and air conditioners, and we are going to switch over to a commercial one for the whole building. We are very appreciative of our new senator. It will be a great help to the community to do some repairs over at our community center.”