Harrisburg – State Sen. Pat Stefano (R-32) today announced the approval of grants and loans for improvement projects in the 32nd Senatorial District.
“This funding will help create jobs, mitigate environmental threats and boost outdoor recreation,” said Stefano. “It’s important that state tax dollars return to our communities to support local efforts to improve the quality of life for our citizens.”
The following funds were approved by the Commonwealth Financing Authority:
- $8 million Business in Our Sites loan to RIDC Regional Growth Fund to continue with Phase II renovations of the former Sony Plant in East Huntington Township, Westmoreland County. RIDC has secured several large tenants at the 2.8-million-square-feet facility and Phase II will prepare space for additional tenants. There are currently 660 full-time jobs at the site and Phase II will create an additional 100 jobs. The total cost of the project is $8.7 million.
- $125,000 Greenways, Trails and Recreation Program grant to Franklin Township, Fayette County to improve accessibility and purchase playground equipment for its community park. The project will include the construction of a new restroom with ADA accessibility as well as a storage facility and new playground equipment. The total cost of the project is $178,500.
- $15,968 Sewage Facilities Program grant to Henry Clay Township, Fayette County for an Act 537 Plan Special Study. The study will help the township determine the feasibility of extending public sewer service to developed areas that have potentially malfunctioning on-lot sewage systems. Extending public sewers and eliminating malfunctioning systems will improve water quality locally and downstream. The total cost of the project is $31,936.
- $352,461 Abandoned Mine Drainage Abatement and Treatment Program grant to Sherpa Mining Contractors for improvements to the passive treatment system in Shade Township, Somerset County. SMC is currently treating a discharge on the Burgess No. 2 Mine site on the Lower Kittanning seam. The flow is being treated with sodium hydroxide, but the treatment does not meet standards and is becoming cost-prohibitive. The grant will allow SMC to change the chemical treatment to remove iron and manganese. As a result, 6.9 miles of Shade Creek will see reduced metal loadings of roughly 1,825 pounds of iron and 1,130 pounds of manganese. The total project cost is $486,900.
- $350,000 Flood Mitigation Program grant to Meyersdale Borough, Somerset County to remove rock debris and repair sections of a flood wall. An Army Corps of Engineers inspection in 2013 found an unacceptable level of debris within the flood control panel and a wall that threatens to collapse. The borough will remove the debris and rebuild the concrete wall. The total cost of the project is $481,700.
- $100,000 Watershed Restoration and Protection Program grant to the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy for sediment reduction and restoration of Laurel Hill Creek in Jefferson Township, Somerset County. The project will reduce sediment deposits through improvements to approximately one mile of dirt and gravel road and by replacing two failed culverts severely impacting water quality and aquatic habitats. A combination of new devices including swales, under drain, road fill and replacement culverts are expected to reduce stream sediment levels by 200 tons annually. The total cost of the project is $123,548.
The Commonwealth Financing Authority is an independent agency of the Department of Community and Economic Development, established to administer Pennsylvania’s economic stimulus packages.
Contact: Ben Wren 717-787-7175