HARRISBURG – Sen. Joe Pittman (R-41) and Reps. Jim Struzzi (R-62) and Brian Smith (R-66) announced more than $3.2 million in public infrastructure grants from Local Share Account (LSA) funds and more than $2.8 million in Public School Facility Improvement Grant Program (PSFIG) dollars have been awarded for projects in Indiana County.
“Thanks to the collective effort of local and state leaders, our communities will soon be receiving substantial investments for needed infrastructure improvements,” Pittman said. “Infrastructure projects of any size can be expensive for municipalities. I’m pleased to have worked to ensure this state support will assist with vital improvements to protect health, safety and education access within our region.”
“The seven projects in my district will help with redevelopment and rehabilitation of our communities, improve stormwater and wastewater infrastructure, and benefit the economy and students at the Indiana County Technology Center,” shared Struzzi. “I am proud to have worked with Sen. Pittman on getting these funds for our communities and am excited to see the growth brought to the district through them.”
“The township crews in our area work hard to keep our roads safe, but it’s hard to do that without the right equipment,” Smith said. “I’m proud to help bring back some funding for these townships so they can keep the roads clear and let residents get where they need to go.”
The grants were approved by the Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA) at the October 22 meeting in Harrisburg.
Eight projects within the county received LSA funding:
- $887,525 awarded to the Highridge Water Authority to extend waterlines along Route 217 in southern Indiana County.
- $535,630 for Homer City Borough to acquire and demolish several buildings on the west side of Main Street for the third phase of the borough’s Main Street Redevelopment Plan.
- $530,000 for Saltsburg Borough’s sewer separation project to address current infrastructure shortcomings that overload the existing sewer system during rain events.
- $468,800 for the Clymer Borough Municipal Authority to complete stormwater upgrades on several borough roadways.
- $388,476 for the Indiana County Development Corporation to expand its welding training program by renovating additional space at the Indiana County Technology Center in White Township.
- $200,000 for Blairsville Borough to purchase a street sweeper.
- $136,819 for the Blairsville Municipal Authority to replace sanitary sewer pipes along Martha Street.
- $80,000 for Banks Township to purchase a new work truck to replace the township’s current truck which is beyond its useful life.
Local Share Account funds are generated by the PA Race Horse Development and Gaming Act (Act 71 of 2004), which provides for distributing gaming revenues through the CFA to support projects in the public interest within Pennsylvania.
As for the PSFIG funding, the Indiana County Technology Center was awarded $2,829,412 to replace a roof and upgrade the existing HVAC system at the center.
PSFIG funding is allocated within the Pennsylvania General Fund budget and awarded to public school districts and area career and technical schools for various facility improvement projects.
The Commonwealth Financing Authority was established in 2004 as an independent agency of the Department of Community and Economic Development to administer Pennsylvania’s economic stimulus packages.
Media Contacts:
Kate Eckhart Flessner (Sen. Pittman)
Matthew Davis (Rep. Struzzi)
Jake Gillespie (Rep. Smith)