HARRISBURG – Sen. Joe Pittman (R-41) and Reps. Abby Major (R-60), Leslie Rossi (R-59) and Jill Cooper (R-55) announced $3,455,808 in Local Share Account funding to support projects throughout Westmoreland County.
The funds were approved by the Commonwealth Financing Authority on September 15, 2026, in Harrisburg. The grants are funded through the Local Share Account – Statewide, which uses money generated by casinos to support projects to improve quality of life for area residents.
“Projects to strengthen communities are critical to the stability and growth of our region,” Pittman said. “I was pleased to work with my colleagues in Harrisburg to advocate for this substantial support. Thoughtful investments in local infrastructure and economic development initiatives help ensure municipalities can meet the needs of residents now and into the future. This is an exciting day, as the funding will help address local priorities, support economic growth, and improve quality of life across the county.”
“Sanitary sewer is a critical component to the health and safety of the community,” Major said. “I’m pleased to partner with Sen. Pittman to fund this vital project. While on-lot systems serve many, their lifespan is limited. By extending the sanitary sewer line, we are providing a long-term solution.”
“These investments will address necessary needs in communities across Westmoreland County,” said Rossi. “Aging infrastructure needs attention, local roads need to be maintained, and our municipalities and first responders need reliable equipment to do their jobs. These grants will help make those improvements possible while strengthening essential services and improving public safety.”
“Municipalities are expected to keep roads passable, police and fire responders equipped and public facilities safe, often while working within very tight budgets,” Cooper said. “These grants help communities replace aging equipment and make needed upgrades without placing the entire cost on local taxpayers.”
The following 17 projects are receiving support through this round of funding:
Arnold City is receiving:
- $193,025 for the acquisition of a new truck cab equipped with an uplift package, including plow and spreader equipment. This will replace the city’s 26-year-old dump truck.
- $492,500 to rehabilitate the Riverside pump station with a modern, automated and reliable pump station.
Bolivar Borough is receiving $656,000 to replace the over-100-year-old clay storm sewer system around Market Street with properly sized trunk lines, laterals and inlets to carry runoff to Tubmill Creek and the Conemaugh River.
Derry Borough is being awarded $147,361 for phase II of the West Owens and Church Way sanitary sewer project which includes installing 160 feet of parallel sanitary sewer line from West Owens Avenue to Church Way, upsizing 200 feet of sanitary sewer line on Church Way from State Route 217 to Wineman Way, and retrofitting existing manholes, core drilling to ensure watertight seals, new standard manholes and roadway restoration.
Derry Township Municipal Authority is being awarded $217,233 for improvements to several pump station facilities and the municipal authority office and shop, which include replacing the roof and installing an alarm dialer system at the Peanut Pump Station; upgrading operating software for the newly installed third pump and installing a wet well aeration system at the Brenizer Pump Station; and installing an emergency generator and transfer switch at the main office and a second transfer switch at the authority shop.
Ligonier Borough is receiving $367,500 for the Friendship Park restroom renovation project which involves replacing the outdated 1960s restroom building with a modern, fully accessible facility that meets current codes and visitor needs. The project includes demolishing the existing structure, installing a durable, prefabricated restroom with ADA-compliant features and upgrading all utilities as well as adding a new concrete sidewalk to create an accessible route from the parking area and playground to the restrooms.
Ligonier Township is being awarded $200,000 to purchase a 10-ton dump/plow truck chassis with dump, spreader and a snowplow kit – replacing a 2001 Mack.
Lower Burrell City is receiving $200,271 to provide public sanitary sewer service to Glenmore Street residents currently relying on aging on-lot systems. The work includes the installation of 300 feet of sanitary sewer main, two manholes, six lateral connections and restoration work.
Loyalhanna Township, on behalf of the Saltsburg Volunteer Fire Department, is receiving $132,328 to purchase a base station and 25 portable radios to update their emergency communications and improve emergency services in Saltsburg Borough, and Conemaugh and Loyalhanna townships.
New Kensington City is being awarded:
- $26,500 to complete security updates at New Kensington City Hall consisting of reconstructing walls with fire rated components and installing a security door equipped with electronic locking system and intercom.
- $66,226 to add another patrol car into the rotation of vehicles used by the police department while phasing out another high-mileage vehicle.
- $301,770 to purchase a backhoe, track skid steer and compact excavator to be used by the city’s Department of Public Works.
Oklahoma Borough is being awarded $74,031 to rehabilitate Oklahoma Borough Park which consists of constructing a 725-square-foot sidewalk around the park’s pavilion and a pad door for safety improvements for pedestrians including persons with disabilities; constructing a concrete pad to provide stability for the dumpster next to the parking lot; and installing a six-foot fence at the baseball field to protect spectators and the adjacent properties and houses.
Seward Borough, on behalf of the Volunteer Fire Department and Relief Association of Seward, is receiving $53,316 purchase rescue equipment for the Seward Volunteer Fire Company to assist in fighting brush fires and helping with search and rescue operations that commonly occur in the surrounding state game lands.
St. Clair Township is being awarded $65,000 to purchase a new tractor with boom mower to maintain sight lines on township roads and be used in other township maintenance projects.
Upper Burrell Township is receiving $137,090 to purchase a new backhoe which will allow the road department to perform and manage its own projects without the need to bid out the work.
Washington Township is receiving $125,657 to replace its older dump truck with a 2026 F-600 dump truck with a plow package.
The Commonwealth Financing Authority is an independent agency of the Department of Community and Economic Development that administers many of Pennsylvania’s economic development and community improvement programs.
CONTACT: Kate Eckhart Flessner (Sen. Pittman)
CONTACT: Tracy Polovick (Rep. Major)
CONTACT: Rick Leiner (Rep. Rossi)
CONTACT: Tracy Polovick (Rep. Cooper)