Author: kgordon

HARRISBURG – Sen. Joe Pittman (R-41) and Reps. Jim Struzzi (R-62) and Brian Smith (R-66) announced the Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA) has awarded over $3.1 million for numerous Indiana County municipal projects and purchases.

“At a time when many families and communities are feeling a strain from inflation, state investments play an even greater role in helping to strengthen our local region,” Pittman said. “I’m glad to have worked with my fellow elected officials to help secure this funding, which will ensure the advancement of several projects for the benefit of area residents throughout Indiana County.”

A $500,000 Multimodal Transportation Fund grant was awarded to West Wheatfield Township, to help with the cost of the replacement of the Caroline Street Bridge superstructure within the township.

The Multimodal Transportation Fund provides grants to encourage economic development and ensure that a safe and reliable system of transportation is available to the residents of the commonwealth.

The remainder of the grants are from the Local Share Account (LSA) funding, which was distributed to various municipalities throughout Indiana County.

“I applaud these grant recipients for taking the initiative in applying for these competitive grants, and am glad we were able to work as a team to secure this funding,” Struzzi added. “The investments being made through these grants help grow and sustain our local communities and improve the quality of life for their residents.”  

The largest award of $1,000,000 went to West Mahoning Township to construct a township building.

“This grant money will go a long way in helping to build a new township building and ensure that operations are up and running to support area residents,” Smith said. “As always, I am proud to advocate for these important projects that help alleviate the burden on local taxpayers, and bring investments back home to our communities where they will be appropriately implemented.”

A $400,000 grant was awarded to the Indiana County Municipal Services Authority to upgrade the water treatment plant located in Rayne Township. The authority also received a $90,090 grant for a water treatment plant upgrade project in Pine Township.

Blairsville Municipal Authority received a $344,000 grant to rehabilitate the sanitary sewer system along Liberty Street between 4th Avenue and Graff Street located in Blairsville Borough.

Other funding awards included:

• Indiana Borough received a $202,025 grant for a project to replace the Marsh Run gabion;
• The Central Indiana County Water Authority was awarded $150,000 to replace the existing water line located along South Main Street in Homer City Borough;
• Indiana County received $150,000 for improvements to the Buttermilk Falls entrance road located in West Wheatfield Township;
• Clymer Borough was awarded $84,554 to purchase new street signs and parking meters.
• White Township received $94,977 for upgrades to Kennedy-King Park and $81,230 for a road safety improvement project; and
• Saltsburg Borough received $73,971 for a new tractor.

LSA funding was created by the PA Race Horse Development and Gaming Act (Act 71 of 2004), which provides for the distribution of gaming revenues through the CFA to support projects in the public interest within Pennsylvania. The grants were approved at the March 16, 2023, meeting in Harrisburg.

Contacts:         

Kate Flessner (Sen. Pittman) kflessner@pasen.gov

Scott Little (Rep. Struzzi) Slittle@pahousegop.com

Ty McCauslin (Rep. Smith) Tmccausl@pahousegop.com

HARRISBURG – Sen. Joe Pittman (R-41) and Rep. Brian Smith (R-66) announced two projects in Jefferson County have been awarded a total of $442,420 in Local Share Account (LSA) grants by the Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA).

Young Township received $250,000 to modernize and improve accessibility of the Walston Recreational Area and Bell Township received $192,420 for the purchase of a new vehicle.

“At a time when many families and communities are feeling a strain from inflation, state investments play an even greater role in helping to strengthen our local region,” said Pittman. “I’m glad to have worked with my fellow elected officials to help secure funding for these worthwhile projects. When it comes to the improvements to the Walston Recreational Area, people of all ages will be able to enjoy this investment for years to come.”

“I am pleased that so many projects in our area received funding approval this year,” said Smith. “The LSA grant made available to Bell Township is going to be well spent on a new 2023 Peterbilt 367 dump truck with all the accessories—including a plow, stone spreader and salt spreader—to perform necessary maintenance and repairs on the township’s nearly 40 miles of roads.”

LSA funding was created by the PA Race Horse Development and Gaming Act (Act 71 of 2004), which provides for the distribution of gaming revenues through the CFA to support projects in the public interest within Pennsylvania. The grant was approved at the March 16, 2023, meeting in Harrisburg.

Contacts:         

Kate Flessner (Sen. Pittman) kflessner@pasen.gov

Ty McCauslin (Rep. Smith) Tmccausl@pahousegop.com

HARRISBURG – Sen. Joe Pittman (R-41), Sen. Kim Ward (R-39) and Rep. Jill Cooper (R-55) announced that a nearly $700,000 grant has been awarded by the Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA) to boost the continuing efforts to develop the New Kensington Advanced Manufacturing Park located in the City of Arnold.

The $693,026 grant of Local Share Account (LSA) funds will be used by the Westmoreland County Industrial Development Corporation to improve the roadways within the New Kensington Advanced Manufacturing Park. Specifically, a new access roadway will be installed around existing building 225 and tie into the current access road system to improve overall access to the industrial park.

“This substantial state funding will ensure the continued improvement of the industrial park – which has become a major benefit to the city and local residents. I’m glad to have worked with my fellow elected officials to help secure this funding, which will further expand economic development by increasing access to the businesses that are there, as well as attracting new businesses,” said Pittman. 

“Community and economic development go hand-in-hand,” Ward said. “The funding announced today for this project will help strengthen our local economy through job creation, advance our regional efforts to attract and grow businesses, while also improving the quality of life for our residents.”

“Reinvestment into economic development projects like this is exactly the purpose of these funds,” said Cooper. “Making this manufacturing park more viable translates to more family-sustaining careers and making our region an even better place to live, work and raise a family.”

Several other grants were awarded for Westmoreland County projects in the 41st Senatorial District. Those investments include:

• $419,593 for Vandergrift Borough, in cooperation with Casino Theater Restoration and Management, Inc., to continue the ongoing effort to restore and rehabilitate the more than 100-year-old historic Casino Theater & Library Building located in Vandergrift Borough;
• $297,000 for West Wheatfield Township to expand the fire station located in Bolivar Borough;
• $99,980 for Loyalhanna Township to purchase a backhoe;
• $85,689 for Fairfield Township to purchase and outfit a new utility truck to replace the township’s existing utility truck, which needs extensive repairs and has become cost prohibitive to fix;
• $80,270 for New Kensington City to renovate the roofs of the city’s Company No. 1 and Company No 5 fire stations;
• $60,000 for Arnold City to purchase a dump truck and plow;
• $58,500 for Derry Township to retrofit two stormwater management ponds within the Spring Crest Community residential development;
• $51,076 for Upper Burrell Township to do a landslide mitigation project;
• $35,000 for Derry Township, on behalf of the Derry Township Volunteer Fire Department, to purchase of two new inflatable river rescue boats;
• $20,000 for Washington Township to purchase new equipment for the township’s police vehicles;
• $20,000 for Lower Burrell City to enhance the amenities of their city parks, including the replacement of the current wooden picnic tables at the park with more heavy-duty tables, the addition of a new sway bench and four new sturdy trash receptacles;
• $15,214 for Allegheny Township, on behalf of the Markle Volunteer Fire Department, to purchase communication equipment to be used by the fire department;
• $15,058 for Allegheny Township to purchase materials to make stormwater improvements along the township’s Frederick Drive;
• $15,000 for Vandergrift Borough to purchase a truck, snowplow and salt spreader for use by the borough;
• $12,041 for Arnold City to make renovations to City Hall;
• $11,830 for New Kensington City to purchase radar speed signs for use in within the city;
• $10,000 for Vandergrift Borough, on behalf of George G. McMurtry Fire Department Vandergrift 1, to purchase 25 pagers that will allow the Westmoreland County 911 dispatch center to alert fire department members 24 hours a day;
• $10,000 for Loyalhanna Township to purchase a skid steer loader;
• $6,250 for Washington Township to make upgrades to Elbert N. Kunkle Park;
• $3,000 for Oklahoma Borough to purchase and install new street signs within the borough; and
• $2,850 for Vandergrift Borough to purchase a license plate reader for the borough police department.

LSA funding was created by the PA Race Horse Development and Gaming Act (Act 71 of 2004), which provides for the distribution of gaming revenues through the CFA to support projects in the public interest within Pennsylvania. The grants were approved at the March 16, 2023, meeting in Harrisburg.

Contacts:         

Kate Flessner (Sen. Pittman) kflessner@pasen.gov

Erica Clayton Wright (Sen. Ward) ewright@pasen.gov

Jordan Frei (Rep. Cooper) jfrei@pahousegop.com   

HARRISBURG – Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R-41) today issued the following statement in response to Governor Shapiro’s announcement that he will not issue any execution warrants during his term:

“For us to learn of Governor Shapiro’s position on the death penalty only minutes before it was announced on his Twitter account is a rash approach to an issue of this magnitude. Any changes to close access to an element of punishment must appropriately consider the families of murder victims and the critical perspective of law enforcement.

“Protecting our society while implementing meaningful criminal justice reforms have been ongoing priorities for the Senate Republican Caucus, and we will continue to engage in criminal justice reform discussions this session. Without question, the legal and ethical aspects of the death penalty warrant careful examination before being used.”

MEDIA CONTACT: Kate Eckhart Flessner, kflessner@pasen.gov

HARRISBURG – Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R-41) today issued the following statement emphasizing the need for an assessment of the actions that led to, and have taken place following the Norfolk Southern train derailment on February 3, 2023:

“There has been a great deal of concern and frustration following the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. Although this incident did not take place within our state’s border, it is critical we learn the cause of the derailment and work to mitigate the effects upon the residents of surrounding communities within the commonwealth. Protecting the people of Pennsylvania must always be our primary focus.

“While multistate emergency response situations present significant challenges, the public deserves detailed answers about the handling of this incident. Discussions with Senate committees holding jurisdiction over these areas have begun to take place. It is imperative the legislature engages in a deeper conversation and examination of our infrastructure system and meaningful ways to further ensure public safety when it comes to these infrequent but gravely serious events.”

 

MEDIA CONTACT: Kate Eckhart Flessner, kflessner@pasen.gov

HARRISBURG – Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R-41) today issued the following statement after initial review of the Commonwealth Court ruling on school funding:

“A great deal of focus has been on the financial aspect of this issue, yet the court states: ‘nothing in the foregoing opinion undermines the ability of the General Assembly to continue providing local control to school boards or infringes on any of the sister branches of government’s authority. Nor does it require reform to be entirely financial.’

“It is incumbent upon the General Assembly and executive branch to thoughtfully and thoroughly examine all aspects of our education system. With any modifications, there must be a balance between addressing the needs of students and respecting the ability of taxpayers to pay the costs.

“We recognize the perspective of the court and appreciate the necessity for educational opportunities for all children throughout the commonwealth. While meaningful changes cannot happen overnight, we acknowledge there is a need to evolve our approach to school funding to ensure fairness for our students.

“As we continue this conversation, a focus on all aspects of educational opportunities available to families and their children must occur. Supporting every educational option which fosters a learning environment, while meeting student needs and encouraging parental involvement, is essential to capture the spirit of the court opinion.”

MEDIA CONTACT: Kate Eckhart Flessner, kflessner@pasen.gov

HARRISBURG – Sen. President Pro Tempore Kim Ward (R-39) and Sen. Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R-41) today congratulated current state representative and incoming state Sen.-elect Lynda Schlegel Culver (R-27), who won a special election on Tuesday to fill the vacancy left by the departure of former Sen. John Gordner.

“We are pleased to welcome Senator-elect Culver and look forward to working with her to advance policies and proposals that help Pennsylvania families,” Ward said. “Lynda’s experience from serving in the House and her second-to-none work ethic will be a real asset in the Senate.”

Once sworn into office, Culver will give Senate Republicans a 28-22 seat majority.

“State Senator-elect Culver is a welcome addition to our growing majority and we fully expect her to hit the ground running,” Pittman said. “She understands the legislative process, appreciates the importance of working together to accomplish a common goal and has worked hard to gain the trust of the people in the district she’ll serve.”

Culver is serving her seventh term in the House representing the people in the 108th District. Prior to be elected to the House, she served for more than 20 years as the staff leader in the office of former state Rep. Merle Phillips (R-108).

She will resign from her seat in the House prior to being sworn in to serve in the Senate. Culver is expected to be sworn into the Senate when it returns to session, which currently is scheduled for the last week in February.

“I’m excited about this new opportunity to serve the people in our area,” Culver said. “I am honored by the support I received from people across the 27^th District. I’m committed to working with my colleagues to advance legislation and enact policies that will create more and better opportunities for workers, businesses and families across our commonwealth.”

Culver will serve the remainder of the term of former Sen. Gordner, who stepped down late last year to accept a position in the office of President Pro Tempore Ward. Culver’s Senate term will last until the end of November 2024.

The 27th District includes all of Columbia, Montour, Northumberland and Snyder counties, and part of Luzerne County, including Black Creek, Butler, Conyngham, Dorrance, Fairview, Hollenback, Huntington, Nescopeck, Rice, Salem, Slocum, Sugarloaf and Wright townships, and Conyngham, Nescopeck, New Columbus, Nuangola and Shickshinny boroughs.

More information about Culver and the 27th District is available at https://27thdistrict.pasenategop.com/. 

 

Senator Ward Media Contact
Erica Clayton Wright
ewright@pasen.gov
717-787-6063

Senator Pittman Media Contact
Kate Eckhart Flessner
kflessner@pasen.gov
717-787-8724