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In this Update:

• Happy Thanksgiving
• Sharing the Harvest
• Reducing the Hazards and Hassle of Thanksgiving Travel
• Multimodal Funding to Boost Road Safety, Economic Development in Indiana, Armstrong Counties

Happy Thanksgiving

President Lincoln began his proclamation establishing Thanksgiving as a national holiday by writing: “The year that is drawing towards its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies.”

It was October 1863, in the middle of the Civil War, but Lincoln pointed Americans toward developments for which the nation should be thankful.

Today, we can be thankful that, despite often heated divisions and the remnants of the pandemic, we live in peace and relative abundance in 2021. I hope you and your family have a happy Thanksgiving filled with love and gratitude.

Pennsylvania Hunters Provide Food for Neighbors

As families across the commonwealth give thanks, Pennsylvania deer hunters have a way to brighten the holidays for those in need.

Hunters Sharing the Harvest allows hunters to donate their extra venison to food pantries and community assistance centers across Pennsylvania via a statewide network of butchers. Over the last 30 years, the program has distributed nearly 2 million pounds of donated meat.

An average-sized deer will provide enough high-protein, low-fat meat for 200 meals. Hunters Sharing the Harvest is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity funded by public and private sources. Hunters can find the nearest participating meat processor here.

Reducing the Hazards and Hassle of Thanksgiving Travel

Travel experts say all types of Thanksgiving travel are projected to rebound to near pre-pandemic levels this week.

One way to get the most current and relevant Pennsylvania traffic information without taking your eyes off the road or your hands off the wheel is the 511PA app. 511PA provides real-time, hands-free traffic advisories for every state roadway in Pennsylvania, and for major roadways in neighboring states of New Jersey and West Virginia.

Quick Tip: AAA says that if you’re hitting the road Wednesday, traffic will be lighter after 9 p.m. If heading out on Thanksgiving, it’s best to depart before 11 a.m.

Multimodal Funding to Boost Road Safety, Economic Development in Indiana, Armstrong Counties

Last week, the Commonwealth Financing Authority awarded more than $1.8 million in grants to four projects located within the 41st Senatorial District.

East Mahoning Township received a $500,000 grant to make improvements to 2.79 miles of Pollock Road, 2.57 miles located in East Mahoning Township, Indiana County, and 0.22 miles located in Rayne Township. The work to be done includes replacement of cross-pipes and underdrain replacement to improve the drainage on the roadway, as well as resurfacing the road and rebuilding the stabilized shoulders.

The rehabilitation of Pollock Road, which is a former state-owned “turnback” road, is long overdue. The road is heavily travelled and used quite a lot by the agriculture community.

A $367,500 grant was awarded to the Indiana County Development corporation for the construction of an access road within the 119 Business Park, located in Center Township.

The project is focused on sparking economic development within the area, but the business park currently lacks an access road to the lower 14.39 acres of the 25-acre property. Coupled with the $1.5 million PIPE grant that was awarded in the beginning of the year to provide natural gas access to this site, we are making it ready to go for future development.

Washington Township, Indiana County, has received a $200,950 grant for the Phase III reconstruction of Redding Run Road.

Washington Township has been working to reconstruct Redding Run Road, which is one of the township’s more heavily travelled roads and an important access road for rural communities, to address the road’s poor drainage and surface conditions. Phase I of the project was completed in 2020 and Phase II is currently underway. Phase III will include resurfacing 0.84 miles of the road, starting where Phase II ended, as well as improving drainage along the roadway, re-establishing parallel ditch lines along the road and re-stabilizing the shoulders of the road.

Lastly, a $745,000 grant was awarded to Ford City Borough, Armstrong County, for street and sidewalk improvements.

The grant will be used to help pay for reconstruction of portions of 3rd and 4th avenues, 11th and 12th streets, and two alleys. Improvements will include the remediation of 11,000 square yards of roadways, 2,500 linear feet of curbing and 1,500 square yards of sidewalk.

The Butler County Community College is going to bring new life to Ford City, and with the help of this grant funding, the street and sidewalk improvements will help to make that possible.

The CFA was established as an independent agency of the Commonwealth to administer Pennsylvania’s economic stimulus packages. The CFA holds fiduciary responsibility over the funding of programs and investments in Pennsylvania’s economic growth. The Multimodal Transportation Fund provides grants to encourage economic development and ensure a safe and reliable system of transportation is available in the Commonwealth.

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