Harrisburg – Sept. 18, 2018 – State Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland) announced today that he was able to acquire nearly $2 million in state grant funding for a wide variety of small water and sewer and recreation projects in communities throughout the Mon Valley, eastern Allegheny and Westmoreland Counties.

“The more than $1.7 million in funding approved today is a significant investment in valuable projects in many local communities,” Brewster said.  “This state grant funding will make a difference for municipalities throughout the region.”

The grants were approved at a meeting of the Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA) in Harrisburg.

Brewster said that he worked to secure the funding for seven Greenways, Trailways and Recreation (Act 13) grants.  He said that these state dollars will add to a community’s quality of life and improve recreational opportunities for area residents.

Act 13 projects for the following communities include $125,000 for a new PVAA Recreation Building in Port Vue; Liberty Borough will receive $25,000 for the development of a Tot Lot; Dravosburg will use a $25,000 grant for improvements to Kidsville; North Braddock is slated to get $25,000 toward the renovation of a new playground in the borough; Renton Park in Plum will be improved through a $75,000 grant; Clairton will utilize $25,000 for its Community Park Trail project; and, North Versailles Township will renovate restroom facilities to make them ADA compliant at West Wilmerding Memorial Park.

“Accessing state funds for key projects helps shift the tax burden for financing local projects off the backs of already-stressed taxpayers,” Brewster said.  “These grants are investments that return tax dollars to communities.”

In addition to the Act 13 grants approved by the CFA today, Brewster said another 12 Small Water and Sewer projects were also funded.  These projects include:

  • Versailles Borough — Sanitary sewer rehabilitation —$71,945
  • Turtle Creek — George Street sanitary sewer replacement   — $50,000
  • Liberty Borough — Repairs of sanitary sewers — $100,000
  • Duquesne — Reservoir and water line repair — $100,000
  • Glassport — Sewer system rehabilitation — $100,000
  • Municipal Authority New Kensington — Waterline replacement — $100,000
  • Municipal Sanitary Authority New Kensington — Sewer rehabilitation — $100,000
  • Lower Burrell Municipal Authority — Little Pucketa sewer rehabilitation — $210,000
  • East McKeesport — Chicora sanitary sewer replacement — $50,000
  • Monroeville Municipal Authority — Simpson Run lining — $100,000
  • Monroeville Municipal Authority — Dirty Camp Run sewer rehabilitation — $99,819
  • Clairton Municipal Authority — Dry Run sewer rehabilitation — $337,000

Brewster said that as a former mayor of McKeesport, and a longtime member of council, he was always grateful when state grant funding was approved. 

“State investment in quality local projects often is the difference between completing the work on time and on budget, or delaying or suspending work on necessary repairs,” Brewster said.  “I am very pleased that the advocacy on behalf of water and sewer projects was successful.”

Brewster said that his work is not finished and that he remains determined to secure even more state grant funding for projects in municipalities throughout the region.

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