May 25, 2021
HARRISBURG, May 25, 2021 – Local projects aimed at remediating blight and revitalizing local communities were awarded more than $1.3 million in state grant money today, state Sen. Jim Brewster announced.
Brewster, a former mayor of McKeesport who held a virtual public hearing in March on improving Pennsylvania’s blight remediation efforts, said the grants will help local communities fund their local efforts and stabilize neighborhoods.
The grants were approved today by the Commonwealth Financing Authority as part or their Blight Remediation Program.
“Run-down and abandoned buildings hamper local efforts to attract new residents and businesses and grow the tax base,” Brewster said. “These grants are important investments in communities that will pay dividends in the years to come.”
Among the leading beneficiaries is the City of Arnold, which was approved for a $300,000 grant to demolish 27 blighted properties as part of its Blight Remediation Plan. The money will go toward acquisition, demolition and administrative costs. Arnold has the highest building vacancy rate in Westmoreland County. The Westmoreland County Land Bank will also receive $300,000 for its overall blight remediation efforts.
The Redevelopment Authority of the City of New Kensington was approved for a $298,000 grant to rehabilitate the iconic Dattola Theater which has been closed for more than 35 years. The project will replace the roof, abate asbestos and restore structural stability to the building that local officials hope will serve as a catalyst for future “Main Street” development in the city.
The City of McKeesport will also receive nearly $300,000 to restore and rebuild properties along 5th Avenue and Shaw Avenue in the city.
Also receiving funds:
- Borough of Dravosburg – $20,000 to demolish two blighted and unsafe residential buildings.
- Borough of Wilmerding – $30,000 to demolish 10 abandoned buildings.
- Tri-COG Land Bank – $190,000 to demolish two buildings and renovate four others in six different municipalities.
- Steel Rivers Council of Governments – $30,000 to demolish 12 properties in the boroughs of Glassport and Versailles.
- Borough of Liberty – $45,000 to demolish an abandoned and unsafe school building and turn the land over for recreation.
- Borough of Elizabeth – $68,310 to demolish four abandoned buildings to pave the way for future construction.
- Borough of East Pittsburgh – $25,000 to plan for remediation of as many as 80 properties as part of a comprehensive blight plan.
For more details on other projects in the 45th District that will see state investment, click here.
September 18, 2018
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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