Salisbury: More than $2.4 million awarded to bolster District 34 water, wastewater infrastructure

Additional $118,200 awarded to fund nonprofit arts and cultural organizations

Rep. Abigail Salisbury    December 19, 2023 | 4:35 PM

BRADDOCK, Dec. 19 – Water and wastewater projects in the 34th Legislative District were awarded $2.42 million, state Rep. Abigail Salisbury, D-Allegheny, announced today.

“Our residents have a right to rely on proper wastewater management, which is critical to public health,” Salisbury said. “The new funding will allow boroughs across the district and our local water authority to complete critical maintenance and repair projects, so residents and small business owners receive the reliable, uninterrupted service they deserve.”

Salisbury said the projects and funding include:

  • $593,930 to Wilkinsburg Borough for sewer conveyance system repairs.
  • $200,000 to Rankin Borough for the ALCOSAN Regional Trunk Sewer Takeover Repairs project.
  • $400,000 to Swissvale Borough to replace a dilapidated sanitary sewer line running across Schley Avenue.
  • $450,000 to the Wilkinsburg-Penn Joint Water Authority to replace a water line along Cline Street in Wilkins Township.
  • $200,000 to Braddock Borough for repairs throughout the borough’s municipal sewer system.
  • $100,000 to Forest Hills Borough to rehabilitate the Ashley Court sanitary sewer system.
  • $200,000 to North Braddock Borough to construct a storm sewer system along O’Connell Boulevard.
  • $275,000 to East Pittsburgh Borough for storm sewer improvements.

Salisbury said that in addition to the water infrastructure funding, nonprofits arts and cultural organizations in the district were awarded more than $118,000 in funding to help them recover from the pandemic.

“The arts enrich our community – and they also bolster our economy by generating business for area restaurants, bars and shops. Securing this funding will help many of the local arts and cultural organizations that were devastated by the pandemic continue to heal financially, and in the process, rekindle greater economic activity for neighboring businesses,” she said.

Salisbury said the funding includes:

  • $10,000 to Barebones Productions to establish new programs.
  • $25,424 to Film Pittsburgh for new programs and marketing.
  • $13,590 to Pittsburgh Center for Creative Reuse to offset pandemic-related losses.
  • $27,292 to Pittsburgh Irish Festival Inc. for operating expenses.
  • $18,881 to Protohaven for operating expenses.
  • $22,977 to Squonk Opera Inc. for operating expenses.

The funding to Wilkinsburg was awarded under the COVID-19 ARPA H2O PA Program. More about the program is available here: https://dced.pa.gov/programs/covid-19-arpa-h2o-pa-water-supply-sanitary-sewer-and-storm-water-projects/

The additional water infrastructure funding was awarded under the COVID-19 ARPA PA Small Water and Sewer Program. More about the program is available here: https://dced.pa.gov/programs/covid-19-arpa-pa-small-water-sewer/

Funding to the nonprofit arts and cultural organizations were awarded under the COVID-19 ARPA Arts and Culture Recovery Program. More about the program is available here: https://dced.pa.gov/programs/covid-19-arpa-pa-arts-and-culture-recovery-program-pacr/#:~:text=The%20COVID-19%20ARPA%20PA,arts%20and%20culture%20sector%20from

The programs are administered by the Department of Community and Economic Development under the direction of the Commonwealth Financing Authority.