ARPA grants to support municipal water improvements, local nonprofit Read more
BRADDOCK, Dec. 19 – Water and wastewater projects in the 34 th 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 Read more
PITTSBURGH, Dec. 19 – Combined grants totaling $272,710 will help local arts and cultural organizations in the 23 rd Legislative District continue recovering from the effects of the pandemic, state Rep. Dan Frankel, D-Allegheny, announced today. Frankel said the funding will help these organizations – which were some of the hardest hit by the pandemic – offset losses and fund operating costs. “From restrictions on gatherings to supply-chain issues, the pandemic left many local artists, museums and cultural centers struggling to survive, and most are still feeling the economic impacts,” Frankel said. “The new funding will help offset lost revenue and fund operating costs so these beloved organizations that enrich and enliven our community – and generate activity for neighboring small businesses – can thrive again.” Frankel said the funding – awarded under the COVID-19 ARPA Arts and Culture Recovery Program – includes: $95,000 to the Carnegie Institute for the Carnegie Museum of Art. $95,000 for the Carnegie Institute for the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. $33,967 to Pittsburgh Center for Arts and Media. $27,875 to Pittsburgh Arts and Lectures. $10,868 to Fine Art Miracles Inc. $10,000 to Bodiography Contemporary Ballet. Funds distributed through the PA Arts and Culture Recovery Program Read more
PITTSBURGH, Dec. 19 – Nonprofit arts and cultural organizations in the 19 th Legislative District were awarded combined funding of $1.76 million to help them recover from the effects of the pandemic, state Rep. Aerion A. Abney, D-Allegheny, announced today. Abney said the funding – awarded under the COVID-19 ARPA PA Arts and Culture Recovery – will help offset losses and fund operating expenses for nearly 30 district arts and cultural centers. “The pandemic dealt a crushing blow to our local artists, museums, orchestras and other arts and cultural centers, and these organizations are rebounding more slowly than other businesses and organizations,” Abney said. “The new funding will help speed recovery for these vital groups and for the talented performers, musicians, and other artists who uplift us and help stimulate local business activity.” Abney said the funding includes the following organizations and amounts: ACH Clear Pathways – $33,449. Arcade Comedy Theater Inc. – $17,341. Artists Image Resource – $11,476. August Wilson African American Cultural Center – $95,000. Civic Light Opera Association of Greater Pittsburgh – $95,000. Carnegie Institute: Carnegie Science Center – $95,000. Carnegie Institute: The Andy Warhol Center – $95,000. Center of Life – $62,805. Chamber Music Read more
Federal funds to support water infrastructure, history organization Read more
“These grants, which CFA administered through funding from the American Rescue Plan Act, will enhance arts and cultural organizations based in my district and in the Greater Pittsburgh Region,” Mayes said. “With these investments, Pittsburgh residents may benefit from more opportunities to explore the arts and vibrant cultures, and build up the community, thereby making Pittsburgh more welcoming for more people from diverse backgrounds.” Read more
“The pandemic’s closures and cancellations had a devastating impact on our local artists, theaters, museums and other arts and cultural organizations, and many are still struggling to fully recover. Neighboring bars, restaurants and other small businesses felt the impact, as well,” Powell said. “This new funding to help revive the arts will help bring back more of the events, exhibits and performances our community loves, and in the process, stimulate more local business activity.” Read more
“With these grants, we will have the opportunity to address infrastructure issues with water supplies, sewer systems, and stormwater management,” Steele said. “These grants, awarded by CFA through funding from ARPA, will assist residents in Fawn, Frazer, Harrison, East Deer, Harmar and Indiana townships and Brackenridge, Cheswick, Springdale, and Tarentum boroughs.” Read more
"I am thrilled to see the state support these communities with vital investments to improve areas of infrastructure to continue to address water and sewer needs for their residents,” Kulik said. “These grants will go a long way toward ensuring access to clean water and proper sanitation for folks who live in these neighborhoods." Read more
PITTSBURGH, Dec. 19 – State Rep. Dan Deasy, D-Allegheny, announced more than $3.1 million in state grants to assist Pittsburgh Musical Theater and sewer system projects in four local communities. The following grants were awarded by the Commonwealth Financing Authority through three grant programs. Details of grant recipients and projects are as follows: PA Arts and Culture Recovery Program : $40,020 to the Pittsburgh Musical Theater to offset operating costs to assist in the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. H20 PA Program grants : $2.3 million to Crafton Borough for a storm sewer separation project. $400,000 to Scott Township for the replacement of storm sewer piping along Great Oak Drive, Sturdy Oak Drive, Orchardview Drive, Shady Knoll Drive and Green Oak Drive. PA Small Water and Sewer program : $223,400 to Rosslyn Farms Borough for the installation of a new storm sewer. $200,000 to Thornburg Borough for the rehabilitation of a sanitary sewer system. “These dollars that come back to the community are part of local economic stimulus and recovery programs that are vital to our communities,” Deasy said. “These investments are some of the most important that we make to help local projects move forward.” The CFA is an independent agency of the Department of Community and Economic Development, established in 2004 to administer Pennsylvania’s economic stimulus packages. Read more
MONROEVILLE, Dec. 19 – More than $3.4 million in state funding will support upgrades for eight water and sewer projects within the 25 th Legislative District, announced state Rep. Brandon Markosek. “The grants awarded today will help to keep critical infrastructure up to date, so that folks who live in these areas continue to have safe drinking water and reliable, working sewer systems,” said Markosek, D-Allegheny. “I am pleased that the state recognized how important these projects are and how they will help to improve the health and well-being of these communities.” The following projects were awarded funding: $187,000 to the Monroeville Municipal Authority to rehabilitate the East Thompson Run Sanitary Sewer system. $300,000 to Wall Borough to replace rusted metal pipes in the Valley Avenue culvert. $450,000 to the Wilkinsburg-Penn Joint Water Authority for the removal and replacement of an asbestos concrete waterline from the East McKeesport water line. $100,000 to East McKeesport for the Ice Plant Hill groundwater and stormwater remediation project. $265,323 to North Versailles Township Sanitary Authority for sanitary sewer upgrades along Woodland Street. $300,000 to Plum Borough Municipal Authority for a sanitary sewer replacement along Ohiopyle Drive. $889,778 to the Monroeville Municipal Authority for a sanitary sewer system rehabilitation project. $916,043 to the Plum Borough Municipal Authority for a Read more
PITTSBURGH, PA – December 19, 2023 –Today, Senator Jay Costa and Representative Joe McAndrew announce $4,657,528 in H2O Grants and Small Water and Sewer Grants benefitting their districts. “I am extremely proud to be delivering this grant funding to crucial infrastructure projects that deliver clean drinking water to the people who call our district home,” said Senator Costa. “These dollars will help ensure that our water systems keep us safe, healthy and clean. I look forward to continuing to fund projects that improve the lives of our working families.” “Across the board, our water/sewage rates are going up. I hope the money brought back through these efforts will stabilize these rates now and in the future,” said Representative McAndrew. “These projects are really forward thinking, for example the Municipality of Penn Hills will be using their funds for a new data management system called SCADA that will allow for systems optimization, safety enhancements, reduce travel and wait time for operations and controls, and better monitoring/prevention of overflow events.” H2O Grant Recipients: Oakmont Water Authority was awarded $1,303,316 to assist in the upgrade of the chlorine disinfection system located in Oakmont Borough, Allegheny County. The Municipality of Penn Hills was awarded $1,100,000 to replace the SCADA system in 8 locations throughout the sanitary sewer system located in Read more
Venkat partnered with Sens. Devlin Robinson, R-Allegheny, and Wayne Fontana, D-Allegheny, to secure funding for Ohio Township and Ben Avon Heights Borough and Emsworth Borough, respectively. He also partnered with Sen. Lindsey Williams, D-Allegheny, and Reps. Mandy Steele, D-Allegheny, and Rob Mercuri, R-Allegheny, to secure funding for the Deer Creek Drainage Basin Authority, serving multiple townships in Allegheny County, including Hampton Township. Read more
“Since 2009, I worked as an advocate for reproductive health, rights, and justice to reform our criminal justice system and advance Black maternal health by providing protections for pregnant and postpartum incarcerated women,” Mayes said. “This legislation will ensure pregnant and postpartum incarcerated women have access to health care and experience some of the most basic forms of dignity while serving their sentence. Most women are incarcerated for crimes of survival, in defense against domestic, intimate partner, and sexual violence. Now, the Dignity for Incarcerated Women Act will provide trauma-informed care as part of the rehabilitation process in our state prisons.” Read more
In response to the announcement of U.S. Steel’s pending sale to Japan’s Nippon Steel, state Rep. Nick Pisciottano released the following statement: Read more
Rep. Lindsey Powell (D-Allegheny) introduced a bill this week to bar employers from suspending health care coverage for striking workers, citing the “disastrous effects” discontinuing coverage could have on employees and their families. Read more
PCCD grants for security upgrades at nonprofits, houses of worship Read more
WASHINGTON, D.C., Dec. 14 – State Rep. Lindsay Powell, D-Allegheny, joined dozens of state lawmakers from across the country at the White House for a state legislative meeting on gun violence prevention. The meeting, hosted by Vice President Kamala Harris, included six key actions to help reduce gun violence at the state level: Establishing statewide offices dedicated to gun violence prevention. Investing in evidence-based solutions. Strengthening support for survivors. Implementing responsible gun ownership practices. Enhancing background checks. Establishing industry accountability and standards. “All Pennsylvanians deserve to feel safe in their communities, whether it be at home, school, work, a place of worship or at public gatherings,” Powell said. “I believe that it is the responsibility of the state legislature to protect the rights of our neighbors – the right to live without the fear and trauma of gun violence – and I am committed to commonsense policies to achieve that vision.” The Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed two bills this year that are part of The Common Agenda to End Gun Violence package. They would create extreme risk protection orders and enact universal background checks . A bill to require the reporting of lost and stolen firearms failed to pass the House, while an additional bill to require guns to be safely stored in homes has not come up for a vote. Community Read more
PITTSBURGH, Dec. 13 – Ten organizations in the 23 rd Legislative District are receiving combined grant funding of $737,310 to shore up security, state Rep. Dan Frankel, D-Allegheny, announced today. Frankel said the funding – awarded by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency under the Nonprofit Security Grant Program – will ensure the facilities have the security equipment, technology and upgrades needed to ensure visitors’ safety. “Our sanctuaries and schools should be places of peace and reflection, but we know from bitter experience that threats and violence can shatter that tranquility and endanger congregants and other visitors,” Frankel said. “This new funding will help ensure that residents who gather in these beloved community spaces enjoy the safety and peace of mind they deserve.” Frankel said the funding includes the following organizations and amounts: Bnai Emunoh Chabad, Inc. – $75,000. Community Day School – $25,000. Congregation Kether Torah – $25,000. Congregation Poale Zedeck – $150,000. Hillel Academy of Pittsburgh – $111,500. Lubavitch Center – $25,000. Rodef Shalom Congregation – $25,810. The Jewish Spark – $75,000. Tree of Life, Inc. – $150,000. Yeshivath Achei Tmimim of Pittsburgh – $75,000. Read more
HARRISBURG, Dec. 13 – State Rep. Lindsay Powell, D-Allegheny, has introduced a bill that would ensure Pennsylvania workers do not lose health care coverage while on strike. Powell’s legislation, H.B. 1911 , would prohibit employers in Pennsylvania from denying health care benefits to workers who are on strike and is co-sponsored by PA House Majority Whip Dan Miller, D-Allegheny. Nearly 159 million workers depend on health care coverage through their employers, according to a KFF survey from last year . As a result, employees often end up paying an annual average of more than $7,700 for single coverage and $22,000 for family coverage through COBRA during a strike’s duration. “Compelling employees to choose between job security and safeguarding their well-being and that of their families is a dire proposition,” Powell said. “My bill keeps essential health coverage in place until the employer and employees reach a mutual compromise.” “Stripping health care from workers who exercise their rights to collectively bargain places a tremendous burden on working families, especially those with children,” Miller added. “I want to thank Representative Powell for introducing this legislation, which along with other bills we have passed this year , aim to level the playing field between workers and large corporations so that workers can exercise their rights and have their voices heard.” House Bill 1911 Read more
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