HARRISBURG, Dec. 12 — The Allegheny County Democratic House Delegation announced today that Allegheny County is receiving $7.3 million in grants to support various programs aiding crime victims and community safety. The funding comes from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency. “These grants will aid our county and justice system in numerous ways—from helping victims navigate the courts to treating addictions to preventing child abuse,” said state Rep. Aerion Abney, chair of the delegation. “On behalf of our Allegheny County Democratic House Delegation, I’m grateful to PCCD for the work they do to ensure this critical funding comes to our county.” The following grants were awarded to organizations in Allegheny County: $500,000 to Allegheny-Singer Research Institute for a program for post-incarcerated patients with a stimulant-use disorder. $487,424 to Institute for Research, Education and Training in Addiction for an initiative for treatment placement. $500,000 to Passages to Recovery Inc. for peer-advocacy support. $500,000 to Unity Recovery for peer-led re-entry support. $50,000 to A Child’s Place for citizens advisory and police liaison services. $49,757 to UPMC-Children’s Hospital for a public campaign on child abuse prevention. $53,139 to Women’s Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburg for victims’ rights programs and services. $80,392 to Read more

BRADDOCK, Dec. 11 – A $500,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency will allow PA House District 34-based Passages to Recovery to relaunch a peer advocacy support program to help people in the justice system, state Rep. Abigail Salisbury announced today. Salisbury, D-Allegheny, said peer advocacy programs can make a big difference in helping people with substance use disorders make a successful recovery and return to their community. “Passages to Recovery has been helping people in our community rebuild their lives for more than 50 years,” Salisbury said. “With this new funding, they will be able to relaunch and staff a unique program that provides people in the justice system access to peer advocates – people who have lived similar experiences and can inspire and empower them. Having the support of a peer who has been on the same path and has overcome the same challenges provides an ally to trust, a touchstone to reality, and a source of critical information.” Salisbury said the program will provide people in the justice system with individualized, trauma-informed peer recovery services that address barriers to recovery, including barriers to treatment, housing, employment, transportation and other social determinants of health. In addition to the funding to Passages to Recovery, Salisbury said that a $200,000 grant to the county chief executive officer will fund Read more

AMBRIDGE, Dec. 11 – New funding of nearly $792,000 will strengthen resources for Beaver County crime survivors and help the county expand its crisis intervention capacity, state Rep. Rob Matzie announced today. Matzie said that the grants approved by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency will support tools and training needed to better serve vulnerable survivors of violent crimes, improve outcomes for people experiencing mental health crises and fund probation and parole services. “It takes constant, coordinated efforts to properly serve and support crime survivors – particularly survivors of domestic and child abuse – and to bring the perpetrators to justice,” Matzie said. “The new funding will help ensure that our county’s talented forensic, law enforcement, social service and medical professionals have the resources they need to successfully investigate abuse, treat and support survivors and deliver justice. “The new funding will also help expand our county’s crisis intervention team capabilities through a project to train four people as CIT facilitators, who will in turn provide education and outreach to providers, first responders, school staff, residents and local business owners. A collaborative response that involves more of the community promises a better chance for a successful outcome.” Matzie said the funding includes: $144,664 to Beaver Read more

AMBRIDGE, Dec. 9 – Expanded training opportunities in advanced manufacturing are coming to Beaver County thanks to nearly $1.4 million in new grant funding, state Rep. Rob Matzie announced today. Matzie, who is chairman of the House Majority Caucus, said the six grants approved through the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry will ensure area workers have the skills needed to step into technologically advanced settings. “We can never stand still in our workforce training, as technology keeps producing new tools, processes, and production methods designed to make our manufacturing more cutting-edge,” Matzie said. “We have the best workers in the world, and there isn’t anything they can’t do or learn. This new funding will help ensure that they have the skills they need to stay ahead of the curve and keep our PA industries competitive.” Matzie said the funding includes: $400,000 to the Community College of Allegheny County to support the development of a new electrical maintenance technician/robotics apprenticeship program. $200,000 to Eastern Atlantic States Carpenters’ Technical Centers, with an Allegheny County training center, to expand the millwright apprenticeship program. $200,000 to the Pittsburgh Chapter of the German American Chamber of Commerce, Inc. to expand its mechatronics technician apprenticeship program serving Allegheny, Beaver, and several Read more

State Rep. Dan Goughnour, D-Allegheny, today announced his opposition to a proposed rate hike by Pennsylvania American Water, saying that family budgets are already stretched thin and that higher bills could cause further hardship for Mon Valley residents. Read more

Grant funding supports Brentwood Community Park, Elizabeth Seton Center Read more

BRADDOCK, Nov. 18 – $405,000 in new grant funding from the Commonwealth Financing Agency will support multiple projects to renovate property, fight blight and boost infrastructure in the 34 th Legislative District, state Rep. Abigail Salisbury announced today. Salisbury, D-Allegheny, said the grants are headed for a variety of practical projects. “We’re grateful for the new funding, some of which will support a critical training facility upgrade for Bricklayer’s Local 9,” Salisbury said. “Other funding is headed for projects to rehab housing, clear blight, expand community food outreach, improve recreational space and bolster infrastructure. All of the dollars will go to work improving quality of life for residents.” Salisbury said the funding includes: $100,000 to BAC Local 9 PA in Wilkins Township for a critical update to the PCC Training Facility to upgrade a modern steel suspended scaffolding system and perform roof modification/replacement. $75,000 to FamilyLinks in Wilkinsburg to renovate eight units for housing, including renovations to flooring, kitchens, baths, painting, sidewalks, doors, lighting and new appliances. $50,000 to the Borough of Churchill to help fund sewer improvements, including manhole-to-manhole lining, open-cut sanitary sewer line, and raising a sanitary sewer manhole. $50,000 to Heritage Community Initiatives in North Braddock to Read more

State Rep. Mandy Steele, D-Allegheny, announced that the Commonwealth Financing Authority awarded $345,000 to projects that will benefit the infrastructure and economy of the 33rd Legislative District. Read more

On a bipartisan vote, the PA House today passed a bill sponsored by state Rep. Mandy Steele, D-Allegheny, that would help conserve land and protect vulnerable habitats by making it easier for the Pennsylvania Game Commission to acquire land in certain counties. Read more