Burns delivers $5.5 million for projects in Johnstown, Westmont Hilltop SD
Rep. Frank Burns November 1, 2024 | 1:51 PM
HARRISBURG, Nov. 1 – Continuing his efforts to bring as many state grants to the region as possible, state Rep. Frank Burns today announced an additional $5.5 million has been awarded to projects in Johnstown and Westmont Hilltop School District.
“These projects are big-ticket items that will enhance the community while avoiding the tax or entrance fee increases that they otherwise might trigger without this state funding,” Burns said.
“When Governor Shapiro came to Johnstown in September, we toured the Public Safety Building. I also showed him the War Memorial and talked about how vital the facility is to the region and pushed for funding for the renovation project in the Westmont Hilltop School District, as smaller class sizes will make a real difference for the students. I think that without that tour and my advocacy to the governor, these projects wouldn’t have seen the funding they’re getting today,” Burns said.
"Our first responders and service members have made enormous sacrifices to protect us – and they deserve our support," said Shapiro. "When I visited Johnstown earlier this year, Representative Frank Burns took me to the Johnstown Public Safety Building and Cambria County War Memorial – and I'm proud that thanks to his advocacy, my administration is investing in both. Whether you defended our freedoms overseas or protect Pennsylvanians here at home, we have your back."
The grants awarded are:
Cambria County War Memorial renovations project -- $1.5 million. This project involves removing the old chiller and boiler and installing new equipment, which will entail significant construction work, as well as redesigning the kitchen and adding new equipment to handle the demand for food at events. It also will upgrade the war memorial’s parking lot.
Gallery on Gazebo -- $500,000. This grant will be used to renovate a building the gallery purchased to create a center for the arts in downtown to contain a storytelling lab, education/nutrition kitchen, gallery, bathrooms, offices and rental space, as well as an elevator, rehearsal and performance spaces, classrooms and other spaces, both indoor and out, for exercise, community gathering, board games and public art projects.
Johnstown Public Safety Building -- $2.5 million. Johnstown City Council used a portion of its federal American Rescue Plan funding to prepare the project for construction. This funding will be used for the actual construction of the new public safety building.
Westmont Hilltop School District school renovations -- $1 million. The school district will use this funding to add six classrooms to the elementary school to reduce class sizes, renovate the bathrooms and replace the cafeteria flooring. The Junior-Senior High School will get HVAC/environmental upgrades, a roof restoration, a new exterior door and a new bathroom with exterior access.
Burns said the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program is a Pennsylvania grant program for the design, acquisition, and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic, recreational and historical improvement projects. RACP projects have a regional impact and generate substantial increases or maintain current levels of employment, tax revenues or other measures of economic activity. RACP projects are state-funded projects that cannot obtain primary funding under other state programs.