Burns: Johnstown awarded $150k for comprehensive recovery plan

Will provide blueprint for economic health following city’s recent exit from Act 47

Northwest Delegation    September 13, 2023 | 4:21 PM

EBENSBURG, Sept. 13 – Continuing his efforts to promote Johnstown’s economic recovery, state Rep. Frank Burns, D-Cambria, announced today that the city has secured $150,000 in state funding to develop a comprehensive plan for moving forward as it emerges from Act 47 protection.

Burns said the grant from the Department of Community and Economic Development – which will fund the cost of hiring a company to work with the city to develop the plan – will ensure that the city’s path is guided by a sound strategy based on input from residents, business owners and other local stakeholders.

“Raising taxes on workers in the city is not a sound strategy for economic recovery,” Burns said. “Securing this new funding will help ensure that as Johnstown continues on the path to economic recovery, it will be guided by the smartest strategies and that any final plan will be based on input from our own residents, businesses and workers.”

The grant was awarded through the Municipal Assistance Program, which provides financial assistance for communities to comprehensively plan around community revitalization efforts, improvement processes and sound management of development activities.

More information on the funding is available here: https://dced.pa.gov/newsroom/shapiro-administration-awards-nearly-500000-in-new-funding-to-support-community-planning-improvements-in-eight-counties/