Powell praises $75,000 in grants for community improvements in district
Rep. Lindsay Powell May 13, 2024 | 4:19 PM
PITTSBURGH, May 13 – State Rep. Lindsay Powell, D-Allegheny, announced that a total of $75,000 in state grants has been awarded to help communities in Pennsylvania’s 21st Legislative District become safer, easier to navigate and focused on the future.
The state Department of Community and Economic Development awarded $50,000 to Reserve Township to finish repairs to Logan Street, which links Millvale Borough to Reserve Township. Powell said this crucial corridor helps facilitate fast travel for each other’s first responders to provide mutual aid and connects residents with area shopping, restaurants and places of worship. These funds will be utilized to install a retaining wall to prevent a future landslide, stabilize the slope, and implement traffic safety improvements to the route.
“Reserve Township’s residents and first responders deserve a quick route to and from Millvale Borough because lives literally depend on it,” Powell said. “Our region is prone to landslides, as a result of our beautiful but volatile landscapes, and it was my privilege to bring back these crucial dollars to our neighbors.”
“State Representative Powell was instrumental in facilitating a state grant that allowed Reserve Township to rebuild the failing retaining wall and get this route reopened again after a closure of more than two years,” said Jan Kowalski, Reserve Township’s manager.
Etna Borough received $25,000 from DCED’s Municipal Assistance Program to support the four-phase Community Heart and Soul process, which includes a Community Action Plan for planning and implementation of future community projects. Elements of the organization’s process are:
- Emergence of new leaders and volunteers
- Building trust
- Reenergizing downtowns
- Restoring pride
- Honoring history and culture
“Partnering with Community Heart and Soul on the current and future personal and economic health of Etna is a welcome proposition that will pave the way for making the borough even better,” Powell said. “Neighbors deserve a safe and stable environment to chart a path for themselves and their families, and these funds will help make this goal a reality for everyone.”
“Etna Borough is so excited to provide this opportunity to plan for our future with full-on community engagement and our partners at the Etna Community Organization and the Garden of Etna!” Mary Ellen Ramage, Etna Borough manager, added. “Our residents are the heart and soul of our community, and we can’t wait to hear their stories and share their dreams!”