AMBRIDGE, Oct. 5 – Residents in Beaver and Allegheny counties recovering from substance use disorder will benefit from new supports, thanks to nearly $1.3 million in grant funding, state Rep. Rob Matzie, D-Beaver/Allegheny, announced today. Matzie said the funding will help several area organizations provide employment and pregnancy-related support services to Beaver and Allegheny County residents in recovery. “People recovering from substance use disorder work hard to get through treatment and return to productive lives, but their success depends on access to ongoing support,” Matzie said. “This funding will provide that support by helping residents in recovery get jobs and ensuring pregnant and postpartum women have the services they need for a healthy return to the community.” Matzie said the following organizations are receiving funding to serve residents in Beaver, Allegheny, and several other counties: Life’s Work of Western PA (employment support services) - $387,500. Allegheny Health Network (pregnancy/postpartum support services) – $583,153. Center for Community Resources Inc. (pregnancy/postpartum support services) – $296,092. In addition, Matzie said two organizations serving Allegheny County residents will receive $1.1 million. They include $700,000 to Sage’s Army, which provides community recovery and support Read more
AMBRIDGE, Oct. 1 – More than $140,000 in grant funding will help close connectivity gaps for students in the Ambridge Area School District by ensuring all students have access to internet and technology resources, state Rep. Rob Matzie, D-Beaver/Allegheny, announced today. Matzie, D-Beaver/Allegheny, said the funding from the Emergency Connectivity Fund will help schools and libraries ensure students have equal access to tech tools that are so important for off-campus learning. “Digital access is key to helping reinforce what kids learn in the classroom, but for some, access to those tools is not a given,” Matzie said. “Securing this funding will help us close the digital divide and ensure all kids have the access they need to achieve, regardless of household income.” Matzie said the program will help schools and libraries cover costs associated with digital devices such as laptops, tablets, Wi-Fi hotspots, modems, routers and broadband connectivity purchases for off-campus use by students, educators and library patrons who currently lack sufficient access to broadband and connected devices. The funding is part of a package of $20 million in funding to school districts statewide under the Emergency Connectivity Fund, a temporary fund created through the American Rescue Plan and administered by the Federal Communications Commission. More about the awards is Read more
Bipartisan group of legislators come together to celebrate manufacturing in Pennsylvania. Read more
AMBRIDGE, Sept. 8 – More than $390,000 from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency will keep Beaver County students learning about the risks of opioids and help families develop the skills to keep kids safe, state Rep. Rob Matzie announced today. Matzie, D-Beaver/Allegheny, said the funding includes $370,805 to Community Health Challenge of Southwestern Pennsylvania to continue the Beaver County Opioid Prevention Project – one of five pilot programs statewide that team counties with school districts, local nonprofits and the community. “The Beaver County programs are teaching students in the Aliquippa, New Brighton and Rochester Area school districts how to recognize and avoid the dangers of opioid abuse,” Matzie said. “The programs are also helping families develop skills to protect kids from the risks of substance abuse and other factors that can lead them into trouble. “The programs have already helped many students and families in our district over the past two years. Securing this funding will allow them to continue for another year.” Matzie said that a second grant of $22,313 to The Prevention Network will fund the Project Towards No Drug Abuse, which supports at-risk youth. Both grants were recommended by the PCCD’s Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Committee and come from federal State Opioid Response funds. Read more
AMBRIDGE, Aug. 4 – More Beaver County elementary school students will have access to fresh fruits and vegetables, thanks to $77,155 in grant funding awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Matzie, D-Beaver/Allegheny, said the funding awarded under the USDA’s Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program includes $36,140 to the Aliquippa School District, $20,800 to the Ambridge Area School District, and $20,215 to the Rochester Area School District. “Fresh, nutritious food helps kids learn,” Matzie said. “Securing this funding is going to allow school cafeterias to offer fresh produce to more grade-schoolers in our schools.” Matzie said the grants are part of a package of more than $7 million awarded to 288 elementary schools statewide under the FFVP. Funding priority was given to the schools with the highest rates of students eligible for free and reduced-price meals. More information about the grants is available here , and a full list of the schools receiving funding is available here . Read more
AMBRIDGE, Aug. 2 – A grant of $140,233 from the state Department of Community and Economic Development will allow the city of Aliquippa to clear The Bricks site in Plan 12 and prepare the site for future development. Matzie, D-Beaver/Allegheny, said the grant, awarded under the Keystone Communities Program, will fund the first steps of blight removal, demolition and preliminary site work. “The funding awarded today will allow Aliquippa to clear the overgrown, debris-ridden Bricks site located along Temple and Oliver streets in Plan 12 and prepare the site for development,” Matzie said. “In addition to blight removal, the grant will fund demolition of several structures and excavation and grading work. “Those projects will lay the groundwork for eventual construction of single-family homes, duplexes and townhomes, meeting the growing demand for workforce housing and drawing new and welcome residential and commercial activity to the area.” The Keystone Communities Program assists Pennsylvania’s core communities in achieving revitalization. More information about the grants is available here. Read more
AMBRIDGE, July 19 – State Rep. Rob Matzie, D-Beaver/Allegheny, has written to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection urging it to deny Penn Energy’s request to withdraw water from Big Sewickley Creek. In a July 16 letter to DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell, Matzie expressed his opposition to the permit application, which would allow Penn Energy to withdraw 3 million gallons of water daily from the creek. Read more
AMBRIDGE, June 10 – New grant funding of $1.3 million will create affordable housing and other opportunities for Beaver and Allegheny county residents struggling with homelessness, substance use and other issues , state Rep. Rob Matzie, D-Beaver/Allegheny, announced today. Matzie said the funding – administered by the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency through the Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement Fund – will go to area organizations serving the area’s most vulnerable residents. “Having a place to call home can provide new hope and a fresh start for those in our community who are struggling because of addiction, domestic violence and other hardships,” Matzie said. “Securing this funding will help them get back on their feet, and it comes at an important time, when the pandemic has made life more difficult for many of our most vulnerable residents.” Matzie said the projects funded include: Cornerstone of Beaver County – Emergency Shelter Renovation Project -- $200,000. Beaver County Commissioners – Home Modification Program -- $100,000. Beaver County – Rental and Utility Assistance -- $50,000. Willissae’s Agency for Vision and Empowerment for WAVE Housing Services -- $50,000. Allegheny County Department of Human Services – Mobility Counseling Read more
AMBRIDGE, April 30 – Grants totaling $25,000 will fund Beaver County projects designed to ensure more residents have a say in community planning, state Rep. Rob Matzie, D-Beaver/Allegheny, announced today. Matzie said Ambridge and Rochester are each receiving a $12,500 grant to fund Heart and Soul projects in collaboration with the Pennsylvania Humanities Council and the Orton Family Foundation. “To be successful, community planning and development must be a collaborative effort that reflects the needs, desires and aspirations of all residents,” Matzie said. “Heart and Soul projects help make that happen by bringing residents to the table to share stories and experiences, ensuring that future development is based on a shared vision for the community. “Today’s funding is exciting because it’s going to help get more Ambridge and Rochester residents involved in that process.” Matzie said funding for the grants comes from the Municipal Assistance Program, which is administered by the state Department of Community and Economic Development. Program funding assists local governments with planning and management of services, resources and development. More about the program is available here. Read more
AMBRIDGE, April 21 – Grant funding of $2.04 million will allow Aliquippa to eliminate a potential lead risk to the city’s drinking water, state Rep. Rob Matzie, D-Beaver/Allegheny, announced today. Matzie said the funding from the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority will enable the Municipal Water Authority of Aliquippa to replace 184 lead water service lines with copper lines, eliminating the threat of corroded lines leaching lead into the water supply. “People should not have to worry over the safety of their tap water,” Matzie said. “After testing last year showed elevated lead levels in a small number of samples, there was reason for concern. Securing this funding is going to eliminate that risk.” Read more
AMBRIDGE, April 21 -- Grant funding of $750,000 from the Commonwealth Financing Authority will help bring safer, smoother travel for Aliquippa residents and new recreational options for Ambridge families, state Rep. Rob Matzie, D-Beaver/Allegheny, announced today. Matzie said the funding includes a $500,000 grant under the CFA’s Multimodal Transportation Fund for major upgrades to Fifth Avenue in Aliquippa. “Securing this funding will fix the road and intersection along Fifth Avenue between Jefferson Street and Sheffield Avenue,” Matzie said. “There will be new sidewalks and ADA-accessible curb ramps, and other upgrades will improve stormwater management. “Aliquippa was recently recognized with a Governor’s Award for Local Government Excellence. Working in partnership with the city’s leaders – specifically Mayor Dwan Walker and Councilman Donald Walker – was crucial in securing this funding.” The total project cost is estimated at $1.5 million, and the city is requesting a waiver of the local matching requirement. Matzie said a second grant of $250,000 to the Borough of Ambridge under CFA’s Greenway, Trails and Recreation program will provide the remaining funding for a unique new playground. “The funding for Ambridge builds on last year’s money I secured from the Department of Conservation Read more
AMBRIDGE, March 10 – As more community organizations begin plans to reopen, a $12,000 state grant to Beth Samuel Jewish Center in Ambridge will help Beaver County’s oldest operating synagogue meet security needs, state Rep. Rob Matzie, D-Beaver/Allegheny, announced today. Matzie said the grant, awarded under the Nonprofit Security Grant Fund Program to protect potential hate-crime targets, will ensure that when the congregation – which suspended activities during the pandemic – decides to welcome back families, it will be able to provide the safest possible environment. "We need to ensure that the folks returning are safe from security risks," Matzie said. “The funding will help ensure those protections are in place.” In addition to the funding to Beth Samuel, Matzie said 29 organizations in Allegheny County were awarded grants totaling approximately $1.53 million. He said organizations may use the funding for a broad range of resources, including safety and security planning and training, threat assessments, security upgrades, and the purchase of metal detectors, electronic locksets, surveillance equipment and other technology. The grants are part of a larger package of more than $5 million awarded under the Nonprofit Security Grant Fund Program , which provides funding to nonprofit organizations serving people or groups the FBI has identified as Read more
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