Kinkead announces $3.4 million for local development projects
State grants support school renovations, milk bank construction
Rep. Emily Kinkead October 23, 2024 | 11:38 AM
PITTSBURGH, Oct. 23 – State Rep. Emily Kinkead today announced nearly $3.4 million in state grant funding has been approved for projects in her 20th Legislative District from the statewide Local Share Account Program and Public School Facility Improvement Grant Program.
“There’s a lot to be excited about in this round of grant funding,” said Kinkead, D-Allegheny. “I want to thank my colleagues in the Senate and leaders at the local level who worked with my office to secure these significant investments for our area. Whether it’s funding to improve our public schools, replace deteriorating infrastructure, or support the work of non-profits like the milk bank, I am working every day to bring more tax dollars back to our community to enrich the lives of local residents.”
“I’m thrilled that North Hills School District is receiving funding that will protect the health and well-being of all students, educators and staff members in the building,” said state Sen. Lindsey Williams, D-Allegheny. “I’m grateful to the leaders within the district and Rep. Kinkead for helping to secure the funding to make this project possible. As the minority chair of the Senate Education Committee, I am working to ensure that every district in the state has access to predictable, stable funding that allows them to create school learning environments that are not just safe, but that foster imagination, innovation and a sense of belonging.”
Kinkead said grants awarded to projects in the 20th Legislative District are:
- $1,500,000 to North Hills School District for HVAC and line safety upgrades.
- $1,000,000 to Mid Atlantic Mothers' Milk Bank for construction projects at their new 19,000-square-foot facility in Bellevue that will feature increased storage space, an upgraded processing lab and office space for staff. Grant funds will be used to assist with renovating the second and third floors into usable space.
- $329,200 to Avalon Borough for renovations to the public pool, including replacement of the water pump, pressure gauges, pool liner, cover and slide.
- $250,000 to Ross Township to help fund a bridge replacement project for the bridge on Nelson Run Road.
- $133,975 to Bellevue Borough to assist with the replacement of the deteriorating retaining wall in the alley between North Jackson and North Sprague avenues.
- $130,000 to Allegheny Land Trust to purchase 29 acres of woodlands for conservation in Ross Township. The permanent protection of this land will help absorb an estimated 24 million gallons of rainwater annually and prevent or reduce the likelihood of landslides in the area.
- $55,000 to West View HUB for the purchase of a new van that will support the work of their food pantry. which currently has over 800 local families on its roster.
The Statewide Local Share Account funding comes from the Pennsylvania Race Horse Development and Gaming Act, which provides for the distribution of gaming revenues through the Commonwealth Financing Authority to support projects in the public interest in Pennsylvania.
The Public School Facility Improvement Grant Program was created to provide grants to public school districts and area career and technical schools for eligible facility improvement projects. The program is administered by the state Department of Community and Economic Development under the direction of the Commonwealth Financing Authority. Grants are available for eligible improvement projects with a total project cost of $500,000 or more and grants shall not exceed $5 million for any project.