Allegheny House Dems: $30.6 million awarded for local projects

ARPA money to fund municipal water infrastructure, cultural organizations

Allegheny County Delegation    December 21, 2023 | 3:47 PM

PITTSBURGH, Dec. 21 – The Commonwealth Financing Authority has awarded more than $30.6 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding to support 135 area projects related to water infrastructure and the arts, members of the Allegheny County Democratic Delegation in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives announced today.

“With these grants, we will have the opportunity to address infrastructure issues with water supplies, sewer systems, and stormwater management,” said state Rep. Mandy Steele. “These grants, awarded by CFA through funding from ARPA, will assist residents in my district and across Allegheny County.”

“The pandemic dealt a crushing blow to our local artists, museums, orchestras and other arts and cultural centers, and these organizations are rebounding more slowly than other businesses and organizations,” said state Rep. Aerion A. Abney. “The new funding will help speed recovery for these vital groups and for the talented performers, musicians, and other artists who uplift us and help stimulate local business activity.”

Funds from ARPA awarded to entities in Allegheny County include but are not limited to:

  • $2.3 million to Crafton Borough for a storm sewer separation project. 
  • $1.6 million to Fawn Frazer Joint Water Authority to replace waterlines on Bull Creek Road.
  • $1.5 million to West Mifflin Sanitary Sewer Municipal Authority for grit removal equipment and operational improvements at the Thompson Run Sewage Treatment Plant.
  • $1.3 million to Oakmont Borough to assist in the upgrade of the chlorine disinfection system.
  • $916,043 to Plum Borough Municipal Authority for waterline replacement along Sardis Road.
  • $593,930 to Wilkinsburg Borough for sewer conveyance system repairs.
  • $95,000 to Heinz History Center for operations.
  • $95,000 to Pittsburgh Zoological Society for operations.
  • $95,000 to August Wilson African American Cultural Center for operations.

Municipal water funding was distributed through the H2O PA Program, which provides for single-year or multi-year grants to municipalities or municipal authorities to assist with the construction of drinking water, sanitary sewer and storm water projects. Act 54 of 2022 appropriated $205.4 million of ARPA funds to the H2O PA – Water Supply, Sanitary Sewer and Storm Water Projects Program.

Sewer funding was distributed through the PA Small Water and Sewer Program, which provides for small water, sewer, and storm system water infrastructure projects. Act 54 of 2022 appropriated $105.6 million of ARPA funds to the PA Small Water and Sewer Program.

Funding for arts organizations was distributed through the PA Arts and Culture Recovery Program, which provides grants to nonprofit arts and culture organizations located in the commonwealth. Act 54 of 2022 appropriated $15 million of ARPA funds to the COVID-19 ARPA PA Arts and Culture Recovery Program.

The above grants were awarded through the CFA, an independent agency of the state Department of Community and Economic Development established in 2004 to administer Pennsylvania’s economic stimulus packages. 

In addition to Abney and Steele, the Allegheny County Delegation comprises state Reps. Jessica Benham, Dan Deasy, Dan Frankel, Matthew Gergely, Emily Kinkead, Anita Kulik, Brandon Markosek, La’Tasha D. Mayes, Joe McAndrew, Dan Miller, Nick Pisciottano, Lindsay Powell, Abigail Salisbury, and Arvind Venkat.