Daley announces grant, loan OK
State Rep. Peter J. Daley (D-California) has announced a $50,000 grant for the Roscoe Volunteer Fire Co. and a PENNVEST loan of $712,000 for the Washington Township Municipal Authority. The Roscoe Volunteer Fire department plans to build a 40- by-76-foot addition to its truck bay that will be used as a meeting room and will allow more seating for social events.
“We will be able to have bigger fund raisers that will allow us to buy better equipment to better protect the citizens of Roscoe, Elco, Long Branch, and other valley communities,” said Fire Chief Thomas Wilkinson. “Rep. Daley has been working with us for two years on this grant and we are excited to receive the money.”
He said the organization will most likely break ground on the $135,000 project in early December and they hope to have it completed by spring.
“Not only will the new building help with fund-raising, but it will increase the fire company’s capability to handle the public in the event of a large-scale emergency or disaster,” said Daley.
The grant was awarded by the Community Revitalization Program, administered by the Department of Community and Economic Development.
The loan for the Washington Township Municipal Authority was awarded through the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority.
One project will design a 118,000 linear feet of sanitary sewers, 17, 300 linear feet of force main and four pump stations, along with an expansion of the Belle Vernon Sewage Treatment Plant.
The other project will provide sanitary sewers to 1,467 existing homes without sewerage in mainly low-income to middle-income areas.
The loan was given to the authority to correct the existing on-lot sewage systems that are malfunctioning and discharging raw sewage.
“This loan will provide protection to public health by assisting in clearing up this persistent and environmentally dangerous problem,” said Daley. “And it will give much needed sewage assistance to those who may not otherwise be able to afford it.”
PENNVEST loans and grants are awarded to commonwealth municipalities which need financial assistance to improve their wastewater and storm water facilities.