Authority applies for funds
REDSTONE TWP. – The Colonial Joint Sewage Authority has completed its application to Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST), requesting funding for new sewerage lines and a treatment plant. Board members said they are anxiously awaiting the results of their application. Project manager Marie Hartman of Widmer Engineering said the application has been submitted and the authority will find out the amount of funding PENNVEST will provide at a meeting with them on March 26.
“We wanted to show PENNVEST that we need the grant money in order for this project to be doable,” said Hartman. “We are waiting for the response to our application and will find out if we are approved at the March 26 meeting.”
Board member Raymond Paris said that because the township was considered a distressed community, they filled out applications that obtained them the title of “champion community” from the Fayette Enterprise Community, which could help them get financial assistance. “It is for distressed communities, which we knew we were, so we applied for this to be able get federal funds,” said Paris. “The designation is supposed to be helpful in getting funding, and it was helpful with the Rural Utility Service (RUS) loan.”
Hartman suggested that the authority should try to get another line of credit since they won’t have the money from tap-in fees available early in the project.
“You’ll need to have money available for the costs your running into early in the project,” said Hartman.
Solicitor Jack Purcell said he would investigate for the authority and get some proposals from various banks in the township. “I will find out what we need to do in terms of a line of credit and see how that goes,” said Purcell. “Hopefully when we know we’re approved we can get it done right away to have some money available.”