French named to National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials
The executive director of the Fayette County Redevelopment Authority is one of only two Pennsylvanians named to serve on a committee of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials. Andrew French has been nominated to serve a two-year term on the Community Revitalization and Development Committee. According to a press release from the authority, the committee addresses issues relating to improving neighborhoods, fostering community and economic development, housing families and individuals of low and moderate incomes, legislative issues and funding issues for a range of programs and operations.
The announcement was made Tuesday during the monthly meeting of the authority.
Authority Chairman Kenneth M. Finney said French should be commended for his nomination. Finney said it could put French in a position to secure additional funds for the authority.
French said Wednesday that he believes it will be “well worth it” to serve on the committee, considering the current atmosphere on the federal level. At Tuesday’s meeting, French said he would learn about issues such as potential cuts to the Community Development Block Grant program.
According to the press release, French was appointed to the position by NAHRO’s national leadership because of his history of work in the community development and redevelopment fields. He has worked for the authority since 1999 and was appointed executive director in February 2005. Before relocating to Fayette County, French held similar positions working for the cities of Hampton and Newport News, Va.
In a related matter, the authority voted to authorize French to attend the 2005 NAHRO National Conference Oct. 7 through 11 in Chicago, Ill.
During the director’s report, French reported that numerous projects are continuing in Brownsville, including the code enforcement initiative and the demolition of the Autenreith Building in downtown. French said the wharf improvement project is continuing, and floating docks were recently installed at the site along the Monongahela River. He said the next step involves improvements to the railroad wall. French said the north side Main Street improvement project in Brownsville is also ongoing.
The authority awarded three contracts during the meeting, one for road reconstruction and two for sanitary sewer extensions.
A.C. Moyer Company Inc. of Lemont Furnace will pave all roads in Revere, South Union Township at a cost of $80,630.40. Rygiel Excavating of Fayette City was awarded a contract to install 300 linear feet of line in the Sampson Avenue area of Belle Vernon in the amount of $30,481.35.
Seiler Excavating of Hopwood was awarded a contract for $17,120 to install sewerage line in the Faith Drive area of North Union Township. French said three new homes are being built by Habitat for Humanity that will be served by the line, as well as other homes in the area.