Fayette reaps state funding during Rendell’s tenure
Of the 135 projects that have received $78 million in state investments since Gov. Edward G. Rendell took office in 2003, one of the biggest beneficiaries has been the Connellsville Airport. According to a list provided by Chuck Ardo from Rendell’s office, allocations have been awarded ranging from a low of $2,000 for a Department of Community and Economic Development leadership project awarded to the Redstone Foundation for the city of Uniontown to a high amount of $7,515,500 for the Brownsville Municipal Authority for a loan for a sanitary sewer system improvement project.
During a campaign stop earlier this week in Uniontown, millionaire Republican Fayette County Commissioner Joseph A. Hardy III, who has personally contributed millions of dollars to revitalize the county seat, welcomed Rendell. The governor touted the state’s investment in Fayette during his first term.
The city of Uniontown has received more than $6 million in state funding during the Democrat governor’s tenure, including $3 million for downtown revitalization; $1,650,000 for the new parking garage; $1,194,350 for streetscape enhancements and $385,000 for the State Theatre renovation, for a total of $6,229,350.
Municipalities throughout the county received money for projects such as $25,000 for community park development in Dunbar Borough and $100,000 for boat docks at Point Marion.
The Fayette County Airport Authority received $3.6 million in the form of 10 different allocations under state and federal block grant money in the past few years. The allocations have ranged from $89,300 to $1,050,000 and have included improvements to the terminal building, water system, environmental mitigation and sanitary water system.
In addition to the $7.5 million loan for the Brownsville sewage project, three other sewerage projects also received funding of more than $5 million each.
The North Union Township Municipal Services Authority received a $5,925,000 loan for a Hopwood/Coolspring sanitary sewer project and Perry Township Municipal Authority received a $3,173,284 loan and a $2,124,137 grant totaling $5,297,421 for a Wickhaven and Banning sewage project.
The Colonial Joint Sewage Authority received a $3,167,998 loan and a $1,984,542 grant totaling $5,152,540 for a Grindstone/Rowes Run/Red Hill wastewater collection and treatment system.
The projects include 111 in Fayette County alone and 24 regional projects that are shared with other counties. A regional project of the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency of which Fayette is a part received the largest total amount at $15,134,809. The PHFA purchased 35 single-family loans.
The projects are mostly concentrated around Uniontown and Connellsville, but include nearly every municipality throughout the county. Fayette County’s lead development agency, Fay-Penn Economic Development Council, received $3.7 million for nine projects, including the largest allocation of $900,000 for a loan for Vertex Outsourcing LLC in Georges Township.
The Fayette County Redevelopment Authority received $1,120,000 for four projects, including two $200,000 allocations for the access road at the Fayette County Business Park.