State awards $13.5 million in grants
Eight municipal authorities in Greene, Fayette and Washington counties and one municipality in Greene County will receive more than $13.5 million for local water, sewer and flood-control projects. The announcements of the state grants were made by local lawmakers, including state Sen. Richard A. Kasunic, D-Dunbar; state Sen. J. Barry Stout, D-Bentleyville; and state Reps. Bill DeWeese, D-Waynesburg; Timothy S. Mahoney, D-South Union Township; Deberah Kula, D-North Union Township; Peter J. Daley, D-California; and Ted Harhai, D-Monessen. The H20 PA program funding is part of the H20 PA Act, a state program designed to help municipalities and authorities pay for repairs to their water, sewer and flood-control systems. The program is funded with gaming proceeds through the Pennsylvania Gaming Economic Development and Tourism Fund.
The legislators said the money would help local communities with infrastructure needs. The projects are located in Cumberland Township and Waynesburg Borough in Greene County; Washington, Dunbar, North Union and Wharton townships in Fayette County; and West Brownsville Borough and East Bethlehem Township in Washington County.
“This funding will enable officials to proceed with needed repairs to sewer and water systems,” Kasunic said. “I am pleased that state dollars are being made available for these important projects during these difficult economic times.”
Mahoney said the state money would improve the quality and reliability of the water infrastructure.
“This funding will help stoke our economy,” Mahoney said.
Harhai said the legislative delegation would continue to seek state funding sources to help fund local projects.
“We cannot hope to position our communities to fully capitalize on stimulus efforts without a safe and dependable water infrastructure in place,”_Harhai said.