Record-breaking number of requests made for 2023-24 LSA funding in Fayette County
The Fayette County commissioners approved 19 projects for funding through the 2023-24 Local Share Account program after receiving a record number of requests.
“This year, we did see an unusually large number of requests,” Fayette County Redevelopment Authority Community Development Coordinator Brenda Girod said. “Historically, we see about 50 applications seeking around $2.5 million to $3.5 million. This year was the largest request since the program’s inception in 2015.”
Over 100 project proposals from across the county were submitted to the commissioners for their review and approval to be funded through the LSA program.
LSA funding is generated annually through the county’s share of gaming revenues derived from
Nemacolin’s Lady Luck Casino in Wharton Township, and total available funds vary from year to year.
Andrew French, the executive director of the county’s redevelopment authority, said this year’s applicants requested more than $10.2 million in funding, with the commissioners choosing 19 projects for a total LSA funding recommendation of $588,896.
That money will be leveraged by more than $1.6 million from other funding sources secured by the project applicants, creating a total impact of more than $2 million countywide.
“The projects are, once again, fairly evenly distributed throughout all corners of the county,” French said. “Since the program began nine years ago, all our municipalities have benefited from some projects funded by LSA grants.”
French said the commissioners try to identify high impact projects which will have a broad effect on various municipalities when making their decisions.
One of the projects to benefit from the current LSA cycle is the Uniontown Area YMCA, which was approved for $20,000 for facility improvements as they’re looking to replace one of the rooftop air conditioning units.
Steve Redrup, the president and CEO of the Uniontown Area YMCA, said the replacement is very much needed as the unit to be replaced is above the building’s fitness centers.
“It affects the members when they’re working out,” he said. “It’s very much needed.”
The unit to be replaced is one of the older units on the roof, and Redrup said the LSA program is a tremendous help as that’s $20,000 of fundraising that can go to other needs in the facility.
In fact, Redrup said, they’re currently awaiting the results of a feasibility study for their plans for an update of the facility that’s nearly 40 years old.
Redrup said they hope to get the results of the study by January and make an announcement about how they’re going to proceed forward sometime in the spring.
The other projects to receive funding include:
• $40,496 to the Fayette County Redevelopment Authority for Neighborhood Stabilization Initiative and $29,400 for LSA administration.
• $20,000 to Fayette County Association for the Blind for equipment upgrades.
• $10,000 to New Salem Neighborhood Watch for New Salem Community Park Phase II improvements.
• $10,000 to Perry Township for a multi-municipal comprehensive and economic development plan.
• $75,000 to One Voice One Community for at-risk youth programming.
• $10,000 to Connellsville ELKS Lodge 503 for an accessibility project.
• $15,000 to Connellsville Little League for a facilities improvement project.
• $10,000 to Albert Gallatin High School Baseball Boosters for scoreboard installation.
• $20,000 to American Legion Post 423 for parking improvements.
• $40,000 to Brownfield Community Center for HVAC improvements.
• $20,000 to Perryopolis Borough for athletic field renovations.
• $12,000 to Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 747 for parking improvements.
• $24,000 to Redstone Township for recreation center floor renovations.
• $50,000 to Fairbank Rod & Gun Club for a recreational building project.
• $43,000 to Saltlick Township Lads & Lasses for Mountain Division of Bullskin Little League for facility renovations.
• $65,000 to Mill Run Recreation Field for playground upgrades and field improvements.
• $30,000 to Brownsville Township for Century Bridge replacement.
• $45,000 to Washington Township for traffic safety improvements.
Following the commissioners’ selections, the projects are recommended through an application to the state Department of Community and Economic Development for final approval. Once that is done, the county administers the funding for those projects.
Girod said, despite projects being recommended for funding each fall, the process is not complete until state officials certify those selections and, at that time, the redevelopment authority will formally notify the recipients to begin their projects.