Funding Requests

U.S. Representative Mike Doyle requested that federal funding for a number of initiatives in Pennsylvania’s 14th Congressional District be included in the appropriations bills for Fiscal Year 2010 and Fiscal Year 2011.

Congressman Doyle submitted the following requests for federal funding to the House Appropriations Committee, the House committee that writes the annual bills that provide funding for all of the federal government’s operations.  These requests are broken down by Appropriations bill.  All of these requests are being reviewed by the House Appropriations Committee and the appropriate federal department or agency.  There is no guarantee that any of these project requests will be funded.

Fiscal Year 2011 Agriculture Appropriations Bill Requests

Allegheny County Economic Development – Allegheny Grows Healthy Food for Our Communities
425 Sixth Avenue
Suite 800
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
$50,000 -- Funding will go towards community based urban agricultural activity, nutritional education, sustainable management of vacant land, and business district streetscape improvements through greening. Specifically, funding will go to support three existing gardens, develop the Neediest Communities' Farm-to-Table arm of the program, the Farm-to-Table New Community Gardens project, and the Allegheny Together Healthy Food Education Project. Ultimately this is a program to encourage access to safe, healthy food.

Allegheny County Economic Development – Allegheny Grows – FIT Urban Food Enterprise (FIFE)
425 Sixth Avenue
Suite 800
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
$95,000 -- Funding will go towards the Fit Urban Food Enterprise, an urban horticulture hub, which will consist of a large-scale urban farm, planting a wide variety of vegetables and herbs in raised beds, utilizing intensive planting techniques and all-organic methods of growing, selling produce to local restaurants, and managing an on-site farmer's market. This program addresses long-term local food security issues.


The Urban Redevelopment Authority – Larimer Stabilization
200 Ross Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
$285,000 – Funding would go towards the redevelopment of the Larimer neighborhood.   Additionally, this project will address quality of life issues for existing residents through vacant lot cleaning and urban farming initiatives. Planning should be complete by the fall of 2010, and the community is actively working with the Penn State Extension on multiple urban farming and greening initiatives.  The URA has been supporting this strategy of planning for the future while addressing the current vacancy through assistance with acquisition and funding portions of the greening and planning.

University of Pittsburgh -- Strategic Investment in America’s Farms
Institute for Entrepreneurial Excellence
230 South Bouquet Street, 1800 WWPH
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
$968,000 -- Funding would be used to create a model agricultural program to assist farmers (in Western Pennsylvania) to use entrepreneurial principles, advanced technologies, new innovative and sustainable agricultural production methods and streamline supply chain models to produce healthy, safe and economically-sustainable agricultural food products. 

Fiscal Year 2011 Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Bill Requests

Allegheny County Department of Emergency Services – Visualization Services
400 N. Lexington Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15208
$255,000 -- Funding is requested to enhance surveillance of Allegheny County Office buildings for infrastructure protection. These would be networked into the monitoring system so that they could be accessed by the 9-1-1 center 24/7. The Networked system will feature a map-based interface software program and supporting software to include data from video surveillance systems, various sensing devices, and communications systems into a multi-user system.  This Visual Monitoring System will provide a complete open, real-time data display. 

Women’s Center and Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh – Children’s Advocacy and Counseling Program
P.O. Box 9024
Pittsburgh, PA 15224
$250,000 -- Funding would go towards the Women's Center and Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh's Child Advocacy and Counseling Program, with services including counseling programs, summer camps, and safe space initiatives.  Specifically, this funding will allow WC&S to resurface the playground, cultivate child counseling programs and continue daycare services for children of domestic violence victims, keeping them safe and providing them with as close an atmosphere to home as possible.

The Borough of Mount Oliver – Technology Upgrades
150 Brownsville Road
Mount Oliver, PA 15210
$56,800 – Funding would be used to upgrade the police department of Mount Oliver’s technology needs.  These upgrades include a new police department records management and reporting system, new computer systems, monitors, police radio sets, cameras, laptop computers, and a multi-purpose copier/printer/fax/scanner.  The department’s current equipment is outdated, slow, inefficient and frequently down for repairs.  Equipment problems pose safety hazards for officers and hamper efforts to effectively fight crime. 

Bellevue Borough -- Law Enforcement Technology Advancements
537 Bayne Avenue
Bellevue, PA 15202
$60,000 – Funding would be used within the Bellevue Police Department to upgrade and enhance the technology of the department.  This will include but is not limited to:  upgrading of department computer workstations, mobile in-car laptop computers, in-car camera systems, and forensic digital camera.  This funding will also be used to assist the department in obtaining a new Records Management System so that the Bellevue Department is able to communicate with the Ross Township and Shaler Township Police Departments to enhance the safety network. 

Borough of Homestead – Police Cameras
1705 Maple Street
Homestead, PA 15120
$250,000 – Funding would go towards cameras along the waterfront, to better allow Homestead police officers to serve the community. These cameras will better assist the Police Department to keep the neighborhood safe and discourage crime, while attracting more business to the region.

Pittsburgh TASK – Mobilizing Male Mentors Project
5707 Penn Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15206
$100,000 – Funding would go towards the recruitment and training of a network young adult males, to mentor and support the civic leadership development of at-risk teen-aged males in twelve City of Pittsburgh neighborhoods. Trained mentors would work with teens to establish neighborhood youth civic associations and block-watch groups, to counteract the presence of risk factors associated with social instability such as violence or crime.

KidsVoice – Child Advocacy Program
Frick Building, 437 Grant Street
Suite 700
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
$500,000 – Funding would be used to continue KidsVoice’s advocacy programs as the sole provider of child advocacy services in the child welfare system of Allegheny County. Each year, KidsVoice represents nearly 5,000 abused, neglected, and at-risk children. By assigning both an attorney and a social service professional to each child, KidsVoice draws upon the combined expertise and training of professional staff from different disciplines to develop uniquely tailored recommendations regarding which placement and services might create better possibilities of success for each child and family. Federal funding for this organization will support programs that are offered to abused and neglected children in Allegheny County.

Safety-Kids -- The Stand Together Act Responsibly (S.T.A.R.) Project
10460 Frankstown Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15235
$100,000 – Funding would go towards an anti-violence program run by the experts at Safety-Kids that helps to make children, schools and our communities safer.  Funding is sought to provide additional personal safety programs for children and parenting seminars for adults, expand curriculum and other educational materials; provide training to law enforcement and teachers in safety issues, and build awareness about personal safety for children.

Duquesne University – Interdisciplinary Cyber Security Research and Supercomputing Initiative
600 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15282
$1.5 million -- Funding would be used for the creation of a series of programs (computer simulation and workshops) aimed at preparing small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) for possible intrusions into the company’s technological infrastructure. This initiative is aimed at supporting individual businesses, and the members of the supply chain with emphasis on those companies supporting the DoD. This project will improve the security of the small businesses in a lasting, ongoing way.

Language Request

Carnegie Mellon University -- Next Generation Space Robotics
5000 Forbes Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Language -- "NASA shall establish a research initiative for fundamental technology development in space-related robotics within the Space Technology Program.  This initiative should foster collaboration linking one or more NASA labs with leading university-based robotics research centers in order to facilitate technology development and graduate education necessary to prepare a new generation of space robotics technical talent."
Investment in space robotics has the potential to both advance U.S. mission capability and position the nation to be a leader in a critical component of the growing international space industry.  The federal investment will both accelerate technologies vital to NASA and strengthen a vital component of both the defense and space industrial base. 

Fiscal Year 2011 Defense Appropriations Bill Requests

Airlift Research Foundation
5840 Ellsworth Avenue, Suite 304
Pittsburgh, PA 15232
$2 million – The Airlift Research Foundation funds research projects that will directly impact recovery following blast-related injury and will ultimately improve either the opportunity to return to active duty or quality of life after discharge. Airlift solicits research applications specific to extremity trauma to identify translational research that will accelerate the recovery of blast-related victims.  Additionally, Airlift promotes public awareness of the need for additional research in the area of extremity trauma by putting a human face on the scientific facts. Through funding research in traumatic orthopaedics, improved treatment outcomes and decreased complications during recovery from blast injuries will result in greater return to duty rates, improved quality of life after service, quicker recovery from injury, and less money needed for long term care and rehabilitation in military hospital systems. The research funded by the Airlift Research Foundation will not only benefit the military community: it will also benefit civilian populations affected by war, violence, and/or traumatic accidents.

Allegheny County
Department of Emergency Services
400 North Lexington Street, Suite 200
Pittsburgh, PA  15208
$2.5 million – This program provides a critical component of meeting the Army’s missions of homeland defense and civil support.   This initiative partners with state and local emergency responders to develop enhanced capabilities and technologies.  Project National Shield focuses on DOD's ability to interact with multiple jurisdictions, including at the State and local level.  A significant benefit to DOD of this component of the program is that it represents the actual full deployment of a critical network that will allow local Emergency Management personnel and first responders at the County level, State EMA and Guard assets to communicate as well as provide for a tie into the Army’s Emergency Operations Center at Picatinny Arsenal. The program is deploying technologies in the field to refine and develop an enterprise architecture for Army communications.  The Army will also be able to test and evaluate tying multiple regional jurisdictions into their overall enterprise architecture.

The benefit to the local community of this program is significant.  As a result of the Army developing an enterprise architecture to deal with State and Local entities, the Army is actually deploying enhanced capabilities into the local emergency management community, thereby increasing  the local first responder’s ability to deal with events.  This increased public safety capability also provides an ancillary benefit on the local economic development side.  Companies that are looking for new locations, especially IT related companies, use public safety preparedness as one of their factors in site selection.

The capabilities developed by this program could have non-DOD benefits by transitioning deployed assets to the local communities at the conclusion of the research and development phase activities of the Army.

University of Pittsburgh
Department of Biomedical Informatics
UPMC Cancer Pavilion, Rm. 305
5150 Centre Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA  15232
$2 million – This program will catalyze faster cures and more meaningful therapies and preventative measures for military personnel with cancer.  More importantly, this program will develop tools to aid the military in biosurveillance and bioterrorism threat detection.  Consequently, this project will lead to the formation of licensable technology that will stimulate new jobs and companies that will benefit both the scientific and military missions of our country. 

Catalyst Connection
2000 Technology Drive
Pittsburgh, PA  15219
$2.5 million – The Small Manufacturers Defense Initiative (SMDI) was developed to create a more efficient and streamlined procurement process for the U.S. military in order to more rapidly meet their manufacturing demands.  By utilizing the unique capabilities of Catalyst Connection and the Pennsylvania IRC network, SMDI delivers a more cost-effective and efficient procurement systems for prototyped parts. 

Based on past performance and metrics, SMDI Phase II is projected to generate $5 million in additional DoD revenue (ARDEC direct orders and Army subcontracts) which will result in 142 Pennsylvania jobs created and/or retained.

Summary of SMDI value to DoD (ARDEC):

    * Quick and efficient procurement of manufacturing services from pre-qualified PA suppliers
    * Dynamic, highly automated, request for quote (RFQ) process management for ARDEC procurement
    * Hands on process support ensuring high quality, on-time delivery of prototyped parts for ARDEC
    * Single point-of-contact for ARDEC to almost 200 qualified, committed manufacturing suppliers
    * Cost effective and secured internet supply chain technology expedites RFQs: 3 day quote turn-around on RFQs
    * Supply performance metrics ensures accountability


CTC
425 6th Avenue
Regional Enterprise Tower, Suite 2850
Pittsburgh, PA 15219-1819
$5 million – Funding is needed to develop safeguards against a terrorist EMP attack.   It is possible to construct an EMP device for less than $400 that could cause major disruption of critical first responder capabilities.  A coordinated attack could cause enough damage to “knock-out” an entire city’s computer devices and power grid.  This program will develop and demonstrate ways to protect these critical resources against such an attack.

Pennsylvania Air National Guard
Pittsburgh International Airport
300 Tanker Road  #4201
Coraopolis, PA 15108 USA
$8.3 million – Without ASLS funding the Air National Guard Air Refueling Wings, which have essentially the same mission requirements as the active Air Force Refueling Wings, must rely almost exclusively on in-aircraft training in the KC-135 Supertanker.  This reliance on the actual aircraft for almost all ANG training is as inefficient as it is expensive.  Many training tasks can’t be conducted in the actual aircraft, and Guardsmen cannot properly rehearse for overseas deployments.  Maintenance or weather issues often prevent training from taking place at all when Guardsmen are on-duty.  Aircraft used in training are not available for refueling missions, and an overreliance on training dramatically shortens aircraft useful life.  All of these issues are addressed by deployment of the Advanced Squadron Level Simulators.

The economic benefit of funding the ASLS program is compelling for both the Air National Guard and the American taxpayer.  At 3,000 flight training hours per year and a direct operating cost of $8,000 per flight hour, KC-135 training at each ANG Superwing annually costs approximately $24,000,000.  By off-loading only 40% of the training hours out of the aircraft into the ASLS, the ANG can realize savings on each ASLS deployed of almost $10 million per year.  This is an impressive rate of return on a capital investment of only $4 million per unit.  Savings for the U.S. taxpayer on the ASLS program will be hundreds of millions of dollars over the anticipated 10 year remaining useful life of the ANG KC-135s.

Funding and deployment of the ASLS also allow the Air National Guard to achieve Air Force Energy Management Directive 90-17, dated July 16, 2009.  This Directive by the Secretary of the Air Force mandates energy conservation in part by migrating training from the actual aircraft to Aircrew Training Devices.  Compliance of the Directive by the Air National Guard is mandatory, and it cannot be achieved without deployment of the ASLS.
 
DSN Innovation
2000 Technology Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
$6.2 Million – HIPER uses DSN Innovations technology to deliver: 1) more rapid RESET turnarounds, particularly when applying product improvements; 2) integrated producibility reviews using standardized 3D models and collaborative methodology; 3) reduced risk and more efficient manufacturing via a more informed, and collaborative methodology; 3) reduced risk and more efficient manufacturing via a more informed, more responsive, and more reliable supplier network; and 4) reduced costs and time to reverse engineer and manufacture quality parts. It is a model that has applicability across all of Army Materiel Command.  This project will save taxpayer dollars, make the RESET process more efficient and cost-effective and will ensure that our men and women in uniform have the weapons they need, when they need them.

Idea Foundry
4551 Forbes Avenue
Suite 200
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
$1.5 million – Idea Foundry will apply its Technology Transfer and Transition Accelerator Program to assist the Office of Technology Transfer and Transition in its efforts to achieve success in the Department of Defense’s technology transfer, transition, and acquisition activities.  It will do so by 1) commercializing medical device technologies funded and developed through Department of Defense sponsored grants and 2) introducing new, privately-funded technologies to the Department of Defense that can save lives as well as taxpayer dollars. On December 10, 2009, Idea Foundry met with senior officials of the Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center (TATRC), one of the nation’s defense laboratories, who expressed multiple ways the acceleration program could benefit TATRC’s programs. Currently, TATRC has over 500 funded technologies that need to be evaluated and their commercialization accelerated.  Idea Foundry, working as a Partnership Intermediary with the DoD network of national laboratories, will utilize the successful Program to review the Department’s portfolio of under-commercialized medical device technologies, selecting the devices with the highest potential to benefit from the Program, and developing them into viable job-producing businesses. In order to successfully transfer and transition these technologies, Idea Foundry will utilize the knowledge gained through its technology transfer partnerships with Pennsylvania-based medical health systems and research institutions such as West Penn Allegheny Health System and the University of Pittsburgh. As the technologies are transferred to the private sector, an essential component of the process will be ensuring the transition of the technology back to the DoD from the private sector, providing life saving technologies for the nation’s fighting forces and securing a return on investment of the original research grants.

Value of life and quality of life cannot be calculated, but estimates of cost to equip and train a war fighter are substantial.  One life spared or repaired through these technologies make this request a valuable use of taxpayer funds.  Idea Foundry has already commercialized technologies that are saving multiple lives, and through this request many lives are potentially affected.

Pennsylvania NanoMaterials Commercialization Center
2000 Technology Drive
Pittsburgh, PA
$2 million –The US Air Force has worked previously with the Center to identify promising nanomaterials research which can be of benefit the Air Force warfighter. This information has been compiled in a Technology Roadmap, which is on the Center’s web site; www.pananocenter.org. The Center uses this roadmap to screen the best of these innovative ideas from researchers and start-up companies to quickly develop prototype products using nanotechnology to meet Air Force needs. In many cases the products have dual-use applications, allowing the small companies to more successfully transition to full scale manufacturing. The Center’s role, as supported by this request, is to accelerate this process, and thereby provide a more efficient means of commercializing advanced materials technologies for DOD needs. This mission is currently not supported by the high technology investment marketplace, and so taxpayer funds provide the dual benefits of getting prototype products to the warfighter faster, while supporting innovation and small high technology company growth in Pennsylvania and the nation.

Pittsburgh Tissue Engineering Initiative, Inc. (PTEI)
450 Technology Drive, Suite 211
Pittsburgh, PA  15219
$5 million – The overall goal of regenerative medicine is to restore tissue and organ function lost as a result of injury, aging, and disease.  Regenerative medicine will eventually open the door to battling crippling diseases like diabetes, Parkinson’s, heart failure and the impacts of traumatic injury.  The Pittsburgh Tissue Engineering Initiative serves as a catalyst assisting in translating research into clinical impact through collaborative initiatives.  PTEI has built a series of civilian/military research programs.  The strategy is to determine the key problems faced by the military and perform fundamental research that would lay the foundation for clinical translation.  The outcomes from the research would be applicable to the civilian population as well. 
The ARM program, along with the related National Tissue Engineering Center program and the Soldier Wound Healing Program, is being used to innovate new approaches to the most difficult problems in regeneration of the musculoskeletal system. 

Pittsburgh Gateways, Corporation
4514 Plummer Street
Pittsburgh, PA  15201
$2.2 million – FirstLink, the Department of Defense National Center of Excellence for First Responder Technology Transfer, provides technical assistance to the Office of the Secretary of Defense’s (OSD) Office of Technology Transition (OTT).  The FirstLink program has been successful in not only meeting its DoD metrics for technology transfer but has exceeded them.  Since program inception, FirstLink has facilitated over 200 DoD transfer metrics with a ROI to the Federal Government of more than $5 million and facilitated the identification of over $7 million in funding to firms providing technologies who meet DoD and First Responder needs.

Fiscal Year 2010 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill Requests

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Allegheny River O&M
Wm. S. Moorehead Fed. Bldg.,
1000 Liberty Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
$11.456 million -- Funding would be used to operate and maintain the locks and dams in the Pittsburgh District, as well as to address critical deferred maintenance.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers -- Monongahela River (PA) Operations & Maintenance
Wm. S. Moorehead Fed. Bldg.,
1000 Liberty Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
$22.461 million -- Funding would be used to operate and maintain the locks and dams in the Pittsburgh District, as well as to address critical deferred maintenance.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers -- Upper Ohio River & Tributaries Technology Pilot Program
Wm. S. Moorehead Fed. Bldg.,
1000 Liberty Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
$3.1 million—Funding would be used for the planning and deployment of about 20 hubs to transmit and receive both Automatic Identification System and Wireless Broadband technologies along the Upper Ohio River

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers -- The Regent Square Gateway Project
Wm. S. Moorehead Fed. Bldg.,
1000 Liberty Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
$1,875,000 -- Funding would be used to construct the Regent Square Gateway Project, a highly visible demonstration site featuring an energy dissipation structure, stream bank stabilization, and rebuilding of the major stream culvert outfall in the heart of the Nine Mile Run watershed.  The project would demonstrate a variety of approaches to stormwater management.

Turtle Creek Basin Evaluation
Wm. S. Moorehead Fed. Bldg.,
1000 Liberty Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
$100,000 – Funding would be used to study the Turtle Creek Watershed in order to make improvements in flood damage reduction, stream bank protection, storm water management and watershed management, ultimately bringing communities together to make sound decisions that will reduce flood damage and improve water quality.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers -- Emsworth Dam Rehabilitation Project
Wm. S. Moorehead Fed. Bldg.,
1000 Liberty Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
$11.5 million -- Funding would be used for emergency repairs to the Emsworth Dams, which are in a progressive state of failure.  Specifically, the requested funding would permit analysis of alternative future conditions at the projects, completion of environmental studies, formulation of the recommended alternative, and preparation of the draft feasibility report.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers -- Lower Monongahela Improvement Project, Locks and Dams 2, 3, &4.
Wm. S. Moorehead Fed. Bldg.,
1000 Liberty Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
$52 million - This funding would be used for construction of the River Wall approaches to the first replacement lock, advertise and award the construction contract for the first replacement lock, begin construction of the Port Perry bridge relocation, and complete municipal utility outfall relocations in pool 2.

ACTION Housing -- Pittsburgh Green House
425 Sixth Avenue, Suite 950
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
$150,000 – Funding would be used to support operational expenses for the Pittsburgh Green House Program, run through ACTION-Housing.  The Pittsburgh Green House will serve as a training facility for Weatherization Service Contractors and Energy Outreach Educators, as well as an educational facility where the general public can gain knowledge about making their homes more energy and water efficient and healthier.  Funding would be used for outreach, education materials, training equipment and materials. 

Pittsburgh Gateways Corporation – Pittsburgh Energy Innovation Training and Development Center
4514 Plummer St.
Pittsburgh, PA 15201
$5 million -- Funding would go towards the creation of a Training and Development Center that will be a nationally unique, LEED Gold certified center for the creation of sustainable jobs. There is strong potential for new job creation in southwestern Pennsylvania through the commercialization of innovations resulting from local research efforts. Such a campus will meet the increasing demand for a curriculum of workforce training programs that has been developed for career paths in sustainable industry sectors.  This Center will produce more than 700 sustainable energy jobs per year beginning in 2011.

Pittsburgh Allegheny County Thermal, Ltd./Allegheny County -- Infrastructure Upgrades:  Safety & Energy Efficient Steam
429 Fourth Avenue
Suite 896
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
$1 million – Funding would be used to improve the existing steam heating infrastructure system in the City of Pittsburgh.  The system provides steam heat to hundreds of businesses, homes, and government buildings in downtown Pittsburgh.  Improvements will maintain the current steam heat delivery with significantly reduced energy input.  Specifically, upgrades will reduce the amount of natural gas required to produce heat and eliminate 6,323 tons of carbon dioxide emissions.  Reducing the amount of gas used will also reduce consumers’ energy costs.  Finally, upgrades will assure public safety by preventing highly pressurized underground pipes from exploding and destroying city streets and buildings above.  

Allegheny County Sanitation Authority -- Four Mile Run Stream Daylighting Project
3300 Preble Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15233
$1 million – Funding will go towards the effort to reduce wet weather overflows by using innovative green infrastructure technologies. Is it estimated that using traditional methods to combat combined sewer overflows and elimination of sanitary sewer overflows could cost multiple billions of dollars. However, green approaches provide a number of benefits to urban communities such as improved appearance, infrastructure renewal, air quality and climate benefits, health, and economic benefits.

Idea Foundry, Inc. -- Technology Transfer Commercialization Program
4551 Forbes Avenue, Suite 200
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
$300,000 – Funding will be used to invest seed capital in high-tech start-ups and to provide them with hands-on business creation services.  These companies will develop technologies explicitly to promote energy efficiencies, environmental stewardship, and worker safety in the Pennsylvania’s mining industry. Tax payers will directly benefit from Idea Foundry’s efforts through job growth, environmental improvements, energy independence, worker safety, and increased economic stability.

Allegheny County – Hybrid Cars
Room 119 Courthouse
436 Grant Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
$1,325,000 – Funding would go towards the purchase of hybrid fleets for the county to publicly demonstrate the efficacy of various lower-emission fuel technologies and promote their adoption.  Specifically, the County will migrate 6-cylinder vehicles to 4-cylinder vehicles where necessary, convert 25 light trucks to compressed natural gas, shift 25 vehicles to hybrids, shift 25 vehicles to zip cars, and convert 25 heavy trucks to diesel-electric hybrids or bio-diesel fuel.

Fiscal Year 2011 Financial Services Appropriations Bill Requests

Innovation Works -- Energy Innovation Center
2000 Technology Drive
Suite 250
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
$500,000 – Funding will go towards the commercialization of high-potential energy-related technology from companies and research institutions including Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Pittsburgh, and the Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL).   Federal dollars would be used to assist entrepreneurs in launching new energy-related start-ups, commercializing energy-related research, and accelerating next-generation energy solutions into the marketplace. The Energy Innovation Center will leverage the Pittsburgh region’s strengths in energy-related technology and early-stage commercialization, and will help to create a significant number of high-paying, family-sustaining jobs and commercialize next-generation energy technology for the United States that is robust, reliable, cost effective and environmentally friendly. 

Pittsburgh Life Sciences Greenhouse -- Tech Belt Biosciences Initiative
100 Technology Drive, Suite 400
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
$800,000 – Funding would be used to create a Tech Belt partnership among local world-class institutions conducting $1 billion in NIH research and more than 800 fast-growing local life sciences companies.  This initiative would create or retain 20-60 jobs in the region and establish a replicable model for creating mega-regions that can generate far more economic growth than any city or state can do alone.

Carnegie Mellon University -- Carnegie Mellon Manufacturing Accelerator
5000 Forbes Ave.
4th Floor, Warner Hall
Pittsburgh, PA 15312
$3,000,000 -- Funding would go towards the establishment of a collaborative, team-oriented program to apply emerging information and technology research to improve the competitiveness of small and medium sized regional manufacturers.  The goal of the project would be to improve the ability of regional companies to enter and remain competitive in the global market by focusing on three areas:  new product design development, process improvements, and the utilization of high impact computing. Bringing the best and brightest researchers together with industry in projects that integrate engineering, design and computing promises to improve the competitiveness of western Pennsylvania’s manufacturing base, attract to the region existing IT firms interested in applying their technologies to manufacturing, and accelerate collaborative innovation resulting in further spinoff companies.

Fiscal Year 2011 Interior and Environment Appropriations Bill Requests

The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority -- Critical Pipe Inspection Program
Penn Liberty Plaza 1
1200 Penn Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
$770,000 -- Funding will go towards the Critical Pipe Inspection Program (CPIP), which will enable The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority to locate and prevent the collapse of critical pipeline under roadways which can cost the city millions of dollars in repairs and lead to a serious public safety hazard.  The deployment of Multi Sensor Inspection in underground pipe infrastructure will demonstrate the benefit of a predictive assessment and will enable more effective management of assets to save cities money and prevent sinkholes.   Also, the data collected from the CPIP will create a model that can be replicated in the future for municipalities throughout the country. 

Steel Industry Heritage Corporation—Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area
The Bost Building
623 East 8th Avenue
Homestead, PA  15120
$1 million –Funding will help continue the Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area’s operation and programs.  Since its designation, Rivers of Steel has raised more than $40 million in direct match to the federal funds received under the NHA program.  These funds have generated more than $75 million in local spending on historic preservation projects, riverfront and trail projects, educational and traditional arts programs, museum collections and interpretation.  In all, more than 250 projects throughout the seven regions have received funding from Rivers of Steel, resulting in increased tourism, job creation, additional revenue for local governments, and an improved quality of life in many of Southwestern Pennsylvania’s older industrial communities.

Allegheny County Sanitation Authority – Green Sewer Initiative
3300 Preble Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15233
$4 million -- Funding will be used for the planning and implementation of a pilot overflow control strategy of utilizing green technologies in up to three combined sewersheds within the City of Pittsburgh.  This project will assist the region greatly in reducing wet weather overflows by using innovative green infrastructure technologies. Using traditional methods it is estimated that the control of combined sewer overflows and elimination of sanitary sewer overflows will cost multiple billions of dollars. Green approaches provide a number of benefits to urban communities such as improved appearance, infrastructure renewal, air quality and climate benefits, health, and economic benefits.

The River Alert Information Network (RAIN) – Early Warning System
700 River Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15212
$1,650,000 – Funding will be used for the acquisition of raw water monitoring equipment to establish an early warning system (EWS) on the major rivers of Western Pennsylvania. Continuous real-time monitoring with advanced alerts and alarms will occur at strategically located member water utilities.  RAIN has already established 12 functioning monitoring sites with great success, i.e. ensured river quality followed state regulations, provided immediate notification to downstream users regarding spills, improved communication on a multi-state basis to improve water quality, provided information and tools to aid water suppliers in decision making, etc.

Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO) -- Ohio River Watershed Pollution Reduction Program
5735 Kellogg Avenue
Cincinnati , OH 45228
$2 million -- Funding will continue ORSANCO’s Watershed Pollution Reduction Program that identifies, isolates, and responds to pollutants that contaminate the Ohio River watershed (such as bacteria, dioxin, PCBs, chlordane, atrazine, and nutrients) which are of substantial importance to the public health, regional ecosystem balance, and the nation’s management of environmental problems.

Fiscal Year 2011 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Bill Requests

Heritage Community Initiatives -- Heritage Community After School Partnership Program
820 Braddock Ave
Braddock, PA 15104
$500,000 – Funding will be used to cover operating costs of the Heritage Community After School Partnership Program providing a safe, high-quality, educational after school/out-of-school time program for low income families and students grades K-8 in Braddock, PA and surrounding communities. Quality education prepares children and future workforce for success. Research studies prove that academically prepared children are more likely to graduate from high school, earn a higher education degree, and retain good jobs having higher earnings.

Pittsburgh Promise -- STEM Literacy Scholarship Initiative
1901 Centre Avenue, Suite 204
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
$500,000 -- Funding would be used to incentivize students to pursue post secondary education in STEM fields. Specifically, The Promise will use federal funding to provide scholarships to students that excel in STEM education courses in the Pittsburgh Public Schools. Students can use the money to attend any institution of higher education within the Commonwealth. Acknowledging the importance of this program, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) has pledged to match every federal dollar by 67 percent.  Thus, a $500,000 appropriation from the federal government will generate an additional $335,000 from UPMC.
Account Specified: FIE
Previous Funding: None

PHASE 4 Learning Centers, Inc. -- Curriculum and Technology Upgrade
Century III Mall, Suite 930
3075 Clairton Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15123
$200,000 – Funding would be used to electronically link existing Learning Centers in East Liberty and beyond.  At two centers within the 14th Congressional District, PHASE 4 Learning Centers provide an alternative learning option to at-risks and re-entry (young people who have dropped out and now want a high school diploma) students.  Working in partnership with the students’ home districts, at a Middle States Commission on Secondary Schools accredited facility, these students earn the credits they need to graduate from high school. By adding Virtual Private Network, PHASE 4 could link all of the Learning Center sites.  That linkage would provide improved student services at all levels: access to student records, tracking of student progress and follow-up activities with students.

Squirrel Hill Health Center -- Tomorrow’s Healthcare
200 JHF Drive, Lower Level
Pittsburgh, PA 15217
$250,000 --   Funding would go towards a web-based platform that was built on the Pittsburgh Regional Health Initiative’s nationally renowned Lean improvement methodology, Perfecting Patient Care (PPC).  Tested for over ten years, PPC has been taught to over 3,000 healthcare workers in over 20 states and has demonstrated significant improvements and cost-savings in reducing infections, falls, inductions, and many other quality initiatives.  Tomorrow’s Healthcare streamlines, standardizes, and simplifies the way entire organizations and practices engage in Quality Improvement by combining the following into a single site for the first time: QI methodology, tools and templates; dynamic learning modules and content; and a human resource management system. 

Focus on Renewal (Father. Ryan Arts Center/McKees Rocks) -- Computer Graphics Lab/Classroom
701 Chartiers Avenue
McKees Rocks, PA 15136
$50,000 – Funds would go towards computer graphics lab in the Father Ryan Arts Center that will be comprised of 12 wide-screen Macintosh computers, printers/scanners and Adobe software, along with a server and the required peripherals. With the proper technology, the Father Ryan Arts Center can outfit the computer lab with the necessary computer systems and software to provide photography, film/new media, web development and digital illustration courses.  Once fully operational, the lab will be the site of regularly scheduled graphics design courses.  With computer technology and software, the Father Ryan Arts Center will provide new opportunities for local children and youth to experience different methods of learning outside of the traditional classroom that will encourage emotional growth, motivation and engagement. 

Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council – Program Support
100 Sheridan Sq., 4th Fl
Pittsburgh, PA 15206
$500,000 – Funding will go towards the men, women and families who currently receive free instruction in reading, writing, math, English as a Second Language, GED preparation, computers and workplace skills through the Literacy Council’s (GPLC) programs.    In addition to the over 500 volunteers trained to tutor adult learners, GPLC also offers classes led by professional instructors.  GPLC will serve over 6,200 students throughout Allegheny County during Program Year 2011.

Pittsburgh Disability Employment Project for Freedom
1323 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
$100,000 -- Funding is requested to update and enhance the current program by updating hardware and software, providing a resource library on disability and unemployment, holding a yearly seminar for business partners, providing professional development courses for staff, moving into a larger space, offering the class online.

Carnegie Library -- Heritage Collection
4400 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
$250,000 -- Funding will be used for project expenses related to the preservation, cataloging, and relocation of Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh’s historic Heritage Collection from the “Allegheny Depository” to the CLP-East Liberty branch in the City of Pittsburgh.  Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh houses and maintains many significant and rich collections developed over its 110 year-old history.  Because of this long history, many rare and unique materials have become part of CLP’s Heritage Collection located at the Carnegie Library Depository.  Currently, most of these historic items are not accessible through the library’s online catalog system limiting the public’s ability to know that these items are available. 

Carnegie Science Center – Girls Math and Science Program
Carnegie Science Center
4400 Forbes Ave.
$306,450 -- Funding will be used to bring evidence-based science lessons and kits to girls in grades 5-8, including distance learning, interaction with active scientists, and outdoor experiences.  The Girls Math and Science Program (GMSP) is committed to the elimination of barriers that discourage girls from becoming full participants in the science and technology fields.  GMSP reaches at risk girls aged 11-17 to help develop them into the scientists of tomorrow.

Pittsburgh AIDS Taskforce -- The Girlfriends Project (Women’s AIDS Education Awareness)
5913 Penn Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15206
$150,000 – Funding would go towards the research evaluation of an HIV/AIDS prevention project specifically aimed at addressing the spread of HIV/AIDS among women. Support is needed to fund the evaluation of this prevention intervention in order to have the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) approve funding for the on-going use of this very effective and innovative intervention for African American women who are becoming infected with HIV/AIDS at an alarming and disproportionate rate in Pittsburgh.

Eastern Area Adult Services -- Senior Center Consolidation Project
901 West Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15221
$100,000 – Funding would go towards the consolidation of Eastern Area’s four senior centers. This project will demonstrate a new highly cost-effective model for the delivery of high quality senior center services and programs in a central location.

Sarah Heinz House -- STEM Education Nation
One Heinz Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15212
$250,000 – Funding would go towards program expansion at the Sarah Heinz House (SHH), a Boys and Girls Club located on the North Side of Pittsburgh which serves over 1,100 at-risk youths each year. Specifically, the SHH will increase capacity in the following after-school programs: Education Nation, Robotics Education, and Environmental Education. Currently, these programs are operating on a waiting list. The SHH house would use funding to increase the number of classes so that all children are able to learn STEM concepts in a fun and safe setting.

Jewish Association on Aging/ Squirrel Hill – Electronic Medical Records
200 JHF Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15217
$500,000 -- Funding would be used to implement an electronic medical records system throughout the continuum of care of the Jewish Association on Aging, which includes a 159-bed nursing home, two Assisted Living Facilities (62-bed and 59-bed), out-patient rehabilitation facility, hospice services, home health services, adult day services and a kosher home delivered meal program.  The implementation of this system will provide a seamless transmission of medical information throughout the continuum. 

Parent Education & Advocacy Leadership Center (PEAL) -- Pennsylvania Family to Family Health Information Center
1119 Penn Avenue, Suite 400
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
$97,500 – Funding would go towards the PA Family to Family Health Information Center at the PEAL Center that serves families of children with special health care needs from birth to age 21, and the professionals who work with them.  The program will provide information, training and support on health care, insurance and community services statewide in Pennsylvania.

Manchester Bidwell -- Electronic Health Records Training Program (EHRTP) at Bidwell Training Center
1815 Metropolitan Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15233
$400,000 – Funding will go towards Bidwell Training Center’s Electronic Health Records Training Program, which was launched this year to address an urgent need in Western PA to train qualified employees to work in this burgeoning and critical component of health care reform. The curriculum was designed in collaboration with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and has received a license from the PA Department of Education to begin enrolling students.  Anticipated enrollment initially was between 20 and 40 students with new classes starting every 10 months, this number will double when counting the number of the Training Center’s Medical Coders, Claim Processors and Pharmacy Technicians graduate each cycle. 


Angels Place -- Economic and Life Success Building
2615 Norwood Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15216
$75,000 – Funding would go towards fostering single parent career success and reduction of family welfare dependence by providing families with support services such as assistance in meeting basic needs, social work services, referrals to community resources, and parent tutoring and job placement assistance as needed. Weekly mandatory classes educate parents in order to prevent family violence. Year-round, intensive early education also is provided for the 0- to 5-year-old children of Angels’ Place’s very low-income, single parent clients, all of whom are fulltime students. There is no cost to families for any of the services.

Steamfitters Local Union 449 -- Western Pennsylvania Pipe Trades Regional Training Project
1517 Woodruff Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15220
$750,000 – Funding would go towards the existing Plumbers Local Union No. 27 Apprenticeship Program which focuses on teaching students about codes, drainage and water supply. This program offers training for commercial work on commercial and industrial buildings larger than three stories, including the installation of the water and gas systems in large multipurpose dwellings, such as apartment buildings or major nursing and assisted living homes. Their work in hospitals is particularly important, as they install the systems that distribute oxygen and other essential medical gases to operating, recovery and patient rooms. The Steamfitters Local Union No. 449 Apprenticeship Program focuses on areas such as refrigeration, steam heating and welding. The program offers instruction on the installation and maintenance of the pipes that carry hot water, steam, air or other liquids or gases needed for manufacturing or other industrial purposes.

Coro Center for Civic Leadership – Regional Internship Center
33 Terminal Way
Suite 429A
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
$100,000 – Funding would be used to expand the Regional Internship Center (RIC) of Southwestern PA.  The Internship Center brokers connections between internship seekers and employers throughout the region, aiding in creating a long term employment relationship.  The RIC partners with over sixty educational institutions in the region, and operates as a central point where students can connect to internship opportunities.  In 2009, the RIC serviced 1,000 employers, students and universities.

Language:

Carnegie Mellon University -- Next Generation Space Robotics
5000 Forbes Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Language -- “The President and the Department have recognized the potential for gaming technology to contribute to improved educational performance.  The Department should give consideration to supporting games for learning projects in making awards in the Investing in Innovation Fund.  Consideration should be given to projects that advance collaboration among school districts, institutions of higher education and cultural institutions such as museums and libraries to utilize gaming technology to enhance both classroom and after school learning.”
Video Game technology applied to learning has demonstrated a capacity to improve student performance.  A focus on Games to Learning initiatives will provide new tools to raise student achievement scores and expand STEM outreach to more diverse populations.

Reach Out and Read – National Project
56 Roland Street, Suite 100 D
Boston, MA 02129
$10 million -- Reach Out and Read is a national evidence-based school readiness initiative that promotes literacy and language development in infants and preschoolers, targeting children and families living in poverty and under-performing school districts.  It has been proven to be among the most effective strategies to promote early language and literacy development and school readiness: pediatricians and other healthcare providers guide and encourage parents to read aloud to their children from their earliest years of their life, and send them home from each regular checkup with a new book and a prescription to read together.  Funding provided by Congress through the U.S. Department of Education has been matched by tens of millions of dollars from the private sector and state governments.

Fiscal Year 2011 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill Requests

The Urban Redevelopment Authority -- Lower Hill Development
200 Ross Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
$1.2 million – Funding will be used to reestablish the Mellon Arena street grid and its infrastructure as the first step to allow for self-contained development parcels. The area is intended for residential housing, street-level retail, small-scale commercial, green spaces and other mixed-use features.  This will: reconnect the Hill District to downtown Pittsburgh, create development parcels, which will provide various opportunities for jobs and housing in the Pittsburgh’s new arena district; and introduce new tax revenue streams.

Allegheny County -- Great Allegheny Passage: Closing the gaps in the GAP.
436 Grant Street, Room 101 Courthouse
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
$2.9 million – Funding will go towards completion of the network of trails in the Great Allegheny Passage, to provide a continuous 320 mile connection from the City of Pittsburgh to Washington DC.  This will allow cyclists and pedestrians to use this trail recreationally and for many residents, this trail connection can be used as a alternative commuter route to the City.  Communities along the Great Allegheny Passage have seen an increase in tourist and business development with additional job growth as the trail brings people from all over the country. 

Borough of Etna -- Dewey Street Bridge Superstructure Replacement
437 Butler Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15223
$650,000 – Funding would be used to perform the required superstructure replacement and abutment repairs to restore full vehicular access to 122 homes isolated by Little Pine Creek West. The Dewey Street Bridge is an essential facility to the Borough of Etna that impacts the delivery of public health and safety services.  It is located along the designated critical evacuation route for the neighborhood under emergencies. The Southwest Pennsylvania Commission (SPC) considers this project as one of its top two priority transportation projects in Allegheny County.

Port Authority – Hybrid Buses
345 Sixth Avenue
Pittsburgh , PA 15222
$10,000,000 – Funding would go towards the purchase of additional Hybrid buses, which have proven to reduce fuel consumption, maintenance costs and most importantly emissions to improve air quality. 

Mount Washington Community Development Corporation -- Workforce and Trail Development in Pittsburgh’s Newest Regional Park
301 Shiloh Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15211
$99,900 – Funding would go towards the trail development at the Grand View Scenic Byway Park, Pittsburgh’s newest Regional Park.  The Park aims to provide a sustainable economic development tool for the region while restoring a healthy native ecosystem for the benefit of the people and environment of Western Pennsylvania.  Because over 1 million people visit Mount Washington every year, the Park’s Master Trail Plan, creating 19 miles of trails, can play a significant economic development role. 

Troy Hill Citizens -- Citizens Park Revitalization
1619 Lowrie Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15212
$261,000 – Funding would go towards the redesign and revitalization of the Troy Hill Citizens Park. The park is an essential cornerstone of the community, located along a business corridor, Lowrie Street. These improvements will make the park more functional for every resident while incorporating sustainable elements. Certain safety measures will also be worked into the design, such as natural perimeters, and ADA compliant accessibility will create a comprehensive utilization of the park space. This park is a community focal point.    

McKees Rocks Community Development Corporation -- Miles Bryan School Lofts
711 Chartiers Avenue
McKees Rocks, PA 15136
$150,000 – Funding would go towards the acquisition of a 40,000 sq ft building and the 7 acres upon which it resides.   This property is a centerpiece of upper McKees Rocks and Stowe Township, and this type of reuse will drive residential and commercial development around it.   Similarly, without a champion to develop the property, it will continue to be a haven for the homeless, drug abusers, and vandalism.

West Homestead Community Development Corporation -- Steel Valley Residential Improvement Project
456 West Eighth Avenue
West Homestead, PA 15120
$150,000 – Funding will go towards the rehabilitation of deteriorated houses, which will be offered for private sale as a way of halting neighborhood deterioration and improving the tax base.  This project will also be a training opportunity for apprentices of the local union of the Greater PA Regional Council of Carpenters. Funds will be used to leverage private funds to be secured by the Remaking Cities Institute of Carnegie Mellon University.  The rehabbed houses will serve as an example and impetus for additional rehabilitation in the target neighborhoods and will demonstrate community conservation and re-use.