Fiscal Year 2023 Requested Community Projects
Project Name: Acidic Water Pollution Cleanup and Community Economic Development through Domestic Production of Critical Minerals for National Security
Proposed Recipient: The Pennsylvania State University
Address of Recipient: 117 Old Main, Pollock Road, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802
Amount Requested: $2,100,000
Explanation of Request: The requested funding would be used to design, build, and test a modular pilot-scale research and development unit to extract critical minerals from Pennsylvania’s acid mine drainage sludge. The United States is 100% import-reliant for 17 of 35 critical elements identified by the U.S. Department of Interior. Another 14 have net import reliance greater than 50% of consumption. This endeavor would produce the critical minerals necessary to end our dependence on Chinese and other foreign sourced materials, thereby shoring up our national security. Further, the project would have environmental benefits including remediation of acid mine drainage, reclamation of abandoned mine lands, and reclamation of mineral processing and metallurgical waste dumps.
Member Certification Letter
Project Name: Applied Energy Research Project - Southwestern Pennsylvania
Proposed Recipient: Greene County Industrial Developments, Inc.
Address of Recipient: 300 Evergreen Drive, Waynesburg, Pennsylvania 15370
Amount Requested: $500,000
Explanation of Request: The requested funding would be used to study the potential use of Pennsylvania liquified natural gas (LNG) as fuel for private, military, and defense uses. This includes the cost benefits related to capital expenditures, operating expenditures, associated domestic jobs created, environmental benefits, sustainability, and the reliance on foreign energy supplies and over-extended supply chains. Additionally, it would address infrastructure questions of LNG at domestic airports and cost effectiveness of natural gas compared to jet fuel. This research would increase energy efficiency, find new uses for domestic natural resources, facilitate economic development in southwestern Pennsylvania, and lower emissions and improve air quality.
Member Certification Letter
Project Name: Arnold Palmer Regional Airport Terminal Expansion
Proposed Recipient: Westmoreland County Airport Authority
Address of Recipient: 148 Aviation Lane, Suite 103, Latrobe, Pennsylvania 15650
Amount Requested: $7,000,000
Explanation of Request: The requested funding would be used to expand the existing terminal to provide more than 14,000 square feet of new usable space on each floor and reconfigure the floor plan. This new space would accommodate a second Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screening line, as well two new passenger boarding bridges, to increase passenger safety, aircraft boarding capacity, and passenger holding capacity.
Member Certification Letter
Project Name: Crawford Avenue Bridge Rehabilitation
Proposed Recipient: PennDOT Engineering District 12
Address of Recipient: 825 N. Gallatin Ave Ext, Uniontown, PA 15401
Amount Requested: $7,000,000
Explanation of Request: The requested funding would be used to rehabilitate the Crawford Avenue Bridge in the City of Connellsville, Fayette County to extend its lifespan and allow for a shared use path for safe pedestrian and bicycle access. The bridge’s deficiencies currently pose a safety risk and continue to impede economic development, particularly as the bridge represents an important connection to downtown. The shared use path will allow for safer and easier access to the East and West side of the community, increase tourism, and create a more walkable city.
Member Certification Letter
Project Name: East Dunkard Water Authority Waterline System
Proposed Recipient: East Dunkard Water Authority (EDWA)
Address of Recipient: 2790 S. Eighty Eight Road, Dilliner, Pennsylvania 15327
Amount Requested: $2,734,000
Explanation of Request: The requested funding would be used to improve water quality to ensure water is safe to drink, decrease the financial burden to EDWA customers, ensure vehicles and other maintenance equipment is in operable condition to enable EDWA to properly maintain the water distribution system, and ensure operating plans are current and meet state environmental regulations and equipment critical to the water distribution system is operating correctly. EDWA has had over 150 state regulatory violations and residents have long suffered from poor quality and quantity of water, including brown water, poor/no pressure, and poor taste. Distribution system leaks are widespread and leak loss is estimated at 67%, which exceeds state regulations. This funding will allow EDWA to remediate those issues and transport drinking water safely to 1,600 residents in Dunkard Township, Perry Township, Whiteley Township, Greene Township, Monongahela Township, and Cumberland Township.
Member Certification Letter
Project Name: Fayette County Joint Tactical Training Center
Proposed Recipient: Fayette County Board of Commissioners
Address of Recipient: 61 E. Main Street, Uniontown, PA 15401
Amount Requested: $1,000,000
Explanation of Request: The requested funding would be used for construction of a tactical training center in Jefferson Township, Pennsylvania and will enhance resident safety by enabling regional police forces to access, utilize, and enhance educational opportunities, as well as engage in training and skill development in tactical shooting.
Member Certification Letter
Project Name: Hickory, Southview, and Westland Sanitary Project
Proposed Recipient: Mount Pleasant Township Municipal Authority
Address of Recipient: 31 McCarrell Road, Hickory, PA 15340
Amount Requested: $3,500,000
Explanation of Request: The requested funding would be used to begin construction on 110,000 feet of sewer, four pump stations and a treatment plant to provide public sanitary sewer service to approximately 1,350 residents. The project would eliminate the use of aging, on-lot septic systems, thereby reducing the risk of bacterial and viral diseases often associated with sanitary sewer discharges.
Member Certification Letter
Project Name: Highlands Hospital Emergency Department Expansion and Improvement Project
Proposed Recipient: Highlands Hospital dba Penn Highlands Connellsville (PHCV), a subsidiary of Penn Highlands Healthcare (PHH)
Address of Recipient: 401 E Murphy Ave, Connellsville, PA 15425
Amount Requested: $1,000,000
Explanation of Request: The requested funding would be used for the expansion and improvement of the Emergency Department (ED) to provide rooms dedicated to behavioral health patients. This project would improve patient safety, privacy, satisfaction, and dignity and help PHCV create an optimal healing environment for behavioral health patients in an ED setting.
Member Certification Letter
Project Name: Independence Township Community Center
Proposed Recipient: Independence Township Board of Supervisors
Address of Recipient: 34 Campbell Street, PO Box E, Avella, PA 15312
Amount Requested: $900,000
Explanation of Request: The requested funding would be used to renovate the historic Lincoln National Bank building to house a business incubator, community library, community meeting rooms, and office space for the township. The project would serve as an essential community facility to house the township services and diversify the local economy by encouraging growth of small businesses.
Member Certification Letter
Project Name: Laurel Highlands Workforce and Opportunity Center Expansion
Proposed Recipient: Laurel Highlands Workforce and Opportunity Center
Address of Recipient: 310 Donohoe Road, Greensburg, PA 15601
Amount Requested: $446,930
Explanation of Request: The requested funding would be used to hire staff and provide supplies, childcare, and transportation for students in the adult workforce training program. The project would help build a skilled workforce that meets the region's needs for in-demand health care jobs and would foster economic growth. This project targets underserved populations, unemployed, non-college-bound high school graduates, veterans, and those displaced from jobs due to the pandemic.
Member Certification Letter
Project Name: Pennsylvania Route 21 (PA21) Improvements Plan
Proposed Recipient: PennDOT Engineering District 12
Address of Recipient: 825 N. Gallatin Ave Ext, Uniontown, PA 15401
Amount Requested: $2,500,000
Explanation of Request: The requested funding would be used to complete an in-depth and complex study for development and analysis of possible concepts to meet PA 21 corridors Purpose and Needs. PA 21 is a regionally significant corridor that serves Waynesburg, Masontown, and Uniontown, along with numerous smaller communities. Safety updates are needed to meet current traffic conditions, and the road requires updates to support economic growth for Greene and Fayette Counties and the region.
Member Certification Letter
Project Name: Rostraver Township Pedestrian Bridge Improvements
Proposed Recipient: PennDOT Engineering District 12
Address of Recipient: 825 N. Gallatin Ave Ext, Uniontown, PA 15401
Amount Requested: $1,800,000
Explanation of Request: The requested funding would be used to improve the pedestrian structure that spans Interstate 70 and connects Ross Street with Carson Street in Rostraver Township, Pennsylvania. The bridgedoes not meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) criteria and serves a low-income area that was severed from vital community services and locations due to the construction of Interstate 70 in the 1950s.
Member Certification Letter
Project Name: Waynesburg Betterment
Proposed Recipient: PennDOT Engineering District 12
Address of Recipient: 825 N. Gallatin Ave Ext, Uniontown, PA 15401.
Amount Requested: $7,000,000
Explanation of Request: The requested funding would be used to reconstruct intersections and intersection approaches with concrete pavement to better accommodate heavy stopping and turning movements, improve signal poles for truck turning movements, and mill and resurface certain roadways. Additionally, the funding would be used to upgrade and replace signals and sidewalks, reconstructADA ramps for compliance, make drainage improvements, and repaint pavement markings. Currently, there are no reasonable alternatives for traffic to move through the county, which causes high traffic volumes, including a high percentage of heavy vehicles. The asphalt pavement is showing signs of distress, rutting, and wash-boarding at the intersections due to the excessive heavy truck traffic. Further, the signals at intersections do not comply with current standards, signage is missing or damaged, and ADA ramps are not compliant with current standards and regulations.
Member Certification Letter
Project Name: Westmoreland County Bridge Preservation Project
Proposed Recipient: Westmoreland County Department of Public Works, Roads, and Bridges
Address of Recipient: 2 North Main Street, Greensburg, Pennsylvania 15601
Amount Requested: $1,600,000
Explanation of Request: The requested funding would be used to preserve four existing bridges over Loyalhanna Creek. Work will include replacement of expansion joints and seals, approach slab replacement, repointing of existing masonry abutments, substructure repairs, cleaning and painting of steel surfaces, concrete deck repairs, drainage repairs, approach roadway improvements, debris removal, and the placement of rock protection at piers. The bridges were constructed prior to 1970 and rehabilitation is needed to improve safety, stop further deterioration, preserve structural integrity, and extend the useful life of the bridges.
Member Certification Letter
Project Name: Westmoreland Food Bank Volunteer Center and Onsite Pantry Expansion Project
Proposed Recipient: Westmoreland County Food Bank
Address of Recipient: 100 Devonshire Drive, Delmont, PA 15626
Amount Request: $805,233
Explanation of Request: The requested funding would be used to construct a new volunteer center, on-site food pantry, and space for warehouse and refrigerated storage expansion. The renovations would ensure the food bank does not have to turn away fresh produce, and can provide space for a growing volunteer community and establish an on-site food pantry for emergency food assistance.
Member Certification Letter