HARRISBURG — Several local communities were awarded state grants for key infrastructure projects, Rep. Martin Causer, R-Turtlepoint, Sen. Cris Dush, R-Brookville, and Rep. Mike Armanini, R-DuBois, announced Tuesday.
Local grants included $488,410 to the Bradford City Water Authority for the extension of a water line from St. Francis Drive to Lafferty Hollow Industrial Park and $265,000 toward replacement of the Route 219 Water Pump Station in Bradford Township. Hamlin Township received $153,340 for replacement of a control panel at its wastewater treatment plant. Roulette Township received $391,000 for installation of a new well and well house and $285,175 went to Driftwood Borough in Cameron County for water system improvements.
In Elk County, Fox Township Sewer Authority received $484,500 for upgrades to the Pontzer Pump Station. Jay Township will see more than $423,000 for upgrades to the Weedville Wastewater Treatment Plant and Johnsonburg Borough is set to receive more than $63,000 to expand municipal collection facilities as part of the Hemlock Street Stormwater Extension Project.
“It’s so important to make sure we invest in our water and sewer systems to protect public health and safety in our communities,” Causer said. “I was pleased to advocate for these grants and bring this money back to our district.”
“Water and sewer systems are critical to the health and safety of our local communities, but very expensive to build and maintain,” Dush added. “Securing this funding will help to offset costs which means ratepayers do not have to bear the brunt of these expensive improvements that in the end safeguard local water supplies, prevent pollution in our streams, and promote public health.”
Armanini said, “The CFA administers Pennsylvania’s economic stimulus packages as an independent agency of the Department of Community and Economic Development. Their decisions on these grant applications are welcome news to the local government officials who chose to apply for funding, as well as the people they serve.”
The grants were approved Tuesday by the Commonwealth Financing Authority and are funded from multiple sources, with the largest being federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money appropriated for recreation and conservation as part of previous Pennsylvania state budgets. The CFA is an independent agency of the Department of Community and Economic Development.
