PITTSBURGH, PA – May 8, 2024 − Today, Governor Shapiro and DCED Secretary Risk Siger awarded seven projects across Pennsylvania a total of $10.6 Million in PA SITES (Pennsylvania Strategic Investments to Enhance Sites) funding in order to develop shovel-ready locations to attract businesses and family-sustaining jobs. Of the seven projects chosen from over one hundred applicants, a project in the 43rd district was selected to receive funding.
PA SITES pilot program funding is being awarded to the following recipient in the 43rd senatorial district:
- Allegheny County – $2,326,733 to the RIDC Southwestern Pennsylvania Growth Fund for continued development of the Carrie Furnace site in Rankin Borough. PA SITES funds will be used for earthwork, utilities, and asphalt paving.
“Pennsylvania is well on its way to becoming a national leader in business and economic development thanks in no small part to the thoughtful and aggressive investments from the Shapiro administration in attracting businesses to our commonwealth,” said Senator Costa. “Allegheny County has a long, proud history of delivering good family-sustaining jobs to our workers, and the Carrie Furnace project is no exception. I will be fighting hard to expand the PA SITES program in this year’s budget to continue the great work of this incredible pilot program.”
Senator Costa has been a longtime supporter of Carrie Furnace. In 2022, Carrie Furnace received $1,000,000 in RACP funding for construction, a $3 million dollar grant, and a $4.5 million dollar loan from the Commonwealth Financing Agency’s (CFA) Business in Our Site (BiOS) program. In 2021, Carrie Furnace received $100,000 in Keystone Historic Preservation Money. The Marcellus Legacy Fund awarded Carrie Furnace $115,000 for improvements to the Carrie Furnace Access Trail and Trailhead in 2019, and in 2016, $313,305 in CFA grant dollars was awarded to evaluate the structure and its existing paint system to assess contaminate levels and develop necessary remediation and rehabilitation plans.
In January, Senator Costa joined Governor Shapiro at Mill 19 in Pittsburgh to champion the Economic Development Plan that includes the PA SITES program.
Find details about the PA SITES pilot program here.
The Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus is fighting for good jobs for every Pennsylvanian. Read more about this commitment here.
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Pittsburgh, Pa. – November 1, 2022 − Today, Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa announces the award of over $8 million in grants from the state to help fund local projects in the 43rd senatorial district.
“Each and every one of these recipients plays a vital role in delivering a beautiful quality of life to the people who call this district home,” said Senator Costa regarding this funding. “From education to history to environmental protections to tourism, these grants will ensure that all of us can continue to learn, grown, and explore Pittsburgh and Allegheny County for many generations to come. I am proud of the work we did to deliver this funding and look forward to seeing these projects come to fruition as money gets delivered.”
The following projects in the 43rd district will receive grants:
- 1009 Wood Street will receive $750,000 to develop mixed-used and urban agriculture spaces with progressive storm water mitigation elements. The building will include commercial spaces, housing, and a roof top open space for Urban Agriculture CSA.
- Congregation Beth Shalom Rehabilitation and Energy Savings will receive $1,000,000 to repair failing and aging systems, and to install solar panels and energy-efficient LED lighting
- Hazelwood Equity One-Stop Resource Center will receive $500,000 to acquire and renovate the former Church of the Good Shepherd along with an adjoining 2 story Hall to create a community center on the first floor, including a commercial kitchen, and multi-tenant office space on the 2nd floor.
- Hillel Academy Gym will receive $1,000,000 to renovate the combined gymnasium and auditorium, second floor changing rooms, and window upgrades.
- Hunter Building – Wilkinsburg II will receive $1,000,000 to renovate the historical Hunter Building. A community café and gallery space will occupy the first floor with an outdoor terrace.
- Rankin Community Development Film Furnace Phase III will receive $1,000,000 for the construction of a speculative “tech flex building” on the Carrie Furnace site. The building will be a single-story structure of concrete and steel construction.
- Rivers of Steel Carrie Blast Furnaces National Historic Landmark will receive $1,000,000 to support a comprehensive restoration plan for stabilizing and renovating additional structures within the NHL site, installing visitor-focused safety infrastructure to enhance site accessibility while mitigating safety risks. It will also construct an Operations Building to house the heavy equipment, tools, and materials needed to maintain the site.
- Wilkinsburg Bank Building – 901 Wood Street will receive $1,000,000 to renovate the property for potential commercial and residential uses.
- Yeshiva Schools – Greenfield Campus Rehabilitation 3 will receive $1,000,000 to renovate and rehabilitate an aging former Catholic school Ave and build a state-of-the-art gymnasium with a high school wing above the gymnasium.
Funding for these grants comes from the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP), a Commonwealth grant program administered by the Office of the Budget for the acquisition and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic, recreational, and historical improvement projects.
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Rankin, PA – July 19, 2022 – Today, Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa announced $7.5 million in state funding for a project located in the Rankin Borough. The redevelopment of the Carrie Furnace site will receive a $3 million dollar grant and a $4.5 million dollar loan from the Commonwealth Financing Agency’s (CFA) Business in Our Site (BiOS) program.
“The Carrie Furnace is a historic landmark in the Mon Valley and an important economic development opportunity for the future of Rankin,” said Senator Costa. “This funding will kick off construction of a regional attraction for film production which will be a one-of-a-kind facility for Southwest PA, creating many immediate and long-term jobs.”
This funding goes toward Phase II of III for the complete redevelopment of the 65-acre site that will consist of the acquisition of 4 acres and the development of a 52,000 square foot Film Ready Tech Flex Spec building. Specifically, BiOS funds will be used for acquisition, excavation, grading, sidewalks, and construction of the parking fields associated with the film production building.
BiOS grants are intended to empower communities to attract growing and expanding businesses by helping build an inventory of shovel ready sites. These sites must be previously utilized property or undeveloped property that are planned and zoned for development.
For more information on this funding project and other grant opportunities, visit dced.pa.gov.
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Pittsburgh, PA − June 10, 2021 − Senator Jay Costa today announced the award of more than $400,000 in Keystone Historic Preservation grants for the region on a variety of exciting projects.
“Allegheny County and the City of Pittsburgh are modern regions and have attracted many visitors and residents with its forward looking vision – but we are a world class place to live because of our rich past,” said Senator Costa. “The grants awarded today allow us to preserve our history and ensure that its lessons and landmarks shine for years to come.”
- The City of Pittsburgh was awarded $17,500 to update the National Register listing of the Manchester Historic District to reflect events related to civil rights and community development from the 50s and 60s.
- Rodef Shalom Congregation was awarded $13,085 for a feasibility landscaping design that will create natural physical security barriers recommended for the building’s safety by the Department of Homeland Security
- The Wilkinsburg Engagement Center was awarded $100,000 for a transition from sacred space to a civic space which will provide jobs, economic redevelopment, quality of life, and arts and culture.
- The Frick Art and Historical Center will make repairs to Clayton’s, the historic home of Henry Clay Frick and expand the lifespan of the important architectural elements with its award of $100,000.
- Rivers of Steel Heritage Corporation will repair and restore #6 Cast House and Slag Flume at the National Historic Landmark Carrie Furnaces in Rankin/Swissvale with its $100,000 award.
- The Carnegie Library of Homestead will upgrade its fire protection systems with an award of $100,000.
The Keystone Historic Preservation Grant program is funded through the Keystone Recreation, Park & Conservation Fund. Over the program’s history, the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission has supported 910 preservation projects through the vital funding for planning and construction.
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Pittsburgh, PA− September 17, 2019 − Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr. today announced more than $1 million in state grants that will come to the 43rd senatorial district for greenway and recreational projects, including ones in Swissvale, West Homestead and the South side.
“Our region is a beautiful place to work and live, with many opportunities for outdoor recreation. I was proud to fight for these projects at the state level because I know they will make the Mon Valley and the rest of our district even better,” said Senator Costa. “As these projects continue, I look forward to seeing my friends and neighbors out on the trails and in our many public parks.”
The Borough of Swissvale will receive $115,000 for improvements to the Carrie Furnace Access Trail and Trailhead; the Borough of West Homestead will receive $34,000 to continue work on its Riverfront Park plan; and the City of Pittsburgh will $97,537 for trail renovations in South Side Park.
Also in the 43rd Senatorial District, Oakmont Borough will receive $200,000 for development of the Chateau Beach Park, and an additional $139,358 to rehabilitate Riverside park Track; Wilkins Township will receive $30,489 for rehabilitation of Eastmont Park; Penn Hills will get $104,410 for park improvements; and the Borough of Verona will undertake a project at Cribbs Field Pavilion with $200,000.
The total amount in grants today awarded to the district is $1,020,794.
The funds come from Act 12 of 2012, which established the Marcellus Legacy Fund and allocates funds to the Commonwealth Financing Authority for planning, acquisition, development, rehabilitation and repair of greenways, recreational trails, open space, parks and beautification projects using the Greenways, Trails and Recreation Program.
For more information on the program and application guidelines, visit https://dced.pa.gov/programs/greenways-trails-and-recreation-program-gtrp/
HARRISBURG, December 6, 2016 – Two local projects will benefit from more than $300,000 in state grant funds State Rep. Paul Costa, D-Allegheny and State Senator Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) announced today.
The grants were funded by the Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA). The CFA is an independent state agency responsible for administering Pennsylvania’s economic stimulus packages, including the Multimodal and Act 13 funds.
In West Homestead, the $71,685 grant will be used to replace 1,010 linear feet of sidewalk along the south side of state Route 837 in the borough. Handicapped access ramps will also be installed at two intersections along the route. The project is estimated to cost more than $102,000.
“This funding is crucial for the borough to continue to make necessary improvements to its infrastructure,” Rep. Costa said. “I applaud the officials who worked on these grants for the betterment of our local community.”
The CFA also approved funds to support an environmental assessment and structural inspection of the Carrie Furnace ‘hot metal bridge’ in Swissvale Borough. The $313,305 grant will be used to evaluate the structure and its existing paint system to assess contaminate levels and develop necessary remediation and rehabilitation plans.
“The Carrie Furnace Bridge remains a critical component of our transportation infrastructure in Allegheny County and we remain focused on making improvements to bring it back online,” Sen. Costa said. “These grant funds will allow us to provide necessary maintenance and plan for any future needs to ensure the safety of not only the bridge and those traveling on it, but also the surrounding community and waterways.”
The CFA was established in 2004 as an independent agency of the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) to administer Pennsylvania’s economic stimulus packages. The CFA holds fiduciary responsibility over the funding of programs and investments in Pennsylvania’s economic growth. The CFA consists of seven board members: four legislative appointees and the secretaries of DCED, the Office of the Budget and Department of Banking.
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CONTACT: Stephany Dugan
House Democratic Communications Office
Phone: 717-787-7895
Email: sdugan@pahouse.net
Stacey Witalec
Office of Senator Jay Costa
Phone: 717-877-2997
Email: switalec@pasenate.com
