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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October 26, 2022 – Today, Senator Jay Costa, Senator Wayne Fontana, and Senator Lindsey Williams announce a $46,054,410 PENNVEST Loan for the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority (PWSA) to replace old and failing inlets and catch basins.
“All of us deserve clean, potable water and a system that prevents the pollution of our rivers and streams,” said Senator Costa. “This funding from PENNVEST will allow the PWSA to improve the infrastructure of our storm water systems to ensure that we are keeping debris and refuse out of our waterways. I am proud of this work and look forward to seeing this project come to fruition.”
“Replacing these catch basins and inlets is a major investment in the health of our people, our environment, and our infrastructure,” said Senator Lindsey Williams. “This work will ensure that residents have clean drinking water, keep litter and other debris out of our waterways, and improve the safety of our roads and stormwater infrastructure. By prioritizing these investments from the state level, we’re able to make sure that PWSA is able to make these critical repairs without passing on costs to people who are already facing high utility bills.”
“I’m proud to see PENNVEST continue to make substantial investments in the PWSA to support clean and reliable water systems in Allegheny County,” said Senator Fontana. “Some of our water infrastructure is about 100 years old. These projects address that aging infrastructure to ensure residents always have access to clean drinking water and that our communities are using systems that are efficient and do not waste water.”
Across Pittsburgh, approximately 3,600 inlets and catch basins have collected storm water for nearly 100 years. This system serves nearly one hundred thousand customers whose median household income falls below the statewide median household income. PWSA will replace all inlets and catch basins over the next three years with support from this PENNVEST Funding.
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Pittsburgh, PA – October 10, 2022 – Today, the PA House of Representatives announced the passing of Representative Tony DeLuca, serving the 32nd house district, at the age of 85. In response, State Senator Jay Costa offers the following statement:
“I am heartbroken to learn of the passing of a dear friend, colleague, and mentor, Representative Tony DeLuca. Tony has been a decades-long friend of me and my family, and I had tremendous respect for his advocacy for his home communities of Penn Hills and Verona. He was a dedicated leader during his 39 years in the House of Representatives, where he served as Democratic chair of the House Insurance Committee. I have long admired his tireless work to ensure every Pennsylvanian can have affordable health insurance, and I have valued our time together. Rest well, my friend. Allegheny County lost a mighty warrior today.”
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PITTSBURGH, PA − October 1, 2022 − Last night, PA Supreme Court Chief Justice Max Baer passed away in his sleep at the age of 74. In response to the unexpected loss of a longtime friend, Senator Jay Costa releases the following statement:
“I am saddened and heartbroken to learn of the passing of the Honorable Pennsylvania Supreme Court Chief Justice Max Baer, a respected leader and a true public servant. It has been a joy to call him a friend for the past 30 years as he has served Allegheny County and the entire commonwealth of Pennsylvania. A fellow Duquesne Law School graduate and lifelong yinzer, Justice Baer leaves an accomplished legacy of moral clarity, justice, and care for our democracy. I will miss him greatly and am holding his family in my prayers today.”
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HARRISBURG, PA – August 16, 2022 − Today, Governor Tom Wolf signed an executive order ending state funding for LGBTQ+ Conversion Therapy, a pseudoscientific practice that seeks to alter a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. Senator Jay Costa (D-Allegheny), leader of the Democratic Caucus in the PA Senate, offers the following statement in support of this order:
“Today I am proud to celebrate Governor Wolf’s executive order halting state funding for conversion therapy. No matter how we look, who we love, or where in PA we live, all of us deserve the research-based care we need. Protecting and expanding access to gender-affirming care delivers on this core value, as does fighting against the pseudoscientific practices of conversion therapy, which are proven only to cause trauma and shame. The governor’s order will help ensure that thousands of people who call PA home are treated with dignity and respect by the medical community. I look forward to taking these measures even further by passing legislation that protects members of the LGBTQ+ community from discrimination and harassment.”
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HARRISBURG, PA – August 2, 2022 − Today, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled to uphold Act 77, the state’s election law that permits no excuse mail in voting to continue in Pennsylvania. Senator Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) offered the following statement in support of the court’s decision:
“Today’s decision upholding Act 77 is a victory for voters of every age, race, faith, income, and zip code.
Voting by mail ensures that everyone can participate in choosing their leaders, especially our seniors, healthcare workers, students, and disabled friends and neighbors. While the GOP continues to disenfranchise voters, we will fight so that everyone who wants to vote can vote however is most accessible to them.”
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