Pittsburgh, Pa. – August 1, 2019 − Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr. today announced more than $8 million in state grants that will go to projects in the 43rd senatorial district.
“I’m proud to have advocated for these projects in our area, and excited to see them come to fruition thanks to this investment from the state,” said Senator Costa. “Each of the projects funded today are vastly different, and I believe will improve the lives of our residents and as well as bolster our region’s economy through the development process.”
The funding 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.
One of the projects funded today will be the Carnegie Library of Homestead. They’ll receive $500,000 to renovate their locker rooms and pool, making the entire facility more wheelchair accessible.
“The Carnegie Library of Homestead provides superb services to our residents, and facilities like that deserve to have the most up-to-date resources at their disposal,” said Representative Austin Davis, who represents Homestead said. “I can’t wait to see all the positive that come from this substantial funding.”
Also with today’s funds, ACTION Housing will move forward with the redevelopment of the old Squirrel Hill Theater, which has been vacant since 2010. They’ll receive $1,000,000 to create a six-story building on the site.
“In order for our city and region to live up to its “most live-able” title and remain affordable for both new and long-time residents, mixed-use property is vital,” said Representative Dan Frankel, who represents the area.
As the Frick Art & Historical Center moves forward with its mission, they will receive $1,250,000 to tackle major capital projects.
“By helping save the cultural landmarks of our city, we are preserving our past for future generations,” Representative Ed Gainey, who represents this area, said. “When we invest in these projects, whether the redevelopment of a brownfield or the preservation of local history, we are investing in the people in our communities, and encouraging businesses and community organizations to do the same.”
Other projects funded today in Senator Costa’s district include:
- $500,000 for the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh to renovate meeting rooms and feature areas for community programs
- $500,000 for the Distillery at South Shore in Pittsburgh to update its façade, replace windows, HVAC and plumbing
- $500,000 to the Urban Redevelopment Authority to preserve and stabilize the Homewood Coliseum
- The Urban Redevelopment Authority will receive additional $1,000,000 to revitalize the Hunt Armory Recreation Facility
- $500,000 for the City of Pittsburgh to expand Homewood Park
- $1,000,000 go to the City of Pittsburgh to renovate the public pool at the Oliver Bath House
- $1,000,000 for ICON Development, Pgh to begin work on a mixed-use project at Lexington Technology Park
- $500,000 for the development of a 12-story office and retail building at Innovation Research Tower to include 100 parking spaces, and 86 bicycle spaces
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Harrisburg, Pa. – July 29, 2019 – Members of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus sent a letter to the state’s congressional delegation, urging that the federal Department of Agriculture does not end automatic eligibility for Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. This change would impact 3.1 million Americans; 120,000 living in Pennsylvania.
The caucus urged the Congressional delegation to stand united in opposition to this devastating rule change that would strip food from Pennsylvania families in need.
Writing jointly in its letter, the caucus wrote:
This proposal is heartless, callous, and Pennsylvanians cannot afford it.
Feeding America estimates that more than 1.5 million Pennsylvanians are food insecure. Worse, 1 in 6 of Pennsylvania’s children struggles with hunger. These numbers are staggering enough without the addition of 200,000 more who could soon be without SNAP. The current rules allow those food insecure individuals who are single parents, disabled veterans, victims of domestic violence and individuals with a disability to receive vital benefits that allow them to put a healthy, fresh meal on their table.
Societies are judged by how they treat their most vulnerable; if we let this change to SNAP go unchallenged, we will fail that judgement.
Our caucus will oppose the rule change in every way that we are able, and we ask that our federal representatives join us in that fight. We, and our constituents, thank you for the advocacy you have already undertaken.
Download Letter →
PITTSBURGH, PA – July 15, 2019 – Today, Senator Jay Costa announced the award of federal grants to local elementary schools to fund healthy, fresh food programs for students.
“Our young students can’t learn properly if they aren’t properly fed,” said Senator Costa. “A healthy meal means so much to a hungry child, and these grants are going to schools that have demonstrated a need in their students’ diets.”
Funding priority is given to the schools with the highest rates of students eligible for free and reduced-price meals. Grantees are required to spend a majority of their grant on the purchase of fresh fruit and vegetable and must develop a plan to establish partnerships to reduce other costs. Schools are also required to provide nutrition education to students, but cannot use FFVP funding to purchase nutrition education materials.
The Woodland Hills School District will receive $60,490; Wilkinsburg schools will receive $28,014; West Mifflin Area Schools will receive $42,607.50; Propel Charter Schools will receive $139,897.50; Pittsburgh School District will receive $92,805; Penn Hills Charter School of Entrepreneurship will receive $17,940; and Penn Hills School District will receive $69,402.
The funding was awarded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP). The program’s goals are to create healthier school environments by providing healthier food choices, expand the variety of fruits and vegetables students experience, increase fruit and vegetable consumption, and positively impact students’ present and future health. FFVP was first implemented in Pennsylvania in 2004 and expanded to all 50 states in 2008.
“Fresh fruits and vegetables provide vital nutrients to growing children,” said Education Secretary Pedro A. Rivera. “These grants are another way to help address food security in our schools while also providing an opportunity to teach students how to make smart and nutritious choices.”
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Harrisburg – July 11, 2019 – More than $1.2 million in funding for a wide range of critical housing projects in Allegheny County was approved by the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA), Sen. Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) said today.
“The dollars approved for these projects will serve as the foundation for improving our housing stock, creating greater accessibility to services and enhanced security for vulnerable populations,” Costa said. “These are incredibly important funding streams that will help change lives and generate opportunities.”
Costa said that the PHFA approved the Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement (PHARE) funds and tax credits for the following:
- Emerald Hills Retirement Residence in Penn Hills will use tax credits of $1.2 million and $949,081 in PHARE Funds for construction of a building of 52 units for those 62 years of age of above;
- HEARTH, A Safe Place Matters, will receive $50,000 to provide safe affordable housing to vulnerable populations, focusing on women with children after surviving domestic abuse;
- Advantage Credit Counseling Services, Financial Empowerment for Veterans, are slated to use $15,000 in PHARE funds to provide financial counseling and coaching for 150 veterans;
- Allegheny County, Housing Counseling for Allegheny County Save Your Home Program, will use $100,000 to provide counseling to homeowners facing foreclosure. The Save Your Home Program is a joint effort between the Court of Common Pleas, sheriff’s office and the Allegheny County Department of Economic Development; and
- Oakland Community Land Trust will use the $100,000 in PHARE funding to provide affordable housing opportunities for low-to-moderate families. The trust rehabilitates blighted, abandoned and at-risk homes to make them move-in ready.
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Contact: Hugh Baird
Phone: 717 787-5166
Email: Hugh.Baird@pasenate.com
Harrisburg – July 9, 2019 – Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) today applauded the swift action by Gov. Tom Wolf and his administration to fund essential county voting security upgrades via the issuance of up to $90 million in bonds.
The bond funding issued by the Pennsylvania Economic Development Financing Authority (PEDFA) would be used to reimburse counties for 60 percent of the cost of voting system replacement.
“This is an important action related to voting system security,” Costa said. “New voting systems will include secure paper records and heightened security against hacking.
“Given the attempts made during the last presidential election to influence our elections, plus the need to create paper voting records for recount and auditing purposes, this action by the governor is welcomed.”
The Wolf administration said that it will permit counties who use older voting systems will be able to receive an extension until June 2021 to replace obsolete voting systems. To spur quicker county action, financial incentives will be offered to implement new voting systems by the 2020 primary election.
Last week, the governor vetoed a measure (Senate Bill 48) that included funding to replace county voting systems because it was a “missed opportunity to enact meaningful voting reforms,” according to the veto message.
“Senate Democrats have been leading the effort to enact sweeping voting reforms, campaign finance reforms and to ease voting access for all Pennsylvanians,” Costa said. “Funding the replacement of voting systems and enhancing security is a significant step forward.”
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Contact: Hugh Baird
Phone: 717 787-5166
Email: Hugh.Baird@pasenate.com
Harrisburg – July 1, 2019 – The just-passed state budget for Fiscal Year 2019-20 included a large increase in funding for the Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement Fund (PHARE). Several members of the Senate Democratic Caucus championed this issue.
As part of this year’s just enacted state budget the Senate Democrats ensured that an additional $15 million per year, for a total of $40 million, will be dedicated to this important program.
PHARE was established in 2010 to assist with the creation, rehabilitation and support of affordable housing throughout the Commonwealth. The fund receives money from the Marcellus Shale Fund and the Realty Transfer Tax Fund. Since 2012 the oil and gas fee has directed $5 million per year for developing affordable housing in the counties where producing gas wells are located. In 2015 the fund began receiving up to $25 million per year from the realty transfer tax.
This funding goes to the entire state and provides resources for projects including affordable housing development and rehabilitation, rent assistance, energy efficiency and weatherization improvements to homes, senior housing renovations, and blight mitigation. In Allegheny County alone in 2017, the state used $1.9 million on 7 projects. The increases in this year’s budget will increase the benefits that this program bring to the Commonwealth.
“Our goal should be investing in initiatives such as the PHARE program, which helps provide quality, affordable housing for Pennsylvanians in need,” Senator Hughes said. “We must be deliberate in our efforts to address poverty and economic insecurity in the commonwealth. Ensuring that our people can maintain stable living situations is an important step in the right direction.”
“Additional money for affordable housing is desperately needed, and I am pleased my bipartisan legislation with Senator Elder Vogel, Jr. (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence) was included in this year’s budget,” said Senator Haywood. “During the four-stop Poverty Listening Tour, a man from Lock Haven described living in his car with his siblings before he could afford a bad apartment in the city. This affordable housing plan will provide more housing units for residents in Lock Haven and across the Commonwealth.”
“This program has been a priority for our caucus since it was initiated,” said Senator Costa. “We’ve seen the money to these organizations doing this work grow as the need has grown; and without the General Assistance program, PHARE is all the more important.”
“We appreciate the legislature making this additional funding available for creating and retaining affordable housing across Pennsylvania,” said Brian A. Hudson Sr., PA Housing Finance Agency Executive Director and CEO. “Through the Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement (PHARE) fund, we’ve been able to help municipalities statewide save affordable housing that might otherwise have been lost. This additional funding will help PHARE do even more.”
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