Pittsburgh, PA – January 3, 2018 – Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa and State Representative Ed Gainey announced $475,000 in state support today to rehabilitate the Ardmore Linear Park in Wilkinsburg.
“I’m pleased to have worked with the Borough of Wilkinsburg to secure this funding,” said Senator Costa. “The rehabilitation of this park is a worthy project that will bring together community organizations with local government.”
The Ardmore Wall Linear Park stretches along the existing 950 linear foot portion of land burdened with the deteriorating 8-foot-tall concrete wall along Ardmore Boulevard between Penn Avenue to Franklin Avenue in Wilkinsburg Borough. The proposed improvements will repair and replace the sidewalks and handrails; provide proper storm water drainage, to help manage storm water, and renovate the green space, landscaping, and streetscape accents. The improvements will also increase overall safety by upgrading aging infrastructure and increasing pedestrian and commuter safety on the roadways connected to the project area.
The Linear Park is one of 22 projects that were approved today through the Keystone Communities program, for a total of $5.4 million in state investment.
“A solid public-private partnership is crucial to any community revitalization effort, so this infusion of state funding for Ardmore Linear Park is a testament to the success of our team-building approach,” Representative Gainey said. “We’re jointly positioning Wilkinsburg for a brighter future, and that’s something we should all be proud of.”
Keystone Community projects encourage community-based organizations, public agencies, business leaders, private developers, financial institutions, and private citizens to work in partnership with local government to develop a comprehensive approach to address community development and housing needs.
The goal of these partnerships is to create more attractive places to live and will encourage business and job expansion and retention in Pennsylvania.
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Pittsburgh, PA – December 29, 2017 – Democratic Leader Senator Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) announced more than $2.5 million in funding to local businesses in the Oakland-based Keystone Innovation Zone.
“We need to retain the bright, young college students who are educated in Pennsylvania – and one way to do this is by boosting the businesses that will hire them,” said Senator Costa. “Keystone Innovation Zones support burgeoning businesses on the cutting edges of their fields. The tax credits they get from the state allow them to hire our local college graduates and cover their business expenses.”
In the Greater Oakland KIZ, 18 startups were awarded more than $1 million in credits, including companies like Gecko Robotics Inc. in Point Breeze, Mine Vision Systems Inc. in East Liberty, NoWait in Oakland and others. Nearly $1.5 million went to 25 businesses in the Pittsburgh Central zone, including: Birdbrain Technologies, LLC in Uptown, Downtown-based Showclix, Inc., RoadRunner Recycling, Inc. and others.
The Keystone Innovation Zone Program is designed to support and encourage entrepreneurship in and around Pennsylvania’s colleges and universities, several of which are in the Pittsburgh-area, by providing young companies with the capital they need to meet their growing needs. The program provides tax credits for companies in information technology or advanced manufacturing that have been in operation for less than eight years, with gross revenues that have increased over the prior year, and are located within the specified zone.
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Hazelwood Green, Susquehanna Street Phase II among local projects funded
Harrisburg – Dec. 22, 2017 – Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) said the $7 million in state grants released today for a variety of local projects will generate jobs, improve the local economy, rehabilitate property and add quality units to important housing initiatives.
“The grants released today will add to our region’s quality-of-life,” Costa said. “The economic development aspects of the projects will not only add jobs, but will help leverage additional investment.”
The approved grants go to projects in Pittsburgh, Munhall and Homestead. The funding is being made available through the state’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP). The program funds economic initiatives, cultural and historical projects and local development initiatives.
The projects include:
- $1 million for Hazelwood Green project that includes site work, excavation and other site development work leading to the construction of a new research and development facility;
- $2 million to aid the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s acquisition of the Homewood Coliseum site and preparation of the facility for future development;
- $1 million for Best of Batch Foundation to build a state-of-the-art educational complex in Munhall which will be adjacent to the Clubhouse. Features of the project include a basketball court, walking track, cyber café, classrooms, multi-purpose rooms and meeting spaces;
- $500,000 for the Penn Film Group’s multi-media studio interior renovations, including a green screen studio, editing and computer animation;
- $1 million for the redevelopment and conversion of the first floor of the former Homestead Bakery into five commercial spaces;
- $500,000 to help fund the Susquehanna Street Phase II project in Homewood. Funds will be used for land acquisition, blight remediation, utility work, streetscape improvements, pedestrian and bike paths will be integrated into bioretention area to connect Braddock Ave. to the East Busway;
- $500,000 Center for Victims to move to a larger space on the Pittsburgh’s South Side. The new building will have a state-of-the art security system, voice infrastructure and furnishing and equipment for special services, training and therapeutic modalities;
- $500,000 to the Jewish Home and Hospital for the Aged for upgrades to the courtyard in the Charles Morris Nursing Home, plus the creation of new resident-centered kitchen and dining areas to promote independence and socialization, as well as for renovations to memory care space at Weinberg Village.
Costa said that he was pleased Gov. Tom Wolf worked with the members of the General Assembly to fund important local projects. He said it was critical that state dollars are available to help complete critical community development projects and economic initiatives.
“To grow our economy and create jobs, we need to make sure we invest in projects that contribute over the long haul,” Costa said. “The projects approved today will not only help build our communities today but will result in sustained growth.”
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Harrisburg – Dec. 22, 2017 – The state Department of Education has approved $2 million in grant funding to help the Penn Hills School District tackle severe fiscal issues, state Sen. Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) said today.
Costa, who has been meeting with officials from the district, the state Department of Education, state Rep. Tony DeLuca (D-Penn Hills), parents and others to move special financial help forward, said he was thrilled that the funds have been made available.
“Since the district started experiencing fiscal distress, we have been searching for resources to help them regain strong financial footing,” Costa said. “The funding that was approved for the district will assist at a time of real need.
“I am thrilled that the department took this step, but I realize that our work is not done and that this is simply a step to help protect taxpayers, students, teachers, administrators and all who care about the district’s future.”
The Forest Hills lawmaker said that Penn Hills was eligible for this funding because it was experiencing an exceptional financial situation. He said that he and other policymakers realize that funding streams are only temporary lifelines and that permanent solutions must be pursued.
Costa said he was especially pleased to work with DeLuca, Penn Hills School Board President Erin Vecchio, other members of the board, Superintendent Dr. Nancy J. Hines and interested parents and taxpayers to try and chart a responsible financial course that will help the district.
“We must do more to help Penn Hills address its financial situation and move it toward solid financial footing,” DeLuca said. “Senator Costa and I are committed to examining all state revenue streams to help the district and its taxpayers deal with the extreme financial situation.”
Costa said that he was planning to meet with state education officials again in January to explore other funding options and resources.
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Pittsburgh, December 8, 2017 − At the request of state Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, the state Senate Democratic Policy Committee today held a hearing on Costa’s legislation that would enable families to seek court-ordered addiction treatment for their loved ones.
“As this opioid addiction epidemic worsens, it is imperative that we empower families to help loved ones in the throes of drug addiction to get the treatment they desperately need,” Costa said. “In many cases, this is a matter of life or death.”
The Allegheny County lawmaker has introduced Senate Bill 391, which would enable family members to petition the court to commit for drug addiction treatment someone who is an imminent danger to themselves or others. The proposed court-ordered treatment could only be considered if the addict has overdosed, is a suicide threat, has been unable to adequately care for themselves or is a threat to others.
Under the bill, families would petition the county authority for drug and alcohol programs. If the judge agrees to file a warrant, the person would be examined within two hours to determine what type of treatment is recommended. If medical experts believe treatment should be extended, the person being treated would be entitled to a hearing.
Sen. Lisa Boscola (D-Northampton/Lehigh), who chairs the committee, said, “court-approved treatment provides an additional resource for families that have been trying to tackle a very complex situation. We are committed to working with stakeholders to add this tool to the proverbial toolbox without unintended negative consequences, and I commend Senator Costa for the due process legal safeguards in this bill.”
According to a joint University of Pittsburgh/DEA Philadelphia Division analysis, 4,642 Pennsylvanians died from drug abuse in 2016 – a 37 percent increase over the previous year. There were 648 overdose deaths in Allegheny County, 102 in Beaver County, 74 in Butler County, 106 in Washington County, and 174 in Westmoreland County.
Statewide, opioids were identified in 85 percent of drug-related overdose deaths last year.
Tina Flowers and Don Holman provided powerful accounts of how their sons became addicts and died. In describing their frustration with the system and how it thwarted their attempts to get their boys the treatment they needed, both endorsed the Costa legislation and requested that such a court-ordered treatment process have no unnecessary delays.
Speaking to concerns about infringement on civil liberties, both parents noted that the alternative is too often death.
“My son died without his civil liberties being violated,” Holman said.
Dr. Dennis Daley, a professor at the University of Pittsburgh Department of Psychiatry, said, “While addiction is promoted as a ‘family disease,’ family members are seldom asked for their input or engaged in treatment. Promoting awareness of this often-forgotten population, and finding long-term solutions to help support vulnerable families, needs to occur at all levels; individual, societal and in the political spheres.”
Marc Cherna, who serves as deputy director of the Allegheny County Department of Human Services, called for additional state funding and other resources to help combat the drug epidemic.
Boscola said, “In my view, if we can’t make the tough choices to combat drug addiction, then we are simply resigning ourselves to more of the same – more crime, more addiction, and more loss of life.”.
Joining Boscola and Costa at the Duquesne University hearing were Senators Jim Brewster (D-McKeesport) and Wayne Fontana (D-Brookline).
In addition to Senate committee members, the following took part in the discussion
- Jen Smith, acting secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs;
- Briana Mihok, Senior Policy Strategist, University of Pittsburgh Institute of Politics;
- Dennis Daley, PhD, Professor, University of Pittsburgh Department of Psychiatry;
- Tina Flowers and Don Holman, parent advocates;
- Marc Cherna, director of the Allegheny County Department of Human Services;
- Mark Sarneso, MS, Director of Central and Western Region, Gaudenzia Inc.
- Stuart Fisk, CRNP, and Dr. Mitchell West, DO, MHA, Allegheny Health Network
- Michael Consuelos, Senior Vice President for Clinical Integration, Hospital & Healthsystem Assoc. of PA;
- Dr. Michael Lynch, Professor of Emergency Medicine, UPMC, and director, Pittsburgh Poison Center;
- Attorney Sara Rose, staff attorney, ACLU of PA; and
- Rosa Davis, executive director, Pennsylvania Organization for Women in Early Recovery.
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Pittsburgh – December 5, 2017 – Wightman Park, located in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood, will be rehabilitated and further developed with a $500,000 grant from the state’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), according to state Sen. Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) and state Rep. Dan Frankel (D-Allegheny).
“State grant funding for the rehabilitation and development of the park is critical,” Costa said. “The funding will improve the facility and make it more open and accessible for the entire community.”
The grant through DCNR’s Community Conservation Partnership Program will pay for the construction of a comfort station, infiltration pond, wetland, picnic shelter, basketball courts and other recreation amenities.
“Our parks are community assets that deserve state support,” Frankel said. “An improved Wightman Park – with better facilities and state-of-the-art equipment – will help reinforce the quality of life in the area.”
The grant for the development of Wightman Park was one of 266 approved statewide for park and recreational development and conservation. All told, $44 million in park and recreation grants were approved.
“State investment is often the key that unlocks the potential of a park or recreation facility,” Costa said. “Preserving and protecting our natural resources must remain a top priority.”
Frankel said he was pleased that the rehabilitation of Wightman Park drew the state’s attention and that both he and Costa would continue to seek state funds for viable recreation and conservation projects in Allegheny County.
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