HOMESTEAD — Sen. Costa joined local mayors, Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato, the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Josh Gibson Foundation to unveil 18 new bridge signs honoring the Homestead Grays and Pittsburgh Crawford Negro League baseball teams.
The signs are mounted at various locations on the Homestead Grays Bridge and highlight seven players from each team.
“Some of the greatest players in the history of the game played for the Homestead Grays and Pittsburgh Crawfords,” Costa said.
“This is a fitting tribute to what these great men accomplished on the baseball diamond and what they still mean to the communities in this area.”
HARRISBURG – Mt. Oliver Borough will use a $27,159 state loan to upgrade its street lighting with high-efficiency fixtures and bulbs, state Sen. Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) announced today.
The funds were approved through the Commonwealth Financing Agency’s (CFA) Alternative and Clean Energy program. The borough will use the $27,159 loan to purchase and install energy-efficient lighting upgrades that are expected to save the borough $4,128 in energy costs annually.
The project is expected to cost a total of $61,367 and involves replacing 85 street lights with energy efficient LED lighting. The borough also expects to replace 15 existing fixtures and upgrade to LED bulbs at 70 other locations throughout Mt. Oliver.
“Energy costs for streetlights and other lighting in public areas can consume a significant portion of a municipality’s annual budget,” Costa said. “These types of projects to improve energy efficiency can pay for themselves over time, not only in lower energy costs, but also because modern LED bulbs last longer than traditional bulbs, which can reduce replacement expenses.”
The CFA is an independent agency of the Commonwealth that administers Pennsylvania’s economic stimulus packages.
###
PITTSBURGH – Sen. Costa was honored to attend the groundbreaking ceremony as United Cerebral Palsy Community Living and Support Services (UCP/CLASS) officially kicked off the renovation of the former Center for Creative Play building on South Braddock Avenue.
UCP/CLASS purchased the property with plans to renovate the 30,000-square-foot office building to accommodate its staff.
This year, UCP/CLASS is also marking its 60th anniversary of providing support to those with disabilities. United Cerebral Palsy Community Living and Support Services has grown over the years from a grass roots organization to the 14th largest Pittsburgh-area social service non-profit. Currently, this organization serves thousands of individuals and families.
January 28, 2011 – The Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland – Pittsburgh Branch and Govern for Kids hosted Sen. Costa for a breakfast forum focused on policy affecting children.
Sen. Costa poses for a photo with Michelle Figlar from the Pittsburgh Association for the Education of Young Children and Kristen Burns from the Grable Foundation
Robert Schaub, Vice President & Senior Regional Officer of the Pittsburgh Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank kicked the morning off and spoke about the research the Federal Reserve is doing around children’s issues and its programs to teach children financial literacy.
Sen. Costa then provided an overview of the successes Pennsylvania has had improving the lives of children in the recent past, and the challenges the Commonwealth faces in the coming year.
Topics ranged from early care and education to school choice legislation currently pending in the state Senate.
Sen. Costa then answered a wide array of questions from the audience of child advocates, business owners and students from a local high school.
Govern for Kids is a coalition of child advocates, parents and concerned citizens convened by the United Way of Allegheny County.To learn more go to:
http://governforkids.org.
December 30, 2010 — Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa is pleased to announce $750,000 in state redevelopment assistance grant money has been awarded to complete the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) project. Until now, a one-mile long gap in the trail in West Homestead and the City of Pittsburgh has been a missing link in the 135 mile trail.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE GREAT ALLEGHENY PASSAGE
“We’ve worked hard to revitalize the area that was hit so hard by the departure of the Homestead Works. These efforts are paying off, and completion of this trail is a huge win for the folks who work and play here,” said Costa. “Not only is this a valuable resource for those who will be able to spend quality time outdoors, but the economic impact this trail has on the area can’t be understated. It attracts over 700,000 visitors every year, who spend millions of dollars and help to fuel the area’s turnaround.”
It is estimated that over $40 million in indirect spending is seen in trail towns annually. 88 businesses have been created over the past several years because of GAP.
“The completion of the Great Allegheny Passage is a transformational moment for our region, both economically and recreationally,” said Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato. “This trail has been improving the economy and quality of life in towns throughout the Laurel Highlands and Southwestern Pennsylvania, and now its benefits will spread north through the Mon Valley and into the City of Pittsburgh.”
“I want to thank the Commonwealth, especially Governor Ed Rendell and Senator Jay Costa, for continued support of this project. With the help of our generous foundation community and enthusiastic trail users, we have come a long way toward the completion of this incredible trail. But, we wouldn’t be on the home stretch without the state’s support.”
Linda McKenna Boxx, president of the Allegheny Trail Alliance, was enthusiastic in her thanks to the Governor, Senator Costa and Allegheny County for this important funding. “Only one mile remains to finance to complete the Great Allegheny Passage” she stated. “There will be a significant jump in traffic once the last link to Pittsburgh is completed. The trail is truly having an economic impact in the communities through which it passes, and we look forward to revitalization in the Mon Valley communities. Pittsburgh will truly become a biking Mecca. We are thrilled to have this commitment through RACP to jump start the campaign for the last mile.”
The Great Allegheny Passage is a 135 mile hiking and biking trail that will connect Pittsburgh to Cumberland, Maryland. The trail system has been 35 years in the making and funding has come from individual trail users, local governments, private foundations and corporations, and state and federal grants.
Work is expected to be completed, offering hikers and cyclists full use of the facilities in January 2012.
###
