Allegheny County – January 11, 2023 – Today, State Democratic Senators from Allegheny County, including Senators Jay Costa, Jim Brewster, Wayne Fontana, and Lindsey Williams, announced over $21 million in Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) grants for community violence intervention and prevention for the region.
“All of us deserve to feel safe in the homes and neighborhoods we call home. I’m so proud that the PCCD is investing in community-based solutions that deliver safety and remove dangerous weapons from the hands of those who wish harm on those we love,” said Senator Costa. “I look forward to continuing work with leaders in Pittsburgh to keep one another safe and sound.”
PCCD awarded $88.6 million in Violence Intervention and Prevention (VIP) grants to 122 projects throughout the state, and approximately $12 million in Coordinated Community Violence Intervention (CCVI) Strategies Pilot grants to 5 projects to support targeted anti-violence efforts in Philadelphia, Allegheny County, Chester City, and York.
Senator Brewster, a member of PCCD’s School Safety and Security Committee, took part in approving the grants that were awarded today.
“As a member of the School Safety and Security Committee, I am pleased that we were able to meet this afternoon to approve the community safety awards included in this year’s historic budget,” said Senator Brewster. “One of my top priorities has been to secure our schools and neighborhoods, and these awards will help increase coordination and prevent violence across the Commonwealth.”
A total of 22 organizations and initiatives in Allegheny County were awarded funds to support efforts to reduce gun and group violence in communities.
“I’m pleased to see these much needed funds being distributed to proven programs that will help reduce violence in our communities. Many communities in the district I represent will benefit greatly from this funding,” said Senator Fontana.
“I’m glad to see these programs receive PCCD funding to help communities address the root causes of violence using evidence-based and trauma-informed solutions,” said Senator Lindsey Williams. “These grants will go to projects that help students, families, and neighborhoods build safe schools and communities together.”
Allegheny County grant recipients include:
Coordinated CVI Strategies Pilot Grants Award Recipients
- Neighborhood Resilience Project, Allegheny County Convened Violence Prevention- $3,000,000
Violence Intervention and Prevention Competitive Grants Award Recipients
- Aaron Donald 99 Solutions Foundation, Community Defense Project- $80,015
- ACH Clear Pathways, ACH Clear Pathway’s R.E.A.C.H. Program Support- $450,000
- Allegheny County Chief Executive Officer, Rapid Employment & Development to Reduce Violence- $2,426,014
- Amachi Pittsburgh, Hear4U Mobile Outreach- $440,500
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Pittsburgh, Inc., Woodland Hills Violence Prevention Program- $268,000
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania, Great Futures Solutions- $1,809,760
- Center for Victims, Competitive VIP Grant – Comprehensive Response- $2,500,000
- Community Empowerment Association, Inc., Violence Intervention Proposal (VIP)- $927,917
- Focus On Renewal Sto-Rox Neighborhood Corp., Families Foremost- $833,029
- Foundation of HOPE, HOPE Aftercare/MAD DADS Collaborative- $809,000
- Phase 4 Learning Center, Inc., P4:247 CommUNITY- $1,500,000
- Pittsburgh City, Pittsburgh Youth Violence Prevention in Schools- $2,499,909
- Pittsburgh Community Services Inc., PCSI’s Violence Intervention & Prevention Project-$750,000
- Ruth’s Way,Inc., The Achievement Consultation Program- $111,105
- The Pittsburgh Contingency, Inc. (South Pittsburgh Coalition for Peace), South Pgh Coalition for Peace Outreach Program- $160,000
- The Pittsburgh Contingency, Inc. (Voices Against Violence), Voices Against Violence- $187,500
- University of Pittsburgh, Empowering Teens to Thrive- $1,240,722
- University of Pittsburgh (School of Medicine), Teen Outreach to Promote Safety (TOPS)- $704,285
- Wilkinsburg Sanctuary Project, Project for Peace Service Camp- $25,000
- Youth Enrichment Services, Inc., Youth Lead Peer Engagement Violence Prevention Hub- $650,000
- YouthPlaces, YouthPlaces Trauma-Informed Care Project- $410,534
More information about grant recipients and project details can be found under the Gun Violence tab on the http://www.pccd.pa.gov/ website.
Program will help approximately 100 low-income families in Allegheny County make critical home repairs or accessibility accommodations
November 2, 2022 − LAWRENCEVILLE, PA − Today, at the Goodwill of Southwestern PA, Senator Lindsey Williams, Senator Jay Costa, and Representative Sara Innamorato announced the allocation of $2 million to ACTION Housing to be delivered to low-income homeowners in Allegheny County. The grant was awarded by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED).
Eligible households can receive funding by applying via ACTION Housing to make infrastructure repairs, accessibility accommodations, or weatherize aging homes. Allegheny County in particular has an aging housing stock, with half of homes in Pittsburgh being constructed before 1940. This pilot program, soon to be followed by Whole Home Repairs, is accessible to families at 80% of AMI.
“Everyone deserves a safe home they can afford, and I’m so proud of the work Lindsey Williams has done to fight for working families to stay in their homes,” said Senator Jay Costa. “Senator Williams has been on the front lines of fighting for our families, and this funding will help make sure people stay warm in the winters, dry in the rainstorms, and safe in the homes they own and love.”
“The Allegheny County Rehabilitation Program will do so much more than fix a roof or repair a foundation. It will offer residents a chance to stay in homes that they love and the communities that they helped to build,” said Senator Lindsey Williams. “It will stop properties from becoming abandoned and blighted, which keeps our communities safer. I’m incredibly proud to have worked with my colleagues to secure funding for the program and can’t wait to see the results.”
“This grant will allot crucial dollars to households in the communities I’m proud to represent,” said Representative Sara Innamorato. “My neighbors will be able to implement structural safeguards and related improvements to their homes, thus ensuring the safety and well-being of their families.”
“With our aging housing stock, public health, wellbeing, and economic stability are affected every day by leaking roofs, crumbling foundations, and dangerously inaccessible homes,” said Sharpsburg Mayor Brittany Reno. “This program will help our neighbors make critical repairs to their homes and improve the quality of life here for all of us.”
Kyle Webster of ACTION Housing announced that applications for families to take advantage of this $2 million funding are open at ACTIONHousing.org or via phone at 412-639-9416. Webster also encouraged contractors interested and available to do housing repairs to contact ACTION Housing. Contractors can call 412-281-2102 x 2016.
A livestream of the press conference is available at Facebook.com/senatorjaycosta.
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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 − July 21, 2022 – Pennsylvania State Senators from Allegheny County including Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Senator Wayne Fontana and Senator Lindsey Williams announced a $200+ million dollar loan for the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority (PWSA) awarded by the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST).
“I’m thrilled to see PENNVEST support the infrastructure of Pittsburgh’s drinking water in such a substantial way,” said Senator Cota. “These funds support PWSA’s plan to modernize a key function of our area and ultimately prioritize the continuous accessibility of clean water to every resident and visitor of Allegheny County.”
The PENNVEST loan of $209,005,329 will be used to support PWSA’s Water Reliability Plan, an effort to modernize and improve the region’s water system. According to PWSA, the plan will take about six years and invest nearly $470 million in large-scale water improvement projects which include replacing a 114-year-old clearwell and reducing contaminant infiltration at the Highland No. 2 Reservoir.
“This loan will support once-in-a-generation upgrades to water infrastructure in Allegheny County,” said Senator Fontana. “There’s too many examples of the harm and damage that can occur when we let infrastructure needs go unmet and then scramble to fix the problem after it’s too late. PWSA’s plan gets us ahead of that scenario. The thoughtful effort to make their system more modern, reliable, and sustainable will ensure that residents always have access to clean drinking water.”
“Investing in the water infrastructure of our region is a huge priority for me, so it’s wonderful to see the largest loan in PENNVEST history go to PWSA to rehabilitate and replace the facility at Highland No.2 Reservoir,” said Senator Williams. “Ensuring that we have clean, safe drinking water without imposing rate hikes is absolutely crucial, especially as inflation and rising utility costs impact working families.”
In addition to improving the reliability and long-term sustainability of Pittsburgh’s water system, the project will also address a Department of Environmental Protection Consent Order and Agreement to maintain the volume, quality, and disinfection of the system’s water.
PENNVEST serves communities and citizens of Pennsylvania by funding sewer, storm water and drinking water projects. These projects not only contribute to improving Pennsylvania’s environment and the health of its people, but also provide opportunities for economic growth and jobs for Pennsylvania’s workers. More information is available on the PENNVEST website: https://www.pennvest.pa.gov.
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HARRISBURG – May 25, 2022 – Today, Pennsylvania Senate Democrats wrote the following letter to Republican leaders in response to rampant gun violence and mass shootings that have become too common in the United States. Just this year, 215 mass shootings have taken place in the country, with the devastating shooting that occurred at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas on May 24, 2022, being the 215th.
In the letter, the caucus calls on the Republican majority to act on “reasonable and responsible legislation and appropriations” that does not infringe on Second Amendment rights but will help keep guns away from bad actors and support gun violence prevention. Senate Democrats list seven bills that have been introduced to mitigate gun violence but have sat in committee with no discussion or votes. They also highlight how American Rescue Plan dollars and Pennsylvania’s current budget surplus can be used to help communities prevent horrific violence.
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