Baker, Pugh Announce Millions in Grant Funding for Watershed Restoration, Parks and Community Projects

HARRISBURG - Sen. Lisa Baker (R-20) and Rep. Brenda Pugh (R-Luzerne) today announced the approval of funding totaling more than $6.7 million for environmental, recreational and community improvement projects across Luzerne County. The grants were awarded through multiple Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA) programs, including the Watershed Restoration Protection Program; the Sewage Facilities Program; the Greenways, Trails and Recreation Program; and statewide Local Share Account (LSA) funding.

"The array of projects approved represents good news across the area," said Baker. "The state funds we can direct toward local environmental protection and conservation projects pay large dividends-for the economy, for public health, for community recreation, for tourism. These grants are essential because they fund projects that are typically difficult to fit into hard-pressed local budgets. As always, local officials and community groups have done a good job of identifying competitive priorities and making sure the eligibility guidelines are met."

"Our communities will benefit greatly from these investments," said Pugh. "Each of these projects will have a positive impact for everyone, from smoother travel to recreation. It is exciting to support investments that make us even stronger."

Those receiving grants are:

Watershed Restoration Protection Program (WRPP)

Dupont Borough - Collins Creek restoration - $232,192.

Misericordia University - Toby Creek Stream restoration - $140,000.

Greenways, Trails and Recreation Program (GTRP)

Exeter Township - Exeter Township Park development - $52,500.

Wright Township - Pickleball for All - $25,000.

Wilkes-Barre City - Huber Park improvements - $160,000.

Wyoming Borough - Wyoming Borough Park improvements - $52,500.

Sewage Facilities Program (SFP)

Wyoming Valley Sanitary Authority - Sans Souci Force Main replacement - $25,000.

Statewide LSA Funding

In addition to program-specific grants, more than $6 million in statewide LSA funding was announced supporting critical community projects in Luzerne County.

Ashley Borough - Police vehicle - $56,525.

Avoca Borough - Body and police vehicle cameras - $88,956.

Avoca Borough - Police UTV - $30,000.

Bear Creek Township - Trailwood Park improvements - 75,000.

Dupont Borough - Fire alarm system - $28,987.

Duryea Borough - Municipal facility improvements - $200,000.

Duryea Borough - Police vehicles - $141,073.

Exeter Township - Salt shed replacement - $250,000.

Hazle Township - Road Department building - $150,000.

Hughestown Borough - Police vehicle - $77,393.

Jackson Township - Lands at Hillside Farms equipment upgrades - $237,063.

Jenkins Township - Road equipment - $150,000.

Kingston Township - Road equipment - $250,000.

Laflin Borough - Road equipment - $127,994.

Luzerne Borough - Louis Falcone Memorial Park improvements - $250,000.

Newport Township - Playground construction - $105,000.

Penn Lake Park Borough - Penn Lake Park Dam rehabilitation - $250,000.

Pittston City - Meals on Wheels HVAC - $75,000.

Pittston City - Mixed use parkade - $225,000.

Pittston Township - Municipal facility improvements - $31,958.

Pittston Township Sewer Authority - Wastewater system improvements - $100,000.

Plains Township - Municipal facility improvements - $86,935.

Plymouth Township - Sanitary sewer replacement - $500,000.

Pringle Borough - Police vehicle - $82,500.

Slocum Township - Slocum Township VFC firehall - $100,000.

Sugar Notch Borough - Police equipment - $50,453.

Sugarloaf Township - Road equipment - $202,000.

Warrior Run Borough - Front Street road improvements - $408,000.

West Wyoming Borough - Road Improvements - $185,000.

White Haven Borough - Streetscape and trail improvements - $135,000.

Wilkes-Barre City - Domestic Violence Service Center HVAC - $107,650.

Wilkes-Barre City - Road equipment - $494,006.

Wilkes-Barre City - St. Mary Antiochian Orthodox Church renovation - $91,314.

Wilkes-Barre Township - Police vehicles - $141,062.

Wright Township - Police vehicles - $152,444.

Wyoming Borough - Road improvements - $200,000.

Wyoming Valley Sanitary Authority - Vehicles and equipment - $170,000.

Luzerne County Convention Center Authority - Mohegan Arena upgrades - $239,757.

Luzerne County - Huntsville Extension Road improvements - $222,000.

Local Share Account funds are generated by the PA Race Horse Development and Gaming Act (Act 71 of 2004), which provides for distributing gaming revenues through the CFA to support projects in the public interest within Pennsylvania.

The GTRP, WRPP and SFP programs are part of Act 13 of 2012, which established the Marcellus Legacy Fund and allocates funds to the CFA to plan, acquire, develop, rehabilitate, and repair greenways, recreational trails, open spaces, parks and beautification projects.

CFA was established in 2004 as an independent agency of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development to administer the Commonwealth's economic stimulus packages.

CONTACT: Jennifer Wilson CONTACT: Melissa Fox, [email protected]