Senator Jay Costa Announces RACP Funding for Allegheny County

PITTSBURGH, PA - July 17, 2026 − Yesterday, the Office of the Budget met today to award Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) funding throughout the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. RACP projects are authorized in the Redevelopment Assistance section of a Capital Budget Itemization Act, have a regional or multi-jurisdictional impact, and generate substantial increases or maintain current levels of employment, tax revenues, or other measures of economic activity.

As a result, Senator Costa is proud to announce that six awards were made to projects in the 43^rdSenatorial District.

"It's a joy and an honor to bring dollars back home to Allegheny County to fund projects to improve our community," said Senator Costa. "I look forward to these investments making a difference for our treasured universities, training centers, and libraries, which serve as critical cornerstones for the 43^rd district. As we move forward, I am confident that the projects receiving funding today will bear fruit for years to come."

The awards announced are as follows:

Eastern Atlantic States Carpenters Tech was awarded $1,000,000 to build a two-story open-air training shell and a small garage addition on the existing campus at 652 Ridge Road, Pittsburgh PA 15205. The shell is a steel frame with a mass timber canopy, a metal deck with a concrete second floor, and a roof deck, sited on the current gravel lot. Work includes cutting into the hillside to create training terraces, relocating and doubling the Bridge Project, and adding stair and landing training areas.

Duquesne University was awarded $1,000,000 for the design and construction of a state-of-the-art academic and clinical facility for the School of Health Sciences. The new building will feature cutting-edge simulation centers, advanced research laboratories, flexible classrooms, and purpose-built spaces for interdisciplinary collaboration and community engagement.

Point Park University was awarded $2,000,000 to redevelop the vacant building at 305 Wood Street into student housing for Point Park University. The budget includes full renovation of the existing structure. Construction costs cover demolition of outdated interiors, replacement of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems, and upgrades to meet ADA accessibility and life safety standards. Funds will support structural steel installation, partitioning, and new finishes to create student apartments, study spaces, and community areas.

Penn Hills Library was awarded $1,500,000 to build an extension for larger events that cannot be accommodated within the library. At one end of the new building a welcome foyer, restrooms, and a kitchen will occupy less than a fifth of the overall space. Open space with seating capacity of 250 will front a raised stage suitable for concerts plays and other large events, offering library activities for patrons that require larger spaces not now available. It will be constructed adjacent to the library and oriented to maximize solar access.

Turner Dairy was awarded $1,321,536 to construct a large cold storage warehouse additionand install a semi-automatic palletizing line which will streamline a current manual process. The new steel-frame building will sit on a concrete slab with insulated cooler panels and a tapered rubber membrane roof with three parapet walls. Equipment will include a palletizer, wrapper, drag chain panning, and conveyors. Specialized flooring will be installed, and material handling equipment will be purchased.

Pittsburgh Symphony Inc. was awarded $55,0000 for Pittsburgh Symphony Heinz Hall XI, a project consisting of four components: modernization of the office tower and backstage passenger elevators; replacement of an air handler within the physical plant; replacement of Heinz Hall's front-of-house carpeting; modernization of Heinz Hall's Garden Room, Overlook Room, and Grand Tier lounges.

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