2021 Community Development Projects

The rules of the House of Representatives now permit members of Congress to advocate funding for specific community development projects. Part of that process requires public disclosure of the requests I make on behalf of entities within Pennsylvania's 16th district. Here are the ten projects for which I have requested funding this year:

Project: Wastewater Sewage Treatment PlantSponsor: City of Corry Amount: $400,000 Address: 100 South Center Street, Corry, PA 16407 Benefits: The city of Corry's Wastewater Sewage Treatment Plant currently serves Corry and portions of Wayne, Columbus, and Concord Townships.  This project will replace two old generators with a new one generator.  This is the first step in renovating the wastewater sewage system, which is at capacity, failing repeatedly, and causing financial challenges.
Project: Sanitary Sewer Plant Sponsor: Cranberry Township Amount: $960,000 Address: 2525 Rochester Road, Suite 400, Cranberry Township, PA 16066 Benefits: In October 2019, Cranberry Township entered into an Inter-Municipal Sewer Treatment Agreement with the Breakneck Creek Regional Authority (BCRA) to complete a new connection that will allow Cranberry Township to decommission the Franklin Acres Pump Station. The new connection will also allow BCRA to treat the sanitary sewage that previously flowed through Franklin Acres Pump Station and treat it at its own Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Project: Computer and Robotics Equipment Sponsor: Wilmington Area School District Amount: $50,816 Address: 300 Wood Street, New Wilmington, PA 16142 Benefits: This money would allow the district to implement a computer science curriculum for grades 5, 6 and middle school students.
Project: Dolly Parton Imagination Library Sponsor: United Way, Titusville Region Amount: $53,000 Address: 11634 North Perry Road, Titusville, PA 16354 Benefits: The program that would be supported by this funding works to improve literacy among young children by expanding access to books.  Literacy foundation is crucial to brain development for children under five years old and research has shown there is a return on investment. Children that participate in early learning programs have been shown to experience greater educational success and more ambitious career goals.
Project: Presque Isle Bay Harbor Dredging Sponsor: Perry’s Shipyards Amount: $500,000 Address: 110 East Dobbins Landing, Erie, PA 16507 Benefits: This money will allow for the dredging of Presque Isle Bay to a depth of 29 feet at the location 75 feet west of Dobbins Landing to meet the Navy requirements to receive a Perry Class Frigate.  The ship's purpose will be for veterans, their families, military veterans, and the general public to use as a place of welcome, education, and information about the Naval and military history of Erie and Northwestern Pennsylvania.
Project: Extension of Runway 8 Sponsor: Pittsburgh-Butler Municipal Airport Amount: $2,000,000 Address: 5811 Southland Drive, Erie, PA 16509 This funding would help complete planning and construction of Runway 8 to increase safety margins and accommodate jet operations. Completing this project would create an estimated 10 new jobs at the airport and the economic development that would result from the expansion would create more in the community.
Project: General aviation apron at Erie International Airport Sponsor: Erie Regional Airport Authority Amount: $5,450,000 Address: 4411 West 12th Street, Erie, PA 16505 Benefits: This funding will allow the airport to repair and replace pavement to comply with FAA guidance. This will improve the airport’s ability to serve general aviators and corporate air travelers in the region.
Project: Holland Slip Dockwall Sponsor: Erie-Western Pennsylvania Port Authority Amount: $1,400,000 Address: 1 Holland Street, Erie, PA 16507 Benefits: This funding will help address infrastructure failures in the shipyard to ensure safe and immediate water access for vessels.
Project: Institute for Health and Cyber Knowledge at Gannon University Sponsor: Gannon University Amount: $500,000 Address: 109 University Square, Erie, PA 16541 Benefits: This funding will be used to create a STEM pathway for middle and high school students in the National Youth Cyber Education Program and provide undergraduate and graduate degree programs in engineering fields, among other initiatives. These programs will improve workforce development and prepare students for well-paying jobs in fields that need qualified works.
Project: The Corry Area Technology Center and Hub Sponsor: City of Corry, Corry Redevelopment Authority, and Impact Corry Amount: $500,000 Address: 4 South Center Street, Corry, PA 16407 Benefits: This project funding will go toward installing high speed broadband infrastructure, a regional cloud system, work-at-home job training, and other technology-related initiatives.  One of the largest challenges facing rural communities and small towns is broadband access and limited technology options. This project aims to address those challenges.