Kelly announces $25 million in Community Project Funding is coming to Western Pennsylvania
WASHINGTON, D.C. --Today, U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) announced nearly $25 million in Community Project Funding (CPF) grants have been approved for projects within the 16th Congressional District. Project recipients are expected to receive their funding in mid-2023. The projects were included in the FY23 spending package, which President Biden signed into law in late December. In July, Rep. Kelly announced that nine of his CPF requests were selected to be included in the House Appropriations bills.
"These projects are great examples of true, physical infrastructure that will serve communities across the 16th Congressional District incredibly well," Kelly said. "When my team and I reviewed the applications for this year's projects, we wanted to give Pennsylvania taxpayers the best return on their investment. I believe these projects will do just that."
Rep. Kelly's FY2023 Community Project Funding (by county) that will receive funding:
Butler:
Karns Crossing Bridge – Amount: $6 million
The Karns Crossing Bridge project will replace a 12-span bridge that spans over the Bessemer & Lake Erie Railroad and the Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad in addition to the Connoquenessing Creek. The project will have intersection improvements and replace an existing twin-cell arch culvert. The Karns Crossing Bridge is a critical connector to the Butler Memorial Hospital as any closure of the bridge due to structural deterioration would restrict access to the hospital. There are roughly 2,900 businesses, and more than 19,800 persons employed within 3 miles of the project location. The area around the project generates more than $2.5 billion in annual revenue.
Brush Creek Watershed - Amount: $5 million
Upgrades will further limit hydraulic overloading, which is key to reducing the possibility of chemical containments or pathogens entering the Brush Creek Watershed. The Plant requires a certain concentration of pollutants to operate effectively. Cranberry Township's investment to upgrading and upsizing the Plant will improve in-plant flow management, thereby improving the ability of the treatment system to respond to peak weather flows and improve the effluent quality of the discharge.
Harmony Fire District Station Construction - Amount: $1.5 million
The Harmony Fire District Station Construction project will build a 10,000 sq ft. facility that will allow for response to any fire inside the district within 8 minutes located at 424 South Main Street, Zelienople, PA 16063. The relocation of the facility, which will be more centrally located in the Zelienople community, is a critical step in ensuring that the 9,000 residents of the fire district are equally provided services and will ensure that all health/safety/welfare for the residents is retained. Currently, the fully volunteer Harmony Fire District serves one of the fastest growing areas and the current location used for the facility does not allow for adequate movement or storage of equipment.
US 422 Bypass Phase 2 - Amount: $2.5 million
Located along US 422 from Duffy Rd (SR 3039) overpass to Whipporwill Rd (Old Route 422/T-439), this project is for highway surface improvements. The improvements include patching an existing concrete four-lane roadway overlay with bituminous binder and wearing courses, update drainage guide rail and replace the concrete median barrier. Additionally, preventative maintenance paving of SR 8008 ramps between SR 356 and US 422. The project provides better corridor and highway surface consistency for both the traveling public and corridor truck traffic and will adjoin with the completed Butler Bypass Phase 1 project. There are roughly 5,100 businesses, and more than 34,600 persons employed within 3 miles of the project location. The area around the project generates more than $2.4 billion in annual revenue.
Erie:
Former Erie Malleable Iron Site (EMI) – Amount: $3 million
Extreme industrial blight has plagued the Erie urban core for decades. Disinvestment over the past four decades, specifically, has resulted in negative economic impacts to our community. This will address effects of a toxic hazardous site, in the former EMI, and turn its burden into opportunity for new industry and well-paying, sustainable jobs in Erie County. The renovated spaces will allow for job retention and expansion to take place relatively quickly. Plans are in place to move forward at an expedited rate, and facilities will be move-in ready.
Erie PAL Program – Amount: $500,000
This request is for additional Erie Police Athletic League (PAL); Community Outreach Program (COP); juvenile unit officer hours and youth program resources during federal fiscal year 2023. Erie PAL and officer-involved juvenile activities grew more rapidly than ever before in 2022. In 2016, after a 40-year hiatus, Erie PAL was restarted as a volunteer-based effort, operating in only one city school with 6 officers and about 30 elementary school children. Now, Erie PAL and COP initiatives have expanded to all 11 City of Erie Schools (elementary, middle, and high school) and 5 community centers with 80 actively participating officers from 4 additional law enforcement agencies. Each week, Erie PAL has contact with 550-600 students for afterschool programs.
Erie Police Vehicle and Tactical Needs - Amount: $319,000
This project will provide one police PPV Chevy Tahoe’s Fully Outfitted for use as a front-line police patrol vehicles for Police Patrol Supervisors. For the Erie Police SWAT Team, the project includes new Ballistic Helmets with attachable night vision capabilities to enhance Tier 1 Status and Tactical Ballistic Vests as current vests are set to expire. SWAT Covers PEMA Region 2 and has mutual aid agreements with PEMA Region 13 in PA.
Lawrence:
East Washington Street Bridge – Amount: $3 million
This project will replace the bridge located on SR2006, East Washington Street over Neshannock Creek to address its poor condition rating. Closure of this bridge would impact the freight deliveries and the local traveling public. Data shows that within a 3-mile radius of the projects, there were more than 4,300 businesses with employment over 24,800 persons and over $1.7 billion in sales.
Mercer:
U.S. Route 62 Railroad Tunnel – Amount: $3 million
Upgrades to the tunnel will meet current safety and design standards, solving the inadequate size and dangerous highway turns approaching the tunnel. The height at its center is 11' 7", todays trucks require at least 14'. Upgrades will prevent loose concrete and winter ice from falling on traveling public, allow for free flow of commercial traffic for economic benefit of the area and allow emergency use by traffic being rerouted due to accidents on I-79 and I-80.
Note: A project request for Crawford County was submitted to the Appropriations Committee but was not selected. A full list of Rep. Kelly's requested FY2023 projects can be found here.
BACKGROUND
Congressional leaders resumed Community Project Funding (CPF), formerly known as 'earmarks', for the 117th Congress. With increased transparency and stricter guidelines, lawmakers were permitted to submit up to fifteen (15) funding requests during the appropriations process. Rep. Kelly fielded input from local leaders throughout Northwestern Pennsylvania before selecting these projects. Of the fifteen (15) requests Rep. Kelly was allotted, nine (9) were included in the FY2023 budget, which was signed into law in December 2022.
Details on CPF rules and guidelines can be found here.
This funding comes after Rep. Kelly secured $8.5 million in Community Project Funding requests in the FY2022 budget. In 2020, Rep. Kelly also delivered two BUILD Grants for the 16th Congressional District, including $25 million for improvements along State Route 228 in Butler County, and $21 million for the City of Erie's Bayfront Parkway Project.