FY2027 Community Project Funding Requests
Project: Allegheny Lab for Innovation & Creativity @ Bessemer
Recipient: Allegheny College
Address of Recipient: 764 Bessemer St. Meadville, PA 16335
Amount: $982,000
Benefits: The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because Workforce Development as Economic Development Manufacturing remains a cornerstone of the regional economy, yet employers consistently report difficulty finding workers trained in advanced automation, controls, robotics, and precision welding technologies. ALIC's proposed labs would directly address this gap by providing hands-on, industry-aligned training using modern equipment that reflects real-world production environments. Every dollar invested in technical workforce development generates long-term economic returns through higher wages, increased tax revenue, and reduced reliance on public assistance programs. Skilled workers attract and retain employers, creating a multiplier effect across the regional economy.
Project: Mercyhurst University Police Academy
Recipient: Mercyhurst University Municipal Police Academy
Address of Recipient: 501 East 38th St. Erie, PA 16546
Amount: $1,000,000
Benefits: This project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it is a strong investment in public safety and law enforcement efficiency, directly benefiting both officers and the communities they serve. By providing advanced training tools such as a high-performance driving simulator and virtual reality training technology, the program will enhance officer preparedness, improve response times, and promote safer policing practices. The driving simulator mal also be made available to community organizations for safety training, increasing public awareness and engagement around road safety.
Project: Mercer County Cooperative Extension & Emergency Center Renovations
Recipient: Mercer County
Address of Recipient: 125 S. Diamond Street, Suite 103 Mercer, PA 16137
Amount: $ 551,081
Benefits: This project is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because modernizing the Mercer County Penn State Extension Office is a vital investment in public safety, transforming the facility into a resilient emergency operations center and backup courthouse. By installing a backup generator, fire alarm systems, and security cameras, the project ensures the continuity of judicial and emergency services for a rural community vulnerable to infrastructure gaps. Beyond safety, these taxpayer-funded upgrades revitalize economic and youth development by restoring a modernized kitchen for agricultural training and providing ADA-compliant spaces for 4-H programs. Ultimately, these energy-efficient renovations create a secure, high-tech hub for civic engagement, reducing long-term operating costs while ensuring all residents have equitable access to essential county services.
Project:Venango County Public Safety Radio
Recipient: County of Venango
Address of Recipient: 1174 Elk St, Franklin, PA 16323
Amount: $4,000,000
Benefits: The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds the improved system reduces operational risk, increases public safety, and provides a durable asset that maximizes the value of taxpayer dollars. Taxpayers benefit through safer communities, reduced duplication of services, and more efficient use of public safety resources.
Project: Connoquenessing Volunteer Fire Company Engine Replacement
Recipient: Connoquenessing Volunteer Fire Company
Address of Recipient: 180 Main street, PO Box 242, Connoquenessing, PA 16027.
Amount: $1,325,000
Benefits: The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the current first due engine and first due rescue vehicle are 30 and 15 years old, exceeding the NFPA standards for usefulness and safety standards. By replacing two vehicles with one, fully equipped combination fire/rescue vehicle saves money, provides faster response times with a full crew of firefighters and rescue technicians. In addition, having a fully equipped vehicle meeting NFPA standards helps ensure the safety of the volunteer fire personnel
Project: Fellows' Club Volunteer Fire Department & Ambulance Service
Recipient: Fellows Club Fire Department
Address of Recipient: 1015 Strawberry Alley PO Box 355, Conneautville, PA 16406
Amount: $850,000
Benefits: The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the project has undergone significant price reductions in an effort to serve our region in a very cost effective manner. When the project is completed in 2027 the long term implications to our finances will certainly impact the next vehicle replacement cycle in 2035. Further compounding the situation will be the cost associated with our county's transition to a P25 radio system. Funding through the Community Project program will permit our fire company to continue providing the highest level of service possible to our region and provide means to absorb the cost of the P25 system without increasing the financial burden on our residents and township. Fellows Club Fire Department is fully committed to the responsible use of taxpayer funds by providing a volunteer service to our community. Furthermore, we have a solid history demonstrating effective financial practices and procurement through the AFG program.
Project: Corry Regional Public Safety Building
Recipient: City of Corry
Address of Recipient: 100 South Center Street, Corry, PA 17407.
Amount: $2,000,000
Benefits: This benefits PA-16 by providing the only full-time professional police and fire services for many surrounding rural municipalities across three counties, delivering 24/7 professional law enforcement, 24/7 professional fire suppression, K-9 operations, terrestrial and aquatic search-and-rescue, mutual aid, and medical response. These services directly support rural business, farms, residents, and critical rural infrastructure. Additionally, revitalization will remove a prominent commercial building-an ongoing "white elephant" eyesore-is undermining investment in downtown Corry. Redeveloping the site into a mission critical public safety facility will eliminate blight, restore productive use, strengthen neighborhood confidence, attract private investment, and stand as a visible symbol of community resilience and recovery.
Project: Brush/Utility Truck
Recipient: The Harrisville Volunteer Fire Company
Address of Recipient: 313 East Mercer Street Harrisville, PA 16038
Amount: $300,000
Benefits: This benefits PA-16 by providing reliable, consistent service to the community. Faster response time and the increased ability to respond to brush fire, medical and traffic calls.
Project: Wilmington Area Agricultural Workforce Innovation Center
Recipient: Wilmington Area School District
Address of Recipient: 300 Wood Street, New Wilmington, PA 16142
Amount: $1,500,000
Benefits: The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the request represents a strategic investment in durable rural workforce infrastructure. Rather than funding temporary programming, the appropriation equips a locally supported facility with commercial-grade agricultural systems that will operate year-round and generate sustainable revenue. With construction locally supported and match secured, federal funding removes the final capital barrier preventing launch of a workforce-aligned agricultural technology center.
Project: Sharon Regional Health System Medical Imaging Modernization Project
Recipient: Sharon Regional Medical Center
Address of Recipient: 740 East State Street, Sharon, PA, 16146
Amount: $1,355,000.00
Benefits: The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because CT technology enables evidence-based, rapid evaluation of chest-pain patients using coronary CT angiography (CCTA), which helps clinicians quickly determine whether acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is present. This avoids unnecessary admissions, duplicate testing, and prolonged ED observation for the large share of patients who ultimately do not have ACS, all of which drive up costs. In major trials, an early CCTA strategy has been shown to reduce hospital/ED length of stay by 7-8 hours compared with standard evaluation, which improves care capacity and lowers avoidable utilization while maintaining safe outcomes. This matters locally because Mercer County's heart-disease burden is high (about 217 deaths per 100,000 in recent estimates) and Pennsylvania's statewide cardiovascular mortality is about 174 per 100,000, making faster, more accurate cardiac triage and earlier detection a direct pathway to better outcomes and lower costs. A 256-slice platform also supports high-quality cardiac imaging, helping SRMC keep patients in the community for timely diagnosis and treatment rather than delaying care or shifting cases to more distant facilities, reducing transportation and transfer-related costs for families and the healthcare system.
Project: Groundwater Treatment Improvements
Recipient: Chicora Borough
Address of Recipient: 111 Water Street, Chicora Borough, Pennsylvania, 16205
Amount: $1,232,000
Benefits: The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the existing water filtration system and associated equipment within the Chicora Borough water filtration plant are antiquated, and in need of upgrades in order to maintain compliance with safe drinking water regulations.
Project: Bed Innovation and Safety Project
Recipient: Butler Memorial Hospital
Address of Recipient: One Hospital Way, Butler, PA, 16001
Amount: $2,500,000.00
Benefits: The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it supports community hospital operations, which are critical to the health and economic vitality of the community and serve thousands of residents across PA-16. Without this investment, the hospital would be forced to continue operating with outdated equipment, increasing the risk of complications, longer hospital stays, and higher overall healthcare expenses. This is a prudent and responsible use of taxpayer funds because it represents a one-time capital investment that produces long-term public benefit and a return on investment that has more than a fiduciary value. By improving patient outcomes and reducing preventable adverse events, the project can lower avoidable healthcare costs borne by public programs such as Medicare and Medicaid. It also strengthens local access to care, supports emergency preparedness, and sustains a major regional employer and economic anchor. Investing in safe, modern hospital infrastructure protects community health, enhances operational efficiency, and delivers measurable value to taxpayers by preventing more costly problems in the future.
Project: From the Founding to the Future: Connecting Grove City Parks/Recreation Opportunities through Facility, Street and Trail Improvements
Recipient: Borough of Grove City
Address of Recipient: 123 West Main Street Grove City, PA 16127
Amount: $2,734,248.00
Benefits: The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it represents a responsible and strategic investment in public infrastructure that will deliver long-term benefits to residents throughout Grove City and the surrounding Mercer County region. The project will modernize aging roadway, park, and trail infrastructure while creating safe, ADA-accessible connections between Cunningham Mill Park and Hunter Farm Park. By improving pedestrian and bicycle safety along Greenwood Drive and rehabilitating deteriorated recreational facilities, the project will expand access to public parks, support youth sports programming, and improve transportation safety for residents who currently share narrow roadways with vehicle traffic. These improvements will directly serve the Borough's population of approximately 8,000 residents, while also benefiting many more across the greater Grove City area of southern Mercer County who regularly utilize the community's parks, trails, and youth sports facilities.
Project: Lincoln Avenue Corridor Infrastructure Modernization Project
Recipient: Borough Of Grove City
Address of Recipient: 123 W. Main Street Grove City, PA 16127
Amount: $3,100,000.00
Benefits: The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it addresses essential public infrastructure needs that directly support economic activity, public safety, and long-term community resilience. The Lincoln Avenue corridor serves one of the district's major manufacturers and provides a key connection to regional freight routes. Improving the roadway, sidewalks, and truck turning movements ensures safer and more efficient transportation for residents, employees, and commercial carriers. Upgrading the stormwater system will eliminate chronic flooding that damages public infrastructure, disrupts access, and increases long-term maintenance costs. By replacing aging drainage components now, the Borough avoids more expensive emergency repairs and protects both public and private property.
Project: Shenango Valley Multipurpose Community Center Rehabilitation Project
Recipient: City of Hermitage
Address of Recipient: 800 N. Hermitage Road Hermitage, PA 16148
Amount: $2,100,000.00
Benefits: This project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the funding will be used to repurpose a National Guard Armory building that is being decommissioned and reserve it for community use. The original building was built with taxpayer dollars and it is prudent to repurpose it for another use that will also provide a public benefit. Therefore, the federal appropriation will be solely used to provide the necessary upgrades to repurpose the building as a community center. Further, the project will use taxpayer dollars in an efficient manner to fill an existing gap related to indoor recreation and community space. Instead of constructing a new facility at a much greater cost, the project will rehabilitate an existing building, at a fraction of the cost, and one that is ideally located to serve the youth, seniors, and other adults living in the Shenango Valley.
Project: Union City Borough Police Department & Administration City Building - Phase 3
Recipient: Borough of Union City
Address of Recipient: 13 South Main Street, Union City, PA, 16438
Amount: $375,000.00
Benefits: The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it completes a phased, already-initiated rehabilitation plan, leverages prior federal, state, and local planning investments, uses competitive procurement to control costs, enhances an existing public asset rather than building new infrastructure, and strengthens downtown operations and long-term municipal efficiency. Union City is a small rural municipality with limited fiscal capacity, and federal support will allow the Borough to complete this coordinated rehabilitation strategy, protect prior investments, and ensure that the City Building remains a fully accessible and operational center of local government for decades to come. This is a cost-effective, ready-to-implement project that delivers clear public benefit and maximizes the return on taxpayer investment.
Project: US 422 Shawood Pipe - MPMS #83611
Recipient: Pennsylvania Department of Transportation - District 10
Address of Recipient: 2550 Oakland Ave Route 286 South, Indiana, PA, 15701
Amount: $7,000,000.00
Benefits: The project would be a valuable use of taxpayer funds because This is a heavy highway construction project. The goal is to address large-scale drainage repairs and soil stabilization at the US 422/I-79 interchange. A deteriorating drainage system runs through (beneath) the site via a large pipe that has collapsed along the I-79 south on-ramp and in the interchange infield and is now in need of full replacement. The project will replace the existing features. Furthermore, it will also address slope stabilization due to the presence of unstable soils from glacial deposits at the southwestern area of the site. The project will be awarded to an approved contractor and is anticipated to take two construction seasons. The project is planned on the 2027 SPC Draft TIP and will go to construction should it receive an award.
Project: Belle Valley Fire House
Recipient: Millcreek Township Fire Department
Address of Recipient: 3608 West 26th Street, Erie, PA, 16506
Amount: $7,000,000.00
Benefits: The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the current fire station is no longer capable of meeting the needs of the township. The Belle Valley Fire Station can no longer effectively operate in housing first responders, and a new station is needed. The Belle Valley Fire Station is one of four fire stations in the Millcreek Township Fire Department, located in a 32 square-mile area. The critical service they provide ensures the safety of the residents, homes, and businesses in the township. This station would allow the fire department to be in close proximity to emergency situations, which could often be the difference between life and death. With over 54,000 residents, Millcreek Township ranks as the 14th largest municipality in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania by population. The Fire Departments average over 2,500 calls a year, and the Belle Valley Fire Station remains a critical part of these calls. A new station will also ensure they can adequately accommodate the necessary personnel to be available to respond to calls anytime of day or night, while also protecting their vehicles and equipment from flood damage. The new station will ensure faster response times to emergency situations in the Township, making the whole community safer.
Project: Port Authority Continued Demolition of Multiple Structures at Erie, PA Coke Site
Recipient: Erie Western PA Port Authority
Address of Recipient: 1 Holland Street, Erie, PA, 16507
Amount: $2,000,000.00
Benefits: The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because flipping 100 acres of Lake Erie waterfront property from abandoned, soot- and coke-covered buildings and black-charred soil to thriving commercial and residential property providing safe, clean waterfront access to residents and tourists and the ability for the Port Authority to increase and improve port commerce through terminal expansion and additional import and export storage for the region's import and export link to the world through the St. Lawrence Seaway, the Erie Coke reclamation project is truly a project that will benefit everyone. The overall project is expected to take twenty years to reach full redevelopment and cost more than $50,000,000 to prepare the site for new construction, but the results will expand tax revenue exponentially, based on the current economic drain of 100 idle acres in the city's downtown. This $2,000,000 funding request to spearhead project cleanup will have greater impact than just monetary support; it will prove commitment by and through all regional representatives, investors, and elected officials to capitalize on one of Pennsylvania's most precious and underutilized assets of Great Lake access.
Project: Route 19 Waterline Replacement Project
Recipient: Cranberry Township
Address of Recipient: 2525 Rochester Road, Cranberry Township, PA, 16066
Amount: $2,521,535.00
Benefits: The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it will modernize aging infrastructure along one of the Township's primary commercial corridors. The existing 50-year-old waterline is at increasing risk of failure, threatening reliable service for residents, businesses, and emergency response operations. This investment will complete a multi-phase project already supported through prior federal appropriations, ensuring the entire corridor is served by reliable infrastructure. This is a strong use of taxpayer funds as it prevents costly emergency repairs, protects public health and safety, supports economic activity, and maximizes prior federal investment.
A complete list of U.S. Representative Mike Kelly's FY2027 Community Project Funding requests will be available by April 17.