On May 22, Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Dennis Davin announced more than $3 million in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding to provide clean water and improve sewage for communities in Greene, Indiana, Luzerne, Mifflin, and Schuylkill counties.

"Effective water and sewage systems are vital to quality of life and safety in any community," said Sec. Davin. "This funding will allow for necessary improvements that would otherwise place a costly burden on these communities, preserving the health and safety of residents while also ensuring compliance with state regulations.” 

The following projects were included in the most recent block of CDBG funding approvals:

-- $230,000 to be used in Indiana County to bring the water source into compliance with the federal Environmental Protection Agency's Safe Drinking Water Act regulations and to perform rehab work on the concrete spillway to remain in compliance with Department of Environmental Protection's Dam Safety Division regulations.  

-- $597,300 to be used in Schuylkill County for the relocation of the Celebration Creek stormwater line. Currently, the culvert and the stormwater line runs through a parking lot and directly under a pizza shop where it connects to the existing culvert under Kennedy Drive. (Rt. 309). The funding will relocate the Celebration Creek stormwater line from the pizza shop so that it will run under Sherman Street, turn southwest under the pizza shop parking lot, and connect to the line crossing Kennedy Drive (Rt. 309).

-- $660,212 to be used in Greene County to upgrade the water meter, replace pipes that impact the quality of water, and replace the roof on the water treatment building of Brave Water System in Wayne Township. The funding will replace 95 meters, provide necessary equipment for meters to be read remotely, replace a total of 2,250 feet of 6-inch PVC pipe, add fire hydrants where there currently are none, and replace the roof to protect the equipment that is housed in the building.

-- $848,000 to be used for infrastructure improvements in the Cedar Crest area of Mount Union in Wayne Township, Mifflin County. The funding will replace water lines, tuberculated lines, sewer lines, and storm piping with related inlets to be installed to manage stormwater runoff.

-- $709,631 to be used in Luzerne County for Panama Street sewer improvements. The funding will be used to replace the failing concrete box culvert with a new 54-inch combined sewer, extending sidewalks and curbing approximately 300 feet to assist with channeling stormwater runoff to culverts, restore existing failed drainage inlets, and restore road and sidewalks for the length of Panama Street and the east shoulder above the Housing Authority property.

CDBG funds enable communities to effectively address local community development needs by providing federal funds to develop viable communities through the provision of modest housing and a suitable living environment.

Funds are also used to expand economic opportunities geared to low-and moderate-income individuals and to improve infrastructure critical to community health and welfare.

Visit DCED’s Community Development Block Grant Program webpage for more information.

[Posted: May 22, 2020]

5/25/2020