Paul K. Marchetti, executive director of the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority was presented with the James McGirr Kelly Award for Excellence from the Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Association of Water Companies at the organization’s annual meeting and awards luncheon this week in Harrisburg.

The award is presented annually to the resident of Pennsylvania who most exemplified dedication to promoting the availability of safe drinking water in the Commonwealth.

“Director Marchetti has been very active in advancing the quality and delivery of safe drinking water in the Commonwealth and has played a leadership role in providing financial incentives for the repair and replacement of aging water and wastewater infrastructure” said NAWC-PA chairman John Hollenbach, vice president and manager, United Water Pennsylvania.

PENNVEST is the largest source of grants and loans in Pennsylvania for water supply and wastewater treatment infrastructure. Since 1988, PENNVEST has invested $4.3 billion, including $4.2 billion in loans and $105 million in grants, to undertake 2,114 water and wastewater infrastructure improvement projects across Pennsylvania.

In accepting the award, Marchetti pointed out that the award is the result of hard work and many contributions by his staff, the PENNVEST Board of Directors and Governor Rendell. He noted that, under Governor Rendell’s leadership, PENNVEST has redirected funding to distressed systems, to promote the economic revitalization of established areas. The funding is used to upgrade systems to protect the health and safety of citizens and encourage job growth, without putting too much of a burden on ratepayers.

Marchetti was appointed executive director of PENNVEST in 1988. He previously served as a fiscal policy specialist in the Governor’s Office of Budget; senior economist, U.S. Government Accountability Office; and staff economist to the director of the Office of Noise Abatement and Control in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In addition, he served as president of the Council of Infrastructure Financing Authorities from 1994 to 1996.

Marchetti holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of Massachusetts, and earned his Masters of Arts and Ph. D. in Economics from the University of Maryland where he specialized in public finance and social policy.

The annual award for excellence was named for the late James McGirr Kelly, Senior United States District Court Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Judge Kelly was a former member of the Public Utility Commission and former vice president of American Water Works Service Company, Inc. He was the first recipient of the award in 1983. The recipient of the award is chosen by the board of directors of the Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Association of Water Companies.

Other award recipients have included educators, engineers, members of the Public Utility Commission, the Department of Environmental Protection, legislators, citizen activists and three governors. They include: Rep. Carole Rubley, Terrance J. Fitzpatrick, Fredrick A. Marrocco, David E. Hess, John M. Quain, Sen. Raphael J. Musto, Walter A. Lyon, Michael D. Klein, David A. Long, PhD, Gov. Tom Ridge, Sen. David J. Brightbill, Wendell F. Holland, William R. Shane, William R. Lloyd, Edith D. Stevens, Dr. Ruth Patrick, Gov. Robert P. Casey, Sen. D. Michael Fisher, George I. Bloom, Clifford L. Jones, Dr. Maurice K. Goddard and Gov. Dick Thornburgh.

5/11/2007