The Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA) was established as an independent agency of the Commonwealth to administer Pennsylvania's economic stimulus packages. The CFA holds fiduciary responsibility over the funding of programs and investments in Pennsylvania's economic growth.

Closed Programs

The CFA is temporarily not accepting applications for the Renewable Energy and Solar Energy programs as the guidelines are currently being updated and modified. Once the guidelines have been updated and approved, these programs will resume accepting applications.

H20 PA Program water and sewer and High Hazard Dam project applications are no longer being accepted.

Open Programs

Alternative and Clean Energy Program

On January 29, 2013, the Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA) Board of Directors approved a motion to reopen and begin accepting applications requesting funding under the Alternative and Clean Energy Program (ACE). Applications must be received at least 60 days prior to the next scheduled Authority meeting for consideration.

High Performance Building Program

On January 29, 2013, the Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA) Board of Directors approved a motion to reopen and begin accepting applications requesting funding under the High Performance Building Program (HPB).  Applications must be received at least 60 days prior to the next scheduled Authority meeting for consideration.

ACT 13 Marcellus Legacy Fund Programs

Abandoned Mine Drainage Abatement and Treatment Program

On January 29, 2013, the Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA) Board of Directors approved a motion to accept applications requesting funding under the Abandoned Mine Drainage Abatement and Treatment Program which provides grants to restore and maintain stream reaches impaired by abandoned mine drainage and ultimately, to remove these streams from the Department of Environmental Resources Impaired Waters list.

Watershed Restoration Protection Program

On January 29, 2013, the Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA) Board of Directors approved a motion to accept applications requesting funding under the Watershed Restoration Protection Program which provides grants to restore and maintain stream reaches impaired by the uncontrolled discharge of nonpoint source polluted runoff and ultimately to remove these streams from the Department of Environmental Protection’s Impaired Waters list.

Baseline Water Quality Data Program

On January 29, 2013, the Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA) Board of Directors approved a motion to accept applications requesting funding under the Baseline Water Quality Data Program which provides grants to use the scientific principles and practices for water sample collection and analysis to document existing groundwater quality conditions on private water supplies. 

Greenways, Trails and Recreation Program

 On January 29, 2013, the Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA) Board of Directors approved a motion to accept applications requesting funding under the Greenways, Trails and Recreation Program which provides grants for the planning, acquisition, development, rehabilitation and repair of greenways, recreational trails, open space, parks and beautification projects. 

Orphan or Abandoned Well Plugging Program

On January 29, 2013, the Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA) Board of Directors approved a motion to accept applications requesting funding under the Orphan or Abandoned Well Plugging Program, which provides grants to provide mechanisms to plug abandoned and orphaned wells that have the potential to cause health, safety or environmental concerns. 

The Act 13 Marcellus Legacy Fund applications for consideration at the November 13, 2013 meeting will be accepted through July 31, 2013. Eligible applicants are encouraged to contact Brian Eckert or Matthew Karnell at 717-787-6245 to discuss potential projects before commencing the application process.

PennWorks

On January 29, 2013, the Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA) Board of Directors approved a motion to accept applications requesting funding under the PennWorks program for water and sewer projects not used solely for residential purposes. Applications for consideration at the September 17, 2013 meeting will be accepted through June 28, 2013. Eligible applicants are encouraged to contact Brian Eckert or Matthew Karnell at 717-787-6245 to discuss potential projects before commencing the application process.

Business in Our Sites (BOS)

On November 15, 2012, the Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA) Board of Directors approved a motion to accept applications requesting funding under the Business in Our Sites (BOS) for the development of business sites in Pennsylvania. Applications for consideration at the September 17, 2013 meeting will be accepted through June 30, 2013.

In addition to those evaluation criteria outlined in the guidelines, the CFA will be giving preference to those projects that have committed sources of matching funds, strong financial strength of the developer and collateral that includes guarantees, when necessary, in addition to secured liens. Eligible applicants are encouraged to contact Brian Eckert or Scott Dunkelberger at 717-787-6245 to discuss potential projects before commencing the application process.

Resources

• CFA Current Interest Rates
• Building PA Request For Proposals (RFP)
• CFA 2012 Annual Report: PDF
• CFA 2007 Annual Report: PDF and E-book
• Alternative Energy Program Annual Report FY 09-10
• H2O PA Annual Report FY 09-10

CFA Meeting Schedule

All meetings are open to the public from 10:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Meeting dates are listed below and are subject to change.

View Running Total Of:

CFA Approved Projects (excluding H2O PA, Local Share Account, and Energy Programs - see below)
CFA Approved Projects - H2O PA Program
CFA Approved Projects - Energy Programs
CFA Approved Projects - Local Share Account (Gaming Funds) and Allegheny County Gaming Economic Development & Tourism Fund

CFA Board Members

The CFA is governed by a seven-member board. Board members include:

C. Alan Walker
Secretary of Community and Economic Development
Secretary Walker leads the agency's efforts to help Pennsylvania businesses and communities grow and compete in the global economy. He works to offer business assistance, including start up, location and expansion investment. He is also committed to helping Pennsylvania develop and enhance its communities through downtown revitalization; housing, water and sewage infrastructure improvements; and technology investment.

Glenn E. Moyer
Secretary of Banking
Glenn E. Moyer provides overall leadership to the Pennsylvania Department of Banking, which supervises Pennsylvania state-chartered banks, thrifts, credit unions and trust companies, and licenses more than 13,000 non-depository financial services companies that provide a variety of consumer loans and services. He has served as an officer in the U.S. Air Force, worked for the American Bank and Trust Co. of PA, which later became Meridian Bank, and served as president and CEO of Elverson National Bank and National Penn Bank and its holding company, National Penn Bancshares. He is a graduate of Penn State University and has earned master’s degrees in education from Eastern New Mexico University and business administration from St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia.

Charles Zogby
Pennsylvania Secretary of the Budget
Secretary Zogby is responsible for the preparation of the Governor's budget and for its implementation after legislative enactment. He is also responsible for maintaining the commonwealth's accounting, payroll, debt issuance and financial reporting systems and programs.

Michael Karp
President, University City Housing Company
Mr. Karp has more than forty years of experience in real estate investment and telecommunications; he has also worked to improve public education and social services in West Philadelphia.

Barbara A. McNees
President, Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce
Ms. McNees has served as the President of the Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce, an affiliate of the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, since 1997.  The Chamber represents more than 500 businesses with more than one million employees across a 10-county area.

Austin J. Burke
Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce
As the chief executive officer of the Scranton Chamber, Mr. Burke works with a staff of twenty-two and hundreds of community volunteers to provide programs and services to the community and to the Chamber's 2,200 members.

John J. Verbanac
President & CEO, Summa Development
Mr. John J. Verbanac is an accomplished Chief Executive, business and civic leader with experience in diverse business categories and at all levels of government. Since early 2005, John has served as President & Chief Executive Officer of Summa Development, LLC, the Summa Group‘s Real Estate Development arm. He is also currently serving as a member of the University of Pittsburgh’s Board of Trustees.