DCED: Gaming Funds Investments to Promote Community and Economic Development in Allegheny County
Harrisburg – Funding for a university campus, streetscape improvements in Pittsburgh, and additional redevelopment projects are expected to create thousands of new jobs in Allegheny County.
“The approved projects will not only spur significant job creation, but will address important public safety and infrastructure needs in the City of Pittsburgh,” said Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary C. Alan Walker. “These revenues will provide important infrastructure improvements to the area, including road improvement projects that will decrease traffic congestion and add capacity for future economic development.”
In total, six projects in Allegheny County were awarded $3.15 million by the Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA). The funds originate from the Pennsylvania Gaming Economic Development and Tourism Fund Program (GEDTF) – a program established to fund community and economic development projects in Allegheny County, through revenues from The Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh.
The GEDTF program provides grants for single-year and multi-year projects that promote community and economic development in Allegheny County including: economic and infrastructure development, job training, community improvement, public safety, public interest and costs to administer GEDTF funds.
One of the projects approved by the CFA will help to eliminate traffic congestion and add capacity for future economic development along the SR 50/Washington Pike Corridor in South Fayette Township. Newbury Development Associates LP was awarded a $500,000 grant to make traffic and intersection improvements that will accommodate the development of Newbury, a 301-acre residential community, that will be comprised of over 950,000 square-feet of commercial space including: offices, restaurants, banks, a hotel and large/small retailers. Once completed, the $70.3 million development is expected to create over 2,200 jobs.
For more information about the CFA, visit www.newPA.com or call 1-866-466-3972.
Media contact: Theresa Elliott, 717-783-1132
Editor’s Note: A list of the additional approved projects that will receive a total of $3.15 million dollars is below:
Chatham University was awarded a $500,000 grant to assist with infrastructure improvements for the Eden Hall Campus in Richland Township. The Eden Hall project will be developed as a “climate positive” campus, and is expected to generate all of the campus’ energy needs on site. The funds requested will be used for site preparation, critical building construction and renovations to support the initial phase of the $22 million campus build out.
The Allegheny Valley North Council of Governments was awarded a $500,000 grant for a road realignment project in Harmar. The project will relocate the Route 910 Rich Hill Road intersection to align opposite of the existing Locust Hill Road intersection to provide a safe and modern access road to a newly proposed 175,000 square-foot commercial truck terminal, expected to create 175 jobs and provide more than $541,000 in local tax revenues annually. The project will also result in safer access and navigation of Rich Hill Road to daily commercial, industrial and residential traffic.
The Regional Industrial Development Corporation of Southwestern Pennsylvania Growth Fund was awarded a $500,000 grant for infrastructure costs for the LTV Hazelwood redevelopment project in the City of Pittsburgh. The project, which includes water and sewer system upgrades, is expected to create over $2 million square-feet of new office, research and development space, and is expected to create nearly 6,000 new jobs upon completion.
The Sports and Exhibition Authority of Pittsburgh was awarded a $500,000 grant for engineering costs for Phase 1A of the Lower Hill Infrastructure Design Project in the City of Pittsburgh. The project will design and redevelop the street grid for a 28-acre mixed-use development project, which is comprised of the soon to be demolished Civic Arena and its surrounding parking lots. The total project cost is $446 million, and is expected to create 2,948 permanent jobs, and provide $25 million in annual state and local revenues upon completion.
The Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh was awarded a $500,000 grant for infrastructure improvements for the initial phase of the Bakery Square 2.0 redevelopment project in the City of Pittsburgh. The project will prepare the three-acre site for office development and funds will be used for site preparation, demolition, construction of roads, and the relocation and addition of public utilities, and streetscape improvements. The total project cost is $9.9 million, and is expected to create 1,277 on-site jobs and provide $4 million annually in local and state tax revenues once completed.
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