Cambria County (PA) Fire Departments to Receive Grants for New Station, Equipment

Dave Sutor
The Tribune-Democrat, Johnstown, Pa.
(TNS)

Mar. 17—JOHNSTOWN, Pa. — State officials announced Thursday that 39 projects in Cambria, Somerset and Bedford counties will receive a total of more than $7 million in the latest round of Commonwealth Financing Authority funding.

“The approval of these grants by the CFA will provide immense benefits to our community,” said state Sen. Wayne Langerholc, Jr., R-Richland Township, whose district includes Cambria County. “I look forward to seeing the organizations complete these projects across the 35th Senatorial District to enhance the quality of life for our residents.”

Grants awarded

Cambria County

—Blacklick Township to replace street signs — $28,370

—Cambria County Conservation & Recreation Authority for equipment — $172,000

—Carrolltown Borough to purchase a new mower and tractor — $25,151

—City of Johnstown for the purchase of a new trail maintenance vehicle — $28,115

—Conemaugh Township to purchase a multi-use tractor — $65,425

—Conemaugh Township to rehabilitate two playgrounds — $51,972

—Conemaugh Township Police Department to purchase new equipment — $56,584

—Cresson Borough for upgrades to emergency service radios — $300,000

—Cresson Borough to install sidewalk and curbing along Keystone Avenue — $366,146

—Croyle Township to resurface Oaks Road — $500,000

—Croyle Township to resurface Lake Road — $292,000

—Daisytown Borough to purchase a dump truck and snowplow — $85,000

—Dale Borough to repair a flood wall along Solomon Run — $635,340

—East Conemaugh Borough to replace and/or repair stormwater inlets — $140,000

—East Taylor Township to purchase a police cruiser — $33,855

—Ebensburg Borough to renovate the Ebensburg Borough Pool — $134,600

—Ferndale Borough to purchase a police vehicle — $51,750

—Franklin Borough for the demolition of 11 blighted properties — $170,000

—Franklin Borough for the purchase of new fire equipment — $83,925

—Franklin Borough for the purchase of a multi-functional tractor — $87,053

—Geistown Borough for a winter maintenance vehicle — $62,183

—Jackson Township Water Authority for a new water authority vehicle — $61,700

—Lower Yoder Township for the purchase of a backhoe and dump truck — $187,984

—Nanty Glo Borough to repair the Davis Run Reservoir — $66,616

—Northern Cambria Borough for the construction of a new fire station — $500,000

—Richland Township to rehabilitate Luray Avenue Park — $935,100

—Stonycreek Township for playground equipment — $220,840

—Stonycreek Township for three dash cameras and 10 body cameras — $32,085

Somerset County

—Conemaugh Township Municipal Authority for upgrades to the water monitoring equipment to the water system — $39,506

—Confluence Borough Municipal Authority for waterline improvements along Draketown Road and Dull Hill Road — $250,000

—Elk Lick Township to reline culvert piping underneath the flood control levee — $123,576

—Jefferson Township to construct a maintenance shed — $100,000

—Jefferson Township Water and Sewer Authority to purchase a vehicle — $49,720

—Seven Springs Municipal Authority to replace outdated equipment servicing Seven Springs Borough and Middlecreek Township — $250,000

—Shade Township for a memorial rose garden — $150,000

—Somerset County to resurface a portion of the Great Allegheny Passage from Greenville Township to Garret Borough — $298,560

Bedford County

—Bedford County Development Association for a feasibility study to determine the location of their next business park, known as “Business Park III” to be located within Bedford County — $165,600

—Broad Top Township for the construction of a new recreational campground — $401,200

—Hopewell Township for improvements to the wastewater collection system — $128,700 — information provided by state Sens. Wayne Langerholc, Jr. and Patrick Stefano

State Sen. Patrick Stefano, R-Fayette, whose 32nd District includes Somerset and Bedford counties, said the funding will allow recipients to make “local improvements that might not have happened without these grants.”

The funding will not only assist the entities in paying for the projects, but also help free up funds for other uses.

For example, Stonycreek Township, Cambria County, which has a general fund budget of approximately $2 million this year, was allocated $220,840 for playground equipment, along with $32,085 for three dash cameras and 10 body cameras to be used by the police department.

“I think all municipalities’ budgets are getting tighter and tighter with the cost of manpower and the cost of materials, so any little amount that a township receives allows them to provide the citizens a little bit of, maybe, creature comforts,” Stonycreek Township Solicitor Michael Carbonara said.

Richland Township received the largest grant in the amount of $935,100 that will be used to rehabilitate Luray Avenue Park.

“It’s fantastic news for the local region and the community, absolutely,” Richland Township Executive Director Bryan Beppler said.

Plans call for extending the park’s walking-biking pathway; expanding the playground; rehabilitating the areas for basketball, volleyball, tennis and baseball; constructing a pavilion; and adding a place for pickleball.

“I think that basically, with COVID, people’s interest in outdoor activities have escalated since that timeframe,” Beppler said. “We feel this project will help provide green space opportunities for demographics of all ages.”

Some municipalities, including Croyle Township and Cresson Borough, received multiple grants.

Croyle Township got $500,000 to resurface Oaks Road and $292,000 for Lake Road. Cresson Borough will use $300,000 for upgrades to emergency service radios and $366,146 to install sidewalk and curbing along Keystone Avenue.

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