News Flash

Uniontown, PA - The Fayette County Board of Commissioners recently approved their funding recommendations for the 2024-25 Local Share Account (LSA) program.

Dozens of project proposals from across the county were submitted to commissioners Scott Dunn, chairman; Vincent Vicites and Dave Lohr for their review this month.

LSA funding is generated annually through the county’s share of gaming revenues derived from Nemacolin’s Lady Luck Casino in Wharton Township, and total available funds vary from year to year.

Following the commissioners’ selections, the projects are recommended through an application to the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) for final approval. DCED then administers the funding for those projects the state signs off on through 2024.

Fayette County Redevelopment Authority (RDA) Community Development Coordinator Brenda Girod said, despite projects being recommended for funding each fall, the process is not complete until state officials certify those selections. Therefore, grant recipients should not begin their projects until the redevelopment authority formally notifies them to do so.

RDA Executive Director Andrew French said the commissioners ultimately chose 26 projects for a total LSA funding recommendation of $619,160. That funding will be leveraged by other funding sources secured by the project applicants, creating a much larger impact countywide.

“The projects are, once again, fairly evenly distributed throughout all corners of the county,” French said. “Since the program began nine years ago, all our municipalities have benefited from some project funded by LSA grants.”

French said the commissioners try to identify “high impact” projects which will have a broad effect on various municipalities when making their decisions.

“LSA funds are pretty flexible in their usage, so there’s always a wide variety of projects on the recommendation list,” he said. “We really try to capitalize on that flexibility by funding different kinds of projects every year.”

This year’s projects cover everything from economic development projects; public safety; recreation; facility improvements; administration; infrastructure and more. They include:

• Hranec Corporation Business Expansion – Fayette County Redevelopment Authority/Hranec Corporation; $25,000.
• Nicholson Township Equipment Purchase – Nicholson Township; $30,000.
• Fayette County Neighborhood Stabilization Initiative – Fayette County Redevelopment Authority; $50,000.
• Troop B Camp Cadet – Pennsylvania State Police; $10,000.
• Crime Stoppers Community Awareness Project – Fayette County Redevelopment Authority/Crime Stoppers; $10,000.
• Franklin Township Act 537 Plan Revision Update – Franklin Township; $10,000.
• Youghiogheny Tailrace Cooperative Trout Nursery – Chestnut Ridge Chapter of Trout Unlimited; $10,000.
• Brownfield Community Center HVAC Improvements – Brownfield Community Center; $23,000.
• Masontown Senior Center Kitchen Equipment – Albert Gallatin Human Services Agency, Inc.; $13,000.
• Vaganova Academy of Brownsville Outreach Performances – Little Mozarts/Vaganova Academy of Brownsville; $10,000.
• Uniontown Hospital Imaging Equipment Purchase – West Virginia University Medicine: Uniontown Hospital; $50,000.
• Carnegie Library Façade Improvement Project – Carnegie Free Library; $25,000.
• Connellsville Township Volunteer Fire Department Building Improvements – Connellsville Township; $35,000.
• Sheepskin Trail Right-of-Way Acquisitions – Fayette County; $45,000.
• Dunbar Township Building Energy Efficiency Improvements – Dunbar Township; $28,000.
• New Salem Community Park Upgrades – Menallen Township; $10,000.
• Republic Volunteer Fire Department Building Improvements – Republic Volunteer Fire Company; $22,000.
• Saltlick Lads & Lasses Little League Renovations – Saltlick Township Lads & Lasses: Mountain Division of Bullskin Little League; $25,000.
• Hopwood Volunteer Fire Department Social Hall Improvements – South Union Township/Hopwood VFD; $14,000.
• A.M.E. Zion Church Improvement Project – East End Community Center/A.M.E. Zion Church; $35,000.
• Family Service Center Parking Improvements – Fayette County Community Action Agency; $16,000.
• Davidson Avenue/Race Street Storm Sewer Improvements – City of Connellsville; $37,202.
• Beaver Creek Road Repairs – Henry Clay Township; $22,000.
• Liberty Street Sidewalk Improvements – Perryopolis Borough; $13,000.
• Route 201 Tank Solar Power Installation – Municipal Authority of the Township of Washington; $20,000.
• LSA Administration – Fayette County Redevelopment Authority; $30,958.

French has submitted the county’s recommendations for DCED approval. For more information, visit www.racfpa.org.

To learn more about Fayette County, visit www.fayettecountypa.org.

Editor's Note: Image attached (LSA Awards Graphic 2024)

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This communication, among other initiatives, is funded through the 2016 Fayette County Local Share Account (LSA) in cooperation with the Fayette County Board of Commissioners, Fayette Chamber of Commerce, The Redevelopment Authority of the County of Fayette, The Redstone Foundation and other partners. This funding has been designated for the continued promotion and marketing of Fayette County, PA.

For more information, contact Kristi Kassimer Harper, Public Relations Specialist, at 724-437-4571, kkassimer@fayettecountypa.info or Kaylie Glaze, Community Relations Coordinator, at 724-430-1200 Ext. 1611, kmoore@fayettepa.org.