Keystone Communities Program awards grants to 13 Pittsburgh-area projects

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf announced nearly $8 million in Keystone Communities Program grants for 51 projects in 30 counties across Pennsylvania, including six in the Pittsburgh metro.

The funding supports towns and cities with initiatives that work to create growth and stability in their neighborhoods while encouraging partnerships between the public and private sectors, Wolf said in a prepared statement.

“These projects will build stronger communities, attract new residents and businesses and boost the commonwealth’s economy,” he added.

Since January 2015, approximately $38 million has been approved through the program to fund 247 projects statewide, including facade grants for businesses, accessible housing projects and public infrastructure improvements. The Department of Community and Economic Development administers the program.

Here are the local recipients in the latest round of grants:

Allegheny County

• Allegheny County Housing Authority: $500,000 for updates to Hawkins Village, an affordable housing complex in Rankin Borough
• Hazelwood Initiative Inc.: $25,000 for a feasibility study for an anchor building located in the Hazelwood neighborhood of Pittsburgh
• Mon Valley Initiative: $350,000 for the Braddock Church Residences, a mixed-income housing redevelopment project
• Perry Hilltop Citizens Council Inc.: $132,900 for the renovation of a three-story mixed-use structure at 2115 Perrysville Ave. in Pittsburgh
• Rebuilding Together Pittsburgh: $197,225 for the Aging in Place Home Modification Program
• Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh: $150,000 for the Homeowner Accessibility Program of Independence which provides grants for accessibility modifications to low-income city homeowners with permanent disabilities and landlords who do not reside on the property but have tenants with permanent disabilities

Armstrong County

• Kittanning Borough: $50,000 for the Kittanning Borough Facade Grant Program, focused on improving existing facades in the central business district

Beaver County

• Aliquippa Economic Development Corp.: $100,000 for the Clean and Safe Franklin Avenue project which will focus on streetscape improvements
• Beaver Falls Community Development Corp.: $43,500 for the renovation of a home through the Jubilee Housing Project
• Monaca Community Development Corp.: $45,000 for the Facade Grant Program, focused on improving existing facades in downtown Monaca

Fayette County

• Masontown Borough: $484,015 for a comprehensive streetscape improvement project along the Main Street business district

Lawrence County

• Lawrence County: $50,000 for the Ellwood City Facade Improvement Program focused on improving existing facades in downtown Ellwood City

Washington County

• Donora Borough: $90,000 for the demolition of 647 McKean Ave.