Doyle Secures Millions of Dollars in Funding for Local Projects
Washington, DC – U.S. Representative Mike Doyle (D-PA-18) announced that H.R. 8294, the “Minibus” appropriations bill passed by the House, included $24 million in funding that he had requested for important community projects in Pennsylvania’s 18th Congressional District.
“I’m very excited about these projects and the potential they have for addressing the pressing needs of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County,” Congressman Doyle said in announcing his funding requests. “If this funding is included in the final appropriations bill, it will be extremely helpful to our community. I will continue to work to ensure that the final bill includes funding for these important local projects.”
Earlier this year, each Representative was given the opportunity to request funding for up to 15 projects in their community for fiscal year 2023—although only a handful might actually get funding. Each project had to meet the qualifications for funding under one of a limited number of federal funding sources, and only state and local governments and eligible non-profit entities would be eligible to receive the funding.
Click here for information about all of the projects for which Congressman Doyle requested funding.
The “Mini-bus” approved by the House on July 20th included funding for transportation and community development projects. Another appropriations bill will cover the other projects Congressman Doyle requested – such as projects related to health care and wastewater treatment.
The project requests included in H.R. 8294 consist of:
$7,000,000 for the Pittsburgh City Steps Improvement Project to renovate 10 sets of city steps: Pittsburgh has more public staircases than any other city in the United States, and they are a critical piece of its transportation fabric. The City would use this funding to repair or replace ten sets of deteriorated or technically challenging stepways that have a real impact on people walking in Pittsburgh’s hilly neighborhoods.
$5,000,000 for the Square Station Improvement Project: Funding would be used for the renovation of the Station Square transit station in Pittsburgh. Station Square links all four of the Port Authority of Allegheny County’s transit modes: on-street buses, busway service, light rail transit, and the Monongahela incline. This merge point is a critically important location within the Pittsburgh region; it is separated from Pittsburgh's central business district by the Monongahela River, is directly adjacent to a ‘destination’ mixed-use development, and lies along a major commercial corridor for South Side neighborhoods. The project consists of a redesign and enhancement of Station Square Station. The project would enhance all station amenities, including adding ADA features, pedestrian amenities, safety features, station canopy replacement, landscaping, LED lighting upgrades, and architectural features to maintain the historic feel of the station.
$3,000,000 for the Carrie Film Furnace Development: Funding would be used for the Carrie Film Furnace project being carried out by the Pittsburgh Film Office and the Regional Industrial Development Corporation. The complex would be constructed at the site of the historic Carrie Blast Furnaces in Rankin, and it would link Pittsburgh’s steel-making past with its innovative film industry. This funding would support the development of four stages totaling 72,000 square feet, a 40,000 square-foot mill & shop building, and a 60,000 square-foot production office space. The partners in the project are also creating a workforce development program to hire from the surrounding communities to work in the film industry.
$4,000,000 for the Braddock Library Restoration: Funding would be used for the rehabilitation of the Braddock Carnegie Library. This project would allow the library to become a year-round fully accessible public space; improve the facility's operating efficiency; and evolve and expand its programming, services, and resources for the communities of Braddock, North Braddock, East Pittsburgh, Chalfant, and Turtle Creek in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.
$750,000 for Atom Smasher Site Affordable Housing: Funding would be used for building affordable housing on the site of Westinghouse Corporation’s first controlled fission reaction. The site has been cleaned up, and Action Housing would build 9 or 10 single family units along the street, upgrade the street and infrastructure for the site, add fill to the site, and move and restore the Atom Smasher vehicle that remains on-site.
$750,000 for the Avenues of Hope: Funding would be used to further the Avenues of Hope projects being carried out by the City of Pittsburgh. Specifically, these funds would go to revitalization efforts on Homewood Avenue to develop mixed-use projects led by local and minority developers. This portfolio of projects includes mixed-income residential units, commercial retail, office space, and green space for community use.
$2,000,000 for the Veterans Place Development: Funding would be used by Veterans Place to build a multi-purpose facility to provide homeless and at-risk veterans access to on-site behavioral health services, as well as physical exercise, mindfulness, and meditation spaces and classes. The multi-purpose building would include eight handicap-accessible apartments on the top two floors. This project would provide important services for our veterans' community.
$750,000 for the Clairton Community Center Development: Funding would help in the development of a Community Center in the City of Clairton. This funding would be used for utility work, ADA accessibility improvements, creation of multi-purpose space and kitchen, cleaning and furnishing, and green space development as part of the City of Clairton's transformation of an existing public building into its community center.
$750,000 for Homestead Library Improvements: Funding would be used to make essential upgrades to the Carnegie Library of Homestead Music Hall, making the Music Hall fully ADA-compliant throughout the theater. This project is part of a broader renovation of this historic structure.
This legislation must now be considered by the Senate before it can become law.
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