Beaver County News

Senator Elder Vogel, Jr. (R-47) has announced that 21 community projects in Beaver County will receive a total of $5 million from the Beaver County Environmental Mitigation Community Fund. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection confirmed this funding.

"These investments will help support critical projects in our Beaver County communities and enhance the opportunities available to both our residents and visitors," said Vogel.

The B F Jones Memorial Library has been awarded $184,000 for a full-time social worker who will rotate through the 10 public library sites bi-weekly. This individual will provide support for life issues such as social and mental health concerns and assist library staff with community outreach.

Bags & Blessings received $20,000 for a healthy lifestyle project designed to educate the community and provide skills to handle physical and mental strains associated with a cancer diagnosis. The project includes classes on acupuncture, body strengthening, healthy healing, balance, nutrition, yoga/healthy minds, and church-related counseling.

Beaver County Marcellus Awareness Community was granted $631,534.22 to assess air quality in Beaver County continuously and share data with residents in real time. The initiative also aims to inform county residents about real-time air monitors and data so they can make informed decisions about their environment.

Beaver Falls Community Development Corporation, in partnership with Geneva College and the Beaver Falls Municipal Authority, received $288,010.54 to install water-quality monitoring stations in Beaver River. These stations will continuously assess key water metrics and improve response time to water quality issues by enhancing BFMA’s access to laboratory testing.

The Borough of Ambridge was awarded $135,375 to complete a 102-kilowatt solar system on the Ambridge Municipal Complex Building. This project aims to address escalating electricity costs which have been a long-term concern for the municipality and a measurable tax burden on the community. An additional grant of $43,220 was given for site visits, feasibility assessments, and to install publicly accessible, affordable electric vehicle (EV) charging at one site in Ambridge.

The Borough of Monaca received $276,040 to promote health and wellness in the borough with upgrades to John A. Antoline Community Park. The park currently has a softball field, basketball court, children’s playground, horseshoe pits, parking and four pavilions. Upgrades will help the borough provide families with areas of recreation, healthy lifestyle options, and a scenic view.

Brighton First was awarded $72,000 to construct a new pavilion at the New Brighton Kids Community Garden for more frequent and meaningful community engagement. This project furthers the organization’s mission to provide a sustainable and safe healthy garden environment for children in the community to learn about gardening for food and fun.

The Center in Midland received $68,000 to provide 600 families served by the organization with safe, clean drinking water at The Center in Midland as well as their homes and schools.

Communicycle Beaver County Inc. was granted $105,055 to increase bicycle collection sites in Beaver County from three to 11. The funds will also be used to complete the buildout of a new permanent workshop, provide bike locks, work with partners to install bike racks in four communities, and purchase three additional scrap metal trailers to accommodate program growth.

Crop and Kettle received $295,000 to address food access and equity issues in Beaver County while providing enhanced opportunities for community engagement and development. The project aims to create new jobs, support workforce training initiatives, further agricultural education programs, facilitate bridges across all facets of the food system connect residents to locally grown foods and strengthen the local food economy.

Interdependence Conservancy Inc. was awarded $277,100 for a two-year study on the overall health of Raccoon Creek in Beaver County. The study will identify potential projects that could improve its water quality and biodiversity.

Neighborhood North Museum of Play received $145,240 to create two exhibits supporting the museum’s sustainable development goals. One exhibit will feature a solar array installed on the roof of the News Tribune Building that will power an exhibit within the museum and educate children and families on alternative energy. The second exhibit will demonstrate how shredded plastic bottles can be recycled to create filament for a large-scale 3D printer, aiming to eliminate waste and create 3D printed art or for use in schools.

New Brighton Area School District was awarded $578,000 to complete a solar feasibility study and develop a large-scale solar installation. This project is intended to address escalating electricity costs, which have been a considerable long-term concern for the school district.

Portobello Cultural Life & Arts Center Inc. received $50,000 to organize a three-day educational film festival focused on environmental issues and solutions in Beaver Falls. The festival will feature curated films, discussions, workshops, and exhibits aimed at educating and inspiring environmental action.

Reforest Our Future was granted $292,071 to install the Reforest Our Future Native Tree Nursery and Environmental Education Center at Brady’s Run Park with support from the Beaver County Commissioners. The facility will produce native trees for installation in Beaver County parks and throughout the county where they are most needed. It will also serve as an educational hub offering programming tailored to all age groups.

The Watersmith Guild in partnership with Outdoor Immersion received $34,290 to provide underserved youth in Beaver County with meaningful outdoor experiences designed to improve health, wellbeing, and the environment. The First Waves Beaver project consists of three events per year focused on education and conservation serving 15-30 Beaver County residents aged 13-20 years old selected through a partnership with Outdoor Immersion.

Three Rivers Waterkeeper in partnership with (BCMAC) was awarded $135,417.84 to increase waterway monitoring, expand watershed education, conduct monthly on-the-water baseline and location-focused water quality sampling, train community members to identify pollution sources, and enact a crucial expansion of Three Rivers Waterkeeper’s conservation program by establishing an early detection program.

Trails Ministries, Inc. received $500,000 to safely deconstruct dangerous buildings, salvage as much usable material as possible, capture as much carbon as possible, and create a competent, trained workforce of people re-entering society after being incarcerated.

United Way of Beaver County was awarded $125,000 to support the ALICE Fund. This fund provides mini grants to Beaver County charities providing essentials to asset-limited, income-constrained, employed (ALICE) households that earn more than the federal poverty level but less than the basic cost of living.

The Women’s Center of Beaver County received $500,000 to renovate its emergency shelter to enhance accessibility for all victims and survivors of domestic violence and homeless women and children. The Women’s Center is the only 24-hour emergency shelter facility for women and children in Beaver County.

For further information contact Abby Chiumento at 717-787-3076.