Allegheny County – November 4, 2022 − Today, Pennsylvania State Senator Wayne Fontana announced $3,561,750 in Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP) funding for multiple non-profit and community projects and initiatives in Allegheny County.
“This funding goes directly to the community to help with economic recovery, blight, community services, and programs that provide more opportunities for marginalized individuals,” said Senator Fontana. “I’m thrilled to see so many projects receive support from businesses that operate in Allegheny County, because we all need each other. Businesses need people to run and support their endeavors and community members need businesses to support growth and a strong economy. The partnerships forged with the NAP program illustrate what can be achieved when we work together.”
NAP encourages private sector investment into projects that helps improve distressed communities by providing tax credits to businesses that donate capital to support projects. The funding can be used for projects in categories including affordable housing, community services, crime prevention, education, job training, food access, blight, special population issues, veteran’s initiatives, and long-term community revitalization. This year, a special emphasis was put on projects that addressed pandemic recovery, social justice, and improved opportunities for underrepresented communities.
Funding recipients included:
- Junior Achievement of Western Pennsylvania, Inc.
$13,750 from Tri-State Capital Bank
Through Junior Achievement (JA) programs, students are introduced to programs using hands-on, interactive materials taught by a dedicated classroom mentor virtually, hybrid, or in person. JA educates students in grades K-12 on money management and career preparation, reinforces knowledge, and changes their behavior so students can have an empowered attitude to succeed professionally and financially in life after school. Funds will be used to provide program-related materials, license fees, training and logistics, and cost of programming.
- The Pittsburgh A. Philip Randolph Education Fund
$41,250 from Duquesne Light Company
The Pittsburgh A. Philip Randolph Education Fund (APRI) seeks to help facilitate the inclusion of residents from the Northside and Hill District into the new economic environment produced by job growth in construction, manufacturing, energy, and related industry sectors. With recruitment and screening support from community-based partners, APRI will train individuals recruited from these communities to take advantage of the job opportunities associated with employer and union demand. Funds will be used to cover trainee costs for 60% of trainees, including the cost of each module of training, performance stipends, bus passes, and drug tests.
- Coraopolis Community Development Corporation, Inc.
$180,000 from Dollar Bank, HM Life Insurance Co., Huntington Bank, and Northwest Bank
The Neighborhood Partnership Program in Coraopolis is working on revitalizing the town and supporting its residents by focusing on four key areas. Funds will be used to reduce bright and increase greenspace; make improvements to the downtown business district; improve the condition of housing for long-term homeowners; and increase support for social service needs.
- Habitat for Humanity of Greater Pittsburgh
$160,000 from UPMC Diversified Services
Larimer, a Black community of 1,700 residents on Pittsburgh’s east side, needs Habitat Pittsburgh’s services. Habitat Pittsburgh will address the serious blight, vacancy, and transience problems that face Larimer by transforming two blighted homes and/or vacant land into new, affordable homeownership opportunities for local families and five home repairs per year. Funds will be used for the development of two townhomes on Lincoln Ave., insurance requirements, and indirect oversight.
- Hill Community Development Corporation Pittsburgh
$540,000 from Dollar Bank, Duquesne Light, FNB Corporation, KeyBank, PNC Bank, and UPMC Diversified Services
Statistically the Hill District suffers from an uneven level of poverty; blight; population loss; poor access to quality-of-life needs; and a lack of amenities like education, basic services, and food. The business corridor has been largely demolished with over 60% of vacant land owned by public entities including the Urban Redevelopment Authority, Housing Authority, and the City of Pittsburgh. Most of the land is derelict. This development is anchored by New
Granada Square, a project that includes affordable housing for artists and creatives; new retail; and restoration of a former theater into a mixed-use epicenter of office, educational, food, art, and performance space. Funds will be used to support personnel costs, accounting services, IT support, human resources consulting, and office expenses.
- Hilltop Alliance
$200,000 from Dollar Bank, PNC Bank, and UPMC Diversified Services
Pittsburgh’s Allentown neighborhood suffers from vacant properties, deteriorating structures, a lack of foot traffic in the business district, food insecurity, and poverty. The Hilltop Alliance seeks to address each of these issues through their Vacant Property Redevelopment Program, Property Stabilization Program, Fresh Fridays on the Hilltop, and Neighborhood Employment Center.
- Hilltop Economic Development Corporation
$320,000 from Fragasso Financial Advisors, Giant Eagle, Northwest Bank, and United Concordia Insurance Company
The Hilltop Economic Development Corporation (HEDC) through collaboration with the Hilltop Alliance and The Brashear Association has developed a plan to address the economic and social challenges of the Borough of Mt. Oliver and the Pittsburgh neighborhood of Knoxville. Year two of the six-year plan continues to address the need to stimulate the economic market and create an atmosphere that attracts business and investment, improve the quality of the housing stock, and build wealth within the community through a combination of supportive services leading to self-sufficiency and youth development. Funds will be used for operating and programmatic costs.
- Lawrenceville Corporation
$400,000 from Duquesne Light Company, First National Bank, Standard Bank of PA, UPMC Diversified Services, UPMC Health Benefits, and WesBanco Bank
As part of the six-year Lawrenceville Balance Initiative, Lawrenceville Corporation remains focused on three distinct areas that impact overall health of the neighborhood and have been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic: high opportunity high access, people-centered development, and healthy & active living opportunities. Funds will be used for salaries/benefits for key staff, program support, and to additional companies for affordable housing creation and community health initiatives
- McKees Rocks Community Development Corporation
$460,000 from Dollar Bank, Hammel Companies Inc, Key Bank, TriState Capital Bank
McKees Rocks Community Development Corporation will have 40 residents participate in a new pilot called Affinity Circles to help them overcome their trauma and pursue transformative programming including education, preventative health care, financial literacy, and homeownership. Another program will seek to seamlessly assist 40 residents exiting incarceration into long term, family sustaining employment of their choosing. Another will assist 10 residents to purchase newly rehabbed homes. Finally, the organization will help feed 100 residents each week through support of the Welcome to the Table project.
- Mt. Washington Community Development
$80,000 from UPMC Health Plan
MWCDC seeks to address several needs in the Mount Washington and Duquesne Heights neighborhoods by addressing the lack of sustainable affordable housing, pervasive blight, higher than average crime rates, inadequate linkage between the business community and employment of low-income and at-risk individuals and supporting community economic development and quality of life through strategic park investments and programs. Funds will be used for salary/benefits for key staff, accounting services, consumable office supplies, property improvements and management, and operating expenses.
- Northside Leadership Conference, Inc.
$400,000 from HM Life Insurance Company, Huntington Bank, Key Bank, North Shore Entertainment Works LLC
The Northside Leadership Conference (NSLC) takes a multi-disciplinary approach to community revitalization, operating six interrelated business lines. NSLC has multiple corporate partners that bring a variety of skills to support affordable housing development, commercial real estate, small business support, parks and greenspace planning and restoration, infrastructure investments and public health efforts. Funds will be used for salaries, operating expenses, and projects.
- Sharpsburg Neighborhood Organization
$160,000 from Giant Eagle and TriState Capital Bank
Sharpsburg, Etna, & Millvale are three river boroughs recovering from decades of disinvestment and decline, and low-income residents have struggled with economic opportunity, financial stability amid rising housing and utility costs, and access to affordable healthy food. In a town with a long and growing history of devastating floods – and climate patterns anticipated to bring higher-volume and -intensity rainstorms in future decades – addressing the flooding issue will continue to be an economic and safety priority for years to come. A suite of workforce development, community education, and community wellness projects will be supported to address challenges. A solar training accreditation program in partnership with the Community College of Allegheny County will provide training to 72 over six years. A staffer will be retained to manage the strategic planning, pre-development, and construction of the Etna Center for Community, a hub for public gathering, multi-generational social programming, and four affordable apartments. Circles Sharpsburg will provide 22,800 meals and graduate 90 participants through its holistic financial empowerment training. 90 participants will receive stipends to participate in post-secondary education. 60 will complete a Civic Leadership Series and six related group community projects. 180 residents will get vegetable container gardening kits. 90 will receive free home energy efficiency audits. Community Rating System programming will reduce flood risks across the communities. Funds will be used for staff salaries, program costs, building pre-development activities, and insurance/tax preparation costs.
- ACTION-Housing, Inc.
$56,250 from Dollar Bank and FSB
ACTION-Housing, Inc.’s MyPlace provides housing, intensive case management, and other supportive services for up-to two years to help participants progress from homelessness to self-sufficiency, which is needed more than ever in light of the COVID pandemic. MyPlace uses a “Housing First” model, with the understanding that providing stable housing eliminates the core burden from the participant, allowing him/her to then focus on employment, education, and other important life skills. Funds will be used to support two case managers for the program, pay for audit costs, and fund the new MyPlace engagement center.
- Boys Hope Girls Hope
$112,500 from Russell Standard and Tri State Capital
Cori House, part of the Boys Hope Girls Hope Program, has had trouble finding dependable full-time and overnight staff. Participants in the program are an at-risk and vulnerable population and need consistency to help them succeed. The organization plans to transition to a new model where two full-time residential staff – a husband/wife team – will maintain a constant and well-functioning home for participants. Funds will be used to secure these two full-time house parents, as well as to update the residential unit for the house parents.
- Jewish Family & Children’s Service of Pittsburgh
$22,500 from UPMC Health Plan
Allegheny County is welcoming unprecedented numbers of refugees and other vulnerable immigrants this year, including Afghans and Ukrainians. Carnegie is an ideal community for refugees because it is located close to downtown Pittsburgh, has affordable housing, and offers access to public transportation. JFCS sees great need to provide intensive services for refugees in Carnegie to assist them in processing trauma in addition to adjusting to a new language and culture. JFCS proposes a one year intervention in Carnegie to provide services to stabilize newcomers and help them move toward positive outcomes. This will include intensive case management and assistance securing housing and employment.
- Light of Life Ministries, Inc.
$187,500 from UPMC Health Benefits
Housing and support services for the homeless is a high priority need in the city of Pittsburgh’s 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan, as is a need for affordable housing, services, and facilities for persons with special needs, including alcohol/drug dependency. Light of Life Ministries, Inc. (LoL) serves individuals experiencing homelessness in Pittsburgh, providing comprehensive services for them and represents one of the area’s primary resources for this group of individuals. LoL owns a property located at 665 Ridge Ave. that needs to be redeveloped from a public trade school to a facility providing housing and services for LoL’s clients.
- Neighborhood Resilience Project
$56,250 from UPMC Health Benefits
The Neighborhood Resilience Project plans to utilize their newly renovated clinic space with two medical exam rooms and a two-room dental suite to increase the capacity of the organization to provide free primary, behavioral and dental care to the un-insured across the region. The Free Health Center sees patients from across the county, and there is a great need for this Free Health Center in the region. The Neighborhood Resilience Project Free Health Center also provides all of the prescriptions, labs and follow up orders at no cost to the patients. Funds will be used to support the staffing of this project and for medical provision.
- 412 Food Rescue, Inc.
$46,750 from First National Bank and UPMC Health Plan
The Good Food Project (GFP) creates innovative solutions to reduce food waste and increase food access. GFP was established in 2019 in response to large volume donations 412 Food Rescue’s non-profit partners struggled to receive. GFP stabilizes and transforms surplus food into healthy, frozen meals. These individual heat-and-eat meals are distributed to individuals experiencing food insecurity.
- Farmolly, LLC
$125,000
Farmolly LLC plans to build a single-story structure with a mezzanine located at 506-510 E. Ohio Street and 507-509 Emlin Way in Pittsburgh. The building will house approximately 60 seats on the main floor and 30 seats on the mezzanine-level. The building will also have back of house operations (including their tap room), two ADA restrooms, a storage area, and programmed space for a future kitchen that will give them the opportunity to grow. These developments will be done in support of Farmolly LLC’s tenant, Allegheny City Brewing.
A full list of grant recipients can be found online.
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