Projects lined up for funding boost

By KATHY MELLOTT
The Tribune-Democrat

EBENSBURG May 13, 2009 11:50 pm

— Federal stimulus money coming to Cambria County and four of its municipalities should result in meaningful improvements, a county official said.
The funding will become available through additional Community Development Block Grant money expected in a few months.
“It’s going to make some construction jobs and it’s going to enhance quality of life for some people,” said Larry Custer, executive director of the Cambria County Redevelopment Authority, which is administering the money.
A requirement is that the funding be spent within 120 days after it’s received.
“I’m hoping it will come in late summer,” he said. “We’ll advertise and – boom – we’ll have everything ready.”
The county anticipates $80,320 in additional CDBG money to be used for improvements to handicapped accessibility at existing parks and playgrounds in West Taylor Township and the boroughs of Scalp Level, Brownstown and Lorain.
“This is going to surpass the minimum requirements,” Custer said.
“We’re going to make some significant improvements.”
The townships of Adams, Cambria, Cresson and Jackson each will receive $33,370 in addition to their annual allocation of about $100,000 for each municipality.
Adams will be using its additional money to resurface Church Street, disturbed when storm sewer work was done.
The additional money will pay for an extension of the sewage collection system in Jackson Township. That will allow for two additional homes to be removed from on-lot systems and added to the municipal system, Custer said.
Cambria Township is using its stimulus money to benefit the elderly and handicapped at Colver Park, where a portion of an existing walking trail will be adapted for easy accessibility.
Additional handicapped parking will be developed, and about 200 feet of the walking trail will be made accessible.
Handicapped-accessibility work at Veterans Park will be extended using the additional money earmarked for Cresson Township, Custer said.
The Community Development Block Grant program is part of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.