LSA committee recommends 67 projects to receive $10 million in gambling revenue grants
Mike Jones/Observer-Reporter
The committee tasked with helping to distribute gambling revenue through Washington County’s Local Share Account is recommending 67 projects to receive a piece of the more than $10 million in grants available this year.
After reviewing 119 applications asking for more than $37 million in requests and holding two days of public meetings last week, the committee voted Wednesday on its recommendations and sent the list to the county commissioners for final approval next month.
“All 119 (applications) have great merit, they really do,” said Mark Hrutkay, who is in his first year as LSA committee chairman after the commissioners appointed him Jan. 8 to replace Jeff Kotula following his unexpected resignation the day before. “They all have great needs, and the county is really blessed to have $10 million to help.”
The largest grants are expected to go to the Cecil Auditorium Development project overseen by the Canonsburg Education and Cultural Institute, along with upgrades at Wild Things Park, with each receiving $500,000. A classroom and administrative expansion project at LeMoyne Community Center is slated to receive $400,000.
But smaller projects are also benefiting from the program. For example, the Bradford House Historical Association is set to receive $12,785 for improvements to the museum, and Ramsey Real Estate Co. is expected to get a $25,000 grant for expansion of its Heist Spirits Distillery located in a former bank building in Burgettstown.
“It was recommended in conjunction with Burgettstown (officials),” Hrutkay said of the borough’s backing of the business that will hopefully spur economic development. “The mayor and several other folks presented the project, hopefully to help revitalize the borough.”
Independence Township is also set to receive $200,000 to continue renovating the former Lincoln National Bank in Avella to ultimately convert it into a business incubator.
“Avella is a small town that’s sometimes forgotten, but a lot of folks really want the downtown area (to succeed). It’s small, but to have a centerpiece and focal spot with that building, this (grant) is really designed to get that location some help to move it forward. They made a compelling presentation … so we thought it was definitely a worthy project,” Hrutkay said. “Helping a small municipality or township might be a small need to some but a great need for them.”
The amount of available money this year was nearly $1 million more than the $9.2 allocated in 2024, which meant the committee was able to recommend more projects than the 51 that received grants last year. But the committee also had to wade through significantly more applications this year compared to the last few years when the county received 94 in 2024, 87 requests in 2023 and just 65 in 2022.
Bob Griffin, executive director of the Redevelopment Authority of the County of Washington that oversees disbursement of the LSA grants, said the increase in applications indicates the growing popularity of the program since it began in 2008.
“I guess after 17 years, the more the program grows the more interest there is, and perhaps more need,” Griffin said of the higher number of applications in 2025.
The commissioners are now expected to vote on the LSA’s recommended list at their Feb. 6 meeting and send the projects to the state for its stamp of approval.
“Once that list is finalized and approved by the commissioners, the Redevelopment Authority will submit the list to the (state) Department of Community and Economic Development for final approval,” Griffin said, which is due by the end of March.
Hrutkay said the process went smoothly this month despite his addition just days before the committee began reviewing the applications. He complimented his fellow LSA committee members and thanked them for their help in getting him acclimated quickly.
“Not that I was surprised, but it was refreshing to participate with people like that in the room,” he said. “It made it a lot easier for me.”
LSA – 67 projects recommended to receive $10 million in funds
Community Improvement
Recommended Funding $3.889 million
Bentworth Athletic Stadium Parking Improvements
Bentworth Community Athletic Stadium Initiative
Recommended Funding: $38,690
Bradford House Museum Improvements
Bradford House Historical Association
Recommended Funding: $12,785
Canonsburg Area Senior Center Door Replacement/Attic Renovation
Aging Services of Washington County
Recommended Funding: $85,000
Cecil Auditorium Development Project
Canonsburg Education and Cultural Institute
Recommended Funding: $500,000
Donora Borough Public Works Facility
Donora Borough
Recommended Funding: $250,000
Dreamers Headquarters Renovation Phase 2
The Dreamers Company
Recommended Funding: $200,000
Ellsworth Community Park Exercise Trail
Ellsworth Borough
Recommended Funding: $30,000
Heist Spirits Distillery Expansion
Ramsey Real Estate Co.
Recommended Funding: $25,000
HVAC Project
Low Cost Spay Neuter Washington County Inc.
Recommended Funding: 24,780
Jim Welch Multi-Purpose Event Center
Shkinah Youth Ranch of the Mon Valley
Recommended Funding: $300,000
Classroom/Administrative Expansion Project
LeMoyne Community Center
Recommended Funding: $400,000
Little A Town Arena Improvements Project
Little A Town Arena
Recommended Funding: $250,000
Long Branch Borough Building
Long Branch Borough
Recommended Funding: $207,936
McGuffey Senior Center New Roof & Repair Siding
Aging Services of Washington County
Recommended Funding: $47,500
Meadowcroft Rockshelter Lighting Upgrades
Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania
Recommended Funding: $135,000
Multi-use Borough Building Roof Replacement Project
Marianna Borough
Recommended Funding: $150,000
North Charleroi Kids Park Rehabilitation
North Charleroi Borough
Recommended Funding: $35,000
Pony League Operation Facility
World Series Tournaments Inc.
Recommended Funding: $50,000
Project 47
Mel Blount Youth Home of Pennsylvania
Recommended Funding: $300,000
The Sprowls Building Complex Renovation Project
Claysville Area Preservation and Revitalization Initiative
Recommended Funding: $250,000
Washington Park Amenities Rehabilitation Project
City of Washington
Recommended Funding: $70,000
West Bethlehem Township Park Improvements
West Bethlehem Township
Recommended Funding: $27,958
Wild Things Park Upgrades
Washington Wild Things
Recommended Funding: $500,000
Economic Development
Recommended Funding: $800,000
Epi-Center
Epi-Center LP
Recommended Funding: $300,000
Fort Cherry Development District – Phase 1B
Imperial Land Corporation
Recommended Funding: $300,000
Lincoln National Bank Renovation and Business Incubator
Independence Township
Recommended Funding: $200,000
Public Interest
Recommended Funding: $5.041 million
Brush Run WWTP Equipment Upgrades and Replacements
Peters Township Sanitary Authority
Recommended Funding: $250,000
CIPP Repair Program Project F
New Eagle Municipal Sewage Authority
Recommended Funding: $150,000
Treatment Plant Control System Upgrades
New Eagle Municipal Sewage Authority
Recommended Funding: $110,000
Act 537 Plan Update
Blaine Township
Recommended Funding: $34,000
Beryl Acres EQ Tank Upgrade
North Bethlehem Township
Recommended Funding: $63,700
Blower Replacement Project
Mon Valley Sewage
Recommended Funding: $100,000
Cherrybrook Sewage Lift Station Improvements Project
Cecil Township Municipal Authority
Recommended Funding: $200,000
Composite Sampler Procurement & Replacement Project
Hanover Township Sewer Authority
Recommended Funding: $15,000
CTA Ginger Hill Sewer Authority
Carroll Township Authority
Recommended Funding: $438,000
MACM WWTP Digester Upgrades
Municipal Authority of the City of Monongahela
Recommended Funding: $111,440
Chartiers Interceptor Sewer Rehabilitation Project
Washington-East Washington Joint Authority
Recommended Funding: $300,000
Vestaburg Pump Station
Vestaburg New Hill Joint Authority
Recommended Funding: $37,770
Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements Project Phase 2
Mid Mon Valley Pollution Control Authority
Recommended Funding: $160,000
Roscoe Borough Stormwater System Improvements
Roscoe Borough
Recommended Funding: $58,000
Second Street Extension and West Grant Street Drainage Project
Houston Borough
Recommended Funding: $32,000
Always B Smiling City Water
Always B Smiling
Recommended Funding: $228,883
Banker Hill Road Water Extension Project
Amwell Township
Recommended Funding: $150,000
Burgettstown Health Center Water System Improvements
Cornerstone Care Inc.
Recommended Funding: $96,161
Burkhart, Astrid and White Street Waterline Replacements
Bentleyville Municipal Authority
Recommended Funding: $160,000
Fallowfield Waterline Replacements
Authority of the Borough of Charleroi
Recommended Funding: $200,000
High Road Waterline Replacement
Municipal Authority of the Township of Washington
Recommended Funding: $270,000
Remote Water Meter Installation Project
Donegal Township
Recommended Funding: $94,225
Adult Literacy Initiative
Literacy Council of Southwestern Pennsylvania
Recommended Funding: $70,000
Bus Maintenance and Storage Facility
Washington County Transportation Authority/Freedom Transit
Recommended Funding: $225,000
Catfish Creek Tributary Stream Restoration Project
East Washington Borough
Recommended Funding: $100,000
Food Helpers Facility Campus Improvements
Food Helpers
Recommended Funding: $70,000
Gunny’s Ridge Veteran and First Responders Mission
Gunny’s Ridge Veteran and First Responders Mission NPO
Recommended Funding: $348,959
Human Service Support
Washington County Department of Human Services
Recommended Funding: $125,000
Centerville Clinics Radiology Equipment Improvements
Centerville Clinics Inc.
Recommended Funding: $298,986
McBurney Road Flood Mitigation Project
Canonsburg Borough
Recommended Funding: $90,000
Morris Township VFD Building Efficiency and Weatherproofing Project
Morris Township Volunteer Fire Department
Recommended Funding: $104,764
Multi-Municipal License Plate Reader Cameras
Chartiers, South Strabane and Houston
Recommended Funding: $140,505
Pike Street Crosswalks Project
Canonsburg Borough
Recommended Funding: $67,187
Serenity Farms Computer Lab
Serenity Farms Inc.
Recommended Funding: $42,970
Stayin Alive AED Project
City of Monongahela
Recommended Funding: $17,077
Municipal Building ADA Restroom Renovation and ADA Renovation Project
Twilight Borough
Recommended Funding: $81,510
Job Training
Recommended Funding: $294,264
Classroom to Career Readiness STEAM Robotics
Charleroi Area School District
Recommended Funding: $18,497
Facility Instruction Lab Extension
Mon Valley Career and Technology Center
Recommended Funding: $90,000
Community Innovative Technology Advancements and Vocational Career Enhancements
Trinity Area School District
Recommended Funding: $26,170
WACTC Health Assistants Equipment
Western Area Career & Technology Center
Recommended Funding: $100,000
STEAM Project
Washington School District
$59,597