Laurel Highlands Today

Rep. Carl Walker Metzgar and Sen. Pat Stefano have announced that the Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA) has allocated over $2 million in grants for four projects in Somerset County. The funding aims to improve water infrastructure, with a focus on safety and sanitation.

Metzgar emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, "Pennsylvanians must have access to safe, clean water. This funding is crucial to uphold and exceed standards for the sanitation, protection and well-being of our communities."

The first portion of the funding comes from COVID-19 American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds directed to the H2O PA – Water Supply, Sanitary Sewer and Storm Water Projects Program. This follows Act 54 of 2022, which allocated $205.4 million for construction projects related to drinking water and sewer systems.

Metzgar and Stefano successfully secured $921,173 for Confluence Borough Municipal Authority to support a new water system connection. Stefano remarked on the significance of this development: “Safe, reliable water is paramount to public health, so I am excited to see this assistance come to Confluence Borough. Replacing and rehabilitating these older systems is a vital measure to prevent waste and accessibility issues in the future.”

Additional funding was sourced from ARPA funds under the Pennsylvania Small Water and Sewer Program. This initiative received $105.6 million under Act 54 of 2022 for various improvements in water supply systems.

The specific projects receiving grants include:

- Borough of Boswell: Awarded $428,447 for storm wastewater sewer system restoration.

- Upper Stonycreek Joint Municipal Authority: Received $420,702 for replacing sanitary sewer lines in Hooversville Borough and Stoystown Borough.

- Meyersdale Municipal Authority: Granted $402,461 for sanitary sewer system improvements.

Representative Carl Walker Metzgar represents Pennsylvania's 69th District.