Bernstine Says $682,923 in State Grants Approved for Beaver, Lawrence Counties

HARRISBURG – Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence) announced today that the Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA) awarded a total of $682,923 for regional development projects in Beaver and Lawrence counties.

In Beaver County, Mycelia Development, LLC was awarded a $448,953 grant to construct a 16,670-square-foot cultural life and arts center within the downtown core of Beaver Falls. The three-story building will include a ceramic studio, handmade market, café, art gallery, community room, theatre, and event space and will achieve energy savings through the Green Globes Certification system under the Green Building Initiative (GBI).

Ellwood City Borough in Lawrence County received a $190,000 grant to construct a new nature center, observation deck, and formal parking area at Stiefel Park. The complex will allow visitors to enter the facility and read educational signage about the bat habitat, as well as showcase the rail history of the area.

PA State Representative Aaron Berstine

In addition, Wampum Borough was awarded $44,000 to complete its new tennis courts at Wampum Park and remove a deteriorated court. Also, there are plans to remove the dilapidated fence around the perimeter of the park and install a new galvanized fence for the safety of children.

“These CFA grants have gone a long way in many areas to help promote improvements in recreational areas and develop local programs,” said Bernstine. “Cultural districts can create the dynamic environments that foster interaction across spaces, people and disciplines.”

The CFA was established as an independent agency of the Commonwealth and holds fiduciary responsibility over the funding of programs and investments in Pennsylvania’s economic growth.

The 10th District includes portions of Beaver County, including the city of Beaver Falls, the townships of Franklin, North Sewickley and Pulaski and the boroughs of Eastvale, Ellwood City, Koppel and New Brighton; parts of Butler County, including Slippery Rock Township and the Slippery Rock Borough; as well as the townships of Little Beaver, Perry, Plain Grove, Scott, Slippery Rock, Taylor, Washington and Wayne and the boroughs of Ellport, Ellwood City, Enon Valley, New Beaver, Volant and Wampum in Lawrence County.