Millions of dollars in state funding awarded to Centre County projects. Where’s it going?
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More than $5.3 million in state grants was awarded this week to Centre County infrastructure projects, multiple local elected officials announced.
The State College borough will receive the largest allocation of money in Centre County — $2.75 million — to help replace its water, stormwater and sanitary sewer systems under Calder Way, Rep. Paul Takac, D-College Township, and Rep. Scott Conklin, D-Rush Township, said in press releases.
The more than $6.5 million project will turn Calder Way into a pedestrian-preferred corridor. Underground upgrades and repairs to the stormwater, sewer and water supply infrastructure are part of the first step.
Ezra Nanes, State College mayor, said the borough, residents, workers and visitors will “benefit greatly” from this funding.
“Aging sanitary sewer lines along Calder Way will be replaced, which will prevent potential backups and capacity issues with the system, stormwater lines currently existing on Calder Way will be replaced and upgraded in some segments, allowing for an increase in capacity to convey stormwater in one of the Borough’s lowest-lying areas, and planned water line replacement will upgrade existing facilities and help prevent future water main breaks,” Nanes said in the release.
Construction for the first phase of the project is expected to begin Jan. 2, with the final phase set to start in 2027.
The College Township Water Authority will also receive a large chunk of change to construct a potable water well and replace the waterline along First Avenue. Takac, who previously served as a College Township Council member, said the $1.359 million will support some much-needed projects.
Martin McGann, College Township Water Authority chairman, in the release said these projects will directly benefit customers in Oak Hall and Lemont.
“Through the CFA’s financial support, the authority will be able to continue providing its customers with excellent water quality and a superior level of service while also maintaining reasonable billing rates,” McGann said.
The Mountaintop Area Municipal Authority will receive $212,500 to upgrade its existing wastewater treatment system in Snow Shoe Township. Takac said after touring the Moshannon wastewater treatment plant in Snow Shoe, he saw the need for maintenance and upgrades to the aging facility.
Katie Cramer, a Mountaintop Area Municipal Authority board member, said the authority has been struggling “for a good bit of time” to find where and how to cut costs so they can afford the upgrades and repairs.
“Receiving this grant from the Commonwealth with the help of Rep. Takac is a great relief to the authority and will help us to better serve our community and customers in the future,” Cramer said.
Senator Cris Dush, R-Brookville, also announced more than $1 million in funding for Centre County projects in a partnership with Takac:
Beech Creek Borough Authority: $171,505 for the Franklin Street Waterline Extension project in Liberty Township
Mid-Centre County Authority: $559,000 to rehabilitate a disk filter tank and disinfection system and install upgrades to the treatment plant in Boggs Township
Mid-Centre County Authority: $218,658 for upgrades for Pump Station Number 1 in Boggs Township
Mountaintop Regional Water Authority: $78,889 to improve the water distribution system in Snow Shoe Borough
In a release, Dush said the two have secured more than $2.5 million in funding for projects this year, a product of “prioritizing infrastructure over politics.”
Conklin announced four additional grants that will help support arts and cultural organizations in State College.
$49,500 to the Centre County Foundation for payments to artists
$32,447 to Discovery Space of Central Pennsylvania for operations
$25,843 to Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts for operations
$10,000 to the State College Choral Society for marketing
“These grants will ensure Centre County Foundation, Discovery Space of Central Pennsylvania, Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, and the State College Choral Society continue to prosper, as well as bring the community together to celebrate the arts and culture across Centre County,” Conklin said.
The grants are administered by the Commonwealth Financing Authority.
