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Harrisburg, March 22, 2005 -
State Sen. J. Barry Stout and state Rep. Timothy Solobay
today announced the approval of an $11,546 Industrial Sites
Environmental Assessment Fund grant for the Washington
County Redevelopment Authority’s project at the former Mac
Plastics site in Canonsburg.
“One site at a time, we are remaking our communities in
Southwest Pennsylvania,” said Stout (D-Washington/Greene).
“With these state programs, we are cleaning up our
environment and paving the way for economic development.”
With this grant, the authority will conduct a Phase II
environmental assessment at the Mac Plastics site, including
soil, air, and water testing. This phase will help to
determine the extent of contamination and the cost of
cleaning up the brownfield.
The grant is 75 percent of the total cost of the
environmental site assessment; the authority will provide
the additional 25 percent ($3,849) in matching funds.
Working in cooperation with the Canonsburg Renaissance Group
and Canonsburg Borough, the authority expects to revitalize
the borough’s downtown. The proposed project, located at the
corner of Murdock Street and Jefferson Avenue, will include
a library, an educational center, a small business park, and
free parking.
Stout was an original co-sponsor to the legislation that
created the Industrial Sites Environmental Assessment Fund
(Act 4 of 1995). The state Department of Community and
Economic Development (http://www.inventpa.com)
administers these grants, as well as performance-based
loans, under the Industrial Sites Reuse Program. In addition
to funding environmental tests, the state provides grants
and loans for local agencies and private businesses to clean
up brownfield sites.
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