West Central PA News

Indiana County has been awarded $210,000 in funding for housing and historic preservation grants, according to Rep. Jim Struzzi (R-62) and Sen. Joe Pittman (R-41).

The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) allocated a $200,000 Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement (PHARE) grant to the Indiana County Office of Planning and Development. This grant aims to assist low-income homeowners aged 55 years or older with replacing inoperable, unsafe, or inefficient furnaces and severely leaking or damaged roofing systems.

Established in 2010, the Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement Fund supports the creation, rehabilitation, and maintenance of affordable housing throughout Pennsylvania. The fund's revenue comes from the impact fee on natural gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale region and the state's existing Realty Transfer Tax.

Additionally, a $10,000 Keystone Historic Preservation Planning Grant was awarded by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) to the Indiana Borough Planning Commission. This grant will be used to survey the downtown district for evaluating historic and cultural buildings as part of a submission to the National Register of Historic Places for recognizing the Indiana Borough Historic District. The planning grant is funded through the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund via a dedicated portion of the Realty Transfer Tax.

“Securing $210,000 in grants to support our elderly population and recognize the historical importance of our community is a big win for Indiana County,” shared Struzzi. “The PHARE grant will better equip our county to provide assistance where it is needed, and the PHMC grant will hopefully bring our community national recognition for its historic and cultural value.”

“I’m pleased to announce $200,000 in grant funding to assist our older homeowners in replacing outdated furnaces and deteriorated roofs, ensuring their safety and comfort,” said Pittman. “Additionally, the $10,000 historic preservation planning grant will be instrumental in recognizing and continuing to preserve Indiana Borough’s rich heritage for future generations.”