Revitalization grants program to expand in seven Westmoreland County cities with additional $150,000 in grantsCommunity Foundation of Westmoreland County invites proposals as part of Revitalizing Westmoreland County initiative
GREENSBURG, Pa., Sept. 1, 2015 - The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County (CFWC) will award a second round of Revitalizing Westmoreland grants totaling $150,000 for community projects in seven communities in Westmoreland County.
The Revitalizing Westmoreland community initiative is designed to encourage new and creative ways to improve the lives of residents in Arnold, Jeannette, Greensburg, Latrobe, Lower Burrell, Monessen and New Kensington. These communities were selected due to the loss of population as a result of the significant decline in employment in manufacturing industries.
CFWC invites the residents of the communities to work with nonprofit organizations to generate ideas to rebuild their communities as a clean, safe and productive place to live.
“We are encouraged and excited by the success of the first year of Revitalizing Westmoreland,” said Phil Koch, executive director of CFWC. “We set out to create opportunities for partnerships among neighborhood residents, business associations, civic groups, nonprofits and local government and we expect similar collaborations in this next year of grantmaking in these communities.”
CFWC awarded $150,000 earlier this year to nine projects in the first cycle of the three-year initiative. Projects include an Armed Forces Memorial Wall for Memorial Park in New Kensington; beautification projects along the Clay Avenue business district of Jeannette and the removal of two blighted structures and creation of a parklet in Monessen.
Community groups and organizations of all types are encouraged to submit proposals. Projects that will be considered for funding will revolve around safety, cleanup and beautification. Sample projects include vacant lot cleanups, community gardens, community art, play equipment, beautification programs and residential stabilization programs that will encourage community pride and build relationships.
Grants for Revitalizing Westmoreland projects range from between $500 to $40,000 on a matching basis. Projects are required to seek matching funds in the form of volunteer time, cash or in-kind donations of goods and services for ¼ of the project costs.
Applications for projects that will take place next year, must be submitted by September 25. Members of the public are encouraged to submit their ideas, however they must partner with a nonprofit organization in order to receive funding.
CFWC will hold three information meetings in the community and invite all interested parties to attend to find out more information on how they can participate in Revitalizing Westmoreland. Meetings will take place at:
Monessen: Sept. 3 at 6 p.m.
City of Monessen Council Chambers
1 Wendell Ramsey Lane, Monessen PA 15062
Jeannette: Sept. 8 at 6 p.m.
City of Jeannette Council Chambers
110 S. Second Street, Jeannette, PA 15644
New Kensington: Sept. 10 at 6 p.m.
Westmoreland County Community College – New Kensington Campus
1150 5th Ave, Room 132, First Floor, New Kensington, PA 15068
The mission of The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County is to encourage local residents to become philanthropists, provide grants that support a wide variety of charitable organizations and serve as a community leader. In 2010, CFWC became an affiliate of The Pittsburgh Foundation, the 13th largest community foundation in the United States.