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| Ensuring the Future Through Innovation, Science and Technology |
REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT GRANT AWARDS
SOUTHWESTERN
PENNSYLVANIA
CTC Foundation/CTC Representatives and Southwestern Pennsylvania Grant Award Recipients
First Row: Left to Right: Robert G. McKinley, Regional Trail Corporation; Doris Carson-Williams, African American Chamber of Commerce of Western Pennsylvania; Roger McCrea, Pleasant Hills Public Library; Maureen McVicker, Jefferson Hills Public Library; Dr. Linda L. Croushore, Mon Valley Education Consortium
Back Row: Left to Right: Edward J. Sheehan, Jr., CTC Foundation/CTC; Bob Eppley, Blacklick Creek Watershed Association, Inc.; Howard McClintic, CTC Foundation, Jim Moses, Somerset County Conservancy; Rita A. Bajura, NETL; Guillermo Velazquez, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in Western Pennsylvania, Inc.; Tom Sexton, Rail-to-Trails Conservancy; Carolyn Samolovitch, South Park Township Library; Daniel R. DeVos, CTC; and Nick Fisfis, Bethel Park Public Library
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RECIPIENTS
Africian American Chamber of Commerce of Western Pennsylvania and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in Western Pennsylvania, Inc.
The Africian American Chamber of Commerce of Western Pennsylvania and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in Western Pennsylvania, Inc. have each been awarded a CTC Foundation Regional Development Grant. The Africian American Chamber of Commerce of Western Pennsylvania plans to utilize the grant for the purchase of a computer and for the development of a Web site that will be used as a tools for its involvement in the energy commodity trading marketplace. The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in Western Pennsylvania plans to utilize the grant for the purchase of computer and office equipment that will further enable the organization to meet its program, project, and business/community outreach objectives. A key initiative of both Chambers is to assist minority- and women-owned businesses in entering the energy commodity trading marketplace.
The assistance that both Chambers are providing engages a program known as the Funds Transfer Agreement Outreach Plan that promotes access to energy commodity trading. Initially, the program is focusing on the natural gas commodity, with western Pennsylvania serving as the pilot region.
The Funds Transfer Agent Agreement Outreach Plan creates a self-sustaining educational and marketing infrastructure that is operated by regional organizations such as the Africian American and Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. That infrastructure utilizes an innovative financial instrument known as a Funds Transfer Agent Agreement (FTAA). The FTAA is designed to help women- and minority-owned businesses overcome financing obstacles that are typically inherent with small business participation in energy commodity trading.
The Africian American Chamber of Commerce of Western Pennsylvania's mission is to promote access and business opportunities for Africian American business owners and professionals throughout the region. From its offices in Pittsburgh, the Chamber functions as a valuable resource to the region and to over 300 of its members, partners and sponsors, offering a host of benefits, programs and services.
The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in Western Pennsylvania Inc. was founded in Pittsburgh in 1995 to anticipate and address the needs of area Latinos. With dedicated effort, hard work and a constant view to the future, the Hispanic Chamber has taken shape, and is becoming recognized as a Latino business and professional network unlike any other in America. As the Chamber looks to the future, it eagerly invites all to celebrate the increasing diversity of the area and to become a part of the positive growth of Pennsylvania's regional Latino community -- a community for which the organization was founded to serve.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Bethel Park Public Library
The CTC Foundation Regional Development Grant is being utilized by the Bethel Park Public Library to upgrade the library's collection of science and technology materials, with emphasis on environmental awareness and emerging technologies.
Like many local Pennsylvania libraries, the Bethel Park Public Library was founded in 1955 by a group of dedicated volunteers, with a rented storefront serving as its first home. The library moved to its present location in the newly built Bethel Park Municipal Building in 1963, and was expanded in 1980. From its start with donated materials, the collection has grown to more than 100,000 items, and includes the only government documents depository in the South Hills. Open 68 hours a week, the library has an active programming schedule for all ages, with special emphasis on children's services. In addition to 10 storytimes weekly for children from infancy through kindergarten, the library offers book clubs for all ages, an active Young Adult Program schedule, and a wide variety of informational/educational programs for adults. This summer the library will undergo a major renovation that will more than double the available seating, improve the lighting, and create comfortable spaces for the variety of ages who love the library.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Blacklick Creek Watershed Association, Inc.
The CTC Foundation Regional Development Grant is being utilized by the Blacklick Creek Watershed Association to continue work on the Lower Yellow Creek Restoration Project that is already underway to remediate pollution caused by acid mine drainage (AMD). The five-phase restoration project involves remediation of a 3.2 mile section of stream that had been totally destroyed by AMD from abandoned coal mining operations. Following a period of volunteer water monitoring and discussions with partner organizations that included the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), grant funding was secured for two passive water treatment systems through a Non-Point Source 319 (NPS) Project at the upstream site of the devastated stream (Phase 1 A/B of the project).
The Lower Yellow Creek Project has now expanded into Phase 2 and is ready to extend into Phase 3, with many additional partners and supporters joining the effort. Three Growing Greener grants have supplied the bulk of funding for implementation of the remediation systems that are in place. However, as is typical for projects such as this, many unexpected situations have been encountered that have added costs for monitoring, maintenance and repair of the remediation systems. The CTC Foundation grant will be used to fund those items of cost for the treatment system on lower Yellow Creek, as well as to help defray operational costs, including technical planning for the three remaining phasis of the project.
The Blacklick Creek Watershed Association is an independent, nonprofit organization that was formed in 1993 to provide a structure and focal point for the improvement of the environmental quality of the Blacklick Creek watershed. The watershed covers approximately 420 square miles in Cambria and Indiana Counties. Major tributaries in the watershed include Blacklick Creek, Two Lick Creek, Yellow Creek and Elk Creek. Draining the watershed over 270 miles of streams. These streams are polluted by the discharges of 300 surface coal mines, 170 coal refuse dumps and 200 miles of underground mines. One study estimated that the watershed receives an average of 300,000 pounds of acid per day from roughly 90 known pollution sources. The watershed is also heavily polluted by untreated sanitary waste. In addition to mine drainage remediation, the Association has been involved in other stream clean-up activities, recreational trail establishment (e.g. the Ghost Town Train), pollution surveys, preservation of cultural and historic sites, and overall encouragement of all watershed improvement efforts.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Jefferson Hills Public Library
The CTC Foundation Regional Development Grant is being utilized by the Jefferson Hills Public Library to update the library's science and math collections in the reference area.
Jefferson Borough Library was founded in 1959. Initially, library shelving was placed in the Council Chambers, then it was later moved to the renovated basement of the Municipal Building. Financing for the library came from a yearly donation by Borough Council, as well as from donations by the Lions Club, local businesses and citizens. Legislative grants have also been received over the years to support the ongoing operation of this community asset. Volunteers staffed the library until 1963 when a librarian was hired. In 1992, the library moved into the newly erected Municipal Center at 925 Old Clairton Road. Today the library, which is now open 45 hours a week, continues to experience rapid growth. With the addition of computers connected to the worldwide Web, as well as a collection of approximately 20,000 books, books on tape, videos and file materials the library is entering yet another exciting time in its development.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Mon Valley Educational Consortium
The CTC Foundation Regional Development Grant is being utilized by the Mon Valley Education Consortium to conduct a survey among its 25 school districts and their 113 school buildings to assess the technology situations as perceived by staff in each school. This will be compared to the technology plan the school has written to assess progress toward goals. Equally important will be a look at the vision of the plan and its compatibility with the explosion of technological advances occurring in the world. The assessment will address issues such as:
After summarizing the collected data, it will be reported to school district leadership for use in planning and budgeting for the future. The assessment report will also be shared with the State to provide a clearer picture of regional needs. The Consortium will use the report results as it plans its own professional development offerings and formulates its requests for State support.
The Mon Valley Education Consortium is a nonprofit, community-based Local Education Fund (LEF), which raises money, seeks out resources, designs initiatives and convinces the community to respond to the challenges faced by 25 school districts in southwestern Pennsylvania. Since its formation in 1987, the Consortium has been focused on making sure that all children have the opportunity to learn and succeed. It works to create the conditions for change that lead to school reform and student achievement, meaningful public engagement, and improved decision-making in schools and their many communities. The Consortium is a member of the Public Education Network (PEN), based in Washington, D.C., and is one of approximately 65 LEFs across the U.S. The Consortium's office is located in McKeesport, PA. The school districts the Consortium serves are located in Allegheny, Fayette, Greene, Washington and Westmoreland counties.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Pleasant Hills Public Library
The CTC Foundation Regional Development Grant is being utilized by the Pleasant Hills Public Library to fund a project to provide books and other materials for all ages in math and science, with a specific emphasis directed toward energy and environmental awareness. The reference collection and circulating materials at the library will be updated.
The Pleasant Hills Public Library opened its doors in November 1945. The first library was housed in the Pleasnat Hills Fire Hall. In the 1960s, Pleasant Hills Borough purchased the Bell Telephone building and the library was relocated to that facility. During 1997-1998, an expansion of the library increased the size of the facility by roughly 50 percent, providing accessibility to both floors for those with disabilities. The library continues to be a focal point of the community with materials and programs for all ages. As a lifelong learning center, the library meets the information and recreational needs of patrons by providing books and materials in print, audio-visual and electronic formats. The library is open seven days a week and is staffed by a director, a children's librarian/program director, a technical coordinator and seven part-time employees. It is governed by a nine-member board. Funding comes from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the Borough of Pleasant Hills, the Allegheny County Regional Asset District, local foundations, "Friends of the Library" and the citizens of the community.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Regional Trail Corporation
The CTC Foundation Regional Development Grant is being utilized by the Regional Trail Corporation (RTC), working cooperatively with the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy - Northeast Field Office, on a project to complete a Coal By-Product Utilization for Rail-Trails Study. The study will include existing and proposed rail-trails located in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey and Delaware (and possibly Ohio and West Virginia). With over 11,000 miles of open rail-trails and another 17,000 miles under development, trail builders and materials engineers have joined forces to explore new methods of recycling coal by-products to help keep pace with the construction needs of America's fastest growing trail system.
Through the Coal By-Product Utilization Study, approximately 100 rail-trails in the states noted above will be surveyed to determine what trail surface materials are being used or considered. The study will also focus on trail surface construction costs, durability, and associated maintenance/resurfacing techniques. A database will be created that identifies surface material information and trail locations. Additionally, a database of power plants that produce coal combustion by-products that are located in geographic proximity to the trails will be created in an effort to match trails with power plants. The intent of the study is to identify possible local supplies of inexpensive surfacing material that would also result in the recycling of coal waste that is currently being sent to landfills. The report will include a significant case study on the current test materials being conducted on segments of Pennsylvania's 43-mile Youghiogheny River Trail - North.
The RTC is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization that was created in 1991 to acquire, develop and manage appropriate trail corridors in southwestern Pennsylvania and to create and promote opportunities for recreation, tourism, economic development and historic and environmental conservation. The RTC is involved with four trails, including the 43-mile Youghiogheny River Trail, the 32-mile Sheepskin Trail from South Connellsville to West Virginia, the Five Star Trail from Greensburg to Armbrust and Alverton, and the Coal and Coke Trail from Scottsdale to Mt. Pleasant. The RTC is also involved with the ongoing feasibility study of a trail from Saltsburgh to Trafford. All of the RTC's projects are in Westmoreland, Fayette and/or Allegheny Counties.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Somerset County Conservancy
The CTC Foundation Regional Development Grant is being utilized by the Somerset County Conservancy to assist in funding efforts associated with the Kimberly Run Natural Area, a 266-acre parcel of land located near the intersection of U.S. Route 219 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike in central Somerset County. The site, which consists of old growth forest, wetlands and fields, is being devoted to wildlife habitat, environmental education and open space preservation. Kimberly Run serves as the Conservancy's first "green project". Initial efforts involving this property include the creation of a master site development plan, a species inventory of the property and the acquisition of a permanent right-of-way for public access to the tract for use as an environmental education center.
The Conservancy has begun to raise $100,000 through the Kimberly Run Capital Campaign to help meet the goals established for the property. Acquisition of the Kimberly Run property has been completed and some initial work on habitat delineation and the species inventory has been started. Areas of future focus for the tract include wetlands work, site access and trail development, additional species inventory work, and eventually a structure is planned for meetings and education.
The Somerset County Conservancy is a 501(c)(3), nonprofit, Land Trust organization. Its mission is to provide for the permanent protection of land and its resources in Somerset County. The Conservancy offers stewardship, education and advice for the preservation and enhancement of natural, historic and open space lands. Conservancy lands are totally open to the public, and the organization encourages their use for activities such as hiking, bird watching, educational field trips, hunting and fishing. The Conservancy was organized in 1994 to assume ownership of some land that had severe acid mine drainage (AMD) problems. Today the Conservancy has five passive treatment systems that are operating to help address AMD.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________South Park Township Library
The CTC Foundation Regional Development Grant is being utilized by the South Park Township Library for the purchase of math and science books for its adult and children's collections.
Although the existence of a library and "library society" in South Park can be traced back to the early 1830s, it wasn't until 1960 that the township had its first free public library, located in a local church facility. The Windover Hills Woman's Club funded, staffed and nurtered the library's growth, with the core collection of books coming from donations. In 1970, with the help of many citizens and numerous community organizations, including the South Park Chamber of Commerce, the library moved into a new facility. Library services continue to be provided by a volunteer staff and volunteer librarian and a Library Board was established.
During the 1970s, several other key milestones occurred: a new organization, "The Friends of the South Park Township Library", was formed to help make the library a better community resource; a part-time librarian became the first paid position on staff; in 1978, the library, under the auspices of the township, moved to its present location in the lower level of the South Park Township Building; and the township assumed responsibility for employment of a full-time librarian and part-time clerk. Later, a CETA Grant enabled the hiring of three additional staff postions. Today the library continues to grow, offering numerous services to area citizens. It serves as a shining example to all of the power of volunteerism, community service and commitment.
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MULTISTATE
Rail-toTrails Conservancy, Northeast Field Office
The CTC Foundation Regional Development Grant is being utilized by the Rails-to-Trails conservancy-Northeast Field Office (based in Harrisburg), working cooperatively with the Regional Trail Corporation (RTC), on a project to complete a Coal By-Product Utilization for Rail-Trails Study. The study will include existing and proposed rail-trails located in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey and Delaware (and possibly Ohio and West Virginia). With over 11,000 miles of open rail-trails and another 17,000 miles under development, trail builders and materials engineers have joined forced to explore new methods of recycling coal by-products to help keep pace with the construction needs of America's fastest growing trail system.
Through the Coal By-Product Utilization Study, approximately 100 rail-trails in the states noted above will be surveyed to determine what trail surface materials are being used or considered. The study will also focus on trail surface construction costs, durability, and associated maintenance/resurfacing techniques. A database will be created that identifies surface material information and trail locations. Additionally, a database of power plants that produce coal combustion by-products that are located in geographic proxomity to the trails will be created in an effort to match trails with power plants. The intent of the study is to identify possible local supplies of inexpensive surfacing material that would also result in the recycling of coal waste that is currently being sent to landfills. The report will include a significant case study on the current test materials being conducted on segments of Pennsylvania's 43-mile Youghiogheny River Trail - North.
The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy was founded
in 1986. With 100,000 contributors, this nonprofit organization is
dedicated to enriching America's communities and countryside by creating
a nationwide network of public trails from former rail lines and connecting
corridors.