Ford City Awarded $750,000 Grant to Construct Water Plant
Ford City Borough will receive $750,000 toward the municipality’s water project after Armstrong County received the money from the state’s competitive CDBG program (KP File Photo)
by Jonathan Weaver
Six months ago, Ford City Borough Council unanimously took a risk applying for grant funds rather than accepting three bids to construct the new municipal water treatment plant.
They can stop crossing their fingers.
Yesterday, State Senator Don White and Representative Jeff Pyle announced that Armstrong County received a $750,000 grant through the state Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program to assist in the Ford City water system project.
“The state has stepped up several times to provide financial support for this project,” Senator White said in a press release. “This is a major project with considerable costs. This grant, coupled with the previous state financing, is enabling Ford City to make essential upgrades to its water system without placing a significant financial burden on ratepayers.”
In April, the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST) approved a $3.1 million low-interest loan for the project, but that still left the municipality with a $700,000 shortfall.
“I was pleased to support Armstrong County’s application for CDBG funding to support Ford City,” Senator White continued. “Representative Pyle and I have been strong advocates for the infrastructure needs of Ford City as evidenced by the previous commitments of state funds to move these necessary improvements forward.”
Despite the loan offer, bids for the water plant construction will still be received this month before PennVEST board of directors meet again in April.
Ford City’s project includes construction of a new water treatment plant and rehabilitation of a water storage tank that will allow for 720,000 gallons-per-day of treatment.
Ford City Borough Manager Eden Ratliff said he was “very excited” with the news. He thought that both council members and residents anxiously wait to see construction begin.
“We put a lot of work into this – a lot of extra work was required as far as the bidding process. Now we know it’s all worth it,” Ratliff said. “It’s been a long process.”
Council Vice-President Tyson Klukan couldn’t stop saying “wow” after yesterday’s announcement. He thanked the two local elected leaders, as well as County planners for their aid.
Ford City Borough Council members rejected bids for the new water treatment plant in October after Ed Schmitt of Gibson-Thomas Engineering recommended the CDBG application. At the time, Schmitt said feedback had been “very, very good” that Ford City could secure the competitive funding.
Residents then attended two November public hearings and submitted letters of support for the competitive grant through the county’s Planning and Development office in Kittanning.
County Commissioners passed a resolution to apply for the funding in December. County Planning and Development Assistant Director Carmen Johnson explained that the three-quarters of a million dollars is the maximum grant any municipality can apply for.
The water plant itself would cost about $2 million to construct. In past public meetings, Schmitt said there are several safety, treatment and regulation issues at the current Neale Avenue plant.
Besides the new treatment plant construction, grant funding is also to go toward restoring and painting a water storage tank, restoring an existing pump station and emergency generator and installing new water meters.
With the new funding allocation, water plant construction could begin as soon as this summer.
Ford City, Local News | jweaver March 2, 2016
By waldo, March 3, 2016 @ 11:43 AM
Ford city residents if you has 750000 would you invest it with any of these people. The only one smart enough to handle the money is the teenager who’s answer to this money is wow. Bankruptcy can’t come soon enough.Someone with sense has to run this town