On August 14, 2024 the QVCOG was notified by Allegheny County Economic Development that the following projects were selected for funding in CDBG year 50 (2024-25). 

Emsworth Borough ADA Sidewalk Ramp Replacement Project - Award Amount $41,000.00
The project includes replacement of 8 ADA ramps per the current ADA regulations. The ADA ramps will include all necessary concrete sidewalk, curbs, ramp, and ADA detectable surface, complete in place to perform the necessary installation.

Edgeworth Borough Municipal Building ADA Parking Project -  Award Amount $39,092.00
This project includes the construction of 200 square yards of new parking area along the frontage of the Borough building including handicap designated space(s). Work also includes connecting concrete walkway, line striping, installation of handicap parking sign; relocation of existing signage and restoration of disturbed areas.

Bellevue Borough Bayne Park Retaining Wall Repair Project Phase II - Award Amount $40,000.00
This project is a continuation of a previous CDBG project and proposes the demolition and re-construction of approximately 150 Linear Feet of an existing block retaining wall in Bayne Park in Bellevue Borough. The retaining wall is located at the southern boundary of the park and is adjacent to the Citizen Way Alley. The retaining wall is necessary to retain the integrity of the skate park and open space in the park.

Leetsdale Borough Henle Park Parking Pad Project Phase II - Award Amount $20,000.00
This project consists of the installation of a reinforced concrete dual ADA van accessible parking spaces (26'x20') with ADA signage and line painting. This project will also include approximately 70 feet of 5 foot wide ADA sidewalk from the new ADA parking spaces to the existing ADA sidewalk in the Park to provide ADA access.

MPD002 - 525 Spruce Run Blight Remediation Project - Award Amount $60,600.00
This project will include the demolition of the existing two (2) story 1,800 square foot structure located at 525 Spruce Run Road.  

Total CDBG funding - $200,692.00

The statewide Local Share Account (LSA) Program application window will be open from September 1, 2024, through November 30, 2024. LSA grant applications can be for up to $1 million in funding with no local match being required.  The Program Guidelines are available here. Eligible applicants include Counties, Municipalities, Municipal Authorities, Economic Development Agencies, Redevelopment Authorities, Land Banks, and Councils of Governments (COGs). Eligible projects must be owned and maintained by an eligible applicant or a nonprofit organization and include a Project in the Public Interest (i.e. a projects that improve the quality of life in the impacted community). Eligible uses of funds may be used for:

• Acquisition, Construction, & Demolition;
• Infrastructure;
• ​Purchase of vehicles, machinery and/or equipment;
• Planning, consulting and design costs related to planning projects; and
• ​Engineering, design and inspection, to include permitting fees, for construction projects not to exceed 10% of the total grant award. 

Please note, ​member communities can utilize the QVCOG for the submission of an application and the overall facilitation of the grant, etc. This may be a particularly effective route for multi-municipal applications or projects. 

Application Form: https://forms.gle/kbLGuhyH4sodryS59

Pennsylvania Resources Council (PRC) has made the determination that the Hard to Recycle Event slated to occur on July 27th will need to be postponed. Due to circumstances outside of PRC's control at the venue, the host location is no longer suitable for the public to use this Saturday, July 27th. No alternative sites were available or logistically feasible. All event registrants should have been notified through PRC regarding the event's postponement. As of this time, an alternative date for the event has not been identified, but PRC is working with their vendors and community partners to assess future availability. When a new date is secured PRC will notify all previous registrants and an advertising campaign will follow. Please stay tuned for further details! 

While we are sorry that this opportunity to safely and responsibly dispose of your materials is no longer readily available, PRC would like to extend a welcome to attend another one of their upcoming HTR collection events which can be found on their website. 
 

The QVCOG has been notified that the 2024 Gaming Economic Development & Tourism Fund Grant application window will be open from August 19th through August 30, 2024. This Grant allows municipalities, nonprofits, and COGs to carry out important economic development projects for current and future use.  Administered by the Redevelopment Authority of Allegheny County, these grants provide financial assistance to entities to facilitate economic development projects within the County. This Grant opportunity has no local match requirement. All member communities are encouraged to apply through the QVCOG!
 
Eligible projects are cited below:
A.  Economic Development Projects: Projects that promote local economic activity and create and/or retain jobs;
B.  Infrastructure Development Projects: Projects that improve or create infrastructure;
C.  Job Training: Workforce development projects; 
D.  Community Improvement Projects: Projects that improve or create civic, cultural, or recreational activities or facilities; 
E.  Public Safety Projects: Projects that promote the safety of affected communities;
F.   Public Interest Projects: Projects that improve the quality of life in the affected communities; and
G.  Projects with a $150,000.00 project budget or greater.
 
Any member community that wishes to utilize the QVCOG for the application and administration of a project must submit necessary application materials (see below) no later than the end of business on August 23rd. Municipalities interested in utilizing the QVCOG for this application opportunity are encouraged to contact Executive Director Conners at their earliest convenience to develop an appropriate strategy and address potential questions about the program. The application window is extremely limited which makes the next few weeks crucial. 

GEDTF Application Form

Beginning August 12, 2024, through September 13, 2024, Allegheny County Economic Development (ACED) will be soliciting pre-applications for construction related projects for its 2025-26 (Year 51 cycle) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program. Per ACED guidelines, if your municipality is a member of a Council of Governments (COG), all applications should be submitted through said COG. Every QVCOG member community is eligible to apply for CDBG funding for “non-income based” projects exceeding $20,000 in cost such as ADA accessibility improvement projects and blight remediation. Additionally, member communities may submit pre-applications for general recreation, road reconstruction, and sewer and water projects with the completion of a concentrated household income survey (see attached). All are encouraged to consider potential projects with their municipal engineers & staff. The QVCOG is happy to facilitate meetings with municipalities to discuss the pre-application process. Pre-applications will be due to the QVCOG by end of business on Friday, September 6th.

Below you will find the CDBG Pre-Application link which will need to be completed by you or your municipal engineer in advance of September 6th. Additionally, I have included the GIS based grant application and awards map which outlines recent CDBG & GEDTF projects. This advanced notice should allow ample time for pre-application meetings, questions, etc.

CDBG Year 51 Pre-Application Application Survey: https://forms.gle/55xNDb99oCDZRaab6

GIS map of past applications and grant awards: https://qvcog-qvcog.hub.arcgis.com/pages/maps ​

Due to a scheduling conflict, the June 19th QVCOG Board of Delegates meeting has been moved to take place at the Leetsdale Borough Municipal Building (373 Beaver Street, Leetsdale, PA 15056). All other meeting details, including the meeting time (7:00 p.m.) and Zoom availability will remain the same. 

Now that Cargill, Inc. has agreed to the exercise of the second option year, thereby extending the term of the contract for rock salt by one year for the period July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025, your municipality has the opportunity to review its annual rock salt usage and adjust, if necessary, its estimated tonnage requirements for this upcoming winter season.  The terms of your contract allow the estimated requirements to be updated no later than the commencement of the new contract year.  Accordingly, an assessment of those needs is to be made at this time and reported to the SHACOG office by completing the Estimated Requirements survey for the 2024-2025 winter season.
 
This Estimated Requirements survey is accessed through the SHACOG website at www.shacog.com.  If you need assistance in accessing or completing the survey, please call Sue Dawson (412-429-1130) at the SHACOG office.
 
This survey is similar in form and scope to the standard estimated requirements survey.  It is merely gathering pertinent data as well as establishing your estimated rock salt tonnage requirements for the forthcoming winter season.  The intent to maintain your municipal commitment to the terms and conditions of the bid is again embodied in a declaration which is in electronic form and which must be agreed to for your estimated requirements information to be saved.  As was the case with the original commitment prior to the bid, agreeing to the listed conditions binds your municipality, regardless of who completes the survey.  In addition, please be reminded that minimum/maximum purchasing percentages for the upcoming winter season will be based on the estimate you provide in this survey.
 
Please note that even if there is no change in your needs, you must still complete and submit your information.  Failure to respond will result in your tonnage and purchasing requirements remaining the same as submitted last year for the upcoming winter season.  So that we may provide timely notice to the vendor, you must complete the survey and submit your information by Friday, June 21, 2024.

The U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has released the 2024 CDBG and HOME Program income limits.  The income limits are effective as of May 1, 2024.  Below, you will find a breakdown of the income limits. Household Survey forms have been included, with the updated income limits for those who wish to apply for our CDBG Yr. 51 (2025) funding round, for activities requiring household surveys. This information will be vital to review/consider during the CDBG Year 51 Pre-Application process (anticipated to take place in August, 2024). 

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