Mon Valley projects recommended for LSA funding cash

By TAYLOR BROWN
Senior Reporter
tbrown@yourmvi.com
Several Mon Valley projects received the green light from the Washington County Local Share Account Review Committee on Tuesday.
LSA funds are generated through the county’s share of gaming revenues from Hollywood Casino at the Meadows in North Strabane Township.
Recommended projects will now be sent to the Washington County Board of Commissioners for review and consideration before being sent to the state Department of Community and Economic Development by March 31.
Each year, the grants provide funding to local governments, nonprofit organizations and other eligible entities to help fund projects that directly benefit communities and residents in some way or another.
Committee Chairman Jeff Kotula said there were 94 project applications submitted this year, totaling $28.1 million in funding requests.
“With the public vote yesterday (Tuesday) the committee’s review process is now complete for 2024,” Kotula said. “The all-volunteer committee spent nearly three months reviewing the projects as well as dedicated two days to public briefings where we were able to speak with the applicants and learn about their projects first-hand.”
After hearings last month over two days that invited representative to plead their cases for respective projects for consideration, the board recommended 50 projects for approval this year, funneling $8.7 million into communities.
The LSA investment will be leveraged by $13,045,412 in additional funding for a total of $21,745,312 in economic impact for Washington County.

To read the rest of the story, please see a copy of Thursday’s Mon Valley Independent, call 724-314-0035 to subscribe or subscribe to our online edition at http://monvalleyindependent.com.