MONONGAHELA, PA – The Shapiro-Davis Administration is investing in the Mon Valley’s economic future with a grant to redevelop a former coal mine into a shovel-ready site to host an industrial park that creates jobs for the region.
“I’m proud to be from the Mon Valley – the coal that was mined here, in places like Washington County, was used to fire the furnaces in McKeesport’s steel mills,” said Lt. Gov. Austin Davis. “Governor Shapiro and I are proud of Pennsylvania’s heritage, but more importantly, we’re excited about our economic future. We’re excited about the potential we see in Washington County, and we want to help realize that potential.”
Davis and the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Acting Secretary Jessica Shirley joined state and local officials at a news conference today in Washington County to highlight a $250,000 planning grant to the Mon Valley Alliance through the first round of the PA SITES (Pennsylvania Strategic Investments to Enhance Sites) program.
“This grant from our partner at the Department of Community and Economic Development is an important step in revitalizing this area and returning this space that we are standing on to productive economic use,” said DEP Acting Secretary Shirley. “There are many sites like these across Pennsylvania – we have the largest inventory of abandoned mine lands in the country – but that also means that we have a lot of opportunity to bring those sites back to life.”
The Mon Valley Alliance will use the planning grant to conduct a feasibility study for a 542-acre site along the Mon Valley Expressway, located above former mining operations.
“Our region is flush with hard-working men and women who are eager to help their communities grow economically,” said state Sen. Camera Bartolotta. “There's a long history of my district making significant contributions to the state's needs, and we look forward to continuing to do just that. This grant is a great first step, and I'm eager to see the wonderful things that come of it.”
“This achievement is the result of strong partnerships at every level, from our local townships and county officials to our state leaders, including the Governor’s Office, legislators, the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED), and the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), as well as our private partners,” said Jamie Colecchi, CEO of the Mon Valley Alliance. “The Mon Valley has a proud history of hard work and industrial innovation, and through these partnerships, we are transforming that legacy into a new era of opportunity. With the successful development of Alta Vista and now the launch of this feasibility study, we are proving that our region can continue to be a place where businesses grow, families thrive and communities prosper.”
The Shapiro-Davis Administration developed PA SITES after soliciting feedback from national site selectors who help companies decide where to relocate and grow. The administration secured $500 million for site development in the 2024-25 bipartisan budget, including $400 million for PA SITES.
Earlier this month Gov. Josh Shapiro announced the first round of grant funding to energize development throughout Pennsylvania – in Bedford, Berks, Bucks, Cumberland, Dauphin, Fayette, Franklin, Luzerne, Philadelphia, Washington and Westmoreland counties – to attract businesses, investment and good-paying jobs to Pennsylvania.
In the first round of PA SITES funding, the state Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) received 66 applications requesting more than $377 million. The department continues to accept and review applications on a rolling basis, with additional grant and loan awards expected later this year.