The first loan will benefit three different North Fayette County Municipal Authority projects.
Uniontown, PA - North Fayette County Municipal Authority (NFCMA) will tackle three much-needed projects with a $4.5 million Fayette County Infrastructure Bank (FCIB) loan.
NFCMA officials accepted the first loan installment Tuesday; marking a major milestone for the program. Aimed at helping municipalities and municipal authorities fund infrastructure projects, the Fayette County Infrastructure Bank allows such entities to apply for loans from a special county fund to be used as a quicker, more reliable option for financing necessary repair or improvement projects.
Authority General Manager Kenny Martray said the board is “very honored to be the first participant in this groundbreaking new program.”
“These projects will benefit the citizens of Fayette County by providing quality public drinking water for many more years; providing a distribution system with less breaks and interruptions; and providing a better fire protection system,” Martray said.
The three NFCMA projects slated for funding are:
- Riverside Drive Water Treatment Plant - Filters Six and Seven Upgrade Project - Currently in the final design and permitting phase, bidding for this project is slated for this spring, with completion slated for spring 2024. It consists of removal and replacement of all underdrains, media, air systems and control panels.
- Connellsville Street Waterline Replacement Project - Currently under construction with contractor Morgan Excavating LLC, this project is slated for completion in June. It consists of replacement of 630 feet of 2-inch waterline; 1,120 feet of 6-inch waterline; and 4,020 feet of 8-inch waterline; as well as 36 waterline valves and five hydrants along Connellsville Street, spanning from Dunbar Borough to Dunbar Township.
- Grindstone Road Waterline Project - This project is slated for bidding as soon as the ongoing permitting phase is complete. It consists of the installation of 5,000 feet of 6-inch waterline and five valves, which will connect dead-end systems and loop existing water lines, providing Jefferson Township with enhanced fire protection.
“The FCIB loan helps these projects by providing us with a lower-interest loan than we could have received ourselves,” Martray said. “By subsidizing 1.5 percent of the loan for 20 years, it helps keep these projects manageable.”
NFCMA was one of five infrastructure bank loan awardees recommended last year by the FCIB Advisory Board to receive more than $8 million in funding. Fayette’s program structure involves the county offering low-interest loans to more eligible applicants than what is available through traditional financing. Potential eligible applicants include municipal governments, municipal authorities and others to be determined.
The Fayette County Commissioners, along with Community Networking Resources (CNR) and HRG Engineering Inc., opened the program’s first application period in May 2022. CNR and HRG established the first Infrastructure bank in both Pennsylvania and nationwide in 2014 in Dauphin County. Butler County followed in 2018, and Fayette started the process in 2021.
Commissioner Scott Dunn said it’s “excellent” to see the infrastructure bank’s first installment head “out the door.”
“Improving infrastructure countywide has been a focus for the past few years,” Dunn said. “The FCIB is just another tool in the toolbox that our municipalities and authorities can take advantage of.”
Commissioner Vince Vicites said he was pleased to hear the North Fayette County Municipal Authority was among the first batch of approvals for infrastructure bank funding.
“These types of infrastructure development projects are what we envisioned when we created the infrastructure bank,” Vicites said. “Congratulations to the team at North Fayette Water.”
Commissioner Chairman Dave Lohr said the program has the potential to “really transform our ability to get projects done in Fayette County.”
“As only the fourth county in Pennsylvania to have an infrastructure bank, we are once again on the cutting edge. Using low-cost loans through our program, townships, municipalities and other entities will be able to receive funding for projects that they wouldn’t otherwise be able to complete,” Lohr said. “We’re excited to present the first check to North Fayette County Municipal Authority, and we anticipate that this is only the first of many worthy projects that will be funded through the infrastructure bank, for the betterment of Fayette County.”
The Fayette County Infrastructure Bank will remain focused on public transportation and utility infrastructure to support economic development projects and public safety. In addition to investing county funds directly back into county municipalities, other benefits include creation of a legacy program for investment in local county infrastructure; increased access to capital at the lowest possible rates; project planning and delivery support from county officials; the ability to leverage additional funding sources and more.
Current North Fayette County Municipal Authority Board members include Richard Widmer, Dr. Garret Breakiron, Bobbi Fetsko, Jason Foster, Pat Trimbath, Todd Miner and John Joseph. To learn more about NFCMA, visit www.northfayettecountywater.org.
Visit www.fayettecountypa.org/839/Fayette-County-Infrastructure-Bank to learn more about the Fayette County Infrastructure Bank.
To learn more about Fayette County, visit www.fayettecountypa.org.
Editor's Note: Photos attached
NFCMA Inaugural Infrastructure Bank Loan: North Fayette County Municipal Authority (NFCMA) officials accepted the first Fayette County Infrastructure Bank (FCIB) loan Tuesday.
NFCMA Inaugural Infrastructure Bank Loan2: Fayette County Commissioners pass off the check to NFCMA Board member Bobbi Fetsko.
NFCMA Inaugural Infrastructure Bank Loan3: Pictured from left to right are Richard Widmer; Commissioner Vince Vicites; Commissioner Chairman Dave Lohr; Bobbi Fetsko; Kenny Martray; Commissioner Scott Dunn and Dr. Garret Breakiron.
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This communication, among other initiatives, is funded through the 2016 Fayette County Local Share Account (LSA) in cooperation with the Fayette County Board of Commissioners, Fayette Chamber of Commerce, The Redevelopment Authority of the County of Fayette, The Redstone Foundation and other partners. This funding has been designated for the continued promotion and marketing of Fayette County, PA.
For more information, contact Kristi Kassimer Harper, Public Relations Specialist, at 724-437-4571, kkassimer@fayettecountypa.info or Kaylie Moore, Community Relations Coordinator, at 724-430-1200 Ext. 1611, kmoore@fayettepa.org.
