EMPORIUM — The Cameron County Commissioners approved a payment from Act 13 funds for a façade improvement program to benefit businesses in the borough of Emporium.
The $6,750 grant will be used by Sylvan Heritage Council to help match funds applied for through a state Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) program. The borough has also pledged $6,250, the Community Chest will donate $1,000, and business owners will be required to pay 25 percent of the cost of the project. Sylvan Heritage has raised other funds, as well.
The program is a continuation of 10 years of ongoing efforts by the group to beautify downtown Emporium.
Five businesses have shown great interest and two more are considering the program, according to Commissioner Lori Reed. Projects may vary greatly from one business to the next, with the total project cost not to exceed $10,000 per property.
The funding approval is contingent on Sylvan Heritage Council, which is working with the county’s Industrial Development Authority, securing the DCED grant. Priority will be given to Main Street businesses from bridge-to-bridge along Route 120, but opportunities will be available for businesses in other areas of town as well.
The commissioners have developed an Act 13 funding application, which will be used to better track projects using the funds. The state recently reported that a number of counties had improperly used funds, but Cameron County was found to have directed the funding in the proper manner. However, the move will allow for easier monitoring and a better understanding of local proposed projects, and information supplied with the application will spell out obligations for utilization of funds.
The county is also pursuing a safety improvement grant of $12,000 from the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania (CCAP), with intentions to use the money to fix drainage at the courthouse handicap entrance to decrease ice buildup, installation of fencing at Whittimore Hill, purchase of an automatic defibrillator unit and other safety upgrades.
Reed also spoke on the push to implement emergency services training courses at the Career and Technology Center.
The committee, which is being spearheaded by the commissioners and fire department officials in McKean County, is seeking funding from municipalities. Six townships in McKean and one in Potter have already pledged support for the program. A funding pledge of $2,000 per year for five years is being sought from each municipality.
The commissioners credited a new approach to the budget process as a big money saver this year. County officials were able to cut enough from the budget to weather another year without a tax increase, while most counties in the region were forced to raise taxes. Commissioner Jim Thomas stated that bringing in all the department heads and stakeholders to look at costs and find ways to save money had never been tried in the county, and seems to be working well.
However, this year’s cuts may not be enough if the state does not manage to balance its own budget. Just recently, the Independent Fiscal Office and the Governor’s Office of the Budget estimate the state could face a $3 billion deficit if the current spending plan was adopted again next year.
Commissioner Phil Jones noted the anxiety that comes along with not knowing how much money the county will be expected to work with. “We’re crossing our fingers and holding our breath,” he said.
The county paid $291,226.07 in general bills and $226,550.55 for payroll during the month of December. The payroll amount was higher than in a typical month because December included three pay periods. Of that total, $34,909.12 was paid for employee health insurance.
The next commissioners meeting is set for 10 a.m. Jan. 19 at the courthouse in Emporium.
