Springdale Township may tap a Pittsburgh-based government consulting group in its battle to obtain grant funding — an issue township officials say has been unsuccessful for years.
The commissioners Thursday learned about the proposal from Nick Bonesso, president of Avanti Consulting Group. Bonesso said Avanti works with many townships in Southwestern Pennsylvania for government relations, grant writing and applications and other municipal affairs.
“We target grants,” Bonesso said. “We go out to the grants, and then we do the follow-up work, which is to meet with the elected officials … regularly meet with their staff to see what’s available, what’s out there.
“We’re always looking for new grants.”
Bonesso said he provided his proposal to Township Manager William “Red” McElligott, who would then distribute that information to the board. There would be a cost to the township if it moved forward with hiring the consulting firm; the cost wasn’t immediately known Thursday.
In that proposal, Bonesso said he identified funding avenues the firm would target for Springdale Township, and put together a “grant calendar” for tracking grants and applications.
“We’re the smallest, and we’re on the bottom,” said Commissioners Chairman Rick Schwartz. He said mergers — like the township joining East Deer and Cheswick to create the Allegheny Valley Regional Police Department or the Allegheny Valley Volunteer Fire Department merger with the township, Harmar and Cheswick — is something the township does to make itself more attractive for grant funding.
“We’re at the bottom, we’re a little town,” Schwartz said. “So we’re trying to make ourself attractive with cooperation.”
Bonesso said Avanti’s history in working with state and federal officials is something that’s to its clients’ advantage. Avanti has been in business for more than 20 years. Bonesso said the group is nonpartisan and works “on both sides of the aisle.”
“It’s about working together, it’s about building coalitions, it’s about staying on top of what’s available and getting your share,” he said.
