Westmoreland awards $3M in covid funds to social service programs

Westmoreland commissioners last week gave $3 million to eight social service agencies as part of its continuing allocation of federal covid relief funds.

“We’re confident that the grants awarded in the fields of workforce development, mental health, housing and children and youth services are going to have a significant impact on the more than 5,000 individuals that will be served,” said McCrae Martino, executive director of the Community Foundation of Westmoreland County.

The foundation and county commissioners awarded the grants out of a portion of Westmoreland’s $105 million American Rescue Plan allocation. Nonprofit agencies with annual budgets of at least $300,000 that provide mental health programs, services for homeless residents and job training efforts were eligible to apply for individual grants.

Martino said 44 applications were received seeking a total of $13 million. There was $3 million allocated to the program.

“We reviewed every proposal, sat down and hammered it out,” she said.

One of the winners, Westmoreland Community Action director Mandy Zalich said $782,219 will be put toward establishing two new welcome centers, with one likely being in New Kensington.

“We were actually already looking for a place,” she said.

A second location is still being determined. Centers in Scottdale and Greensburg connect visitors with resources within the agency and elsewhere in the community.

Private Industry Council of Westmoreland/Fayette will use its $238,000 to continue after- school STEAM curriculum and tutoring for Monessen Elementary Center students, according to Shujuane Martin, president and chief executive officer. The agency will add mental health and first aid training for parents to help them learn what to do if their child is having mental health issues. Martin said she’s excited to be given the opportunity to have the offering in the Monessen area thanks to the grant.

“(The commissioners and foundation) really laid out what they were looking for and they stayed true” to that, she said.

The commissioners praised the grants as a way to make a difference in the community. Commissioners Sean Kertes and Doug Chew agreed that the shot of cash will help boost resources for everyone in the county and help providers meet needs.

“We expect this to have a huge impact in the Westmoreland County communities, especially the areas that are underserved,” said Commissioner Gina Cerilli Thrasher.

The remaining awardees are:

• Wesley Family Services, $443,646 to create programs to address health, family-strengthening training and shuttle services at its New Kensington facility.

• Pressley Ridge, $449,905 for a mobile outreach behavioral health team that will respond to people in crisis.

• Life’s Work of Western PA, $159,000 for employment support services for up to 200 people and placement of them in Westmoreland County. They will focus on people who are in recovery from substance abuse and other related issues.

• George Junior Republic, $375,730 to support people who are transitioning back into the community.

• SPHS Connect, Inc., $151,500 to complete renovations of the Welcome Home emergency shelter.

• Union Mission, $350,000 to expand affordable housing options.

Martino said the foundation is looking into options to provide financial support to the applicants that weren’t awarded funding.