The committee tasked with helping to distribute gambling revenue through Washington County’s Local Share Account is recommending 68 projects to receive a piece of the more than $10 million in grants available this year.

After reviewing 119 applications asking for more than $37 million in requests and holding two days of public meetings last week, the committee voted Wednesday on its recommendations and sent the list to the county commissioners for final approval next month.

“All 119 (applications) have great merit, they really do,” said Mark Hrutkay, who is in his first year as LSA committee chairman after the commissioners appointed him Jan. 8 to replace Jeff Kotula following his unexpected resignation the day before. “They all have great needs, and the county is really blessed to have $10 million to help.”

The largest grants are expected to go to the Cecil Auditorium Development project overseen by the Canonsburg Education and Cultural Institute, along with upgrades at Wild Things Park, with each receiving $500,000. A classroom and administrative expansion project at LeMoyne Community Center is slated to receive $400,000.

But smaller projects are also benefiting from the program. For example, the Bradford House Historical Association is set to receive $12,785 for improvements to the museum, and Ramsey Real Estate Co. is expected to get a $25,000 grant for expansion of its Heist Spirits Distillery located in a former bank building in Burgettstown.

“It was recommended in conjunction with Burgettstown (officials),” Hrutkay said of the borough’s backing of the business that will hopefully spur economic development. “The mayor and several other folks presented the project, hopefully to help revitalize the borough.”

Independence Township is also set to receive $200,000 to continue renovating the former Lincoln National Bank in Avella to ultimately convert it into a business incubator.

“Avella is a small town that’s sometimes forgotten, but a lot of folks really want the downtown area (to succeed). It’s small, but to have a centerpiece and focal spot with that building, this (grant) is really designed to get that location some help to move it forward. They made a compelling presentation … so we thought it was definitely a worthy project,” Hrutkay said. “Helping a small municipality or township might be a small need to some but a great need for them.”

The amount of available money this year was nearly $1 million more than the $9.2 allocated in 2024, which meant the committee was able to recommend more projects than the 51 that received grants last year. But the committee also had to wade through significantly more applications this year compared to the last few years when the county received 94 in 2024, 87 requests in 2023 and just 65 in 2022.

Bob Griffin, executive director of the Redevelopment Authority of the County of Washington that oversees disbursement of the LSA grants, said the increase in applications indicates the growing popularity of the program since it began in 2008.

“I guess after 17 years, the more the program grows the more interest there is, and perhaps more need,” Griffin said of the higher number of applications in 2025.

The commissioners are now expected to vote on the LSA’s recommended list at their Feb. 6 meeting and send the projects to the state for its stamp of approval.

“Once that list is finalized and approved by the commissioners, the Redevelopment Authority will submit the list to the (state) Department of Community and Economic Development for final approval,” Griffin said, which is due by the end of March.

Hrutkay said the process went smoothly this month despite his addition just days before the committee began reviewing the applications. He complimented his fellow LSA committee members and thanked them for their help in getting him acclimated quickly.

“Not that I was surprised, but it was refreshing to participate with people like that in the room,” he said. “It made it a lot easier for me.”

LSA – 68 projects recommended to receive $10 million in funds

Community Improvement

Recommended Funding $3.889 million

Bentworth Athletic Stadium Parking Improvements

Bentworth Community Athletic Stadium Initiative

Recommended Funding: $38,690

Bradford House Museum Improvements

Bradford House Historical Association

Recommended Funding: $12,785

Canonsburg Area Senior Center Door Replacement/Attic Renovation

Aging Services of Washington County

Recommended Funding: $85,000

Cecil Auditorium Development Project

Canonsburg Education and Cultural Institute

Recommended Funding: $500,000

Donora Borough Public Works Facility

Donora Borough

Recommended Funding: $250,000

Dreamers Headquarters Renovation Phase 2

The Dreamers Company

Recommended Funding: $200,000

Ellsworth Community Park Exercise Trail

Ellsworth Borough

Recommended Funding: $30,000

Heist Spirits Distillery Expansion

Ramsey Real Estate Co.

Recommended Funding: $25,000

HVAC Project

Low Cost Spay Neuter Washington County Inc.

Recommended Funding: 24,780

Jim Welch Multi-Purpose Event Center

Shkinah Youth Ranch of the Mon Valley

Recommended Funding: $300,000

Classroom/Administrative Expansion Project

LeMoyne Community Center

Recommended Funding: $400,000

Little A Town Arena Improvements Project

Little A Town Arena

Recommended Funding: $250,000

Long Branch Borough Building

Long Branch Borough

Recommended Funding: $207,936

McGuffey Senior Center New Roof & Repair Siding

Aging Services of Washington County

Recommended Funding: $47,500

Meadowcroft Rockshelter Lighting Upgrades

Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania

Recommended Funding: $135,000

Multi-use Borough Building Roof Replacement Project

Marianna Borough

Recommended Funding: $150,000

North Charleroi Kids Park Rehabilitation

North Charleroi Borough

Recommended Funding: $35,000

Pony League Operation Facility

World Series Tournaments Inc.

Recommended Funding: $50,000

Project 47

Mel Blount Youth Home of Pennsylvania

Recommended Funding: $300,000

The Sprowls Building Complex Renovation Project

Claysville Area Preservation and Revitalization Initiative

Recommended Funding: $250,000

Washington Park Amenities Rehabilitation Project

City of Washington

Recommended Funding: $70,000

West Bethlehem Township Park Improvements

West Bethlehem Township

Recommended Funding: $27,958

Wild Things Park Upgrades

Washington Wild Things

Recommended Funding: $500,000

Economic Development

Recommended Funding: $800,000

Epi-Center

Epi-Center LP

Recommended Funding: $300,000

Fort Cherry Development District – Phase 1B

Imperial Land Corporation

Recommended Funding: $300,000

Lincoln National Bank Renovation and Business Incubator

Independence Township

Recommended Funding: $200,000

Public Interest

Recommended Funding: $5.041 million

Brush Run WWTP Equipment Upgrades and Replacements

Peters Township Sanitary Authority

Recommended Funding: $250,000

CIPP Repair Program Project F

New Eagle Municipal Sewage Authority

Recommended Funding: $150,000

Treatment Plant Control System Upgrades

New Eagle Municipal Sewage Authority

Recommended Funding: $110,000

Act 537 Plan Update

Blaine Township

Recommended Funding: $34,000

Beryl Acres EQ Tank Upgrade

North Bethlehem Township

Recommended Funding: $63,700

Blower Replacement Project

Mon Valley Sewage

Recommended Funding: $100,000

Cherrybrook Sewage Lift Station Improvements Project

Cecil Township Municipal Authority

Recommended Funding: $200,000

Composite Sampler Procurement & Replacement Project

Hanover Township Sewer Authority

Recommended Funding: $15,000

CTA Ginger Hill Sewer Authority

Carroll Township Authority

Recommended Funding: $438,000

MACM WWTP Digester Upgrades

Municipal Authority of the City of Monongahela

Recommended Funding: $111,440

Chartiers Interceptor Sewer Rehabilitation Project

Washington-East Washington Joint Authority

Recommended Funding: $300,000

Vestaburg Pump Station

Vestaburg New Hill Joint Authority

Recommended Funding: $37,770

Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements Project Phase 2

Mid Mon Valley Pollution Control Authority

Recommended Funding: $160,000

Roscoe Borough Stormwater System Improvements

Roscoe Borough

Recommended Funding: $58,000

Second Street Extension and West Grant Street Drainage Project

Houston Borough

Recommended Funding: $32,000

Always B Smiling City Water

Always B Smiling

Recommended Funding: $228,883

Banker Hill Road Water Extension Project

Amwell Township

Recommended Funding: $150,000

Burgettstown Health Center Water System Improvements

Cornerstone Care Inc.

Recommended Funding: $96,161

Burkhart, Astrid and White Street Waterline Replacements

Bentleyville Municipal Authority

Recommended Funding: $160,000

Fallowfield Waterline Replacements

Authority of the Borough of Charleroi

Recommended Funding: $200,000

High Road Waterline Replacement

Municipal Authority of the Township of Washington

Recommended Funding: $270,000

Remote Water Meter Installation Project

Donegal Township

Recommended Funding: $94,225

Adult Literacy Initiative

Literacy Council of Southwestern Pennsylvania

Recommended Funding: $70,000

Bus Maintenance and Storage Facility

Washington County Transportation Authority/Freedom Transit

Recommended Funding: $225,000

Catfish Creek Tributary Stream Restoration Project

East Washington Borough

Recommended Funding: $100,000

Food Helpers Facility Campus Improvements

Food Helpers

Recommended Funding: $70,000

Gunny’s Ridge Veteran and First Responders Mission

Gunny’s Ridge Veteran and First Responders Mission NPO

Recommended Funding: $348,959

Human Service Support

Washington County Department of Human Services

Recommended Funding: $125,000

Centerville Clinics Radiology Equipment Improvements

Centerville Clinics Inc.

Recommended Funding: $298,986

McBurney Road Flood Mitigation Project

Canonsburg Borough

Recommended Funding: $90,000

Morris Township VFD Building Efficiency and Weatherproofing Project

Morris Township Volunteer Fire Department

Recommended Funding: $104,764

Multi-Municipal License Plate Reader Cameras

Chartiers, South Strabane and Houston

Recommended Funding: $140,505

Pike Street Crosswalks Project

Canonsburg Borough

Recommended Funding: $67,187

Serenity Farms Computer Lab

Serenity Farms Inc.

Recommended Funding: $42,970

Stayin Alive AED Project

City of Monongahela

Recommended Funding: $17,077

Municipal Building ADA Restroom Renovation and ADA Renovation Project

Twilight Borough

Recommended Funding: $81,510

Job Training

Recommended Funding: $294,264

Classroom to Career Readiness STEAM Robotics

Charleroi Area School District

Recommended Funding: $18,497

Facility Instruction Lab Extension

Mon Valley Career and Technology Center

Recommended Funding: $90,000

Community Innovative Technology Advancements and Vocational Career Enhancements

Trinity Area School District

Recommended Funding: $26,170

WACTC Health Assistants Equipment

Western Area Career & Technology Center

Recommended Funding: $100,000

STEAM Project

Washington School District

$59,597