Westmoreland County just hit the jackpot, and not because somebody got lucky at a slot machine.
Live! Casino Pittsburgh has rolled out $17.2 million in grant funding for communities across the county, officials said Thursday. The money will be spread among dozens of municipalities and nonprofits to cover everything from road repairs and stormwater fixes to sewer work, public-safety gear and other local projects.
Greensburg landed the biggest single check this round, securing about $968,400 to shore up and maintain the downtown Bell Garage.
The funding was formally unveiled at a ceremony inside the Hempfield Township casino, covering 69 municipalities and organizations, according to CBS Pittsburgh. Local leaders, county commissioners, and casino executives turned out as recipients picked up their grant awards and project details.
State Sen. Kim Ward said the cash infusion is a lifeline for local governments that are constantly juggling tight budgets. "You have these municipalities, which are always struggling to be able to get money for their projects, for their roads, for their fire companies, for sewers, for everything," Ward said at the event, as reported by CBS Pittsburgh. Officials emphasized that the grants are meant to push long-planned capital projects over the finish line, not to cover day-to-day expenses.
Where the money is going
A detailed recipients list shows grants ranging from small equipment buys to major infrastructure upgrades, including pump-station work, waterline extensions, park renovations, and new public-works vehicles, according to the Mon Valley Independent. Among the standout projects: a $650,000 Woodside Drive pump station replacement in North Huntingdon Township and funding for a Westmoreland Food Bank distribution truck, along with dozens of other allocations scattered across the county.
How the Local Share Account works
The grants flow from Pennsylvania's Local Share Account program, which directs a portion of casino tax revenue into community projects. The funds are overseen by the Commonwealth Financing Authority and administered through the PA Department of Community & Economic Development under state program guidelines.
The money is earmarked for capital improvements and public-safety needs rather than routine operating costs, and municipalities, authorities, and nonprofits can apply.
Live! Casino and its owner, The Cordish Companies, have pointed to earlier Local Share Account rounds as proof of ongoing community reinvestment, citing nearly $21 million detailed in a 2023 company release and $19.3 million distributed in 2024, per the casino's newsroom and local reporting. County officials said this year's awards should help communities move quickly from planning to procurement as they aim to break ground on projects starting this summer.
