Senator Maria Collett announced today that Pennsylvania’s Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA) has awarded $650,000 in Act 13 grant funding across three projects.

“The grants I’m announcing today will create new recreation opportunities, prevent flood damage, and protect our local watershed – all while bringing new jobs to our communities,” Collett said. “I look forward to continuing to support projects that improve the lives of working families and make our district an even better place to live, work and visit.”

Act 13 grant recipients in the 12^th District include:

Greenways, Trails and Recreation

• Gwynedd Mercy Academy High School – $225,000 for site improvements along the Trewellyn Creek.
• Upper Dublin Township Municipal Authority – $125,000 for the Fort Washington Cross County Trail and Road Diet – Phase 3.

Watershed Restoration and Protection Program

• Upper Dublin Township – $300,000 for the Willow Manor Drainage project, meant to alleviate historic flooding and stream bank erosion issues.

In related news, State Reps. Ben Sanchez and Melissa Cerrato today announced that Upper Dublin Township has been awarded two state grants totaling $425,000. 

The Commonwealth Financing Authority approved the following grants: 

• Willow Manor Drainage: $300,000 from the Watershed Restoration Protection Program. 
• Fort Washington Cross County Trail: $125,000 from the Greenways, Trails and Recreation Program. 

“The funds awarded to Willow Manor Drainage encourage sustainable practices that protect our watersheds and ensure a healthier, more vibrant future for all,” Cerrato said. “Grants like this help protect local waterways, promote sustainable water management and ensure communities can quickly recover after environmental challenges.” 

“I’ve been happy to support the Cross County Trail project throughout my time in office. This unique initiative delivers outdoor recreation opportunities in otherwise urban or suburban areas, allowing people to prioritize their personal health while reconnecting with nature,” Sanchez said.  

Jack Smyth Jr., president of Boles, Smyth Associates Inc., the engineering firm representing the Upper Dublin Township Municipal Authority, added on its behalf: “The Upper Dublin Township Authority is very appreciative that the continued support of Representative Sanchez and Senator Collett has resulted in this critical $125,000 grant award from the Commonwealth Financing Authority. These funds will be directly used to construct the Cross County Trail to promote multimodalism in the Greater Fort Washington District and narrow Commerce Drive with a ‘Road Diet’ from four to three lanes to provide traffic calming safety. With the help of these funds, we look forward to this next section of the regional Circuit Trail to complete construction in early 2025.”  

The goal of the Watershed Restoration and Protection Program is to restore and maintain restored stream reaches impaired by the uncontrolled discharge of nonpoint source polluted runoff, and ultimately to remove streams from the state Department of Environmental Protection’s Impaired Waters list. Funds may be used for construction, improvement, expansion, repair, maintenance, or rehabilitation of new or existing watershed protection Best Management Practices.