Allegheny County continues to work together to meet the goals of Live Well Allegheny. Our most recent effort was a joint initiative by the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) and Allegheny County Economic Development (ACED) which helps communities increase opportunities for their residents to be physically active. With funding support from the Richard King Mellon Foundation, the Active Allegheny Grant Program provided financial assistance to communities to develop plans and design transportation projects to increase residents’ opportunities for physical activity and provide connections to important local destinations and transportation systems.

The Active Allegheny Grant Program had two cycles this year. The first was open to select municipalities with 46% percent or greater population of low-moderate income persons while the second cycle priority was given to municipalities with 25% or greater population of low-moderate income persons. Municipalities were encouraged to work together on projects extending beyond their boundaries. A total of $196,000 was awarded to fourteen municipalities. Following is a list of the projects that were awarded in year 1:

• Millvale ~ Seavey Road Pedestrian and ADA Project $ 15,000.00
• Etna and Sharpsburg ~ Open Streets Day Etna and Sharpsburg $ 7,500.00
• Braddock, East Pittsburgh, North Braddock, Rankin and Turtle Creek ~ Feasibility Study to Develop a Walking/Bicycling Route through Communities $ 42,000.00
• Carnegie ~ Open Streets Carnegie $ 5,000.00
• Collier ~ Collier Township Trail Network Map and Guide $ 4,400.00
• East McKeesport ~ East McKeesport Open Street Day $ 5,000.00
• Harrison ~ Harrison Township Biking/Walking Corridor Planning and Design Project $ 49,600.00
• Ross ~ Creating Connections for a Healthier Ross $ 33,500.00
• Wilkins ~ Wilkins Township Active Transportation Master Plan $ 34,000.00

This funding also allowed the county to make significant progress in accomplishing the recommendations of Allegheny Places, the county’s land use and development comprehensive plan, and Active Allegheny, the county’s active transportation plan.  Both plans rely heavily on municipal participation to accomplish the plans’ goals.

The Richard King Mellon Foundation has generously awarded funding for two more years of the Active Allegheny Grant Program. Municipalities will be notified when the next round of funding is available.