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State DCED official outlines multi‑phase planning/grant program; Munhall staff named as likely manager
Summary
A Commonwealth local government specialist described the Department of Community and Economic Development's STMP (strategic management/planning) grant program and offered technical support; council discussed long‑term financial planning and possible studies for police and fire staffing.
A representative of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) described a multi‑phase grant program the agency runs to help local governments with financial planning, service reviews and project implementation.
George Newsome, a local government policy specialist with the Commonwealth, told Munhall Borough Council the program helps municipalities take a "deep dive" into finances, prioritize recommendations, and then apply for project funding to implement those recommendations. "Recommendations create projects, projects create the funding," Newsome summarized. He said each implementation phase can provide funding in the tens to low hundreds of thousands of dollars depending on project scope and cautioned that communities must identify a local point of contact to manage grants and deadlines.
Council members said they would like to pursue a multi‑year financial plan and studies of police and fire staffing. "We would want to do some sort of a long term plan, financial plan would be good. We want to do a police study and a fire," one councilor said. Newsome said he expects to stay engaged through the planning and implementation phases and that the borough's identified contact would coordinate with the state's specialist; he mentioned working previously with borough staff on similar projects.
Newsome described the program process in phases and said a consultant is typically engaged to lead an initial diagnostic, which produces recommended projects. Each recommended project then becomes the basis for an implementation phase that may be eligible for DCED funding; Newsome said the program requires a resolution authorizing the municipality's participation when applying for subsequent phases.
Council discussed next steps and whether to use an in‑house grant writer or the DCED support team. Newsome said he would work alongside local grant writers and managers rather than replace them. Councilors asked about the typical phase size; Newsome responded phases commonly range from roughly $30,000 to $200,000. He added that awards are competitive and that communities must commit staff time so awards do not stall in implementation.
Ending: Council indicated interest in exploring the program further and suggested identifying a borough staffer to act as the local grant manager if the borough chooses to apply.
