Crafton wins energy-audit and EV charger grants; trails feasibility study starts with $39,000 award

Council members reported new grant awards and upcoming grant-funded work at the Jan. 23 meeting that could affect borough facilities and transportation infrastructure.

Miss Contello (infrastructure/land-use) announced that the borough was awarded a $50,000 Moore grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to conduct energy audits of three municipal buildings (the municipal building, the library, and the magistrate's office). "This is good news that we have been awarded grant funds to use for this purpose," she said. Council said the audit will identify retrofit and efficiency opportunities; staff will report timing and scope when details are available.

Contello also said Crafton is a listed municipal partner in a multi-jurisdiction USDOT Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant application awarded to Allegheny County; the countywide award covers multiple recipients and was described at the meeting as a multi-million-dollar award that includes funding to install eight EV chargers (16 ports) in Crafton. The application included technical assistance from Duquesne Light and Connect. Council members said the borough has done prior site studies and that final locations, user fees and maintenance details will be defined once allocation and agreements are finalized.

Separately, Manager Tedesco reported that the borough's trails-feasibility study committee (17 residents) will meet and that the study is funded by a roughly $39,000 VCNR grant.

Council said staff will return with implementation details, cost-share information, and timelines as grant paperwork and project planning proceed.