Blair County commissioners accept $26.3M regional workforce grant, approve mosquito-control and routine contracts
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Summary
At their Feb. 12 meeting the Blair County Board of Commissioners approved acceptance of a $26.3 million Southern Alleghenies workforce grant for six counties, a $97,906 mosquito-control grant that includes a vehicle purchase, and a series of routine service contracts and office expenditures.
The Blair County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 12 approved acceptance of a Southern Alleghenies Workforce Development Board grant valued at up to $26,300,000 to be distributed among six counties and several other departmental contracts and grants.
The board voted to accept the regional workforce grant — to be administered through the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry and the Southern Alleghenies Workforce Development Board — which covers workforce services across Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Fulton, Huntingdon and Somerset counties through June 30, 2029. A representative for the Southern Alleghenies Workforce Development Board said, "We receive, money from the Workforce Investment Act, which is federal funding that goes down through the state and that, that assists with workforce programs in the Southern Alleghenies region, all 6 counties." The commissioners approved acceptance of the agreement.
The board also approved a mosquito-borne disease control grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection for Jan. 1–Dec. 31, 2026 in the amount of $97,906, which the county representative said covers the full program cost and will fund this season's vehicle purchase. "When we have higher temperatures and lots of water, flooding, rain, and stuff like that, we're more likely to have mosquitoes," Chris Frederickson, operations and training coordinator, said in explaining the request; commissioners approved the grant.
Other approved items included:
- A renewal contract with RAVE Mobile Safety to continue Smart911 services (March 22, 2026–March 21, 2027) for $20,400 from the general fund; staff described Smart911 as a service where citizens can store household and medical information so dispatchers have immediate access during 9-1-1 calls.
- A professional consulting contract with Mission Critical Partners LLC for $29,192.34 to support planning and procurement for the Southern Alleghenies 9-1-1 cooperative; the contract will be invoiced quarterly.
- A FY 2025–26 renewal with Healthy Community Living Inc. for up to $100,000 to provide supportive-housing case management funded by the Human Services Block Grant; staff said the program provides transitional housing and case management to help families and individuals find permanent housing.
- A preventive maintenance agreement with Palco Power Systems for two 9-1-1 center generators at $1,736.09 (one annual visit), and multiple infrastructure and facilities contracts, including emergency sewer-service pricing with Beers McAleer Plumbing, guide-rail repairs on County Bridge 57 ($7,797.50), maglock installations at the Blair County Prison ($3,540), and 15,000 Fort Roberdeau brochures ($1,300).
- Several office-level approvals from the Prothonotary's Office: a $483.82 quote for repair parts to a rapid print time stamp machine (paid from the office automation fund), ratification of a carpet-installation quote ($8,026.40) paid from the Prothonotary automation fund, and a one-year extension of a service agreement for two retrievers and seven compact movable shelving systems for $2,331 (also automation-fund paid). "This is coming from what's called an automation fund in my office," the Prothonotary (Robin) said, explaining that fees collected on criminal cases fund these purchases.
The board conducted routine consent-agenda business as well, ratifying payroll and 13 warrant lists and approving various budget transfers and employment status changes. One commissioner abstained on payments to Thomas and Chandra Dendora in Hollidaysburg Borough.
The meeting ended after approval of a short-term amended lease for four parking spaces at 208 Union Street in Hollidaysburg (effective Jan. 1–Feb. 13, 2026) and scheduling the next meeting for Feb. 19, 2026 at 10:00 a.m.
Votes at a glance: motions described during the meeting were approved by voice vote unless otherwise noted; the transcript records ayes on each listed motion and one abstention on a specific payment, but individual roll-call tallies were not provided in the record.
What happens next: many of the contracts are service agreements or grant acceptances that will be implemented by county departments; the workforce grant will be administered regionally under the terms of the agreement with the Southern Alleghenies Workforce Development Board.