Fayette County commissioners back MAP grant preapplication to fund Phase 2 of strategic visioning

The Fayette County Board of Commissioners voted Feb. 17 to authorize submission of a Municipal Assistance Program (MAP) grant preapplication to the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development to support Phase 2 of the county's Strategic Visioning effort. The board approved placing the resolution on the agenda unanimously after a brief clarification about the local match.

Mark Rafail, the county’s economic development presenter, told commissioners the county would commit $35,889 in municipal resources and that an Appalachian Regional Commission award of $38,408 would serve as match. Commissioner Scott Dunn asked whether the county contribution represented cash or in‑kind resources; Rafail said the $35,889 could be provided as in‑kind contributions such as staff time, mapping by the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC), use of county buildings, or similar services.

The resolution directs staff to submit the MAP application and to account for the committed municipal resources in the county's grant proposal. County officials noted that under Act 101 program rules a county request cannot exceed 80 percent of project costs and that no county may request more than $75,000 from the DEP-related grant program referenced in the discussion.

The vote to place the resolution on the agenda was made by Commissioner Harry Dutch Kaufman, seconded by Commissioner Vince Vicites, and recorded unanimous (Commissioners Dunn, Kaufman and Vicites voting yes). The action moves the grant application to the agenda for formal adoption on Thursday’s meeting.