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Commissioners back letter to help fund Shippensburg pump station and force main
Summary
County commissioners approved a letter of support for CFJMA’s Shippensburg Pump Station No. 15 and force main project, which CFJMA says is needed to relieve a wastewater capacity bottleneck and support local growth along the I‑81 corridor.
Cumberland County Commissioners voted to provide a letter of support for the Cumberland‑Franklin Joint Municipal Authority’s (CFJMA) proposed Shippensburg Pump Station No. 15 and associated force main, a project CFJMA says is needed to increase wastewater capacity and support near‑term economic development.
Troy Ocum, representing CFJMA, told the board the authority is preparing materials to request congressionally directed/community project appropriations from Representative Joyce and Senators Fetterman and McCormick. "What CFJMA is trying to do with this project is solve an economic issue that's going on that's a result of sewer constraints in the local area," Troy said, explaining that rapid growth around Shippensburg, Shippensburg Township and Southampton Township is approaching the system’s capacity.
CFJMA engineer Lance Huber described the infrastructure fix as the construction of a new pumping station and force main that would divert a large portion of flow and free capacity in an existing transmission line. "Ultimately, what we believe is this pumping station, this force main, is going to kind of reopen the area and allow additional potential growth development for industries, businesses, residences," Huber said.
CFJMA said it will submit requests to three federal offices for community projects (congressionally directed spending) and that selected projects will proceed through subcommittee and committee review before any appropriation is included in federal spending packages. CFJMA noted it has received positive feedback from Representative Joyce’s office and is also exploring other funding sources including USDA programs and potential work with EPA or the Army Corps depending on appropriations.
After brief questions about prior funding and grant options, a commissioner moved and the board approved issuing the requested letter of support.
The commission’s vote was recorded by voice as unanimous. County staff said they will sign and forward the letter to CFJMA for use in federal appropriation requests.
