Bedford County joins four neighbors to pursue $175,000 PaDCED planning grant; each county to provide $35,000 match

The Bedford County Board of Commissioners voted June 9 to participate in a five-county Grant Cooperation Agreement with the Southern Alleghenies Planning and Development Commission that authorizes a joint application to the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development for a $175,000 Municipal Assistance Program grant to prepare ten-year comprehensive plans.

Under the agreement the Commission will act as the grantee, prepare and submit grant documents, contract with and oversee a consultant to complete the planning work, and maintain project files subject to audits. If PaDCED awards the grant, the agreement commits the five counties — Cambria, Blair, Huntingdon, Bedford and Fulton — to a combined $175,000 local match, apportioned at $35,000 per county. The counties agreed that match payments may be paid in installments negotiated with the Commission to meet cash-flow needs.

The agreement also contains standard administrative provisions: it takes effect as of its signing and remains in force through grant closeout and any required audits; it is governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; and it lists notice email contacts for each participating county. The board approved the motion to join the agreement on the recommendation of county staff.

The authorization does not itself obligate Bedford County funds until the grant is awarded and match schedules are finalized; the Planning Department is to coordinate next steps, including consultant procurement and payment schedules.