Yearly Archives: 2015

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced today a Conciliation Agreement with the Housing Authority of the City of Hazleton, Pennsylvania, settling allegations the housing authority discriminated against Hispanic households. The agreement resolves claims the housing authority violated the housing rights of Spanish-speaking applicants andtenants by requiring them to supply interpreters in order to communicate with housing authority staff and by denying them limited English proficiency services.

The Mayor was selected in November as a 2015 Rose Center Fellow, which affords Pittsburgh guidance on land use challenges from a team of national design experts. In February a team of Rose Center officials visited Hazelwood and forwarded recommendations for the use of the Almono site.

The Building Inclusive Communities Work Group, made up of organizations who love Pittsburgh and value its history and diversity, joined the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania today for the release of “Building Inclusive Communities: A Review of Local Conditions, Legal Authority and Best Practices for Pittsburgh.”

DCED Acting Secretary Dennis Davin today announced that new state investments approved by the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority (PIDA) will support the continued growth of Pennsylvania businesses that are projected to create at least nine new jobs and retain 106 jobs.

Department of Community and Economic Development Acting Secretary Dennis Davin on behalf of Governor Tom Wolf announced today that Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL), an integrated commercial real estate and investment management firm, will relocate and expand its operations by serving as the primary tenant at the newly constructed Tower Two-Sixty in downtown Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, a move that will create 115 new jobs over three years

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced today that it has reached a settlement, including payment of $100,000 in compensation, with the city of Scranton, Pennsylvania, resolving allegations that the city unlawfully evicted residents with disabilities from their home.

400 Property Service workers at the University of Pittsburgh who maintain the school’s buildings and grounds ratified a new three-year contract today. The deal ensures that those hard working men and women will continue to make family-sustaining wages through which they can provide for their families and inject hard-earned dollars into the local community

Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick (R-Pa. 8th) participated in a roundtable discussion today with representatives of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh (FHLBank) and other financial services leaders to discuss the current state of affordable housing and ways in which the future funding and supply of affordable housing stock can be enhanced. The discussion included issues of particular interest to the Bucks County and Delaware Valley area

Moving to address interrelated housing and vacant and abandoned property issues facing neighborhoods citywide, Mayor William Peduto today named the full membership of Pittsburgh’s Land Bank Board and its Affordable Housing Task Force

Acting Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn today announced that the department is adding more than 17,000 acres of wooded land and waterways to the adjacent Elk State Forest with the acquisition of about a 27-square mile property in Norwich and Sergeant townships near the town of Clermont in southern McKean County

Today, U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded Operating Subsidy Awards totaling $4,902,607 to housing agencies across northeastern Pennsylvania and the Lehigh Valley

Congressman Keith Rothfus [PA-12] got an amendment passed that prevents Washington from imposing additional barriers that negatively impact natural gas production and Pennsylvania jobs. The Rothfus Amendment passed by a vote of 232-172 and was included in FY 2016 Energy and Water Appropriations Act

U.S. Rep. Scott Perry (PA-4) continued his efforts this week to remove government barriers to the development of hydropower in the U.S. by sponsoring an amendment to H.R. 2028, the Energy-Water Appropriations bill for FY2016 that would restore funding for this vital energy resource. Hydropower is the largest source of clean, renewable energy in the U.S., creating thousands of jobs (including many in the 4th District) and providing power to millions of Americans at low cost.

The proposed FY16 appropriations bill for Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies released today by the House Appropriations Committee would do serious damage to federal housing programs that aid some of the poorest and most vulnerable families in the nation and would zero out the only new funding targeted to expand rental housing that is affordable for these families.

The Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh (FHLBank) today announced unaudited financial results for the first quarter of 2015. The Bank recorded net income of $71.1 million, and the Board of Directors declared dividends of 5.0 percent annualized on activity stock and 3.0 percent annualized on membership stock. Dividends are payable to the Bank’s stockholders on April 30, 2015

The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency is offering free webcasts of three of its most popular, hour-long Housing Forum educational sessions on May 7. No advance registration is necessary.

The City of Pittsburgh is seeking public input on an action plan for transit improvements and community development in the corridor between Downtown and neighborhoods east.

At the workshop, attendees will gather information on available grants, timelines associated with them and gain insight on the application process from various organizations, State Departments, and commissions invited to speak at the workshop

Congressman Chaka Fattah (PA-02), issued the following statement on a proposal by business, union, and civic leaders in Philadelphia to raise the real estate tax, which has the potential to create new jobs and supply additional funding for the city’s schools

U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright announced that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has awarded two Schuylkill County fire departments each with Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFGs). The funds will be distributed via the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).