Jayden Epps, 3, flies high on his swing with a push from his grandmother, Dorothea Epps, of Butler, while little sister Gianna Epps swings easily at Christie Avenue Playground in Butler on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022. Dorothea Epps said they frequent the playground once a week, and it would be nice to see additional features put in place. Cary Shaffer/Butler Eagle

Gov. Tom Wolf announced Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022, that communities across the commonwealth will see nearly $45 million in new Community Development Block Grant-CARES Act funding to support community improvements to enhance the quality of life for residents.

“This funding will allow communities to make a variety of infrastructure updates,” Wolf said. “Whether it be water and sewage systems, parks or social services, these dollars are going to help make communities better places to live, work and play.”

What this means for Butler County, according to a press release from the Wolf Administration, is that $1,428,159 will go to the city of Butler for park improvements as well as funding for the Emergency Housing Repair Program.

“One thing I’ve learned is you go after this money and you provide very specific and clear ideas as to what you want to spend the money on,” Butler City Mayor Bob Dandoy said. “We put forward some projects we would like to do with our playgrounds, and it looks like we got the approval on it. The next step is buckling down and looking at the particulars of the projects, and sometimes they change.”

Dandoy said the $1.4 million was the full amount requested in the grant.

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