Homer City Borough Council Approves $2.9M Stormwater Grant Application

Homer City Borough Council approved an application that—if it moves through the state process—could help fund stormwater drainage infrastructure improvements in town.

At its Tuesday night meeting (reported July 7, 2026), council approved applying for $2.9 million through the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development’s (DCED) Multimodal program. The borough manager also said she is looking into grant opportunities for non-paved alleys, but more research is needed before an alley-focused application could be submitted.

What council approved (and why residents should care)

WCCS AM1160 & 101.1FM reported that the council’s action was approval to apply for the DCED Multimodal funding—not a construction award and not a guarantee the project will be selected.

Stormwater drainage upgrades are designed to improve how runoff is handled during heavy rain—helping reduce nuisance pooling and overflow risks. They also tend to involve systems that require operation and maintenance over time.

What “Multimodal” funding typically supports

DCED says the Multimodal Transportation Fund provides grants to help ensure a safe and reliable transportation system, and that money may be used for development, rehabilitation, and enhancement of transportation assets to existing communities (including examples such as streetscape, lighting, and sidewalk enhancements).

DCED also sets program parameters residents may want to track as the borough moves forward: applications are accepted annually between March 1 and July 31, and required electronic submissions must be made by close of business on July 31 for hopeful consideration at the November CFA board meeting. DCED also notes grants shall not exceed $3,000,000 for any project.

So, while the borough’s request is for $2.9 million, residents should continue to treat that number as an application amount until there’s an official award.

What typically comes next if an award is approved

After the application stage, PennDOT’s Multimodal Transportation Fund SUCCESS MANUAL lays out common “after an award” expectations. Key items that often affect how quickly work can begin and what residents may notice:

• Local match: PennDOT’s manual states MTF awards must be matched by eligible local funding of at least 30% of the amount awarded.
• Reimbursement agreement timing: The manual notes that the MTF reimbursement agreement must be executed within one year of award announcement, and PennDOT cannot reimburse costs incurred before the agreement is fully executed.
• Project delivery steps: Sponsors generally move into project development and delivery tasks (including design-related work, contractor selection/bidding processes where applicable, and invoice submissions for reimbursement under the executed agreement).

From a resident standpoint, the practical “next phase” is usually planning and design work first. Construction impacts—like utility coordination, staged access changes, and later traffic-control needs—tend to become clearer once design and contract milestones firm up.

Non-paved alley idea: discussed, but not submitted yet

The WCCS report said the borough manager is exploring grant opportunities for non-paved alleys, but that “more research” is needed before an application could be submitted.

Residents should watch for follow-up public updates on whether alley drainage becomes part of a future grant request, and if so, where the borough plans to focus first.

What to watch for in Homer City next

As this moves from council action toward whatever happens next in the DCED/MTF process, watch for borough communications (and later state updates) on the application’s progress and, if awarded, public-facing project notices that typically follow during design and delivery.

Sources

• WCCS AM1160 & 101.1FM (Homer City Borough council action summary, July 7, 2026)
• Pennsylvania DCED — Multimodal Transportation Fund (program overview)
• PennDOT — Multimodal Transportation Fund SUCCESS Manual (7-3-2024)
• U.S. EPA — Sewer Overflow and Stormwater Reuse Municipal Grants Program (stormwater/flooding outcomes background)
• Homer City Borough — official website