Catherine Tulley, our Manager of Environmental Programs, recently received an excellence award from Keystone Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for her efforts to “help early career GIS professionals in addition to her advocacy for the continued development of professional skills.” 

As a former member of Keystone GIS’ board, Tulley continues to provide valuable insight for the professional betterment of Keystone GIS members. In addition, she is an excellent resource for members looking to earn their GISP accreditation.

Tulley has been with us since 2015 and leads our organization’s Water Resource Center and the planning, programming and outreach that it provides. She is also the Project Manager on our region’s Climate Pollution Reduction Grant, and works closely with county planning partners on required state plans like Act 167, Act 537, and Hazard Mitigation.

To learn more about this prestigious award click here.

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has issued a NOFO for the Transportation Access Pilot Program. States, MPOs, and RTPOs may submit to FHWA a Letter of Interest (LOI), to indicate their interest to participate in the pilot program. FHWA encourages eligible agencies to share information about their recent experiences and near-term interests in accessibility analyses. This could include their agency's past experiences measuring transportation access, the location and scope of a study they would like to engage in, specialized datasets available to the agency, and analysis approaches they are interested in pursuing. Please email the completed form with any attachments to TransportAccessPilot@dot.gov on or before June 7, 2024 to be considered for participation in the first round of the pilot program. Learn more or apply at this link.

The Federal Highway Administration’s Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program (ATIIP) provides project funding for two different grant categories: (1) Planning and Design Grants and (2) Construction Grants. These discretionary grants to enable eligible entities to plan, design, and construct eligible projects that provide safe and connected active transportation infrastructure in an active transportation network or active transportation spine. The deadline to apply is June 17, 2024. See the ATIIP Grant Alert (PDF)​ for details.​

The U.S. Department of the Interior’s (Department) WaterSMART (Sustain and Manage America’s Resources for Tomorrow) Program provides a framework for Federal leadership and assistance to stretch and secure water supplies for future generations in support of the Department’s priorities. The objective of this NOFO for WaterSMART Small-Scale Water Efficiency Projects For Fiscal Year 2024 and Fiscal Year 2025 is to invite States, Indian Tribes, irrigation districts, water districts, and other organizations with water or power delivery authority to leverage their money and resources by cost sharing with Reclamation on small-scale on-the-ground projects that seek to conserve, better manage, or otherwise make more efficient use of water supplies. This grant is for projects ranging from $1-100,000. Apply by July 9, 2024.

USDOT’s Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) Grants Program funds projects that focus on using technology interventions to solve real-world challenges facing communities, always with a focus on purpose-driven innovation and supporting technologies that provide clear, near-term benefits. USDOT expects to award approximately 30 Stage 1 grants of up to $2,000,000 in this round. There is an anticipated minimum award size of $250,000. Visit the SMART Grants Program website to access the NOFO and learn about eligibility, application submission processes, and illustrative use cases. The application submission deadline is July 12, 2024, at 5 PM on this website.

Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) provides discretionary grants to support planning, infrastructure, behavioral, and operational initiatives to prevent death and serious injury on roads and streets involving all roadway users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, public transportation, personal conveyance, micro-mobility users, motorists, and commercial vehicle operators. August 29, 2024 is the deadline to apply to SS4A. Learn more or apply at this link.

WaterSMART Cooperative Watershed Management Program Phase I for Fiscal Year 2023 The objective of this NOFO is to invite states, Indian Tribes, irrigation districts, water districts, local governmental entities, non-profit organizations, Existing Watershed Groups, and local and special districts (e.g., irrigation and water districts, conservation districts, natural resource districts) to submit proposals for Phase I activities to develop a watershed group, complete watershed restoration planning activities, and design watershed management projects. Learn more or apply by September 3, 2024.

WaterSMART: Title XVI WIIN Act Water Reclamation and Reuse Projects for Fiscal Years 2023 and 2024 The objective of this NOFO is to invite sponsors of eligible water reuse projects to request cost-shared funding for planning, design, and/or construction of those projects. Learn more or apply at this link before September 30, 2024.

If your organization or government entity is interested in pursuing funding under these or other opportunities and has questions or requests for letters of support, please contact Lillian Gabreski, Manager of Sponsored Programs Development, at lgabreski@spcregion.org.

Earlier this month, our organization's members went to Harrisburg to meet individually with lawmakers that serve the 10-county region and inform them on the common issues impacting Southwestern Pennsylvania.

Our discussions centered on regional priorities like broadband connectivity, site development, as well as transportation and infrastructure needs.

We met with Rep.Rob Matzie, Sen. Marty Flynn, Sen. Kim Ward, Sen. Joe Pittman, and Sen. Wayne Langerholc.

We also met with Public Utility Commission (PUC) Chairman Stephen DeFrank, Broadband Development Authority Executive Director Brandon Carson, Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Executive Deputy Secretary Michael Hanna as well as Morgran Boyd, Special Assistant to DCED Sec. Siger.

Additionally, while in Harrisburg, we also hosted a meeting where our Commission's Board and members could brief many lawmakers at once on the region's priorities, as well as noteworthy issues in their specific counties. In attendance were:

• Armstrong County Commissioner Pat Fabian (our Board Chair)
• Fayette County Commissioner Vince Vicites (our Board Vice-Chair)
• Greene County Commissioner Betsy McClure (our Board Secretary/Treasurer)
• Armstrong County Commissioner John Strate,
• Greene County Commissioner Jared Edgreen,
• Butler County Commissioner Leslie Osche,
• Lawrence County Commissioner Dan Kennedy,
• Indiana County Commissioner Robin Gorman,
• Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato
• Pittsburgh City Councilwoman Barb Warwick
• Lt. Gov. Austin Davis
• Sen. Wayne Fontana
• Sen. Devlin Robinson
• Sen. Pat Stefano
• Rep. Valerie Gaydos
• Rep. Nick Pisciottano
• Rep. Eric Nelson
• Rep. George Dunbar
• Rep. Arvind Venkat
• Rep. Donna Oberlander
• Rep. Charity Grimm Krupa
• Rep. Jim Marshall
• Rep. Bud Cook
• Rep. Jim Struzzi
• Rep. Jill Cooper
• Rep. Stephanie Scialabba
• Rep. Jessica Benham



Through collaborative engagement with lawmakers, we reaffirmed our organization's commitment to supporting initiatives that will drive growth, prosperity and enhance the quality of life for our region's residents. 

We are currently accepting applications to hire for a Senior Transit Planner. In this role, you would lead in the development, implementation, and administration of our organization's transit programs and projects. To learn more about this position click here.

We offer competitive compensation and a generous benefits package that includes:

• Medical, dental, vision, and FSA insurance (medical insurance premium is paid by us for yourself and your dependents!)
• Flexible hybrid work schedule
• Modern office environment (we are located in The Terminal, in the heart of the Strip District)
• Vacation time, sick time and personal leave
• 11 paid federal holidays
• 7 percent automatic monthly contribution to your retirement after three years