State-mandated distribution of revenue from the state’s casinos paid off for Western Pennsylvania municipalities.
More more than $60 million in grants was distributed in 2025 to municipalities through a state program that allocates tax revenue collected from casinos to pay for economic development projects, infrastructure upgrades, public safety and equipment purchases.
“This is money that helps local municipalities and nonprofits. It helps support firefighters, police departments,” said Jim Smith, president and chief executive officer of the Economic Growth Connection of Westmoreland.
His organization received two grants, a more than $275,000 allocation that will be used to purchase a distribution truck for the Westmoreland County Food Bank and another $235,000 to buy vehicles for the county’s Mutual Aid Ambulance Service.
In all, the state awarded more than 11,000 grants totaling more than $175.6 million as part of the Local Share Account program created as part of the law that legalized casino gambling in Pennsylvania. Counties, municipalities and economic development agencies can apply for grants.
Additional municipal grants are awarded in the spring to communities in counties where casinos are based.
“It’s good stuff and helps relieve the tax burden on communities,” Smith said.
In Western Pennsylvania, 118 grants were awarded to recipients in Allegheny County, totaling $27.9 million.
In Westmoreland County, 55 grants and $13.1 million were distributed.
Communities in Armstrong County received $2.4 million; $1.8 million in Butler; $1.6 million in Fayette; $3.5 million in Indiana, $4.5 million in Washington and $4.3 million in Beaver.
Grants in Allegheny County included two allocations that total just under $900,000 that were made to the Turtle Creek Valley Council of Governments for roof repairs and parking lot upgrades at the Monroeville Convention Center.
“The convention center is an important public facility for Monroeville, and these projects address long-standing maintenance needs that can’t be put off,” said Monroeville Mayor Nick Gresock in a news release. “Replacing the roof and improving the parking lot are essential investments in safety and reliability that ensure the building remains functional, accessible and ready to serve the community.”
Grants are capped at $1 million.
New Kensington received a grant of more than $68,000 to purchase a new vehicle for the city’s police department.
“These LSA grants are important for our local communities,” New Kensington Mayor Tom Guzzo said. “Grants like this help offset some of our regular expenses and address some of our most pressing needs.”
The largest grant awarded in Westmoreland County was to Greensburg, which received $900,000 to repair the Robert A. Bell parking garage.
The four-floor structure, with 400 available spots, is the largest parking facility in the city.
Mayor Robb Bell said repairs are desperately needed and could begin as early as next summer. The gambling-related grant is expected to cover a majority of the costs associated with what is expected to be a full-scale refurbishment.
“It’s a critical piece of the infrastructure in the city of Greensburg,” Bell said. “If we hadn’t gotten this money, it could be a couple of years before we could come up with the funds to do this project.”
The mayor praised the grant program as an important funding mechanism for projects that otherwise would have to be paid through local tax dollars.
“It’s a good program,” Bell said. “We all hear people say, ‘What are we getting out of the casinos?’ If you really look at it, what we’re getting is huge for our residents.”