Municipal Clean Water Infrastructure Fellowship (SRF Cohort)
Allegheny County | November 2025 – April 2026
Vision
To advance equitable water infrastructure planning across Allegheny County by equipping under-resourced municipalities and environmental justice (EJ) communities with the tools, technical assistance, and collaborative support necessary to pursue Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) projects including wastewater treatment, stormwater management, green infrastructure, and pollution reduction.
Program Summary
The SRF Cohort is a six-month virtual learning and support initiative designed to build local capacity for Clean Water infrastructure planning, funding readiness, and community engagement. Through twice-monthly workshops, peer consulting, and access to technical experts, participants will gain practical skills to identify eligible projects such as wastewater upgrades, green infrastructure, or nonpoint source pollution control and strengthen SRF applications rooted in community priorities.
Target Participants
Target Participants Municipal planners, borough managers, water/wastewater utility representatives, and nonprofit leaders serving EJ-designated areas. Priority recruitment for this program focused on EJ-designated communities along the Monongahela River and other high-need municipalities across Allegheny County.
For more information, please contact Chavaysha Chaney, Water Equity Director by emailing chavaysha@upstreampgh.org with “Municipal Water Projects” in the subject line.
Update 1, December 2025: Building Momentum
Wilkinsburg, Braddock, and Homestead have completed the first month of the Clean Water SRF Cohort, taking important first steps toward strengthening their sewer and stormwater systems. In Wilkinsburg, participants are building on recent mapping efforts to identify priority projects for rehabilitation and green infrastructure, while Braddock has begun documenting flooding and drainage challenges to shape an initial assessment and mapping project. Homestead, which has already been engaged in planning, mapping, and implementing water infrastructure projects, continues to participate in the cohort to refine and explore new opportunities for support to complement existing projects. Together, these boroughs are laying the groundwork for future SRF applications that will reduce flooding, protect public health, and improve water quality across the region.
Looking ahead, the cohort will continue to refine project scopes, develop cost estimate frameworks, and draft environmental benefit narratives that connect local infrastructure needs to broader community resilience. Each month, we’ll share highlights from sessions, updates on progress, and introduce the local and regional partners working alongside us to make this effort as strong and impactful as possible. By moving from vision to action, Wilkinsburg, Braddock, and Homestead are positioning themselves to secure state funding that will deliver lasting improvements for residents and future generations.
