We are proud to call the Mon Valley home.
The Monongahela is formed by the confluence of the West Fork River and its “East Fork”—the Tygart Valley River—at Fairmont, West Virginia. The river is navigable its entire length with a series of locks and dams that maintain a minimum depth of 9 feet (2.7 m) to accommodate barges. In Pennsylvania, the Monongahela is met by two major tributaries: the Cheat River, which joins at Point Marion, and the Youghiogheny River, which joins at McKeesport.
MVA serves the Mid-Mon Valley, roughly defined as Elizabeth to Brownsville (North/South) and Smithton to Bentleyville (East/West). The communities that make up this area have a strong manufacturing heritage and though many communities have seen a decline in population, the area is still 100,000 people strong.
The area is also host to a variety of recreational activities, including:
- Boating
- Fishing
- Golf
- Hiking and Biking
- Swimming
- Parks
- Bowling
- Music Concerts
The area is also home to many historical sites, including:
- The Whiskey Rebellion
- Donora Smog Event
- Native American History
- And more
We need your help to expand this site. We are creating a local directory of local businesses, shops, restaurants, sites and anything else you would like to feature in the Mon Valley. Send your listing via the form below.
New small business loan program available
Governor Tom Wolf has announced a new loan program designed to help small businesses impacted by COVID-19. The Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority (PIDA) is administering the program through funding from the Commonwealth Financing Authority, making $60 million dollars available for loans up to $100,000.
For-profit retail/service businesses and agricultural producer businesses located in the Commonwealth that have 100 or fewer full-time employees are eligible to apply for the new loan program.
The loans are for working capital needs and will be at a zero percent (0%) interest rate, except for agricultural producers, which will be at two percent (2%). No payments ...
COVID-19: Business Assistance Programs
COVID-19 UPDATE: In this time of change and uncertainty, we are working to identify resources for our business community. Federal, State and local programs are being announced daily and we are compiling all of the information into a single resource page. Additionally, our Director of Operations, Jamie Colecchi, is available to discuss details of the programs available with individual businesses. He can be reached at 724-565-5637 or jcolecchi@monvalleyalliance.org.
$7,500 in Grants awarded to California, Donora & North Charleroi Boroughs
Photo: Left to Right: Randy Durr, Manager, Regional External Affairs, FirstEnergy/West Penn Power; Steve Hega, Mayor, North Charleroi Borough; John McDonough, Mayor, Donora Borough; Patsy Alfano, President of Council, California Borough; John Easoz, Chairman, Mon Valley Alliance Foundation.
The Mon Valley Alliance Foundation, with support from the First Energy Foundation, recently awarded $2,500 each to California Borough, Donora Borough and North Charleroi Borough for the installation of cameras to help fight the opoid crisis, deter crime and increase the economic vitality of these communities. Please read the full Press Release for more information:
Five Towns consider consolidation
On January 30th, 2020, residents from Roscoe, Elco, Dunlevy, Stockdale & Allenport came together to engage with State Senator Camera Bartolotta, PA Department of Community and Economic Development, Washington County Commissioners Diana Irey Vaughan and Nick Sherman, Washington county Redevelopment Authority, Washington County Elections Office, and the Mon Valley Alliance. Please see the attached article from the Mon Valley Independent for details on the meeting and next steps.
DCNR awards $157,250 to continue development on Charleroi Riverfront Park
Charleroi, PA, November 7th, 2019 –The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) announced a grant award of $157,250 to the Mon Valley Alliance Foundation (MVAF), formerly the Mon Valley Progress Council, to continue development on the Charleroi Riverfront Park project.
The DCNR Recreation and Conservation grant program is funded with a variety of state and federal funding sources including the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund (Key 93) which includes Key-Community and Key-Land Trust and the Environmental Stewardship Fund (ESF).
The grant funding will be used in conjunction with a matching grant from the Washington County Local Share Account ...
Town to Town Mini-Grant Program Announced
Proceeds from the Mon Valley-Opoly Paint and Sip will go towards Mon Valley Alliance Foundation’s (MVAF) Community Development Fund that is implementing a mini-grant program for local individuals and businesses. MVAF will be awarding five separate $250 grants until the end of 2018 under a rolling application system. Mini-grant applications are due by no later than 2 p.m on the last day of the month for consideration for the next month.
Potential applicants may include organizations such as educational institutions and schools, religious organizations, municipal organizations, parks and recreation and other groups whose main purpose is to benefit ...
Choose Your Impact with Community Development Funds
MVA has created four new community development funds to help support and start new projects that strengthen the community and benefit the region: Mon Valley Community Development Fund, Workforce Readiness Fund, Startup Incubation Fund and the Historical Preservation Fund.
