NEW PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENT:

THE MONACA BUSINESS FACADE GRANT (MBFG) PROGRAM
We are excited to announce the launch of our Monaca Business Façade Grant Program to encourage the revitalization of business building facades and support owners of Monaca businesses and business properties in their façade improvement efforts. To read the press release, click here.

Applications will be accepted and reviewed on a quarterly basis.

The September 15 deadline has been extended to September 22. After September, the next deadline for submissions will be December 15.

The MBFG application packet, including eligibility criteria and guidelines, can be viewed or downloaded here.  Applications can be submitted electronically to info@monacacdc.org or printed and mailed to:

MBFG Program
Monaca CDC
998 Indiana Avenue
Monaca, PA 15061

CURRENT PROGRAMS:

> Monaca Friday Concert Series
> Food Truck Thursdays
> Nutcracker Decorating Contest
> Business Decorating Contest (2022 Holiday Season - voting Dec. 3-10)
> Grant Programs for Monaca businesses
> Collaborative work with Monaca Borough and Recreation Board
> Collaborative work and communication with Beaver County EcoDistrict partners, Neighborhood North Museum of Play, New Sun Rising, RiverWise, The Genesis Collective, and more
> Click here for upcoming events!
> Click here for email updates on our programs and events!

IN PROGRESS:

Student Discount Program
We are checking in with Monaca businesses who are interested in offering discounts to local college students from Penn State Beaver, CCBC and Geneva College.

If you are a business interested in participating in a student discount program, please contact us at info@monacacdc.org.

Business Assistance Programs
We are always considering ways we can help our local businesses. If you have ideas, we would love to hear them! Email us at info@monacacdc.org.


SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS & INITIATIVES:
Although these are not Monaca CDC programs, we want to share with you the sustainability efforts and achievements of the Borough of Monaca - a borough in which we are proud to live, work, and play.

Fun Fact: Did you know that Monaca was awarded Gold Certification from Sustainable Pittsburgh?


Solar Array
> 60 Ground Mounted Panels and 126 Roof Top Panels
> Cost $150.000 total ($75,000 from Borough of Monaca + 50% matching grant)
> Solar Panels offset 42% of the energy used at the reservoir.
> They will pay themselves off in 7-9 years, we are 4-5 years in already. The life span of these Solar Panels is about 20 years.
> Over the life of the Solar Panels, they will generate $200,000 back to the Borough, and will reduce about 60 tons of Carbon Dioxide for the Borough.
 
 
Solar Array Job
> One Million Gallon Reservoir
> Five Hundred Thousand Gallon Reservoir
> The solar panels run pumps that take the water from the wells downtown along the Ohio River and feed it to the water tower. The water is then gravity fed throughout town. The pumps run at night and all day the solar panels are feeding back into the grid.
 
 
Comfort Station Green Roof (Antoline Park)
> The green roof features living plants that help reduce storm water flooding by retaining water.
> They also help keep the building cool in warmer weather and capture airborne pollutants.
 
 
PurpleAir (Air Monitors)
PurpleAir sensors measure airborne particulate matter (PM). Particulate matter describes solid particles suspended in air; this includes dust, smoke, and other organic and inorganic particles. PurpleAir sensors use laser particle counters to count the number of particles in the air by particle size.

PurpleAir sensors use laser counters to measure particulate matter in real time, with each laser counter alternating 5-second readings averaged over 120 seconds. Each laser counter uses a fan to draw a sample of air past a laser beam. The beam from these lasers will reflect light from any present particles onto a detection plate, like dust shimmering in a sunbeam. The reflection is measured as a pulse by the detection plate, and the length of the pulse determines the size of the particle while the number of pulses determines the particle count.
 
Every icon on the PurpleAir map represents a public PurpleAir sensor, and the color indicates the real time reading on the US EPA Air Quality Index scale. The sensors with no outline are registered as outdoor sensors and the sensors with black rings are registered as indoor sensors.

When clicking a sensor icon, two informative boxes display. One shows the sensor information and averages over the last week. The other shows a graphical chart of readings from Channels A and B over the last week.

The default display on the PurpleAir map is the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Air Quality Index (AQI). The AQI allows comparison for different pollutants with an easy-to-visualize color scheme. The scale goes from good, green air to more hazardous, maroon air. The graphs give further information on different counts, relative weights and sizes of particles in the air.
 
> Green - 0-50: Air quality is satisfactory, and air pollution poses little or no risk with 24 hours of exposure.
 
> Yellow - 51-100: Air quality is acceptable. However, there may be a risk for some people with 24 hours of exposure, particularly those who are unusually sensitive to air pollution.
 
> Orange - 101-150: Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects with 24 hours of exposure. The general public is less likely to be affected.
 
> Red - 151-200: Some members of the general public may experience health effects with 24 hours of exposure; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects.
 
> Purple - 201-300: Health alert: The risk of health effects is increased for everyone with 24 hours of exposure.
 
> Maroon - >300: Health warning of emergency conditions: everyone is more likely to be affected with 24 hours of exposure.
 
Other Sustainable Efforts in Monaca Include:
> Traffic Lights and Street Lights converted to LED
> Recycling Efforts – Office Paper, Cardboard, Organics and Special Events including Electronics & Bulk Waste Recycle Days
> Promoting a walkable/biking community including installation of a Dero Bike Repair Station
> Water Leak Detection
> Sensus Light Modules that can control the street lights (dim, flash, and other)