BELLEFONTE — Centre County Commissioners on Tuesday held a jam-packed meeting
Here are takeaways from the meeting:
Letter of Support for St. John’s Grant Application
Commissioners approved a letter of support for St John’s Episcopal Church’s Keystone Historic Preservation Construction Grant. The grant funding will be used to restore the church’s historic steeple.
St. John’s is located on a main street in Bellefonte Borough. The church’s Gothic Revival- style steeple is not only the only original remaining steeple in Bellefonte, but it is also a staple in Bellefonte’s widely recognized Victorian heritage.
The Rev. Ruth Ferguson and Sze Wing Yu, leader of St John’s New Grants Committee, spoke with commissioners about the grant application and the scope of the project.
The cost of restoring the steeple is estimated to be about $200,000, about half of which could be covered if the church received the full Keystone Historic Preservation Construction Grant.
In addition to this grant application, St. John’s Episcopal Church has applied for other grants and will continue fundraising in the community to close the financial gap that is holding up the restoration.
Commissioners unanimously approved the letter, noting the importance of preserving the historic architecture as well as the importance of ensuring the continuance of the congregation and its contributions to the community of Centre County
Chamber of Business and Industry presents impact report
CBICC President and CEO Greg Scott shared a report of the impacts the county’s funding has had on the Chamber’s work.
In 2025, the County invested $25,000 to support the CBICC’s mission. “Your funding is not just a contribution,” Scott affirmed,“It is leveraging capital — and it’s producing results,” which includes:
- Filling over 75 job openings
- Deploying $700,000 to small businesses
- Supporting 60 entrepreneurs
- Convening over 700 businesses
- Pursuing federal funding to expand the local sensor industry
- Advocating for expanded air service at the University Park airport
- Continuing housing and development work
Scott thanked the Commissioners for being “a strategic partner in long-term economic leadership”, allowing county stakeholders to align around a shared economic strategy. As Scott noted in closing, this partnership “helps ensure that Centre County remains competitive, collaborative, and forward-looking.”
Bleeding Disorders Awareness Month
Commissioners continued the annual tradition of proclaiming March as Bleeding Disorders Awareness Month to raise awareness of hemophilia and inheritable bleeding disorders.
This proclamation seeks to call attention to bleeding disorders. Although rare, many Centre County residents are living with bleeding disorders, and this proclamation is one way of acknowledging their experience and encouraging the community to learn about these conditions. The community is encouraged to consider ways they can aid in this fight, whether that is advocacy, assisting at blood drives, donating blood, etc.
Cameron Cedeno from the Western PA Bleeding Disorders Foundation spoke with the
commissioners and accepted the proclamation. Cedeno urged the community to learn more about general information, early detection, testing, and research advocacy related to bleeding disorders at www.betteryouknow.org.
Bridge Bundle Project
Richa Rimal, Transportation Planner for Centre County Government, presented the final completion report for the 2019 Bridge Bundle Project. The project pooled funding from state Dept. of Transportation grants, Act 13 funds, Fee for Local Use funds, and municipal contributions to support the $4.66M cost.
The project included work on the 110-year-old Mill Street Bridge over Lick Run in Howard and the 100-year-old Railroad Street Bridge on Buffalo Run in Bellefonte.
Meeting schedule
The Board of Commissioners meetings on March 10 and March 17 have been cancelled.
