Lawrenceville, PA – September 27, 2004 – U.S. Representative Mike Doyle (PA-14) today presented a check for $75,000 to State Senator Jim Ferlo, Lawrenceville Corporation Board President Joe Kelly, and Lawrenceville Corporation Interim Executive Director Kate Trimble. This funding will be used to build a mixed-use development at 5201 Butler Street in Pittsburgh’s Lawrenceville neighborhood.

“This funding will help the entire Lawrenceville community to thrive by putting vacant land back into productive use,” Congressman Doyle said today. “Seeing my work in Washington have a visible positive impact on my district is one of the most rewarding parts of representing Pennsylvania’s 14th District in Congress.”

"I am very pleased that these federal dollars are being invested in Lawrenceville's revitalization," Senator Ferlo said. "I thank Congressman Mike Doyle for helping us obtain this funding and working so closely and cooperatively with us."

“Last year, Jim Ferlo asked me whether I could find some federal funding to help Lawrenceville,” Congressman Doyle said in presenting a mock check for $75,000 to Senator Ferlo, Mr. Kelly, and Ms. Trimble. “I told him that I would try, and I worked for a number of months to include funding for this project in the HUD funding bill for this year. I was successful in those efforts, and the bill was signed into law several months ago. Now the funding is available and the project can begin in the near future. I’m glad that I was able to secure federal funding for this much-needed investment in Lawrenceville’s future.”

"In October of 1999 a fire destroyed the buildings that once occupied this space on Butler Street, but now we have a very visible corner property on a very healthy main business corridor that is prime space for an exciting new development,” said Joe Kelly, President of the Board of the Lawrenceville Corporation. “The success of this future development will further demonstrate the dramatic rebirth of our neighborhood. We would like to thank Congressman Doyle and Senator Ferlo for caring about Lawrenceville and for entrusting its continued development to the Lawrenceville Corporation."

This funding was included at Congressman Doyle’s request in H.R. 2673, the Fiscal Year 2004 Consolidated Omnibus Appropriations bill providing the money needed to operate many of the federal government agencies this year. This legislation was signed into law (P.L. 108-199) in January. The funding was provided under the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Economic Development Initiative.