West Chester, Pa. (September 15, 2026) – Three projects to enhance stormwater management and flood safety in West Whiteland, West Goshen, and communities across Chester County were awarded state funding, state Senator Carolyn Comitta announced today.
“As we continue to face the growing impacts of the climate crisis, communities across Chester County and the Commonwealth are experiencing heavier rainfall, stronger storms, and more severe flooding,” said Comitta, who serves as minority chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee. “These investments will help to protect property and save lives by mitigating flood risks, alerting residents of flood dangers, and improving stormwater runoff management”
The projects were awarded $875,000 in total state funding through the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development’s Local Share Account Program. They were approved today by the Commonwealth Financing Authority and are as follows:
- $125,000 for Willistown Township to plan and design an adequate stormwater management system plan in the northeast section of the township. This area has experienced repeated flooding due to a naturally sloped landscape where three steep hills descend into small valleys populated with residential properties, business and industrial properties, and a hospital. This project calls for studying stormwater issues along North Cedar Hollow Road to determine contributing factors to flooding and identify a solution.
- $500,000 for West Goshen Township for stormwater infrastructure improvements along the North Hill subdivision. The project calls for replacing storm sewers along Story Road, Collins Drive, and Owen Road to address flooding on the Route 322 West Chester bypass. In addition, the project calls for replacing 400 feet of piping, extending infrastructure along Owen Road, replacing small-diameter piping, installing new inlets along Story Road, and adding a small rain garden as a water quality measure.
- $250,000 for Chester County and the Chester County Water Resources Authority to implement flood safety equipment, sensors, and signs at high-risk locations. Chester County aims to mitigate flood hazards by expanding detection capabilities, implementing flood hazard signage on roadways, and installing traffic safety barriers during floods. The project calls for installing five flood sensors at high-risk streams, roadway closure gates at eight locations, and flood risk signage at twenty-seven locations.
The Local Share Account program is designed to distribute funds derived from gaming revenue to support community and economic development projects.
Eligible applicants include counties, municipalities, municipal authorities, economic development agencies, redevelopment authorities, land banks, and councils of government.
Eligible projects must improve the quality of life of community citizens and be owned and maintained by an eligible applicant or a nonprofit organization.