Mon Valley Public Health and Welfare Funds
As a result of the 2018 fire at the U. S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works, the United States District Court entered a Consent Decree for the Western District of Pennsylvania in settlement of litigation between plaintiffs PennEnvironment, Inc. Clean Air Council, plaintiff-intervenor ACHD, and defendant United States Steel.
A settlement was reached, and U. S. Steel has agreed to make payments totaling $4,500,000. The payments will be made to Allegheny County Economic Development and Jefferson Regional Foundation, each to receive a total of $2,250,000. Payments amounting to $450,000 shall be disbursed to each entity over five years.
Please use the U.S. Steel Community Survey to provide comments.
Purpose
The purpose is to fund public health or air quality improvement projects that have a direct, tangible, positive impact on public health or indoor/outdoor air quality in the Mon Valley communities located near U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works, Edgar Thomson Plant and Irvin Plant.
Minimum Proposal Criteria
Funds must be used exclusively to fund public health and welfare and/or air quality improvement projects that have a direct, tangible, positive impact on public health and welfare and/or air quality in the Mon Valley communities located near U. S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works, Edgar Thomson Plant, and Irvin Plant until all money in the Fund is expended.
Restrictions
Funds may not be used for:
- Advocacy or lobbying
- Any entity that has ever been involved in litigation against U. S. Steel
- Any project that employs or utilizes the services of any person that has ever served as a testifying or non-testifying expert for or against U. S. Steel
2026 Funding
The next round of Mon Valley Public Health and Welfare Fund applications are open now. This round will continue to support nonprofit-led projects that deliver tangible improvements in public health and air quality.
Organizations can submit applications through the County’s online portal at Allegheny County Economic Development's Application Portal. Please select the “Mon Valley Public Health & Welfare Fund” when applying.
Application
Application Portal
Deadline to Apply
Applications are accepted from April 15, 2026, through June 15, 2026, up to 4:00 p.m. Est.
Eligible Applicants
501(c)(3) tax-exempt identities may apply to fund Mon Valley-based projects supporting public health and welfare, and/or air quality improvement in Mon Valley communities located near the facilities, such as:
- Braddock
- Clairton
- Dravosburg
- Duquesne
- East McKeesport
- East Pittsburgh
- Elizabeth Borough
- Elizabeth Township
- Forward
- Glassport
- Jefferson Hills
- Liberty
- Lincoln
- McKeesport
- North Braddock
- North Versailles
- Pleasant Hills
- Port Vue
- Versailles
- Wall
- West Elizabeth
- West Mifflin
Past Years' Awards
2025 - $622,504 in Total
- Women for a Healthy Environment - Mon Valley Environmental Health Initiatives - $250,000
- Protect Elizabeth Township - Particle Project: Improving Indoor Air in and around Elizabeth - $169,680
- Physicians for Social Responsibility Pennsylvania - Air Equity: Clean Air Interventions for Communities Facing Cumulative Impacts - $113,018
- Grow Pittsburgh - Braddock Fresh Food Access Project - $50,000
- Steel Rivers Council of Governments - City of Duquesne Air Purifiers - $15,000
- Xposure Mentoring Program - Put Your Foot on The Pedal - $10,000
- Southwest Pennsylvania Environmental Health Project - AirView Public in the Mon Valley - $7,500
- Pleasant Hills Volunteer Fire Company - AED Replacements - $7,306
2024 - $247,946 in Total
- Helping Out Our People - Services for Families affected by Gun Violence - $25,000
- Steel Rivers Council of Governments - Cleaning Products for Community Distribution - $7,500
- Glassport Community Development Corporation - Community Garden Space - $25,000
- South Allegheny Fire Emergency and Services Rescue - Acquisition of AED Devices - $21,446
- Valley Clean Air Now - Air Purifier and Education Project - $75,000
- Rainbow Kitchen - Case Management and Critical Needs Supplies - $94,000
Previous Public Forum Information
To support prospective applicants, ACED will host a Virtual Public Meeting on May 6, 2026, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm to provide an overview of the application process, funding priorities, and eligibility requirements. Please register for the Mon Valley Public Health Fund and Welfare Virtual Public Meeting.