The Allegheny River Development Corp. is taking a different tack when it comes to showing grant funders it is has support for lock operations in 2016.
The nonprofit organization that is dedicated to keeping upper Armstrong locks on the Allegheny River open is asking for anyone who supports those efforts to let them know through social media.
“We're thinking outside the box,” said ARDC President Linda Hemmes.
She is submitting a grant application to PennDOT's Multimodal grant fund for more than $200,000 to cover the cost of lock operations in 2016.
And she wants PennDOT to know how many want lock operations to continue, so she is asking people to send messages to the ARDC to show their support.
“They can send us a message or they can simply like and share our Facebook page,” Hemmes said. “Then I will know they are solidly behind this project.”
Hemmes will include the total figures from social media in the application. After the grant is submitted, she said, she will continue to update PennDOT as more support comes in.
“I want them to know there are legions of people out there that want this to continue,” she said. “It's not unusual for senators and representatives at the state and federal levels to get behind really good projects.
“But it's really big when you can tell them there are literally thousands of people out there that love this project.”
Armstrong County locks at Clinton, Kittanning, Mosgrove and Rimer were closed to recreational boating in 2012 by federal budget cuts.
ARDC raised about $150,000 — including a $120,000 PennDOT grant — to reopen on weekends, holidays and for special events during the 2015 boating season.
ARDC's plans for 2016 include eight four-day weekends in which the locks would be open Friday through Monday for holidays and special events.
“For 2016, we've tried to include good coverage for all Armstrong County events,” Hemmes said.
Kevin Andrews, Armstrong County Tourist Bureau director, said the social media push should help the ARDC to show that supporters extend beyond county lines. Andrews also is an ARDC member.
“It will help us to reach out to tourists, people that don't live in the area,” he said. “This lets us know it's not just affecting Armstrong County, but people from all over.”
The ARDC expects lock operations to cost about $205,000 next year. Besides applying for the PennDOT grant, and from other agencies, the group also plans to host several fundraisers.
“If they want us to continue to fund the locks, they have to show that they want operations to continue,” Andrews said. “We're going to continue to do this as long as it's important to people.”
Julie E. Martin is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 724-543-1303, ext. 1315 or jmartin@tribweb.com.
