State Rep. Abby Major pushing lead waterline replacements and other projects in Alle-Kiski Valley

State Rep. Abby Major, R-Leechburg, started her term this month in the newly constituted 60th District — which now includes a large section of the Alle-Kiski Valley — and is working on landing grant money for improved roads, new waterlines and more.

Major, 38, of Leechburg and formerly of Ford City, handily won the general election in November. She was first elected in 2021 to fill in for the late state Rep. Jeff Pyle, R-Ford City, after he stepped down because of health issues. Major was Pyle’s chief of staff for 10 years.

Major said the biggest impact she can make is to push for grants in Harrisburg to cover local projects that many towns would be hard-pressed to pay for — such as replacing infrastructure and purchasing big-ticket items such as dump trucks and snowplows.

“The costs of some of these projects amount to the entire annual budget of some of our smaller towns,” she said.

If she can’t get the grants for large public projects, taxpayers could be left holding the bag, or the work would be left undone.

Major also is working on issues statewide, such as bringing broadband internet access to more remote rural areas in the state, including parts of Gilpin, Parks and Kiski townships.

Major is serving as chair of the House Second Amendment Caucus. Details on her committee memberships are pending as the chamber negotiates House rules.

Because of adjustments last year to the state legislative districts, based on population decline, the 60th District has changed.

Instead of mostly rural communities in Armstrong County, Major has more of a mix, including Lower Burrell, her first city to represent, and a centralization of Alle-Kiski Valley communities in Westmoreland and Armstrong counties.

“The population center of this district is in the Kiski Valley, and it will be a priority for me,” she said last year after the finalization of redistricting.

Major’s offices in Ford City and Lower Burrell still offer residents help with state agencies’ services dealing with driver’s licenses, property tax rebates and other state matters. AARP offers free tax assistance to senior citizens at Major’s offices during tax season.

Pursuit of grants key

Major works on grants large and small, including one in the $1 million range to replace lead waterlines in some Alle-­Kiski Valley communities. She hopes to release more details on that grant in the coming months.

“We have a lot of aging infrastructure that smaller communities don’t have the money to pay for,” she said.

But there are smaller asks she pursues, such as funding for playground equipment and other items. She has been meeting with local leaders and going to their council and board meetings to learn their priorities.

She was instrumental in securing $2.5 million in grants late last year for ACMH Hospital’s oncology wing and the new Butler County Community College in Ford City.

Major is working with state Sen. Joe Pittman, a Republican who also covers Westmoreland communities, to “pull our sway together” to land more grants for local projects.

Some of the projects include finding funding to repave Grant Avenue in Vandergrift and to fix hillside issues in the borough behind the town’s George G. McMurtry Fire Department.

Recently, Hyde Park requested funding for a fence on a steep hill near its kayak launch.

“It was only $5,000, too small for a typical grant,” she said, adding she found funding through Peoples Gas for the project.

Lower Burrell Councilman Chris Fabry said he is happy Major has an office in the city, providing close proximity for residents. He already has been discussing possible grants for the city with her.

“There are so many things city officials want to work on, but the funding just isn’t there,” Fabry said. “The residents of Burrell can benefit greatly from funding help with infrastructure, first responders and more.”

Lower Burrell office retained

The district of former Rep. Bob Brooks, who retired last year, was eliminated. With Major now covering parts of his old district, she made her new office in Brooks’ former Lower Burrell office at 2879 Leechburg Road.

Major retained Brooks’ chief of staff, Eric Felack, and Jillian Olszewski from former Rep. Jason Silvis’ office as legislative aides.

“I didn’t want to change things because people have been coming to this office for anything they need with state agencies,” she said.

The office is open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays. The phone number is 724-335-2790.

Her Armstrong County office, sharing the same hours, is at 312 Ford St. in Ford City. That number is 724-763-3222.

In addition to visiting or calling Major’s offices, constituents can reach her via email by visiting her page on the state’s General Assembly website at house.state.pa.us.