Allegheny County and three other western Pennsylvania counties with dormant brownfield sites this afternoon received $1.75 million in grants from the federal Environmental Protection Agency to revitalize their long-abandoned industrial and commercial sites.

"Brownfields initiatives demonstrate how environmental protection and economic development work hand-in-hand," said Donald Welsh, administrator of the EPA's mid-atlantic region.

At a check presentation in McKees Rocks, Mr. Welsh said the funds are essential for the region's economic recovery. The money will be used by the Pittsburgh North Side Industrial Development Co., the Washington County Authority, Cambria County Redevelopment Authority, Johnstown Redevelopment Authority, and the Clearfield County Economic Development Corp.

"This funding will put western Pennsylvania communities on a path to reclaim properties that have been unused for years and turn those sites into assets for the community, the environment, and economy," said Mr. Welsh.

More details in tomorrow's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.