Money for a variety of programs in Pittsburgh's Hill District, including a $450,000 grant to provide three years of financial support for the Hill House, are among 24 grants totaling $2.8 million announced Friday as McAuley Ministries awards.
The awards, the majority of which went to educational programs, included grants for community developments in the Hill District, along with Uptown and Oakland.
"The Hill House is in the midst of a restructuring plan to ensure its long-term sustainability and increase its impact on the Hill District community. Our grant will support operations as the Hill House Association staff and board work through the plan," said Michele Rone Cooper, executive director of McAuley Ministries.
The association lost money the past two years and has been seeking local support. It lost $609,076 in 2013 and $2.3 million in 2012.
Calls to the Hill House Association were not immediately returned.
During the past decade, Hill House helped open a grocery store, a pharmacy and a smaller market, among other businesses in the Hill District.
Among other major Hill District grants are:
* $400,000 to Amani Christian Development, which will partner with Macedonia Development Corp. to renovate five to seven homes in the Middle and Upper Hill for sale to low- and moderate-income buyers.
* $300,000 over four years to the Schenley Heights Community Development Program to provide out-of-school academic and recreational programming to 100 students in the Hill District.
* $260,000 over three years to Reading is FUNdamental Pittsburgh, to strengthen existing programs in the Hill District via Storymobile.
Other grants include:
* $300,000 over four years to Oakland Planning and Development for School 2 Career to provide homework assistance, tutoring, SAT preparation and mentored work experiences to 40 high school students.
* $300,000 over four years to Center that C.A.R.E.S. for after-school programming that will serve 70 students in grades PreK-12.
* $100,000 to Friendship Community Presbyterian Church to support renovations at The Corner, a "third place" for connecting neighbors. The first floor and front facade will be renovated and an addition built to the back of the building.
Sam Spatter is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-320-7843 or sspatter [at] tribweb.com.