Project Funding

A municipality acquired a closed landfill between its municipal offices and Emergency Services Center. RETTEW developed a master site plan that transformed the site’s constraints into real opportunities—creating a paved multi-use trail, nature trails, and an outdoor educational area, helping to preserve the wildlife habitat. The plan strategically connected the municipal offices to a nearby elementary school and antique car museum. To secure community buy-in for this ambitious vision, we coordinated public participation meetings with the Township Steering Committee, Park and Recreation Board, Board of Supervisors, and residents. But vision alone doesn’t build parks. We successfully secured $400,000 in grant funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (PA DCNR)—the critical resource that enabled Phase 1 construction and transformed what was once an underutilized site into a valued community asset connecting residents across municipalities.

A township faced a regulatory mandate to implement pollutant reductions for its stormwater permit. Rather than simply achieving minimal compliance, RETTEW envisioned a comprehensive stream restoration project that would improve water quality while creating a recreation space for the community. On a 16-acre township-owned tract, we designed a riparian buffer and native meadow with amenities, including a boat and kayak launch, ADA-accessible fishing pier, walking trails, a rain garden, and parking. But transforming regulatory obligation into a genuine community asset requires resources. To help our client bring this concept to life, we successfully secured over $590,000 in grant funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (PA DCNR) and the Lancaster Clean Water Fund, while also providing grant writing and administration services to manage the project. That funding allowed what began as a regulatory requirement to transform into a valued community asset delivering environmental restoration, recreational opportunity, and educational benefits in a single, integrated landscape.

A township faced a common but costly challenge: a 1970s neighborhood required simultaneous street paving and stormwater infrastructure repair. Rather than guess at needs, RETTEW conducted a comprehensive assessment—analyzing pavement and curbing, televising the underground storm sewer system, and performing a detailed field analysis to determine which structures needed replacement and which could be salvaged. This thorough approach proved essential to securing funding. We prepared competitive grant applications to two Commonwealth Financing Authority programs—the H2O PA Act and the PA Small Water and Sewer Program—successfully unlocking additional resources to supplement the township’s capital improvement budget. With the funding secured, RETTEW prepared construction plans, bid documents, and cost and schedule estimates, allowing the township to execute the project efficiently. Strategic assessment and targeted grant writing transformed what appeared to be an unaffordable infrastructure challenge into a manageable capital improvement project supported by multiple funding sources.

A municipality’s aging wastewater treatment plant could no longer operate at required capacity and state-mandated upgrades required significant improvements to the facility. RETTEW provided complex comprehensive planning and design services to modernize the treatment plant and support infrastructure. Our specialized permitting expertise proved critical to keeping the project on schedule, which directly contributed to securing a $9.4 million low-interest loan from the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority. The financing unlocked construction, transforming an aging, inefficient facility into one equipped to serve the community’s needs for decades to come.

A small borough saw untapped potential in a popular nearby rail trail that was disconnected from the town center. The borough secured $20,000 in grant funding to develop a comprehensive active transportation plan. The borough worked with RETTEW to conduct a needs assessment, facilitate public involvement, and prepare a detailed plan to place the community in a position to pursue future funding. The initial investment paid off, and the borough received additional grant funding to connect the rail trail directly to downtown. It was also able to prioritize other recommended improvements, including new sidewalks, crosswalks, shared lane bicycle markings, and signage. The strategic planning and layered funding approach transformed what could have remained a disconnected asset into a thoughtfully planned, community-driven network. The borough received a Planning Achievement Award as part of Lancaster County Planning Department’s Places 2040 Planning Leadership Awards—recognition of how targeted grants and collaborative planning made active transportation genuinely accessible to residents and visitors.