$621,360 Federal Grant Awarded To Coatesville For Stormwater Issues

COATESVILLE, PA — Coatesville was awarded a $621,360 federal grant to design and engineer long-term flood resilience solutions for the city, city officials announced.

The Federal Emergency Agency grant will be used to address issues with stormwater infrastructure, such as outdated pipes and water flow challenges caused by the Brandywine River.

Flood management became a priority following Hurricane Ida which left more than 130 homeowners and renters without a place to live. Damage was estimated at $100 million.

City Manager James Logan expressed gratitude for the support from various leaders and agencies in obtaining this grant.

Cedarville Engineering Group, Pottstown, identified Gibbons Run Culvert, which runs under Ash Park and west to the Brandywine, as a significant choke point.

The culvert was overwhelmed by runoff and unable to transport enough stormwater from the area to reduce or prevent flooding.

Kyle Turner, Project Manager at Cedarville, said the grant will help develop solutions that will help with similar events in the future.”

Coatesville collaborated with the Coatesville Fire Department, County of Chester, Chester County Office of Emergency Services, and Cedarville Engineering to develop a stormwater management system that would mitigate future risk factors.

The grant will be used to address outdated pipes, the inability to manage high volumes of water, and water flow challenges caused by the Brandywine River.

The city of Coatesville is grateful to the support from U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, U.S. Senators Bob Casey and John Fetterman, Pennsylvania Emergency Management Association and Federal Emergency Management Association.