LOCK HAVEN — The City of Lock Haven will receive a $30,000 state grant to help fund a five-year financial management plan and “operational strategy.”

The grant from the Department of Community and Economic Development’s Early Intervention Program was announced Monday by state Rep. Mike Hanna, D-Clinton-Centre counties, and comes a week after City Council hired a consultant to produce the plan.

“This project enhances Gov. Tom Wolf’s efforts to revitalize and grow communities in Pennsylvania,” Hanna said. “I was happy to support the city and am pleased to see that our community is contributing towards this greater statewide effort.”

According to DCED, projects of this nature significantly improve the capability of local governments to deliver services more efficiently and effectively, and work to promote growth and community improvements.

“Any program that works to improve our community deserves our wholehearted support,” Hanna said. “As I have stated many times, the economic improvements we make today will have lasting impacts in our communities for years to come.”

The city must now complete all applicable program requirements and comply with any special conditions contained within its contract in order to begin the requisition of project funds. While the Department of Labor and Industry has final authority to make all prevailing wage applicability determinations, prevailing wage appears not to be applicable to this particular project.

Along those lines, last week City Council took steps to develop a new comprehensive plan. The planning process, which hasn’t begun yet, will result in a new 10-year comprehensive plan outlining how city government can keep on improving the quality of life here– through recreation, the downtown, housing, and many other factors. The process will rely on input from interested citizens.

In preparation, the city will receive a professional financial review that will include a five-year projection. This should paint a picture of how much will be available to spend as the city plans for future projects.

The financial review will include the water and sewer funds and should help with planning for infrastructure improvements.

Council chose the Pennsylvania Economy League to provide the financial review.

The cost of PEL’s review will not exceed $56,250, which is less than the $60,000 the city had budgeted for the work.

Of all the proposals the city received, PEL proposed dedicating the most hours to the project, at an average hourly cost of $116, city Manager Gregory J. Wilson told The Express last week. PEL’s proposal was the lowest when the total cost is divided by the total hours, he said.

Half of the $56,250 for the financial review will be paid via the DCED grant.

Meanwhile, the Governor’s Center for Local Government Services offers the Early Intervention Program to provide guidance for municipalities interested in an improved fiscal position. Financial assistance is available for the development and implementation of multiyear financial management plans. The goal of the EIP is to promote management best practices to promote the financial stability of municipalities and ultimately avert fiscal distress.

The EIP provides local governments with grants up to $200,000 for 50 percent of the total project costs to develop and implement multi-year financial management programs and strategies. Applicants must provide the remaining 50 percent match.