Rep. Summer Lee Delivers $1M in Community Project Funding to Carnegie Library of Homestead for Historic Renovations
PITTSBURGH, PA – JANUARY 30, 2026 — Today, Congresswoman Summer L. Lee (PA-12) presented a $1,015,000 Community Project Funding (CPF) check to the Carnegie Library of Homestead to support critical renovations and restoration of its historic Music Hall and library facilities, preserving a cornerstone of arts, education, and community life in the Mon Valley for future generations.
Library leadership and local officials joined Congresswoman Lee for a tour of the Music Hall and remarks highlighting the importance of federal investment in preserving historic community assets and expanding access to public spaces.
The funding was secured through Congresswoman Lee’s Community Project Funding requests, which allow Members of Congress to advocate directly for community-driven priorities. Congresswoman Lee worked closely with local partners to advance this project through the federal appropriations process, prioritizing investments that strengthen public infrastructure, expand access to education and cultural spaces, and support long-term economic stability in Western Pennsylvania, ensuring the Mon Valley received the investment it deserves.
“I’m proud to bring over $1 million back to the Mon Valley for a place that has always shown up for the people,” said Congresswoman Lee. “The Carnegie Library of Homestead and its Music Hall are where working families, seniors, and young people come to learn, perform, and build community. This building has held generations of memories, milestones, and moments of joy, and it should continue to do so for the next hundred years. This funding is about protecting access to arts and education, creating economic opportunity, and making sure our neighborhoods get the same level of investment and care as anywhere else.”
Carol Shrieve, Executive Director of the Carnegie of Homestead, said: “We are so grateful for this grant and for Congresswoman Summer Lee’s advocacy and support. Investing in the Carnegie of Homestead’s Music Hall means investing in the heart of our community. When we host performances in our Hall, our neighborhood comes alive—driving business to local pizza shops, restaurants, bars, retailers, and hotels. Every dollar we earn in the Music Hall is poured right back into the community, helping us stretch public funding further and bring meaningful programs and services to more families beyond our immediate service area. When people come together to enjoy live music, everyone benefits. As long as our Music Hall brings people together, we’ll continue helping our community thrive.”
The Music Hall serves as a true community house, hosting school concerts and graduations, naturalization ceremonies, church and nonprofit events, local dance recitals, and national touring performers. With intentionally affordable ticket pricing, the Hall ensures access to arts and culture for working families and seniors, drawing more than 40,000 patrons annually from across Western Pennsylvania and beyond.
In addition to cultural impact, the Music Hall functions as a major economic anchor for Homestead and Munhall business districts, generating over $1 million in local economic activity for nearby restaurants, shops, and hotels for every 50 shows held. The investment supports broader revitalization efforts along the Waterfront and Eighth Avenue corridors and strengthens arts-based economic development throughout the region.
Since taking office, Congresswoman Lee has delivered more than $2.7 billion in federal funding to PA-12, including major investments in infrastructure, affordable transit, clean energy manufacturing, workforce development, and community spaces. Through her Community Project Funding efforts, Lee has secured direct investments for community-based organizations, including a $1 million CPF award to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, $450,000 to the Trade Institute of Pittsburgh, and over $1.5 million in federal support for the Tree of Life rebuilding and healing initiatives as part of more than $24.9 million in Community Project Funding secured during her time in Congress. Congresswoman Lee’s office has consistently directed federal dollars to historically overlooked communities to ensure equitable access to opportunities and long-term regional growth and stability.
To see photos from the event, click here.
Congresswoman Summer Lee serves on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the Committee on Education and Workforce. Since taking office in January 2023, she has delivered historic levels of federal investment totaling over $2.7 Billion brought back to Western PA, including over $580 million for infrastructure, over $110 million for affordable transit, over $500 million to keep clean energy manufacturing at home in Pennsylvania, and over $55 million on clean energy efforts in and around schools to help keep our kids and communities safe. These investments will help improve Western Pennsylvania’s infrastructure and transit, ensure cleaner air and drinking water, lower housing costs, fund research institutions, fuel clean manufacturing, fund STEM innovation and entrepreneurship, boost workforce development, and create thousands of good paying union jobs. Lee and her team have also delivered casework and constituent services to over 3,000 constituents with issues ranging from helping our seniors and disabled community access Medicare and social security to helping folks secure housing and helping families with immigration support and passports.