Wheatland has been awarded a $250,000 grant to start a housing-rehabilitation program.

The money is from a Community Development Block Grant -- federal funds doled out by the state -- but the borough took an unusual route to get it.

The larger municipalities in the county are "entitled" to annual CDBG payments directly from the state or federal governments, while the county receives an allotment that non-entitlement communities compete for.

Wheatland council applied directly to the state Department of Community and Economic Development and competed with other communities on a state-wide basis for the money.

"This is extra money for the (Shenango) valley," said Mayor Tom Stanton. "This isn't part of the $300,000 the county gets."

The borough applied in April 2000 and received word of approval some months ago. Stanton said he held off publicly announcing the grant to allow state Rep. Michael C. Gruitza, Hermitage, D-7th District, and state Sen. Robert D. Robbins, Salem Township, R-50th District, to make a formal announcement, which they apparently haven't done.

The borough publicly acknowledged the grant Wednesday by asking DCED to release the money, a formality once the borough signs a contract with the state.

Despite the long time lag between the application and the awarding, residents are still interested in the program.

"Everybody keeps asking, 'When are we going to get the money?'" Stanton said.