Carbon County’s new grant coordinator is making great strides in helping departments secure funds that will save taxpayers money in the long run.

Last week, Commissioners’ Chairman Michael Sofranko provided an update on the progress, Val Saveri, the grant coordinator, has made in the two months she has been in the position.

“So far, she has supported over 30 different funding opportunities so the county could possibly receive up to $12 million in funding,” he said. “When you talk about that position, you’re starting to see how that is paying off.”

Items that they were highlighted include submitting applications to the Department of Community and Economic Development for $1.2 million for the refurbishment of bridge 19, which is located along Pine Run; as well as the state’s Multimodal transportation fund for four county-owned bridges that are in need of repairs.

The commissioners said that Bridge 19 is estimated that it will cost approximately $2.6 million for the refurbishing, which is a lot lower than waiting and then having to find $30 to $40 million for a complete bridge replacement.

Sofranko said that Saveri has been gathering information on how these projects will affect the community, what detours would be, and how school and emergency routes would look.

Saveri has also assisted the prison in applying for $111,000 in vivitrol administration; and helped secure the $522,000 Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency grant that was used for various prison-related projects.

Saveri has also sent along various opportunities to Carbon County school districts for security and mental health funding that is available and is working with several county departments to obtain and provide the information needed for grant applications.

Saveri wrote in her report that she “greatly appreciates the support from the other county offices.”

“I think the taxpayers need to know that the investment the commissioners made with (Val) only two months ago, you can see the fruits of our labors so far and hopefully it continues to grow,” Sofranko said. “If she is successful with what she is doing, that’s a $12 million savings to the taxpayers in this county.”

Commissioner Wayne Nothstein also thanked the commissioners’ staff for being willing to shift work around to cover operations that allowed the county to hire the grant coordinator.

“I truly appreciate the staff we have in this office and the work that they do,” he said.