Gov. Josh Shapiro speaks with Cambria County Commissioner Keith Rager after a press conference Tuesday at the Cambria County Library. Mirror photo by Matt Churella

JOHNSTOWN — Gov. Josh Shapiro returned to a community where he launched his campaign for governor to highlight a $2 million grant the Cambria County Library received in October.

During a press conference Tuesday at the library, Shapiro said his administration is working to solve problems with “common sense solutions.”

Shapiro said 254,000 homes and businesses across the commonwealth lack access to high-speed, affordable internet, noting nearly 4,000 of them were identified in Cambria County by the Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority.

Shapiro said high-speed, affordable internet is no longer a luxury and is a necessity for many residents and business owners, which is why it’s “critically important” to make high-speed services accessible to communities like Johnstown at a low rate, he said.

“My promise to you when I stood before you and launched my campaign in Johnstown … was that I was going to make your problems my priorities,” Shapiro said to a group of city and county officials in attendance with the library’s staff and board members.

“We know that this is a community that needs and deserves a lot of investment,” Shapiro said.

In October, the Pennsylvania Broadband Authority announced $45 million in grants through the multi-purpose community facilities program to provide public facilities — schools, libraries and community health centers — with affordable, high-speed internet services, according to Brandon Carson, the authority’s executive director.

The program was established using a portion of the $279 million in capital projects funds awarded to Pennsylvania under the American Rescue Plan Act.

With the $2 million received from the program, the Cambria County Library will complete a first-floor renovation project to add various-sized focus rooms for people to reserve, said Ashley Flynn, the library’s executive director.

The rooms will be outfitted with the technology people need to conduct a Zoom meeting or a telehealth visit in private, Flynn said, adding the library’s new computer and learning labs will be equipped with state-of-the-art hands-on programming opportunities for all ages.

“This critical funding will make some of our dreams a reality with a lasting impact,” Flynn said. “We envision businesses, students, social service providers and more will be benefiting from these multifunctional spaces.”

In October, Flynn said there would be five small and two large meeting rooms added to the library’s first floor, noting the project would be “substantially complete” by the end of 2026.

To make room for the additions, the library’s Pennsylvania CareerLink offices will be relocated, Flynn said on Tuesday, adding the No. 1 need people ask for that the library can’t currently provide is for private places to meet.

Community members can currently meet with service providers at the library, but they have to do so in public areas, Flynn said.

“We want them to have a secure and private space where they can have those kinds of meetings comfortably with all of the up-to-date technology they might need to support those meetings,” Flynn said.

State Rep. Frank Burns, D-Cambria, said he met with Flynn about a year ago to talk about her vision for the library. He later told her about the grant program.

Burns said there are a lot of underprivileged kids in Johnstown, and the only way to get them out of the situation they’re in is through education.

“We’ve got to get these kids in here,” Burns said. “We’ve got to get books in their hands. We’ve got to get them using devices at an early age so they can crawl their way out (of poverty). That’s what we’re trying to do here.”

According to Shapiro, “Libraries are magical places and they deserve our investment.”

Shapiro said Pennsylvania is moving quicker than other states to map out the needs of communities, secure funding for projects and start construction because of local leaders doing their part to “get stuff done.”

After the press conference, Shapiro spoke with Johnstown City Mayor Frank Janakovic, councilwoman Marie Mock, Pitt-Johnstown President Jem Spectar and county commissioners Tom Chernisky and Keith Rager. He also took photos with members of the library’s staff before leaving.

Flynn said it’s “evident” Shapiro is passionate about libraries and the services they provide to the community.

“It’s very meaningful for all of us to see all of the hard work we’ve been putting in over the last few years gain such momentum and have us on such a positive trajectory,” Flynn said. “The lasting impact for our community is beyond compare.”

Mirror Staff Writer Matt Churella is at 814-946-7520.