Fayette County Community Action Agency, Inc. (FCCAA) is a trusted, results-driven Community Action Agency assisting hard-working families in Fayette County, Pennsylvania. FCCAA was founded by community leaders and, nearly 60 years later, remains part of a national network of more than 1,000 Community Action Agencies across the United States of America.
Today, 128,800 people live in Fayette County; 17.2% of residents live in poverty while the PA (11.8) and the US (11.5) rates are significantly lower.
To address resident needs, 75 employees and 1,000+ volunteers coordinate $10 million in programming within these focused areas: Aging, Community Development, Employment & Training, Housing and Nutrition.
Through these cost-effective and performance-based programs, FCCAA helps families achieve financial stability and self-sufficiency by leveraging federal funding with state funding, local resources, private sector investment and strategic partnerships. FCCAA operates with low administrative costs, ensuring a strong return on investment.
Guided by a 15-member tripartite board of directors (with equal representation from program participants, elected officials and the business community), the agency has been recognized at various levels for its holistic approach to service delivery in a one-stop setting.
Some of our Key Moments
1966
Fayette County Community Action Agency (FCCAA) was established by community leaders following the 1964 War on Poverty and the Economic Opportunity Act.
1967
14,026 Fayette County families, 32.1% of the population, have incomes less than $3,000. FCCAA launches Head Start, Neighborhood Youth Corporation, College Work Study, Upward Bound Summer Corp Scholarships and job readiness programs.
1968
FCCAA adds legal aid programs, the Older American Opportunities Program and the Neighborhood Center.
1971
FCCAA establishes its Home Delivered Meals Program.
1974
FCCAA begins the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program, one of the first WIC programs in PA.
1975
FCCAA establishes the Emergency Crisis Assistance Program.
1976
FCCAA becomes the first local transportation provider to offer handicapped accessible supports; FCCAA begins participating in Green Thumb to support employment goals for older adults.
1977
FCCAA establishes the Food Co-Op.
1980
FCCAA opens its Education Center.
1981
FCCAA opens its domiciliary care facility, begins offering housing services and the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program.
1983
FCCAA establishes Fayette County’s Food Bank.
1984
FCCAA joins the Neighborhood Assistance Tax Credit Program to attract business donors, sponsors its first GED class through the Training Partnership Act, and collaborates with St. Paul’s Lutheran Women’s Association to create the Fayette Literacy Council.
1985
FCCAA begins to offer Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency Programs; the agency establishes Community Opportunities, Inc.to manage commercial development activities.
1986
FCCAA breaks ground for the Community Service Center; FCCAA receives its first adult literacy grant in addition to funding from Redstone Presbyterian for housing rehabilitation projects.
1987
FCCAA’s Bridge House shelters its first homeless family as the agency establishes one of the first housing assistance programs of its kind in PA.
1988
The new Uniontown Senior Center opens; FCCAA receives funding for its Youth Competency Employment Program in addition to funding for
case management.
1989
The Community Service Center located at 137 North Beeson Avenue opens; PA Governor Robert Casey visits to celebrate the opening.
1990
FCCAA’s Mountain Senior Center expands while the Bullskin Township Senior Center joins FCCAA.
1992
FCCAA collaborates with Community Action Southwest to form Threshold Housing Development.
1994
Adult Day Care opens in Hiller; planning to construct the Family Service Center begins; the winter blizzard enlists energy assistance programs.
1997
Community Action Medical Services (CAMS) starts serving patients, offering affordable and comprehensive healthcare and preventive services to medically underserved Fayette County.
1998
The Family Service Center located at 140 North Beeson Avenue opens and joins the Community Service Center to establish the Campus of Services.
2000
FCCAA breaks ground for the new senior apartment complex, Meadow Heights; in November, FCCAA opens its Access & Visitation Center, The Children’s Safe Parenting Center.
2001
FCCAA begins providing service-enriched housing opportunities to the residents of Hunter’s Ridge Apartments; FCCAA opens Community Dental Services; the agency is honored as a “Champion of Industry.”
2002
FCCAA launches its television show, “Community Connection”, on a local cable access network; Meadow Heights Apartments located at 144 North Beeson Avenue opens and welcomes U.S. Department of HHS, Office of Community Services Director Clarence Carter who gives the keynote address at the ribbon cutting; PA Department of Agriculture Secretary Samuel Hayes, Jr. visits to launch the USDA Commodity Supplemental Food Program in PA; FCCAA establishes the Nurse- Family Partnership Program to assist first-time mothers.
2003
Community Action Medical Services opens a third office in Markleysburg, and FCCAA launches a new senior center in Fairchance, thanks to a donation from the First National Bank of PA. U.S. Congressman John Murtha visits the Republic Enterprise Center, granting $350,000 for a business incubator. Meanwhile, the Food Bank suffers a November flood, which destroys 40% of its food supply.
2004
FCCAA receives the prestigious “Award for Excellence in Community Action” by the national Community Action Partnership; Board Member Theresa Gladden is recognized by the NFL as a “Community Quarterback” for her community service; FCCAA helps establish Fayette County as a site for Group Workcamps to restore resident homes; FCCAA establishes its Volunteers for Service in the Community Program; through FCCAA and the SWPA Community Development Corporation, the Tri-County Entrepreneurial Program is launched; FCCAA receives a $700,000 grant to develop jobs and the first “Green Building” in Uniontown; national Community Action Partnership President Derrick Len Span speaks at the agency’s annual banquet.
2005
Community Action Medical Services expands to include two pediatricians and one physician, specializing in women’s health; construction begins on the “Green Building;” the Republic Business Enterprise open is commercial kitchen; FCCAA hosts the first county-wide health conference, “Get Healthy Fayette!” where retired Pittsburgh Steeler Franco Harris gives the keynote; FCCAA also collaborates with retired Pittsburgh Steeler Steve Courson on its Healthy Living Program until his tragic death in November; FCCAA welcomes PA Governor Ed Rendell to the Campus of Services where he hosts two press conferences; U.S. Senator Rick Santorum visits the Republic Enterprise Center.
2009
FCCAA finishes Uniontown Family Homes, a 30-home development, and hosts its first Magic & Mistletoe fundraiser at the courthouse with Fayette County President Judge Conrad Capuzzi.
2011
FCCAA launches a Healthy Food Financing Initiative to enhance access to affordable healthy foods and completes the Maple Garden Apartments, a 36-unit building for independent seniors in Uniontown.
2012
FCCAA’s Nurse Family Partnership begins its “Bedtime Story” initiative; WIC implements the Breastfeeding Peer Counseling Program in partnership with Uniontown Hospital; FCCAA receives funding to construct a permanent supportive housing complex; FCCAA starts the process of establishing The Republic Food Enterprise Center, a regional center to promote the development of food enterprises.
2013
FCCAA begins supporting reentrants in need of housing supports.
2014
FCCAA provides the SNAP-Ed Nutrition Education Program with classes, food tastings, and newsletters, while the Financial Opportunity Center supports residents’ economic self-sufficiency goals as a comprehensive resource.
2016
FCCAA launches the Southwest Regional Rapid Re-Housing Program for rental assistance and the Weekend Snack Pack Program to supply food to school-aged children over the weekend.
2017
The Republic Food Enterprise Center receives a $3.75 million ARC POWER grant for agricultural economic development. Additionally, FCCAA launched Experience Works! to offer paid work experience to residents aged 16-24 with local employers.
2019
FCCAA launches Home4Good to assist those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness; Fairchance Senior Housing opens featuring 36 apartments.
2020
FCCAA’s SNAP-Ed Nutrition Education Program launches PA’s first pilot to monitor changes in policy, systems, and environment from nutrition and physical activity education. TeleWIC appointments start to enhance resident access.
2021
FCCAA begins the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) to support residents financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
2022
FCCAA hosts its 1st Annual Golf Outing at Pleasant Valley Golf Club; the agency’s 1st Annual Agricultural Career Exploration Camp is hosted for school-aged kids.
2024
FCCAA’s SNAP-Ed Nutrition Education Program begins serving children ages 3-5; the Senior Worker Advocacy Program provides supportive employment services for adults ages 55+; the food bank establishes a Shop-Thru that allows residents to select fresh and nonperishable foods to meet food insecurity needs; the Republic Food Enterprise Center is renamed the Redstone Satellite Center; FCCAA engages in reentry planning to support transition opportunities for residents of the county’s new jail.
2025
FCCAA’s SNAP-Ed NEP expands programming to serve school-aged children through the 6th grade; FCCAA offers extended hours until 6:00 PM on Wednesdays, prompting growth especially at the Uniontown Senior Activity Center; a Capital Campaign is silently launched to support Campus of Services building needs and the development of new programming. Beeson Town Homes begins leasing apartment units and single-family homes for eligible residents.
