HARRISBURG, Pa. – Yesterday, Governor Tom Wolf announced the approval of funding through the Keystone Communities program to support 22 community revitalization projects across the commonwealth.
“Community development has so many benefits for our municipalities, including improving the lives of local residents and attracting businesses to grow the local economy,” Governor Wolf said. “The Keystone Communities program encourages that development. These 22 projects will be a boon for those areas.”
Administered by the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED), the Keystone Communities program is designed to encourage the creation of partnerships between the public and private sectors in the community, supporting local initiatives that grow and stabilize neighborhoods and communities; ensure social and economic diversity; and enhance the overall quality of life for residents.
“For true economic growth to occur statewide, we need to not only support our businesses through economic development but elevate our neighborhoods through community development as well,” DCED Secretary Dennis Davin said. “These two components are inextricably tied together, which is why the Keystone Communities program is so vital to improving people’s lives, pushing our business sector forward, and growing Pennsylvania’s economy.”
The Commonwealth strongly encourages community-based organizations, public agencies, business leaders, private developers, financial institutions, and private citizens to work in partnership with local government to develop a comprehensive approach to address community development and housing needs. These partnerships create more attractive places to live and will encourage business and job expansion and retention in Pennsylvania.
The following list highlights Keystone Communities projects being announced today, totaling nearly $5.4 million in state support:
Allegheny County
- Wilkinsburg Borough: $475,000 to rehabilitate the Ardmore Linear Park located in Wilkinsburg
Beaver County
- City of Aliquippa: $365,000 to demolish the three remaining commercial buildings on the redevelopment site on the eastern end of Franklin Avenue immediately adjacent to SR 51 and the entrance to the Aliquippa Industrial Park
Berks County
- Building A Better Boyertown: $300,000 to turn a vacant and blighted building at 45 South Reading Ave. into a restaurant and mixed-use property on the first floor and renovate the five upstairs apartmentsGreater Berks Development Fund: $500,000 for acquisition and preparation of a site located around the Buttonwood Street Bridge in Reading
Blair County
- Altoona-Blair County Development Corporation: $150,000 for a seating replacement project in the Mishler Theatre in the city of Altoona
Cambria County
- City of Johnstown: $400,000 for a façade improvement program resulting in the modification and rehabilitation of facades, and approximately 2,000 feet of sidewalk improvements
Cameron County
- Cameron County Industrial Development Authority: $31,150 for façade improvements for deteriorated storefronts in Emporium Borough
Delaware County
- Lansdowne Economic Development Corporation: $95,000 for interior construction in a building located at 32 East Baltimore Ave. to open an arts incubator for more than 30 artists and creative professionals
Elk County
- City of St. Marys Redevelopment Authority: $50,000 to implement a façade improvement program preserving the historic features and characteristics of various buildings
Erie County
- Bayfront East Side Taskforce: $300,000 for critical repairs that will halt further deterioration of the aging housing stock for 30 homeowners in core residential neighborhoods, necessary to address violations of the city property maintenance code as well as structural and exterior maintenance issuesSisters of St. Joseph Neighborhood Network: $50,000 for facade improvements to be used within the Elm Street-designated Historic Little Italy neighborhood in the city of Erie
Lackawanna County
- Scranton Tomorrow: $400,000 to transform a dilapidated vacant lot on Wyoming Ave. into a downtown business district pocket park
Lancaster County
- SACA Development Corporation: $50,000 for implementation activities associated with Lancaster’s Southeast Elm Street Plan, including neighborhood beautification projects and public art installation
Luzerne County
- Downtown Hazleton Alliance for Progress: $300,000 to support Phase II rehabilitation work to a blighted property at 13-15 West Broad Street in Hazleton City, Luzerne County
Mercer County
- Farrell City: $500,000 to demolish four buildings and construct a shopping plaza on a half-acre site fronting directly across from the Farrell municipal building
Montour County
- Danville Borough: $261,028 to combine three parcels in order to create a recreational park in the heart of downtown near public parking, shopping, restaurants, and brewpubs in the central business district
Philadelphia County
- New Kensington Community Development Corporation: $300,000 to make improvements to the commercial space at Orinoka Civic House, resulting in more than 7,000 square feet of new commercial space
Schuylkill County
- Pottsville Area Development Corporation: $50,000 for the implementation of a façade improvement program in the city of Pottsville
Venango County
- Venango County: $500,000 to establish a revolving loan fund for improvement projects in the county, the first of which is the creation of a craft brewery in the historic Oil City National Bank building in Oil City
Westmoreland County
- Redevelopment Authority of the County of Westmoreland (RACW), in partnership with the Westmoreland County Land Bank (WCLB): $200,000 to acquire, demolish and/or rehab blighted properties throughout Westmoreland County
York County
- Hanover Borough: $25,000 to conduct a downtown streetscape design and beautification study Hanover Borough: $50,000 for a wayfinding project that will provide improved ability to direct pedestrians and vehicles to a variety of locations around downtown Hanover