Boscola Announces $9,066,260 in State Grants for Public School Facility Improvements and Public Safety, Community & Economic Development Projects

Boscola Announces $9,066,260 in State Grants for Public School Facility Improvements and Public Safety, Community & Economic Development Projects

October 23, 2024

Bethlehem, October 22, 2024 - - State Senator Lisa Boscola today announced state funding totaling $9,066,260 for projects in the 18th Senatorial District through the new Public School Facilities Improvement Program and the Local Share Account - Statewide (LSA).

"I am pleased to announce these grants that will improve school facilities that are in need of improvements and upgrades to improve the learning environment for our students and teachers along with projects that will enhance public safety and quality of life for residents throughout my district," Boscola stated. "I will continue to fight hard to make sure our local communities get their fair share of statewide dollars to complete priority projects as identified by local government leaders," Boscola added.

Boscola said she was pleased to work with her colleagues in the Lehigh Valley legislative delegation to secure the state funds, approved by the Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA), for investment in the following projects:

Public School Facilities Improvement Program

• Bangor Area School District - $1,000,000 High School HVAC Improvement Program
• Bethlehem Area School District - $750,000 Elementary School Facilities Room Replacement Project
• Bethlehem Area School District - $400,000 Liberty High School Lab Center Facilities Upgrade Project
• Pen Argyl School District - $500,000 High School Roof and HVAC Improvements Project
• Saucon Valley School District - $307,009 High School Health & Safety Upgrades Project

Local Share Account Statewide

• Bethlehem Township - $85,000 Purchase of Police Patrol Vehicles
• Easton - $547,123 Mill at Easton Phase III
• Forks Township - $500,000 Frutchey Hill Road Project
• Freemansburg $485,000 Community Center - Phase 2 Construction
• Hellertown - $86,444 Dewey Fire Co. Stormwater Improvements
• Hellertown - $71,555 Traffic Signal Video Detection
• Lower Nazareth - $40,000 Cardiac Monitor
• Lower Nazareth - $521,029 Colonial Regional Police Radios
• Lower Nazareth - $75,000 Hecktown Fire Company Training Equipment
• Lower Nazareth - $50,000 Power Stretcher and Loading System
• Lower Saucon - $125,000 Saucon Valley Trailhead Restroon
• Nazareth Borough - $50,000 Nazareth Regional Ambulance Headquarter Sign Proposal
• Nazareth Borough - $350,000 Acquisition & Preservation of Black Rock Woods
• Northampton County - $40,000 Regional Multimodal Trails Planning Project
• Palmer Township - $102,900 Suburban EMS Chase Truck
• Pen Argyl - $750,000 Fire Apparatus Purchase
• Pen Argyl $350,000 Phase One Weona Park Aquatic Facility
• Pen Argyl - $150,000 Slate Belt Regional Police Radio Upgrades
• Roseto - $100,000 Public Works Equipment
• Upper Mount Bethel - $350,000 Mount Bethel Volunteer Fire Company Emergency Shelter Expansion
• Upper Nazareth - $500,000 Upper Nazareth Fire Department Pumper Tank Truck
• Washington Township - $40,000 LED Electronic Sign
• West Easton Borough - $90,000 New Public Works Trucks
• Wind Gap Borough - $650,000 Male Road Bridge Superstructure Replacement & Pedestrian Improvements

The Public School Facility Improvement Grant Program was created to provide grants to public school districts and area career and technical schools for eligible facility improvement projects. The Program was established Act 34 of 2023 (P.L. 251, No. 34).

The Local Share Accounts (LSA) were established by the Pennsylvania Race Horse Development and Gaming (Act 71 of 2004). The funds are generated by the state gaming funds and may be used to support projects in the public interest within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

The grants were approved today by the state Commonwealth Financing Authority Board in Harrisburg.