Senator Schwank Applauds $13.75 Million in Capital Redevelopment Funding for Berks County Projects

Reading, PA - November 1, 2024- Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks) applauded the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) grant funding announced today by Gov. Josh Shapiro and the Pennsylvania Office of the Budget.

RACP is a state grant program administered by the Office of the Budget to support the design, acquisition and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic, recreational and historical improvement projects. In total, $13.75 million in funding was awarded to six projects in the 11th Senatorial District.

Schwank thanked Gov. Shapiro for his strong support of these projects, noting that each one will have a lasting positive impact on the greater Reading area.

"This round of grant funding speaks to the tremendous energy and economic potential in Reading and Berks County," Schwank said. "I'm proud to see these projects receive funding, and I'm especially grateful to have worked alongside Gov. Shapiro to secure a substantial investment for the GoggleWorks II adaptive reuse project. This project will not only provide people in need with hot, ready-to-eat meals through Helping Harvest but will also breathe new life into a historically blighted building."

The awards are listed below:

Our City Reading, Inc. - $5 million for the GoggleWorks II project, which will support the adaptive reuse of a blighted building on Washington Street in Reading. Once completed, the facility will house three high-impact nonprofits, including Helping Harvest and the GoggleWorks Center for the Arts.

ByHeart, Inc. - $5 million for construction, infrastructure upgrades and land acquisition to expand ByHeart's infant formula manufacturing facility in Exeter Township, equipping it for advanced production and packaging to enhance capacity, capability and efficiency.

Alvernia University - $2 million for the American House project, which will establish a community-based health center on Penn Street in Reading, in partnership with the Berks Community Health Center.

The Rose Corporation - $1 million to upgrade its large-scale industrial metal fabrication facility in Reading to meet growing demand.

Exeter Township Volunteer Fire Department - $500,000 to establish the Exeter Township Emergency Services Main Facility, a more efficient and centralized location for the township's emergency services.

East Penn Manufacturing - $250,000 for an addition to East Penn Manufacturing's wastewater treatment plant.

###