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More than $3 million is coming to Luzerne County municipalities thanks to Local Share Account grants, officials announced Wednesday.
The grants, which are awarded by the Commonwealth Financing Authority, are funded by gaming money generated by casinos, including Mohegan Sun Pocono.
Hazleton was awarded $544,415 for three projects.
Mayor Jeff Cusat said the city’s $300,000 request for funding the streetscape improvement for six blocks of North Wyoming Street was funded at 100 percent. The Alter Street Phase 1 streetscape project was not funded as well as the city had hoped, but “at least it’s a start,” he added.
The city will also receive $35,000 for restoration and preservation of city hall.
“Our boiler is shot,” Cusat said, noting he hopes the grant will cover the new appliance.
For the second time in three years, Wilkes-Barre was awarded more than $1.5 million for three different projects.
The city will receive $1 million to acquire the former Hotel Sterling property on River Street for construction of new corporate headquarters for the Berkshire Hathaway Guard Insurance Companies.
“The LSA grant is a vital component to keeping Berkshire Hathaway Guard in downtown Wilkes-Barre,” Mayor Tony George said, noting he was “extremely grateful” for the funds.
The city will also receive $500,000 to repair or replace portions of the retaining wall along Solomon Creek and $60,000 to help the Wilkes-Barre YMCA renovate its pool, wellness center and improve accessibility to the building.
Municipalities apply for funding for projects for themselves and for other public or private organizations.
Such is the case in Swoyersville. The West Side borough is receiving $50,000 for paving and upgrading of the police department parking lot.
“It was a safety issue,” Mayor Chris Concert said about why the grant was submitted. He said when it rains, the parking lot “is horrible” because the pavement is ripped up and he would hate to have something happen to an officer or someone who has been detained. The parking lot will also be brought up to American with Disabilities Act compliant.
Pringle asked for and was awarded $40,000 to help Swoyersville Ambulance Service purchase the building its currently in.
Concert said the building, which the service pays to rent, is up for sale, and the service wants to buy it outright to host fundraisers. The mayor is hopeful, when the building is purchased, the company will let him use the it for community events.
Donna Wall, Nanticoke’s interim city manager, said the grants were awarded earlier in the year than expected. But she wasn’t complaining. The city received $478,198 to revitalize the south side of East Main Street, which will allow for new development.
“It’s very important to get this money,” she stressed.
Other grants awarded
A total of $450,000 in state water and sewer funding has been awarded in Newport Township and Nanticoke. A $250,000 grant has been awarded to the Newport Township Sewer Authority to upgrade three existing pump stations, which convey sewerage to the Wyoming Valley Sanitary Authority for treatment and discharge.
Nanticoke was awarded a $200,000 grant to replace the sewer main on West Main Street. The sewer is more than 100 years old, Wall said.
The sewer grant was part of a the PA Small Water and Sewer Program, which Wall said new.
“I’m very happy,” she said.