Ciresi announces $3.5 million in RACP grants for Pottstown redevelopment, Laurel House

POTTSTOWN, Dec. 23 –State Rep. Joe Ciresi, D-Montgomery, today announced four Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program grants for projects that he had been advocating for in Pottstown Borough and Montgomery County.

The funding, totaling $3.5 million, included $2.5 million toward three redevelopment projects in Pottstown: the Pottstown Sustainable Energy Park, the Mercury Hotel project and the Y3 Life Sciences Incubator.

"As a strong believer in Pottstown's potential, I have long been championing state support for redevelopment efforts there," Ciresi said. "This landmark investment in three important projects will transform vacant and underutilized properties, creating jobs and continuing the remarkable progress we've already seen in Pottstown."

Ciresi also announced that $1 million in funding will be awarded to the Laurel House Domestic Violence Shelter for Montgomery County.

"The Laurel House provides a critical and lifesaving service to all communities in Montgomery County," Ciresi said. "With this funding, they will be empowered to better serve those who are fleeing domestic violence and help even more people in their time of need."

Here is a breakdown of the funding for each project, with a brief description of how the funding will help:

  • $1 million for Pottstown Sustainable Energy Park for development of a 174,000-ton per year Biomass Gasification facility, which will process clean commercial waste from 54 production plants in Montgomery, Berks and Lehigh counties.
  • $1 million for the Mercury Building, which has been vacant since June 2018, for comprehensive renovation and rehabilitation to become a boutique hotel and restaurant/lounge, which will complement established buildings in downtown Pottstown.
  • $1 million for Laurel House Domestic Violence Shelter, the only one of its kind in Montgomery County, to make the building in Upper Gwynedd Township more ADA-friendly, add 13 sleeping rooms and space to accommodate residents with special care needs, as well as other renovations.
  • $500,000 for Y3 Life Sciences Incubator, to re-purpose 7,500 square feet of vacant space on the third floor of 159 E. High St. in Pottstown, which will eventually house a variety and ever-changing mix of life science ventures that require laboratory research space, high-speed computing power and flexible collaboration space.

“We are grateful to the commonwealth – especially Representative Ciresi and Senator Mensch – for this tremendous investment,” said Peggy Lee-Clark, executive director of Pottstown Area Industrial Development Inc. “These projects [PSEP, Mercury and Y3] will provide a catalytic economic development in the borough of Pottstown.”

The RACP is administered by the Office of the Budget for the acquisition and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic, recreational and historical improvement projects.

Anyone who needs more information about these grants can call Ciresi’s office at 484-200-8265 or email RepCiresi@pahouse.net.