Donahue, Kosierowski welcome $7.75 million in development grants

HARRISBURG, Nov. 1 – State Reps. Kyle T. Donahue and Bridget M. Kosierowski are pleased to announce that $7.75 million in grants have been awarded by the Shapiro administration for development projects in Scranton.

“By working together with Senator Marty Flynn and Governor Josh Shapiro, we were able to secure significant state dollars for important improvements throughout the city of Scranton,” Donahue said. “Fidelity Bank’s relocation of its headquarters into the Scranton Electric Building will create jobs while fully revitalizing a historic building in Downtown Scranton.”

“The new Fidelity Bank headquarters will turn something old into something new while maintaining the historic and iconic Scranton Electric Building. I am glad to have played a part in acquiring the needed investment for this project as well as the others,” said Kosierowski, vice chair of the Northeast Delegation in Harrisburg.

Fidelity Deposit and Discount Bank: $5 million

Funds will be used to perform complete restoration and renovation (exterior and façade of the building, including windows and signage; replace and/or repair of all roofing systems; structural or other repairs and modifications that may be deemed necessary; interior demolition including non-historic interior spaces and select mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems; repair and/or replace select mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems; installation of any required fire protection systems) of the historic Scranton Electric Building to provide office headquarters space for Fidelity Bank.

West Scranton Development Partners LLC:  $2.5 million

The West Scranton Redevelopment Project involves construction, renovations and other improvements to a section of North Main Avenue in West Scranton, with the result of creating updated, state-of-the-art, mixed-use, new commercial development in this section of Scranton.

Fellowship House Foundation: $250,000

The Fellowship House Improvements Project involves construction upgrades to the existing Scranton facility, located at 1554 Sanderson Ave., to increase the number of client bedrooms; to purchase and install a passenger elevator; and additional interior and exterior upgrades.

The funding was acquired through the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program, a state grant program for the design, acquisition, and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic, recreational, and historical improvement projects. RACP projects have a regional impact and generate substantial increases or maintain current levels of employment, tax revenues, or other measures of economic activity. RACP projects are state-funded projects that cannot obtain primary funding under other state programs.