Giral welcomes over $3.5 million in community grants

Rep. Jose Giral    October 23, 2024 | 4:06 PM

HARRISBURG, Oct. 23 – State Rep. Jose Giral, D-Phila., announced that over $3.5 million in state funding was awarded through two grant programs to various organizations and schools in the area.

“It's always a great day when grants are awarded to the wonderful schools and organizations in our community. I was happy to advocate every step of the way for these grants,” Giral said. “The LSA and PSFIG grant programs, by assisting our community organizations and schools with their major projects, are essential to improving the quality of life for our residents and ensuring that our students have a safe place to learn and grow.”

Organizations receiving funding through the Local Share Account program include:

  • $800,000 to Philadelphia for the McPhearson Square Library project, which will assist with renovation of the roofing system and building envelope.
  • $1 million to Philadelphia for the McVeigh Recreation Center project, which will assist with the renovation of the baseball and soccer fields, construction of two basketball courts, and installation of light fixtures, community garden plots and more.

Schools receiving funding through the Public School Facility Improvement Grant program include:

  • $821,239 to Francis Hopkinson School for its roof replacement project, which will replace the school’s 97-year-old roof.
  • $889,049 to Thomas A. Edison High School Culinary program for its ventilation system replacement project, which will overhaul the school’s aged-out ventilation systems.

"All Pennsylvanians and Philadelphians deserve to have safe, clean, and healthy schools and parks where the youth of the community can learn and grow," said state Sen. Tina Tartaglione, D-Phila. "The investments announced today result from the teamwork of countless local- and state-level stakeholders and are a great start in ensuring every young person has spaces that encourage curiosity, development, and interpersonal skills.”

The Statewide Local Share Account funding comes from the PA Race Horse Development and Gaming Act, which provides for the distribution of gaming revenues through the Commonwealth Financing Authority to support projects in the public interest in Pennsylvania.

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 in 2023 and is administered by the PA Department of Community and Economic Development under the direction of the Commonwealth Financing Authority.