McNeill: $1.5 million RACP grant for Bethlehem Area School District

HARRISBURG, Oct. 26 – State Rep. Jeanne McNeill today announced state funding totaling $1.5 million has been awarded to the Bethlehem Area School District.

“Education is the pathway to success for our children and they deserve to have the proper facilities for their learning environments,” said McNeill, D-Lehigh. “I am pleased to see this funding create a state-of-the-art facility that can be used by school children and teachers during the school year and by community organizations on evenings and weekends.”

According to McNeill, the grant will be used by the school district to replace existing infrastructure at Fountain Hill Elementary School, including all mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems, which are 80 years old and past the end of their useful life; along with upgrading and repairing the building envelope, which will significantly increase energy efficiency.

The classroom reconstruction will be able to accommodate 21st-century learning and eliminate the open concept classrooms. Additional security improvements include an expanded administration offices area with secure entry and cafeteria relocation.

The Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program is a Commonwealth grant program administered by the Office of the Budget for the acquisition and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic, recreational and historical improvement projects.

RACP projects are authorized in the Redevelopment Assistance section of a Capital Budget Itemization Act, have a regional or multi-jurisdictional impact, and generate substantial increases or maintain current levels of employment, tax revenues, or other measures of economic activity.