Pashinski announces over $3.2 million in Local Share Account state grants for local projects
Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski July 20, 2021 | 1:03 PM
HARRISBURG, July 20 – State Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski, D-Luzerne, today announced that 26 projects in his district will be receiving a total of $3.25 million in grant funds from the Commonwealth Financing Authority through the Local Share Account for selected applications from 2019 and 2020.
“It was a pleasure working with my House colleagues, municipal officials and organizational leaders to successfully secure vital funds for these important and meaningful projects in my district,” Pashinski said. “These grant awards are great examples of how LSA funding helps invest in our communities in addition to providing property tax relief.
"A special thank you to Senator Marty Flynn and former Senator Blake for their generosity by also contributing to many of these projects to help enhance the quality of life in our region. My sincere thank to everyone that contributed their time and expertise to bring these projects to reality.”
These municipalities and organizations in the 121st Legislative District were awarded 2019 funding in the following amounts for the listed purposes:
- Wilkes-Barre City – $52,000 LSA on behalf of Volunteers in Medicine, for interior renovations of the second floor of the existing medical clinic.
- Wilkes Barre City – $188,500 LSA grant on behalf of the F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts, for two new HVAC rooftop units and automated handicap entrance doors.
- Wilkes-Barre City – $101,280 LSA grant on behalf of Wyoming Valley Art League, for improvements and renovations to the Wyoming Valley Art League building to improve building accessibility and security.
- Wilkes-Barre Township – $300,000 LSA grant on behalf of TH Minit Markets, LLC, for transportation improvements and construction of new sidewalks for better pedestrian safety within the corridor.
- Laurel Run Borough – $72,000 LSA grant to assist with the construction of a 65 x 20 pole barn to store vehicles and equipment used by the public works department.
- Wilkes-Barre City – $112,000 LSA grant on behalf of the Volunteers of America Pennsylvania to renovate its property for the Haven Home Permanent Supportive Housing Program.
- Hanover Township – $250,000 LSA grant to rehabilitate 560 feet of the Solomon Creek Interceptor along Ferry Road.
- Wilkes-Barre City – $22,000 LSA grant on behalf of The Children's Service Center for Parking improvements.
- Ashley Borough – $126,637 LSA grant for final renovations of the Borough's Town Hall.
- Fairview Township – $200,000 LSA grant for an infrastructure repair project along Parkside North and Deerpath Drive and the municipal building parking lot.
- Wilkes Barre City – $84,894 LSA grant on behalf of the Wyoming Valley Challenger Baseball league, to replace the fence and gates at the Bog Public Park in the Miners Mills section of the city.
- Fairview Township – $47,513 LSA grant for the police department to purchase a new 2020 Ford SUV Police Cruiser.
- Ashley Borough – $23,365 LSA grant on behalf of the Huber Breaker Preservation Society, for the Lokie Pavillion Project within the Miners Memorial Heritage Park.
- Wilkes-Barre City – $74,974 LSA grant on behalf of Wilkes-Barre Family YMCA, to enhance safety and security in their building. and
- Wilkes-Barre City – $32,500 LSA grant on behalf of Wilkes-Barre Connect, for the purchase of hardware and software to build out the Command Center.
These municipalities and organizations in the 121st Legislative District were awarded 2020 funding in the following amounts for the listed purposes:
- Wilkes Barre City – $350,000 LSA grant on behalf of Luzerne County Transportation Authority, for the construction of a centralized transit facility in the city.
- Luzerne County Redevelopment Authority – $50,000 LSA grant on behalf of Allied Services, for renovations to an existing building located in the City of Wilkes-Barre.
- Hanover Township – $135,878 LSA grant on behalf of Lower South Valley COG, to construct a shared municipal fueling station.
- Wilkes Barre City – $254,958 LSA grant on behalf of Sherman Street Properties, LLC, for infrastructure upgrades to their building located at 221 N. Sherman St.
- Wilkes-Barre City – $100,000 LSA grant on behalf of SHINE Luzerne County, to continue operations of a SHINE (Schools and Homes in Education) program for an additional year in targeted areas.
- Wilkes Barre City – $25,000 LSA grant on behalf of the YMCA of Wilkes-Barre, for the purchase and installation of equipment which will allow virtual programming.
- Ashley Borough – $85,052 LSA grant for channel improvements to a section of Sugarnotch Run from Frederick Street to Sively Street.
- Wilkes-Barre City – $322,881 LSA grant for interior and exterior renovations to the existing City Hall building.
- Laurel Run Borough – $47,626 LSA grant for the purchase a 2014 Case 580N Backhoe/Loader to reduce their annual expenses for renting equipment.
- Wilkes-Barre Township – $73,439 LSA grant to replace the roof membrane at the township's municipal building.
- Fairview Township – $120,000 LSA grant to replace two road culverts under Dale Drive over the Big Wapwallopen Creek.
The following grants were awarded today, but were announced in a news release this morning by state Reps. Mike Carroll, Gerald Mullery and Pashinski.
- Wilkes-Barre City – $322,881 LSA grant for interior and exterior renovations to the existing City Hall building.
- Wilkes Barre City – $350,000 LSA grant on behalf of Luzerne County Transportation Authority, for the construction of a centralized transit facility in the city.
The LSA receives gaming money generated by casinos, including Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs. The gaming funds provided by the casinos are also distributed statewide to provide property tax relief, with the Commonwealth's Budget Secretary certifying on April 15, 2021, that $621.3 million in state-funded local tax relief will be available in 2021-22. When combined with the senior citizen Property Tax/Rent Rebate program, total state-funded property tax relief will be $735.5 million next year.
The CFA is an independent state agency responsible for administering Pennsylvania's economic stimulus programs. You can learn more about their programs here.