Ciresi brings home $17.3 million in funding for regional capital improvement projects

Southeast Delegation    October 27, 2022 | 1:07 PM

HARRISBURG, Oct. 27 – State Rep. Joe Ciresi, D-Montgomery, announced today that he secured $17,267,868 in Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program funding for local projects in the district and wider southeastern Pennsylvania.

“I’m very proud to have secured over $17 million in Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program grants because this funding will help complete projects that will dramatically improve our economy and quality of life here in the district and throughout the region,” Ciresi said. “This funding will have a far-reaching impact on our communities for years to come and further elevate Montgomery County as one of the most desirable areas in Pennsylvania for business development, education, the arts and residential living. I thank Gov. Tom Wolf for allocating this money for these highly deserving projects.”

  • $1,500,000 to the Redevelopment Authority of Montgomery County for renovation of Montgomery County Community College's Pottstown Campus’ Hanover Street Building. MCCC has partnered with the Pottstown Children’s Discovery Center, which will move into the Hanover Street Building and create a hub for community engagement and outreach.

  • $2,500,000 to 610 Main Street LLC for the Nelson Ice Cream Factory redevelopment project. The funds will help to complete the site’s environmental cleanup, demolish the abandoned factory buildings, adaptively reuse the historic building at 600 Main Street, create 150 parking spaces, create over 35% open space including 700+ new plantings, and construct a new mixed-use building containing commercial and residential spaces.

  • $1,000,000 to Trappe Fire Company No. 1 to construct a new fire station.

  • $500,000 to 215 South Washington Street, LLC to remediate Pottstown Plating Works, a former manufacturing site that has been vacant since 2009 and restore it to productive use. The redeveloped property will allow for the location of one or more new businesses, such as light manufacturing, warehousing and distribution, or general small business.

  • $2,000,000 to Riverfront at Royersford, LLC to help it advance its comprehensive redevelopment of a nearly 25-acre, underutilized, former industrial site along the Schuylkill River in Royersford Borough. The RACP grant will be used to fund site preparation costs for redevelopment into a dynamic mixed-use downtown center with commercial anchors, entertainment, trail connections, and upscale retail and residential components.

RACP grant beneficiaries shared the positive impact the funding would have on the district: 

"This financial investment from the Commonwealth and Governor Wolf ensures that one more of Pottstown’s abandoned, environmentally challenged sites disappears from the landscape and is transformed into an attractive, productive property,”  Peggy Lee-Clark, executive director of Pottstown Area Economic Development, said. “PAED is grateful to Senator Mensch and Representative Ciresi for their unwavering support of Pottstown’s revitalization efforts."

“We are ecstatic to receive this generous grant for the renovation of MCCC’s Pottstown Campus Hanover Street Building to serve as the new home for our community partner, the Pottstown Children’s Discovery Center,” said Dr. Victoria L. Bastecki-Perez, MCCC president. “The College serves learners of all ages and stages of life, and this partnership will provide an interactive, hands-on learning experience and strong educational foundation for many young children in the Pottstown area.”

“We are overwhelmed by the strong and consistent support of our community and elected officials. Representative Ciresi and Governor Wolf have been instrumental in providing state investment for the Riverfront at Royersford project, which is directly facilitating its advancement,” Richard Lewis, CEO, The Lewis Group, said. “Locally, the Royersford Borough Council and Montgomery County Commissioners have recognized the value of transforming this industrial brownfield site into an economic engine for the community. Financial barriers to redeveloping such a challenging site have stifled many similar projects, but with the financial support to overcome these obstacles, this property is primed to be a thriving commercial, residential and community gathering space that will transform the Royersford Riverfront for generations to come.”

Ciresi also was instrumental in helping to secure funding for these projects which will benefit the region:

  • $5,750,000 to Montgomery County Child Advocacy and Training Center to acquire and renovate a commercial property to create the Child Advocacy Center. By providing one central location for child advocacy center services, mental health and medical services, and trauma care, this facility would expand local and regional support for child abuse victims.

  • $1,000,000 to the Pathway School, a day school for the region's special education students, to renovate two former residential buildings. This will expand classroom capacity, supporting an increase in enrollment to support growing demand.

  • $2,000,000 to the Mann Center to help it accomplish its 50th anniversary capital improvement plan. Project elements include expanding the Mann’s plaza and entryway, renovating the box office and welcome center, and restoring the Mann’s historic façade and structures. These improvements will increase vendor capacity, enhance security and safety, and integrate historical archives and presentation space.

  • $1,017,868 to Discover Lansdale to repair and rehabilitation of the historic Reading Railroad historic freight house in Lansdale.

The Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program is 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 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 revenue or other measures of economic activity.