Ciresi and Pennycuick announce $2.5 million in grants for capital improvement projects in Montgomery County

Southeast Delegation    November 1, 2024 | 4:22 PM

HARRISBURG, Nov. 1– State Rep. Joe Ciresi, D-Montgomery, and state Sen. Tracy Pennycuick, R-Montgomery/Berks, announced today that they secured $2.5 million in Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program grants for projects in Montgomery County.

“This $2.5 million in capital funding for Pottstown and Limerick will improve the quality of life in our district by restoring and expanding business operations to a disused historic building in Pottstown, improving transportation infrastructure in Limerick, and building up our area’s pharmaceutical and sustainable energy sectors,” Ciresi said. “This money will create jobs in our district, strengthening our district’s reputation as a thriving economic area.”

“I am thrilled to see that these projects were approved. This funding will have a significant impact on our regional economy by creating high-paying jobs and expanding our local transportation network to allow for a more efficient movement of people and goods,” Pennycuick said. “I am grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with my fellow legislator, Rep. Ciresi, to secure these grants for our constituents.”

The grants awarded are:

Downtown Pottstown Job Retention and Creation Initiative

Montco Tech Center, LLC

Pottstown Borough

$500,000

RACP funds will be used for construction to renovate the old Harp Taxi Building, a disused historic building, for the expansion of neighboring VideoRay, the largest employer in downtown Pottstown. Construction work shall include electrical; plumbing; HVAC; sprinkler systems and fire alarm; a security system; ADA accessibility, including the installation of an elevator, stair system, and signage; installation of an ADA bathroom on each floor; a connection to the existing VideoRay office building; renovation of floors, ceilings, walls, and lighting systems to meet standards for office use; and modernization of the building envelope to include new windows and doors.

Pottstown Sustainable Energy Park III

Pottstown Sustainable Energy Park, LLC (dba ReStream Energy)

Pottstown Borough

$500,000

PSEP is a sustainable energy facility that will process cellulosic waste and turn that material into sustainable energy in the form of fuel pellets and possibly renewable diesel fuels. Funding will be used for improvement and activation of the site, readying it for vertical construction. This includes: sitework, concrete foundation, stormwater, sewer and water improvements, mechanical underground work, and electric and other utilities.

PRG Pharmaceutical Technology Buildout

Pharma Resource Group, Inc.

Limerick Township

$1,000,000

The RACP funds will be focused on the hard construction costs of the build-out activities of the facility to enable the production of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients. These buildout activities include construction of warehousing,

dispensing and manufacturing space within the existing building and outfitting the space with electrical, plumbing and HVAC appropriate for critical building block and active ingredient manufacturing.

Sanatoga Area Transportation Improvements

Limerick Township

Limerick Township

$500,000

The project funds will be used for the design and construction of the proposed improvements, including Right-of-Way, demolition of the existing house at 67 Lightcap Road, and all necessary permitting costs.

“These financial investments from the Commonwealth and Governor Shapiro ensure that the expansion and development of innovative companies will assist in furthering Pottstown as an important economic hub for Western Montgomery County,” said Peggy Lee-Clark, executive director of Pottstown Area Economic Development. “In addition, ReStream is a key component to the expansion of Keystone Boulevard which will create further opportunity for economic development of both Pottstown and West Pottsgrove. Pottstown Area Economic Development is grateful to Senator Pennycuick and Representative Ciresi for their unwavering support of Pottstown’s revitalization and job creation efforts.”

The Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program is a Pennsylvania 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.