Parker announces $3 million in state grants coming to 198th District

HARRISBURG, Dec. 6 – State Rep. Darisha Parker, D-Phila., today announced $3 million in state grants for redevelopment projects in the 198th District.

Philadelphia Youth Basketball will use $2.5 million to purchase and renovate an existing building into a world-class basketball and youth development-focused nonprofit community center. The renovations include structural work inside the building plus the construction of seven indoor basketball courts.

Independence Mission Schools was awarded $500,000 for the DePaul Campus Expansion. The project will preserve a former church and renovate it into a preschool facility on one level, and a multi-use assembly/recreation/gym space on the first floor. Other improvements include interior renovations like repairs and upgrades.

“The awarding of funds for these projects is so important to the district especially in this time of COVID and uncertainty,” Parker said. “These important projects bring invaluable programs to the children in the district, programs where they will learn and thrive and take what they learn with them throughout their lives. While they are growing in the district, they will have access to first class developmental programs.”

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