The Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) is a defined as 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. Only a limited numbers of projects are selected and permitted to submit a full application. The following Lehigh Valley projects have made it past the cut and are submitting full applications.
Allentown School District - a $1 million grant for Building 21, a new gentrified high school to keep certain kids away from the student problems at Allen and Dieruf High Schools.
Cedar Crest College - $2 million to replace a grass soccer field with artificial turf, bleachers and outdoor lighting.
Liberty Property Trust - $5 million for infrastructure for Liberty Business Center II in Lower Macungie, including a private road.
Easton PD - $2.5 million for a new police station.
Easton. - $4 million for a new 350-car parking garage on N. 4th Street.
Moravian College - $10 million for a new Hall of Science.
Lafayette. - $500,000 for the Williams Arts Center for a new facility that will permit live theatre.
Throughout the state, over $532 million in new grants are being considered.
Click here for 2015 grants.
19 comments:
Mr. Finnell, Your comment and blog link is totally OT and has been deleted.
Is there a link to look at these pre-applications or find more information?
www.budget.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/redevelopment_assistance_capital_program/4602
I threw up in my mouth when I saw Liberty Property applying for $5 million for development in Lower Macungie Township. WTF.....
The Banker
$5 million dollars in public money for a warehouse park is downright criminal. The thing is that Lower Macungie Township is obviously ok with the application. These things don't make it this far without the consent of the municipality.
What's pathetic is they will be the first to complain about the trucks and the traffic but it's the PSP and PennDOT problem to fix.
Someone needs to look into the LMT one more. Did the township endorse an application at some point? Was it a part of the rezoning "negotiation" of 2010?
Bernie,
You are mistaken about building 21. I will be happy to forward to you information regarding this cutting edge educational program. This program is a proven vehicle to deliver a quality education to inner city poverty level students.
Scott Armstrong
Although I think most of my readers are aware of this, I'd like to point out that Scott is a mnember of the board. I believe, Scott, that this is nothing more than an attempt to find a place for the NIZ kids and make it more attractive to people who do not want to move there. In fact, I believe JB Reilly may have provided some funding. If you are interrested in providing me information, please get me all correspondence between not just board members, but school administrators and JB Reilly, Ed Pawlowski and Abe Atiyeh. I'd also like a list of all the students who applied, not by name but by address or general location, and HOW LONG THEY ACTUALLY RESIDED in Allentown.
There is no doubt in my mind that the lottery process by which students are chosen is designed to ensure that only certain people are elected. Allentown has many people who do not speak English well. How aware were they that they could apply? Do you really think its mostly transient population, which is working low-paying jobs, is even aware of this school? I can assure you that those with more money or who are being courted to move here are being told about this as a selling point. It is all a part of the gentrification of Allentown.
I have no quarrel with the concept or the education being offered. But I don't think that you are able to address my real concern. If you can, I will be happy to accdept it. You have my email addy.
Bernie, isn't redevelopment money to go to community projects for low income neighborhoods to help with lowered tax revenues. Why are taxpayers footing the bill for a theater and sports field for a private institution. I know for a fact that Lafayette is sitting on an endowment of almost a billion dollars. Why are they taking taxpayer money that should be spent in Eastons Westward
The purpose is as I stated in my first sentence. You and I probably believe this money would be better spent on what you're discussing than on an institution with a $1 billion endowment and that pays next to no taxes.
Maybe Kraft can advise them on how to spend public money on unnecessary items. He's a pro.
Mezzacappa, stay off this blog.
Good for Lafayette! At a $60K per year college where groundskeepers practically pluck leaves from trees before they fall, it's comforting to know they got a half million. The place is practically broke. Oh wait, no it's not. They pay no real estate taxes and their endowment is $800 Million. WTF is wrong with us?
In 2013 bills signed into law to ATTEMPT to better oversee and reduce the debt ceiling for this program. The link below describes the recent changes and more about the program:
http://www.pagovernmentrelations.com/changes-made-to-pas-redevelopment-assistance-capital-program/
Alone this program seems to be a drop in the bucket at just over $40 per person in the Commonwealth ($532 million divided by 12 million people--rough calculation. But of course when you add up ALL the "grant" programs---is there any wonder why we have a distressed budget in PA?
These programs all sound like a good idea at their outset until the reality of who/what gets picked hits home like it does with this list---perhaps only the Easton applications on the list make much sense. It would be interesting to have the time to explore the selection process in more depth.
Actually, they don't all sound like good ideas to me.
Anonymous Anonymous said...
Good for Lafayette! At a $60K per year college where groundskeepers practically pluck leaves from trees before they fall, it's comforting to know they got a half million. The place is practically broke. Oh wait, no it's not. They pay no real estate taxes and their endowment is $800 Million. WTF is wrong with us?
6:13 PM
Ditto but not for the four-letter words.
2.5 million for a new police station in Easton? How about using that money to properly train the police they already have?
Back in December the Morning Call reported on Building 21 and 7th St High School. Are these the same projects?
Also, Building 21 will not be open until 2019. Will taxpayers be paying rent while.a private developer renovates the building with taxpayer money?
I was under the impression it would be open this year and had done the lottery. I will have to check.
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