As explained on the state budget website, "The Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) is 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. ... [They] have a regional or multi-jurisdictional impact, and generate substantial increases or maintain current levels of employment, tax revenues, or other measures of economic activity."
Some of these are worthy projects. Most are corporate welfare or handouts to unsustainable nonprofits.
Yesterday, I listed the NorCo awards.
The following award applications have been approved in Lehigh County:
Real Star Properties is getting $1 million to renovate a historic building at 300 Hamilton St, Allentown.
Allentown Metal Works is getting $2 million to renovate and put a business in at 606 S 10th St.
Fountain Hill Elementary is getting a $1.5 million facelift to make the former school building more available for community use.
Cedar Crest College is getting $1 million to enhance its athletic facilities.
LVIA is receiving $1 million for "pad ready" sites for commercial and retail development.
DaVinci Science City is getting $1 million to create a Fit Lab and Preschool on the 800 block of Hamilton Street for all the rich kids.
LCCC is getting $1 million for a new facade and roof replacement at its Donley Center.
Lehigh Valley Hospital is getting $6.5 million to expand its emergency ward at its 17th Street location. As ridiculous as most hospital requests are, this one might actually be needed.
Mount Trexler Manor (Upper Saucon) will receive 1.25 million for cottages for veterans and other persons who suffer from traumatic brain injuries.
Phoebe Homes (Allentown) will receive $1 million for renovations to its Allentown campus.
Resurrected Community Development Corp is getting $1 million to renovate its "bilingual 4-star rated Children's Academy" in Old Allentown. This is a religious school and charges a tuition.
Scottish Rite Cathedral is getting $500,000 for renovation, including improvements to its 760-seat auditorium
I would be curious to see how many of these places took Covid money and now receiving more via this program.
ReplyDeleteInteresting. These are as you said State Grants. However some come through the County for different reasons. Of this list only one came in front of us since I've been on the board. Thats Mount Trexler Manor. It rec'd full board support. As I understand it we sometimes get the rural or suburban ones in front of us since sometimes muni's don't have the staff to handle the administration of the grant. Most of these I'm guessing went through the City of Allentown.
ReplyDeleteThese grants and how they are selected and distributed has been an area of interest since I joined the board since it always bothered me that back in the early 2000's a very large amount of money went to support a warehouse project in Lower Mac. A project at the time that was going through a controversial rezoning that wasn't consistent with the LVPC. I made it clear that the first question I'm asking for any land development related RCAP is if the proposal is in line with the LVPC comp plan. I'd vocally oppose anything that wasn't. I'm generally interested in more scrutiny of these grants. Again, we (The County) only see the ones that end up in front of us for administrative purposes.
Resurrected Life receives $1 million but will not donate a small portion of its basement space to the Liberty Bell Shrine, which is in the church they were given for $1. Couldn't the city have negotiated a 100-year lease to the Liberty Bell Shrine as part of this grant? I am hoping Resurrected Life has a change of heart about preserving this piece of local history.
ReplyDeleteIt's nice to see private colleges and hospitals getting some help from taxpayers. God knows they're get killed on taxes.
ReplyDeleteOh wait. They don't pay taxes. They have kabillions of dollars and don't deserve one effing penny of public welfare. Cedar Crest athletics is the funniest oxymoron of the week. And will LVHN use any of the proceeds to deport comatose patients? Money is fungible and the answer is 100% YES.
Our politicians pick winners and losers. Good thing. When's the last time Cedar Crest athletics won anything?
The state could use a little help in reimbursement. While some RACP grants certainly can use the financial boost. The CFA could do a better job at grant reimbursement. Maybe Shapiro can cut some of the unnecessary administrative hurdles which simply burns more public dollars.
ReplyDeleteBernie, it be nice to see some of the mission statements and see if they are similar. I personally would like to compare the remake of church on the runs new mission statement?
ReplyDeleteYou mentioned DaVinci getting $1,000,000. It may be of interest to note that was just the latest grant they received. They also received another one for $1,000,000 and one for $8,000,000. All for the same project and from RACP. A total of $10,000,000 so far.
ReplyDeleteIt’s time to tax the churches they have been causing many issue for hundred of years.
ReplyDelete