Nearly $1M in grants awarded to Hazleton area municipalities
HAZLETON – State legislators announced this week that nearly $1 Million in Local Share Account Grants were awarded to Hazleton and Hazle Township.
The grants were announced by state Sen. Dave Argall (R-29), Rep. Dane Watro (R-116), and Rep. Mike Cabell (R-117).
“These highly competitive state grants will be a huge boost for Luzerne County by redeveloping and improving the sites of community organizations, improving the operations of local governments and first responders, and tearing down blighted buildings,” said Argall. “Thank you to Reps. Watro and Cabell and all our local partners for working with me to bring these important projects to life.”
“I am pleased to see this necessary funding approved for the City of Hazleton and Hazle Township,” said Watro. “These projects will benefit the residents of these areas for many years to come.”
The majority of the grant funding was awarded to the City of Hazleton, while a $277,000 grant was awarded to Hazle Township for two new dump trucks.
Grants awarded to Hazleton ranged from funding for fire department equipment, renovations for economic development activities, park improvements, and more.
Details of each grant are as follows:
- $116,670 to purchase 50 self-contained breathing devices to help protect the emergency responders of the Hazleton Fire Department. The current devices owned by the department are out of date.
- $157,335 to continue renovations at the Hazleton LaunchBox building, a small business incubator. Downtown Hazleton Alliance for Progress (DHAP) has been renovating the formerly blighted building for years. The current phase of the renovations will add 5,000 square feet of leasable space for business startups.
- $100,000 to continue the renovation of the Hazleton One Community Center. The center provides recreational, educational, and cultural programs for disadvantaged children and families and is run by the Hazleton Integration Project. The building is outdated and require significant updates.
- $75,000 to renovate the first floor of the YWCA building at 75 South Church Street. The building, which is currently not in use, will feature a childcare center on the first floor once construction is complete.
- $100,000 to make improvements to the playground at Heights-Terrace Elementary and Middle School, including purchasing new equipment. The existing playground is closed due to safety hazards.
- $50,000 to renovate the J.J. Ferrera Center, a downtown landmark and key piece of DHAP’s Arts and Cultural Strategic Plan. Funding will be used to make substantial improvements to the lower level of the center.
- $100,000 to purchase and renovate a new property for La Casa Dominican de Hazleton, which provides daily services to the Hispanic community of the city. The organization was recently required to vacate their previous property due to health concerns.
About Author
