BETHLEHEM, Pa. — State officials awarded more than $3.8 million in grants generated by casinos to 51 public safety and quality-of-life projects in the Lehigh Valley.
The Commonwealth Financing Authority unveiled Local Share Account grant recipients on Tuesday afternoon — money that was part of the deal in the push to legalize casino gaming in Pennsylvania 20 years ago.
The money coming this way originates from revenues the state collects from Mount Airy Casino in Monroe County and Wind Creek Bethlehem.
The biggest local grants will go to replacing sidewalks in Bethlehem ($370,000), a new special service vehicle at the Walnutport Fire Department ($308,085) and replacing a 10-ton dump truck in Bath ($189,970), state documents show.
“The local share account funds coming to important community projects throughout the Lehigh Valley demonstrate the positive impact we have seen through the state gaming act,” state Sen. Lisa Boscola, D-Northampton/Lehigh, said in a news release.
“Funding our first responders and other projects with casino revenues helps local governments spend needed tax dollars on other local needs," state Rep. Ann Flood, R-Northampton, said in another release.
This year's grants in Lehigh and Northampton counties include:
Alburtis
- $11,101 for police vehicles
- $11,102 for body and car camera systems
Bangor
- $150,000 for renovations to the Liberty Fire Company #2 building
Bath
- $189,970 for a replacement 10-ton dump truck for the public works department
Bethlehem
- $370,000 for replacing sidewalks in the South Bethlehem business district. State Rep. Steve Samuelson, D-Northampton, said the money will fund repairs and replacement of sidewalks in front of more than 25 businesses — and affect more than 60 different properties — along West Fourth Street between South New Street and Broadway.
Bethlehem Redevelopment Authority
- $87,215 for a project addressing a blighted property on Fourth Street
- $49,382 for the Steelworkers Veterans Memorial
Bethlehem Township
- $41,860 for purchasing a cardiac monitor
- $65,055 for purchasing a stretcher and loader
- $24,042 for purchasing a CPR device
- $19,288 for purchasing laryngoscopy equipment
- $172,411 for purchasing police vehicles
- $27,699 for new radios for Nancy Run firefighters
- $27,699 for new radios for Station 17 firefighters
Bushkill Township
- $39,341 for an outdoor LED sign
Catasauqua
- $20,868 for the water meter replacement program
Easton
- $176,600 for the new health facility at The Mill at Easton
- $10,000 for weather shade at the Scott Park amphitheater
Easton Redevelopment Authority
- $25,000 for a Downtown dog park
Freemansburg
- $185,000 for community amphitheater seating
Forks Township
- $80,000 for a new records management system for the police department
Hanover Township, Northampton County
- $100,704 for a field house at First Responders Park. The work will include new accessible restrooms to replace portable ones, a concession area and storage facilities, lawmakers said.
Hellertown
- $160,501 for stormwater improvements at the Dewey Fire Co.
Lehigh County
- $8,114 for upgrades to the county's emergency operations center
- $72,583 for tri-band radios
Lehigh Township
- $69,999 for updating and upgrading police computers
Lower Mount Bethel Township
- $22,020 for the construction of a cinder shed
- $80,000 to replace the Sandt’s Eddy Fire Company truck
Lower Nazareth Township
- $27,096 for new desktop computers for the Colonial Regional Police Department
- $84,917 for a new Colonial Regional Police Department vehicle
- $66,899 for a breathing air compressor for the Hecktown Fire Company
Lower Saucon Township
- $99,199 for the Southeastern Park playground
Moore Township
- $18,523 for a speed trailer
Nazareth
- $40,000 for a patient transport vehicle to serve Gracedale
- $50,000 for ADA compliant bathrooms at Kim Donald Kromer Park
- $50,000 for a Public Safety Vehicle Grant proposal
Northampton County
- $60,000 to expand office space for Recovery Revolution
North Whitehall Township
- $44,404 for EMS equipment
Palmer Township
- $75,000 for a Suburban EMS ambulance
Pen Argyl
- $142,395 for the purchase of fire apparatus
Portland
- $90,000 for personal protective equipment for firefighters
Roseto
- $40,000 for a new police vehicle
- $50,000 for municipal park upgrades
South Whitehall Township
- $4,4058 for the community traffic safety initiative
Upper Nazareth Township
- $49,840 for a police car
Walnutport
- $308,085 for a new special service for the Diamond Fire Co.
Weisenberg Township
- $22,203 for an addition to the Public Works Building
Whitehall Township
- $72,000 foam trailer purchase for the fire department
West Easton
- $50,000 for a new public works truck
Wilson Borough
- $25,000 for a bucket truck purchase
Wind Gap
- $40,000 for a Ford Explorer for the Slate Belt Regional Police Department
