City Council on Tuesday signed off on having Lancaster submit nine nonprofits’ grant applications to the state Commonwealth Finance Authority, along with one on behalf of the city itself.
The organizations are seeking funding from the Local Share Account program. Funded from gaming revenue, it provides hundreds of millions of dollars a year statewide for projects that improve quality of life.
Nonprofits are eligible for LSA grants, but must apply through a government entity, which acts as a pass-through if money is awarded. Governments can also apply on their own behalf.
Last month, City Council signed off on LSA applications for Lancaster City Housing Authority and its nonprofit affiliate, Partners With Purpose, to support exterior renovations at their properties.
Neither City Council nor city staff play any role in reviewing applications and awarding funding: It is the Commonwealth Financing Authority that makes those decisions. The program is competitive, and the review process is lengthy: The authority’s decisions on submissions made last year were not announced until a few weeks ago.
In that round, eight city nonprofits received a little over $4 million in LSA awards.
Council reviewed six of the nonprofits’ applications and the city’s at its committee meeting last week. It added three more applications to the mix on Tuesday: Lancaster EMS, LancasterHistory and the Masonic Center of Lancaster County.
All but one of the applicants are seeking the maximum grant, which is $1 million. The exception is Lancaster EMS, which is seeking $500,000.
The 10 submissions approved Tuesday are as follows:
Chestnut Housing: For the Dinah’s Hill Apartments project, which would convert the former Strawberry Hill restaurant complex into 11 affordable apartments plus offices for Chestnut Housing and potentially for SoWe. Chestnut Housing hopes to begin construction in 12 to 18 months, and it should last about a year, Executive Director Chad Martin said. Estimated project budget: $3.8 million.
City of Lancaster: For renovations to South End Park. Estimated project budget: $2.5 million. The city hopes to carry out the work in mid- to late 2026, Deputy Public Works Director Cindy McCormick said.
Community Action Partnership of Lancaster County: For ongoing renovations to Bridge House, CAP’s transitional housing for domestic violence survivors. Funds would go toward a new elevator, roof repair, interior and exterior renovations and security. CAP has put $400,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds and $168,000 from the High Foundation into renovating the building as well, Chief Business Officer John McKowen said.
Lancaster EMS: To support operations of Refresh Lancaster, the county’s mobile hygiene trailer for homeless individuals. (Amount requested: $500,000)
LancasterHistory: For fabrication of exhibits for the Thaddeus Stevens & Lydia Hamilton Smith Center for History & Democracy, which is under construction at the corner of South Queen and East Vine streets. Building the exhibits accounts for about $4.5 million of an estimated $19 million project cost; LancasterHistory has raised about $15 million so far, Vice President Robin Sarratt said.
Lancaster Recreation Commission: For the renovation of the former Price Elementary School, which is where the Rec is planning to move beginning next fall. The Rec has already received $1 million in LSA funds for the Price building to support early childhood education; the additional money being sought would support creation of a senior center, STEM lab and art and music classrooms, Executive Director Heather Dighe said. Estimated overall project budget: $12 million. Renovations will continue into 2026, she said.
Masonic Center of Lancaster County: For renovations of the center’s building at 213 W. Chestnut St., which is home to several lodges and the Children’s Dyslexia Center of Lancaster. Plans include replacing the HVAC system upgrading the kitchen and improving handicap accessibility, representative Thaddeus D’Ambrosia said. Estimated project budget: $851,000.
Regenerative Nexus: For Ramboland, a state-of-the-art handicap-accessible, eco-friendly and energy-efficient house for Ron Rambo, who has cerebral palsy; plus a community garden and greenhouse. The estimated budget is $1.2 million, Regenerative Nexus’ Executive Director Max Zahniser said: $350,000 for the house, $250,000 for infrastructure on the block and $600,000 for the farm and greenhouse. The project can be accomplished in a few months once funding is in place, Zahniser said.
Thaddeus Stevens Foundation: To build an access street for the four affordable duplexes (eight housing units) being built by students in Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology’s Home Construction Project at the former Shell Disposal site at Chesapeake Street between Stevens Avenue and South Franklin St. The street was estimated at $500,000 about 18 months ago, but prices have since risen, and the estimate doesn’t account for prevailing wage, which Stevens will have to pay if it receives an LSA grant. One duplex is complete, with three more to go, one per year, Pam Smith, the college’s director of advancement, said. Estimated total budget: $6 million to $8 million. South Ann Concerned Neighbors is planning to build a small retail building with affordable upstairs apartments at the front of the site; that project recently received a $500,000 LSA grant.
YWCA Lancaster: For reconfiguring early childhood education space as part of YForward, YWCA’s overhaul of its headquarters. The current phase of YForward, involving the installation of a new elevator, expansion of the Kepler Hall apartments and relocation of the Sexual Assault Prevention & Counseling Center, is on track to wrap up in early 2026, CEO Stacie Blake said. Estimated total budget: $15 million.
