Eight state grants totaling just under $4.15 million are coming to organizations in Lancaster city to support homelessness services and enable nonprofits to renovate their facilities.
The money will supplement other funding sources in support of several high-profile and high-priority projects, including the planned homelessness services hub on South Prince Street, the Lancaster Rec’s move to the Price Elementary School building next door and the renovation of Tenfold’s Transitional Living Center on East King Street.
The Commonwealth Financing Authority board approved the allocations, along with thousands of others statewide, at its meeting Oct. 22. The grants in the city total $4.145 million and are as follows:
- $1 million: To the Lancaster Recreation Commission to renovate Price Elementary School, where it plans to move, allowing the School District of Lancaster to build a new elementary school on the property it is vacating. At the Price building, the Rec will be able to dramatically expand its early childhood education and other programs.
- $1 million: To Tenfold to renovate the Transitional Living Center, or TLC. The work includes replacement of the building’s elevator and an overhaul of its utilities, ensuring its 52 units can continue to serve 150 to 200 guests a year.
- $500,000: To Lancaster County Food Hub, for the installation of an elevator and other renovations, allowing it to put a second-floor area into use as an expanded day shelter and additional storage.
- $500,000: To South Ann Concerned Neighbors to build a mixed-use building with two downstairs retail units and two three-bedroom affordable apartments as part of the Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology Franklin Street affordable housing project.
- $400,000: To Bethel African Historical Services for renovations of the Rev. Harvey H.B. & Kai Sparkman III Cultural Center, including window replacement and a new HVAC system.
- $350,000: To the Lancaster County Redevelopment Authority for the Prince Street Community Hub, a complex with supportive housing, crisis housing and homelessness services planned at 134 S. Prince St.
- $250,000: To Chestnut Housing for its eight-unit Millburn Apartments affordable housing project.
- $145,502: To Ebenezer Baptist Church for renovations, including a new elevator, a restroom and security doors.
The funding comes from gambling revenues via Pennsylvania’s Local Share Account program, which was recently expanded statewide. The Commonwealth Financing Authority oversees it, evaluating applications and making awards.
To apply for a grant, nonprofits must go through a municipality; municipalities can also apply on their own behalf. The program is competitive, and many applications go unfunded.
The grants listed above are among more than 2,000 made statewide totaling $609 million dollars. Outside Lancaster city, 22 other Local Share Account grants totaling $9.66 million were approved for Lancaster County on Oct. 22. Two went to nonprofits, the other 20 to municipalities or municipal authorities, as follows:
Nonprofit
- Pleasant View Communities: Technology upgrades ($630,000)
- The Janus School: Renovation and expansion ($250,000)
Municipal
- Christiana Borough: Sidewalk installation and road repair ($1 million)
- Columbia Borough: Public Works facility Lancaster ($1 million)
- Denver Borough: Memorial Park water main extension ($293,504)
- Earl Township Sewer Authority: Pumping station flow metering ($225,000)
- East Hempfield Township: UDSF and fleet expansion ($772,510)
- Elizabethtown Area Water Authority: Piping project ($263,350)
- Ephrata Borough Authority: Wissler Road pumping station upgrade ( $816,873)
- Manheim Borough: South Oak Street Bridge removal ($88,475)
- Manheim Township: Crime scene, Reconstruction, And Supportive Help (CRASH) multi-purpose field response unit ($89,853)
- Manheim Township: Stoner Barn water storage tank ($209,112)
- Martic Township: Municipal complex ($1,000,000)
- Paradise Township: Paradise Park renovations ($400,000)
- Pequea Township: Dump truck ($239,400) and plow truck ($148,000)
- Quarryville Borough: Police vehicle ($74,528)
- Rapho Township: Public works equipment ($773,957)
- Warwick Township: Clay Road pedestrian improvements ($400,000)
- Warwick Township Municipal Authority: Sewer pumping station renovation ( $675,000)
- Weaverland Valley Authority: Water storage tank corrosion control ($380,000)
- West Lampeter Township: Community development improvement initiative ($170,000)