Lycoming News

Schuylkill County officials have announced that projects aimed at improving roads, bridges, and downtown areas in the region have secured nearly $2.5 million in state grants from the Multimodal Transportation Fund (MTF). The grants were hailed as a significant boost for the local communities by various state representatives.

"This highly competitive state funding will be a significant boost to local efforts to breathe new life into our older downtowns," expressed Sen. Dave Argall. Rep. Jamie Barton highlighted the importance of new sidewalks, stating, "New sidewalks don’t just improve the value of a property or community; they offer a safe pathway for walkers, joggers, and strollers."

Rep. JoAnne Stehr emphasized the critical role of maintaining infrastructure, stating, "It is critical to maintain our roads, sidewalks and bridges because they serve as the main lifelines of our community." Rep. Tim Twardzik expressed gratitude for the funding, noting, "This funding represents a substantial commitment to bolstering our community’s economic growth and enhancing our multimodal transportation system."

The grants, approved during a public meeting of the Commonwealth Financing Authority, will support ongoing projects aimed at enhancing streetscapes in municipalities across Schuylkill County. Rep. Dane Watro emphasized the importance of the grants, stating, "These grants will go toward ongoing projects designed to enhance the streetscapes in both municipalities, which is critical to attracting new development and jobs."

The MTF, established by the General Assembly, aims to provide funding to encourage economic development and ensure a safe, reliable transportation system for Pennsylvania residents. The grants are expected to play a vital role in advancing the region's infrastructure and economic development efforts.

For further information, individuals can contact Jim Brugger (Argall), William Jones (Twardzik, Stehr), Jake Gillespie (Barton), and Andy Briggs (Watro).