West Chester, Pa (November 3, 2022) – Twelve organizations throughout Chester County will receive $16.75 million in total state funding for investments in community development, economic growth, education, public health and safety, behavioral health, transportation, recreation and tourism, historic preservation, and public works.
“These investments offer more opportunities for residents and families throughout Chester County – opportunities for education in the trades, for young people with disabilities, and for students at one our nation’s oldest historically black universities, opportunities for healthcare for children and people with behavioral health challenges, opportunities for new jobs and careers, and opportunities to enhance the emergency response services we all rely on to stay safe,” Comitta said. “These investments touch nearly every corner of my district, and I hope they will add to the strong quality of life that continues to define our region.”
The grant funds, awarded through the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program, are as follows:
- $1.25 million for the Chester County Intermediate Unit to support renovations to its Learning Center vocational shops, including Automobile Services, Carpentry, Cosmetology, Culinary Arts, Horticulture, HVAC, and other trades. The project would allow the CCIU to expand the programs to offer adult education and training programs to the surrounding Coatesville community that has a significant need for job creation, employee training, and employment retention. Renovations include replacing windows, improving doors and security and upgrading lighting and HVAC systems.
- $2 million for traffic improvements and site work at the Shoppes at Sadsbury. The project calls for the construction of a 5-lane connector road linking Route 30 with Route 10 to relieve traffic at the intersection of Route 30 and Route 10.
- $3.5 million for the City of Coatesville to build a new firehouse and public works facility. Coatesville’s existing Public Works building is more than 70 years old and in need of extensive and expensive repairs. Also, the city needs its own designated location for a central firehouse, as it currently rents space from two locations that are shared with other users. In addition to the demolition of the existing public works building and the construction of the new facility, the funding will support street improvements along City Hall Place and Kersey Street.
“We were thrilled to receive the news about the $3.5-million-dollar RACP award that will go towards the construction of a much-needed fire station and public works facility,” said Coatesville City Manager James Logan. “For more than 10 years, the Coatesville Fire Department has leased spaced from supporting emergency organizations to house its fire apparatus and supplies. We will now have the opportunity to take care of our own and give them space for training and protecting our residents to improve our fire and health safety services throughout the community. Although this is one of many steps in building our capital stack to fund the construction project, we are confident we can identify future grant opportunities to meet our objective.”
- $1.849 million for International Paper to remediate the roof at its corrugated packaging plant in Atglen. As part of the conversion to a container plant, the company will replace and repair the existing roof. The new plant, which is expected to bring approximately 150 new jobs to the area, is slated to be operational next year.
- $750,000 for Lincoln University’s new Agricultural Research and Commerce Complex, a state-of-the-art research, testing, and food processing complex. The project calls for the development of a 10,000 to 15,000-square-foot solar-powered R&D greenhouse adjacent to Lincoln’s Ivory Nelson Science Center, a 30,000-foot “clean” food plant with a warehouse and freeze-drying facility, and a 5-acre research farm for growing and testing high value crops (ranging from greens to industrial hemp to mushrooms for manufacturing).
- $750,000 for the Southeastern Chester County Refuse Authority for a Materials Recovery Facility. The facility will allow the landfill to process single-stream recycled materials on site, significantly reducing the cost of recycling and keeping the economic benefits in Pennsylvania. The MRF project is expected to create ten new full-time jobs in Chester County and become a model for other rural waste and recycling centers.
- $1.75 million for a new Behavioral Health Hospital on the Campus of Chester County Hospital. Haven Behavioral Healthcare will completely renovate an existing hospital building on Chester County Hospital’s campus to open an inpatient hospital with outpatient services. The hospital will help meet the behavioral health needs of an influx of patients resulting from the closure of Brandywine Hospital.
“Haven Behavioral Healthcare has been a pillar in the behavioral health community throughout eastern Pennsylvania for over a decade,” said CEO Kathy Gill. “We are beyond excited and grateful for the overwhelming support and opportunity to serve Chester County and the region. The RACP funds will not only provide world-class healthcare services for healing but will also bring about 100 new jobs to the community. We want to thank Senator Comitta and Representative Herrin for their support.”
- $400,000 for the Bournelyf Special Camp to construct a new, multi-purpose, ADA-accessible building. In addition, the camp will use the funds to replace the existing pool and renovate the pool house, to ensure that both are ADA-compliant and safe and accessible for campers. Located in Westtown, the Bournelyf Special Camp is a local non-profit organization committed to creating physically challenging and empowering opportunities for young people with disabilities.
Richard Curth, Executive Director of the Bournelyf Special Camp, said the organization’s executive board was delighted to receive the official notice that the camp was among those nonprofits from across the state that were approved for a grant. “A $400,000 grant for our new program facility is a game-changer. Our campers for generations to come will benefit from this funding. We are extremely grateful,” he said.
- $500,000 for Devereux Children’s Services to construct additional classroom and residential space at its therapeutic day and residential Mapleton School in Williston. The project calls for renovating a wing of its acute children’s behavioral healthcare center from semi-private to single rooms. It includes extensive renovations, such as demolition, drywall, windows, roofing, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC.
- $2.75 million for Nemours Children’s Health to construct a new pediatric healthcare facility in the Malvern area that will provide a comprehensive suite of health and wellness offerings. The new 43,000-square-foot, two-story building planned for the Uptown Worthington complex will expand access to 22 specialties including behavioral health for which the need is critical. The new facility will serve patients and families in southeastern Pennsylvania and spur economic development by creating construction jobs, clinical and administrative positions, and additional employment opportunities.
“Nemours Children’s Health is committed to providing Pennsylvania families with access to high-quality pediatric care,” said Mark Mumford, Executive Vice President and Chief Executive of Nemours Children’s Health, Delaware Valley. “Thank you to Senator Carolyn T Comitta for your dedication to children’s health and for your partnership on this grant, which will allow Nemours Children’s to care for even more children.”
- $500,000 for the Friends of Valley Forge for the construction of an addition at the new Valley Forge Park Alliance Headquarters and Café located at the historic Maurice Stephens House. The project calls for design work, as well as rehabilitating an existing parking lot and installing sidewalks, electricity to the parking lot, signage and landscaping.
- $750,000 for the Timothy School to renovate and expand classroom space. The project calls for the addition of classroom and administrative office space, as well as the selective demolition and construction of the existing main education building. Located in Tredyffrin, the Timothy School is the oldest approved non-profit private school in Pennsylvania devoted exclusively to teaching students with autism.
“The Timothy School is thrilled to be named a grant recipient,” said Executive Director Sarah Greim. “The $750,000 grant award will enable us to begin moving forward with our building expansion project, which is greatly needed to provide an adequate and efficient learning space for our students with autism. We are grateful to Senator Comitta for her ongoing support of this important project and all our endeavors.”
The Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program is a state grant program administered by the Office of the Budget for the acquisition and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic, recreational, and historical improvement projects.
To receive funding, projects must have a regional or multi-jurisdictional impact, and generate substantial increases or maintain current levels of employment, tax revenues, or other measures of economic activity.
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