Probst: $1.87 million obtained for school, municipal projects
Rep. Tarah Probst October 22, 2024 | 2:47 PM
HARRISBURG, Oct. 22 – State Rep. Tarah Probst is pleased to announce $1.87 million was awarded today by the Commonwealth Financing Authority for several school and community improvements projects.
“Given the high school property taxes in Monroe and Pike counties, I am especially pleased to see more than $800,000 in state funds provided today to East Stroudsburg School District. Today’s grants build on the strong state budget that we passed this summer to help relieve the burden on local taxpayers even more,” said Probst, D-Monroe/Pike.
East Stroudsburg Area School District was awarded two Public School Facility Improvement Grants totaling $818,941. The first $417,545 grant will be used for the replacement of boilers and controls at JT Lambert Intermediate and Smithfield Elementary Schools located in Smithfield Township. ESASD will replace two heating boilers at each school building. The project also includes updates to venting and exhaust, electrical connections, pipe insulation, air separators, piping connections, and building management controls to accommodate the new equipment.
A second $401,396 grant will go toward boilers/controls and data cabling replacement projects at JT Lambert Intermediate School. The school district plans to replace the domestic hot water system and extend new data cabling throughout the building. The domestic hot-water system upgrades will improve efficiency and be less costly to operate. The data cabling upgrades are necessary to support all the newer technologies needed for the classrooms and building safety/security system. PSFIG funds will be used for the purchase and installation of new equipment, construction and engineering costs.
The PSFIG Program was created to provide grants to public school districts and area career and technical schools for eligible facility improvement projects. It is administered by the Department of Community and Economic Development under the direction of the CFA.
Probst said the CFA also approved $1.05 million in Statewide Local Share Account funding for projects in her district. The funds are from the PA Race Horse Development and Gaming Act, which provides for the distribution of gaming revenues through the CFA to support projects in the public interest across Pennsylvania.
Recipients include the following:
Delaware Township -- $250,000 toward a road improvement project on Myck Road.
Monroe County Industrial Development Authority -- $300,000 to construct intersection improvements associated with the Smithfield Gateway located in Smithfield Township. The highly trafficked intersection of Independence Road (SR 447) and Mosier farm drive is cited as frequently congested and is a local bottleneck to access the surrounding communities. The proposed project aims to construct a new traffic signal, new sidewalks, curb improvements and drainage improvements at this intersection.
Smithfield Sewer Authority -- $250,000 for Phase II of a public sewer extension project in Smithfield Township, along Seven Bridge Road beginning at the Music Center Drive intersection.
Stroudsburg Borough -- $250,000 toward the construction of the Creek Walk Trail located. The proposed $1 million project will create the Stroudsburg Creek Walk Trail, designed as a recreational, pedestrian-centered trail that prioritizes accessibility and provides connectivity for cyclists.