Schlossberg: Funding for Parkland and Allentown communities will build strong economy, safe communities, world-class education
Rep. Mike Schlossberg October 22, 2024 | 2:40 PM
HARRISBURG, Oct. 22 – State Rep. Mike Schlossberg is celebrating announcements from the Commonwealth Financing Authority to deliver important resources to the Parkland and Allentown communities and continue the critical work of building a strong economy, safe communities, and world-class education for students.
“As elected officials, it is our responsibility to make sure taxpayer dollars are used wisely to invest in our communities,” said Schlossberg, D-Lehigh. “The residents of Parkland and Allentown expect us to continue the work for a strong economy with jobs that pay good wages, ensure safe communities, and give our kids access to world-class education that opens the door to opportunities for a bright future. Today’s funding announcements by the Commonwealth Financing Authority show Pennsylvania’s commitment to our region.”
The Statewide Local Share Account funding comes 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 within Pennsylvania.
The Allentown Economic Development Corp. was awarded $42,300 in LSA statewide funds to support the organization’s work.
“The Lehigh Valley’s economic well-being is deeply connected to Allentown’s future,” Schlossberg said. “Continuing to develop a strong place for small businesses to thrive by being connected to global growth engines, a competitive workforce, and a vibrant urban core will help the vitality of our region as we move deeper into the 21st century.”
Lehigh County will use its $68,000 LSA grant to purchase new cameras for the Coroner's Office.
It will include new camera bodies, lenses, and ancillary artificial light devices to be used for forensic investigations. This equipment will have advanced technology to produce high quality imagery, easily integrate with the office’s computers, cell phones and iPad devices. This will also eliminate the stress of obtaining parts and repair services.
“Investing in public safety means providing investigators with the tools they need to do their job,” Schlossberg said. “The Lehigh County Coroner’s Office has been on the cutting edge for years, and this will help keep our communities safe with forensic equipment for staff to do their job even more effectively.”
Parkland School District will receive a $900,000 Public School Facility Improvement Grant for a $3.7 million HVAC project at Cetronia Elementary School located in South Whitehall Township.
The project will replace the current HVAC system with a new, more efficient HVAC design that includes dehumidification capabilities. The replacement of the HVAC system will improve the building's air quality, system efficiencies, and building security by upgrading to an automation system. PSFIG funds will be used for the purchase and installation of equipment and engineering costs.
“Cetronia Elementary School is a classic neighborhood school, walkable to many families and is an anchor for area residents,” Schlossberg said. “Because of the building’s age, it is also a school that requires critical system upkeep to meet the needs of its students. With climate change making extreme weather more prevalent in our region, it is especially important to take steps to make sure the learning environment meets expectations for learning.”
The Public School Facility Improvement Grant 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 state Department of Community and Economic Development under the direction of the CFA.
“It’s not enough to celebrate these funding announcements: we need to cast the difficult votes to make these funds available through the budget,” Schlossberg said. “I am proud to have supported, not only the individual projects, but also the budgets necessary for these announcements to be possible.”