Credit: Parx
Christmas came a little early from a number of Lower Bucks County municipalities.
On Friday, the Redevelopment Authority of Bucks County’s Board of Directors approved millions in projects that will be funded through money generated by Bensalem’s Parx Casino.
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The majority of the $3.9 million in grants are slated to go toward infrastructure projects, equipment for emergency responders, and nonprofit development efforts.
The impact funding from Parx is designed to aid municipalities impacted the most by the casino.
“The Redevelopment Authority is proud to support these types of projects that address gaming’s impact on our region. I would like to commend Sen. Tomlinson for his leadership when drafting the gaming legislation and for introducing language that made key changes to the law in 2017. His vision has resulted in tens of millions of dollars being used locally to address gaming’s impact on our region,” said Sean Schafer, chairman of the RDA.
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RDA Executive Director Jeff Darwak said municipalities submitted more than $6 million in requests this year.
“This year we saw, and were able to support, a lot of projects that involved collaboration amongst multiple jurisdictions. It is great to see municipalities building partnerships through this program. These projects will address gaming impacts and alleviate some of the financial burden from the taxpayers in the impacted communities,” Darwak said.
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Last year, the program underwent a major change that opened up more municipalities to apply for funding. Presently, municipalities contiguous to Bensalem – Bristol Borough, Bristol Township, Bucks County, Hulmeville, Langhorne, Langhorne Manor, Lower Southampton, Middletown, and Penndel – can apply for funding for themselves or even on behalf of projects or organizations in other towns. The county can also apply for funding.
“Each year the Redevelopment Authority board and staff spend many hours reviewing the applications before the final decision is made. I am pleased that we can help these communities to address infrastructure needs, improve the quality of life for families, and make our Lower Bucks County community safe,” said Schafer.
Since the program started in 2008, more than $45 million has been awarded to municipalities.
- The 2020 grant awardees:
- Towns Against Graffiti (TAG) – Partnership of 9 Municipalities for Graffiti Removal – $165,000
- Bensalem Emergency Responder Radio Replacement – $153,327.71
- Bensalem Township Fire/EMS Upgrades – $70,000
- YWCA Family Center Support Center – $60,000
- Bucks County Rescue Squad Ambulance Acquisition – $133,702
- Bristol Borough Police Patrol Vehicle Acquisition – $51,322
- Bristol Borough Volunteer Fire Stations Vehicle Exhaust Systems – $120,278
- Bristol Borough Pedestrian Traffic Signal Upgrades – $109,000
- Bristol Township Traffic Signal Improvements – $124,000
- Bristol Township Battery Backups for Traffic Signals – $96,625
- Bristol Township Municipal Complex Expansion Project – $18,729
- Bristol Township Police Portable Wheel Loading Devices – $49,950
- Bristol Township Police AED Devices – $30,000
- Bristol Township Traffic Calming Devices – $17,060
- Bristol Township Emergency Management Firefighting Equipment – $15,925
- Bucks County Rescue Squad Equipment Acquisition – $20,000
- Levittown-Fairless Hills Rescue Squad Exhaust Capture System – $20,000
- Edgely Fire Company Air Bag Equipment – $20,000
- Levittown Fire Company #2 Air Bag Equipment – $20,000
- Croydon Fire Company Turnout Gear – $20,000
- Third District Fire Company Equipment – $15,817
- Lower Bucks County Public Safety Training Center – $600,000
- Bucks County Police Chiefs Assocition Police Records Management System – $100,000
- Hulmeville Borough Parking Lot Improvements – $16,350
- Hulmeville Borough Police and Emergency Management Equipment – $46,125
- Peace Valley Holistic Center Work Program Facility – $50,000
- Lower Bucks County Vietnam Veterans Memorial – $50,000
- Langhorne Borough Police Department Vehicle Acquisition – $56,763
- Langhorne Borough Public Works Vehicle Acquisition – $36,637
- Langhorne Borough Hall Backup Generator – $12,950
- Langhorne Borough Police Safety Equipment – $18,120
- Langhorne Borough Traffic Camera Installation – $49,804
- Langhorne Borough License Plate Recognition Camera – $14,025
- Langhorne Borough Traffic Calming Devices – $7,280
- Langhorne Borough SCBA Replacement for Langhorne-Middletown Fire Company – $40,000
- Langhorne Manor Borough Road Improvements – $200,000
- Langhorne Manor Borough Public Works Vehicle – $31,000
- Langhorne Manor Borough SCBA Replacement for Langhorne-Middletown Fire Company – $40,000
- Lower Southampton Road Improvements – $250,000
- Lower Southampton Public Works Vehicle – $85,179
- Lower Southampton Police Vehicle and Camera System – $143,190
- Lower Southampton Fire Department Equipment – $12,177
- Tri-Hampton Rescue Squad Radios – $24,971
- Middletown Township Police Department Vehicles – $238,593
- Middletown Township Public Works Vehicles – $101,928
- Middletown Township Heart Monitors for Penndel-Middletown Emergency Squad – $105,000
- Middletown Township SCBA Replacement for Langhorne-Middletown Fire Company – $40,000
- Penndel Borough Police Safety Equipment – $23,574
- Penndel Borough Municpal Complex Improvements – $67,648
- Penndel Volunteer Fire Company Facility Improvements – $35,000
- Penndel Volunteer Fire Company Rescue Equipment – $70,000
- Penndel Borough Heart Monitor for Penndel-Middletown Emergency Squad – $35,000
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Total: $3,932,049.71
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