Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com
Local municipalities are getting a financial boost through their share of $3.9 million in gaming funds collected from Parx Casino in Bensalem Township.
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The funds have been allocated to support various municipal projects in the area.
The municipalities eligible for these grants are Bristol Borough, Bristol Township, Hulmeville Borough, Langhorne Borough, Langhorne Manor Borough, Lower Southampton Township, Middletown Township, and Penndel Borough, along with county government. Bensalem Township, the host community, also receives funds.
The multi-million dollar allocation was created to offset the impacts of the casino’s operations.
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The Redevelopment Authority of Bucks County Board of Directors met last month to review of applications submitted by municipalities and approve which projects would be funded.
This cycle, nineteen grants totaling over $1.7 million were awarded to support law enforcement, firefighters, and emergency responders. Additionally, more than $1.5 million was allocated to thirteen projects focusing on infrastructure and facility improvements. Health and human service projects also received significant funding, with eight projects receiving a total of $618,304.
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In total, 40 grants were awarded to the ten eligible municipalities, amounting to $3,920,226.45.
Ralph DiGuiseppe, chairman of the Authority board and president of the Bristol Borough council, emphasized the importance of the Municipal Grant Program.
“It plays a pivotal role in supporting projects that address quality of life issues and invest in infrastructure, health, and public safety initiatives in the municipalities impacted by gaming,” DiGuiseppe said.
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The funding for the Redevelopment Authority of the County of Bucks’ Municipal Grant Program originates from one percent of the gross terminal revenue from Parx Casino.
The program is authorized by the Pennsylvania Race Horse and Development Gaming Act of 2004 and the reenacted and amended version approved in 2017.
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The legislation was originally proposed and introduced by former State Sen. Tommy Tomlinson.
Since the Municipal Grant Program’s inception in 2008, the Redevelopment Authority has awarded over $60 million for eligible projects.
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Below are the grant projects approved by the authority board:
| Project | Award |
| Bristol Borough Public Works Equipment | $86,987.00 |
| Security Camera for Bristol Borough Facilities | $53,569.00 |
| Bristol Borough Police Patrol Vehicle | $60,873.00 |
| Bristol Borough Police Department Police Command Vehicle | $55,288.00 |
| Bristol Borough Fire Department Water Rescue Equipment | $77,502.00 |
| Bristol Borough Police Tasers and Equipment | $45,845.00 |
| Bucks County Rescue Squad Ambulance | $199,652.00 |
| Lower Bucks Public Safety Training Center | $600,000.00 |
| Lower Southampton Township Public Works Ford F-550 Dump Truck with Equipment | $109,968.00 |
| Lower Southampton Township Police Vehicles and Equipment | $172,691.00 |
| Hulmeville Borough – Penndel Middletown Emergency Squad CPR/Chest Compression Device | $23,421.00 |
| William Penn Fire Company Utility Truck | $80,185.00 |
| Hulmeville Borough Road Repair & Resurfacing – Phase II | $86,374.00 |
| Towns Against Graffiti | $175,000.00 |
| Bucks County Police Chiefs Association RMS Integration | $115,600.00 |
| Middletown Township Police Vehicles | $169,405.00 |
| Middletown Township Public Works Vehicle | $382,564.00 |
| Middletown Township Police License Plate Readers | $15,900.00 |
| Parkland Fire Company – Thermal Imaging Cameras | $15,600.00 |
| Langhorne Manor Borough Police Vehicle | $51,000.00 |
| Langhorne Manor Borough Stormwater Management Improvements | $298,995.00 |
| Langhorne Manor Borough Tree Replenishment Project | $3,000.00 |
| Penndel Borough Police Department Patrol Vehicle | $90,341.00 |
| Penndel Borough – Penndel Middletown Emergency Squad CPR/Chest Compression Device | $23,421.00 |
| Penndel Borough Public Works Pick Up Truck | $51,180.00 |
| Penndel Fire Company Parking Lot Milling, Paving, & Seal Coating Project | $24,000.00 |
| Langhorne Borough Rt. 413 Stormwater Inlet Improvements & New Pedestrian Crossing | $274,080.00 |
| Langhorne Borough Police Taser Replacement Project | $14,272.45 |
| Langhorne Borough – Penndel Middletown Emergency Squad CPR/Chest Compression Device | $23,421.00 |
| Bristol Township Traffic Signal Upgrades Part 2 | $50,000.00 |
| Bristol Township Police Department Axon Body and In-Dash Camera System & Storage | $133,092.00 |
| Bristol Township Traffic Signal Indication Upgrades | $67,000.00 |
| Bristol Township Mill Creek Road at Edgely Road Improvements | $150,000.00 |
| Bristol Township Fire Rescue – Vehicle Rescue Equipment | $20,000.00 |
| Levittown Fairless Hills Rescue Squad – Ambulance Remount | $20,000.00 |
| Edgely Fire Co. – Replacement of Vehicle Rescue Tools | $20,000.00 |
| Levittown Fire Co. #2 – Pagers and Turnout Gear | $20,000.00 |
| Croydon Fire Co. – Bay Door Replacement | $20,000.00 |
| Third District Fire Co. – Holmatro Pantheon Rescue System Components | $20,000.00 |
| Newportville Fire Co. – Gear and Utility Truck | $20,000.00 |
| Total: | $3,920,226.45 |
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