Middletown Secures $2 Million In Federal Funds For Public Works Facility

A federal injection of $2 million is set to help start an overhaul of the Middletown Township Public Works Department facility.

The federal dollars will contribute to a projected $10 million renovation of the Veterans Highway complex.

The funds are not expected to be available until 2027, but the township has already moved to begin the preliminary phases of the project.

Township Manager Eden Ratliff said several hundred thousand dollars have been earmarked in the 2026 budget to begin the design process.

The approved township budget outlines a “significant overhaul of the rear garage building” as a main focus in the coming years.

The facility dates back to the 1960s and has served various roles for the municipality over the decades.

The township has recently invested in a 70,000-square-foot salt shed, brine-making equipment, and fuel system upgrades at the facility, but officials have said the other infrastructure for the public works crews need more work.

The township plans to seek additional state and federal funds to cover the balance of the $10 million overhaul of the site.

“We’re going to continue to pursue grant opportunities, but in the meantime we’re appreciative of this particular award,” Ratliff said.

The website of Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick, a Republican, said the $2 million for the project comes through a recent federal spending package he supported.

Public works crews are responsible for maintaining 150 miles of roadway, managing 800 acres of parks and open land, and servicing traffic signals, street lights, and stormwater systems.

Public Works Director Eric Gartenmayer noted that during recent snowstorms, crews worked 29 consecutive hours to keep roads clear.