Latest news with #RedevelopmentAssistanceCapitalProgram
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
State awards Sharon Regional $2 million for improvements
SHARON, Pa. (WKBN) — A $2 million infrastructure improvement grant has been awarded to Sharon Regional Medical Center. Sen. Michele Brooks (R-50) made the announcement on Friday. The grant is being awarded through the Commonwealth's Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP). 'This funding for Sharon Regional demonstrates the commitment at the state level to ensure additional quality healthcare remains sustainable and available to the residents of Sharon and surrounding region,' Brooks said in a news release. 'The successful reopening of Sharon Regional Medical Center has been a critical victory for increased capacity, and the overall health and safety of our community; in addition, the investment of these funds will continue the established commitment from local and state leaders to help the hospital grow and thrive.' The release said a minimum of $500,000 will be for enhancements to the hospital's catheterization laboratory, and the remaining funds will be to enhance the hospital's physical plant. Medical Properties Trust, the company Sharon Regional leases the hospital's property from, is also working on projects such as replacing the hospital's roof. 'These infrastructure upgrades are an important step forward for Sharon Regional,' said Butch Eavenson, interim CEO of Sharon Regional, in the release. 'They lay the foundation for consistent, high-quality care and reflect the commitment of those working hard to restore essential services in our community.' Patient care services will continue during construction. Timelines for construction are still being finalized. 'The work underway at Sharon Regional is focused on creating a strong and sustainable foundation for care delivery,' said Radha Savitala, founder of Tenor Health Foundation. 'Investing in the facility is a critical part of ensuring patients can rely on the care they need, close to home.' The RACP is a Commonwealth grant program administered by the Office of the Budget for the design, acquisition, and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic, recreational, and historical improvement projects. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Wilkes-Barre council approves alcohol exceptions for Fine Arts Fiesta, Rockin' the River
Apr. 11—WILKES-BARRE — City council members unanimously approved temporary alcohol suspensions for two of the local area's biggest cultural events: the Fine Arts Fiesta on Public Square and the Rockin' the River series of concerts on the River Common. The Fine Arts Fiesta exception was noted as being for the wine-tasting area and only applies to wine. Malted or brewed beverages and liquors will still be prohibited on Public Square when the fiesta takes place from Thursday, May 15, to Sunday, May 18. The Rockin' the River exception is for three consecutive Fridays — July 11, 18, and 25 — this summer. The council's resolution on the matter notes that the designated area for open consumption of alcoholic beverages will be clearly identified on those dates by the event's sponsors, the Luzerne County Convention & Visitors Bureau. Public comment Mayor George Brown received significant backlash from residents in attendance at Thursday's meeting for his comments — which were recently printed in a local publication — regarding the city's strategies for handling homelessness. Residents April Pahler, Anthony Farah and Jasmine Rodriguez each took an opportunity to poke at the city's homelessness policy, specifically the methods with which a homeless camp was removed in Kirby Park in July 2024. The residents and council members came to some understanding about the resources available to the city's homeless population, and Brown defended his comments and policies. "If you saw the pictures or if you were over along the river and saw what the two encampments had done over there and put my firefighters and my police officers in danger — going over there at night with no lights and trying to walk through buckets of feces, buckets of urine, needles, and everything else that was over there that's going to create a safety hazard for these people that are trying to provide first aid and try to help them out — yeah, I think I did the right thing, and I would do it again," Brown said. During Brown's response to the residents' concerns, one meeting attendee stood up and shouted at the Mayor. "Absolutely inhuman [how] you're treating our neighbors here. Absolutely disrespectful. You should be ashamed of yourself. This council should be ashamed of yourselves by the way you treat the most vulnerable people in our community," the resident hollered as he was escorted from the council's chambers by police. Additional resolutions In addition to the alcohol allowances, the council also: —Approved the celebration of Earth Day on Tuesday, April 22, and the promotion of earth-friendly foods and a healthier food system in the city. —Reappointed Patricia Unvarsky to the Traffic Committee. —Authorized the proper city officials to file a Project Management Proposal with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, for a Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) Grant in the amount of $750,000 for assistance with King's College Student Success Center Project. —Authorized the proper city officials to sign any and all necessary documents related to awarding the contract to the lowest responsible bidder, Stell Enterprises, for the Bog Phase II All-Inclusive Playground/Park Project in the amount of $431,532.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Johnson College opens addition to building housing HVAC, electrical construction programs
SCRANTON — A new space at Johnson College will give students room for hands-on experience on electrical, heating and air-conditioning equipment that will prepare them for careers outside the classroom. Officials at the college in North Scranton formally opened the 6,100-square-foot addition to the former heating, ventilation and air-conditioning laboratory, now named Bracey Hall, Wednesday morning. The addition doubles the existing building that houses the Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Technology program to include laboratory and classroom space for students to learn the ins and outs of HVAC equipment. Electricity and building classes will also be taught in the space. Some of the equipment, including electrical circuits, air-conditioning units and refrigerators of varying sizes, was displayed during Wednesday's unveiling. In her remarks, college President and CEO Katie Pittelli said the newly expanded Bracey Hall will help the college prepare students for the changing workplace. 'The world of technology evolves at an incredibly rapid pace. As the region's only two-year technical college, we have a responsibility to ensure that our facilities, equipment and programs evolve alongside it,' she said. 'This building, Bracey Hall, will help us do just that.' It also gives the college the chance to serve the increasing demand for skilled technicians and technologists, Pittelli said. The number of jobs for heating, air-conditioning and refrigeration mechanics and installers is projected to grow 9% between 2023 and 2033, with about 42,500 openings anticipated each year, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. College officials announced the expansion in late 2023, with construction beginning last year. The addition was financed by the college's 'Innovation at Work' capital campaign, which has raised more than $7 million toward construction — including the 19,000-square-foot Ideal Saldi Hall, which opened last spring — scholarships and a campus feasibility study. A large portion of the campaign was funded by the Bracey family, who own Bracey Inc. in Covington Twp., which operates ShopRites in Moosic, Daleville and Mount Pocono. The college also received a $1 million Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program grant and a $280,000 Appalachian Regional Commission grant for the expansion. * Students gather during the Bracey Hall Debut at Johnson College Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) * An HVAC classroom in Bracey Hall at Johnson College Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) * Johnson College alumnus and HVAC Program Director Walter Wood speaks during the Bracey Hall Debut at Johnson College Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) * A storage closet in Bracey Hall holds materials for students at Johnson College in Scranton Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) * President and CEO of Johnson College Katie Pittelli speaks during the Bracey Hall Debut at Johnson College Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) * Director of Operations for Bracey Incorporated Laura Bracey speaks during the Bracey Hall Debut at Johnson College Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) Show Caption 1 of 6 Students gather during the Bracey Hall Debut at Johnson College Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) Expand Laura Bracey, the company's director of operations, wants students to gain additional skills besides the hands-on ones. 'Beyond the technical skills, we also hope students learn the value of perseverance, integrity and service to others,' she said. Walter Wood, the college's building trades division chair and HVAC program director, said the expanded Bracey Hall will prepare students for various industries locally and around the world. 'As we continue to see remarkable growth in our HVAC and electrical construction technology programs, this new space will allow us to further support the development of skilled technicians ready to meet the ever-growing demand in the field,' he said. Wood, who was part of the first graduating class of HVAC students in 2011, added the space creates an environment that will foster innovation, teamwork and excellence. He said before Wednesday's unveiling the expansion allows the HVAC program to bring in additional equipment that enhances students' training. It will also accommodate more students in the growing program, which Wood said has quadrupled since he began working at the college in 2018. There are 82 students enrolled this year in the program. Skyler LeClere, who is studying HVAC and carpentry, likes the additional space he and his classmates get with the expansion. Prior to the construction, the Beach Lake resident said he and his classmates were learning in small areas. 'It's awesome because now there's room in there to be able to do work,' he said.
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- Yahoo
Allegheny College installs flashing crosswalk signs
Allegheny College now has flashing crosswalk signs operational at the college's two busiest crosswalks on North Main Street. The flashing crosswalk signs are at the crosswalk at North Main Street and the Brooks Hall Road Gate; and at the crosswalk at North Main and George streets by the Baldwin Hall dormitory. The project to alert drivers traveling North Main Street has been about two years in the making, said Joseph Michael, Allegheny College's director of facilities. 'Those are our two busiest crosswalks with students and other pedestrian traffic crossing that area campus,' Michael said. There are ADA-accessible push buttons on poles on each side of North Main Street at both crosswalks to activate the flashing warning lights. Those crosswalks are less than 500 feet apart but carry foot traffic between dormitories and classroom buildings and other facilities located on both sides of North Main Street. The project cost the college around $90,000 with Bronder Technical Services of Prospect carrying out the work, Michael said. Mark Weindorf, Allegheny College's director of public safety, said the project is welcomed improvement. 'Those are the two busiest crossings and North Main Street is on a hill,' Weindorf said. 'The different colors and flashing lights will draw attention to motorists.' The flashing crosswalk signs are an outgrowth of a 2016 safety improvement study for the North Main Street corridor that runs through Allegheny College's campus. A half-mile section of North Main Street — from Loomis Street to Allegheny Street — was studied for potential safety improvements by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Allegheny College and the City of Meadville. The study came about following the 2015 death of an Allegheny College student who died after being struck by a car on North Main Street in front of North Village II residence hall. PennDOT, in conjunction with the college, the city and WRA, a national engineering and consulting firm, a public meeting on campus in 2016 to gather ideas from the public. In late 2016, Allegheny did a $400,000 street lighting project on the west side of North Main Street to add 24 light-emitting diode, or LED, street lights to improve visibility. Allegheny was awarded a $200,000 Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program grant from Pennsylvania toward the LED lighting project. Those lights illuminate North Main Street from Loomis Street to Allegheny Street.
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Public safety building plans being explored
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – Currently, $5 million is in place to be used for either renovating the Johnstown Public Safety Building or putting up an entirely new structure at a different location. Much more money is still needed, though, to make a cleaner, safer, more appealing modern headquarters for the municipality's police and fire departments. Johnstown City Council allocated $2.5 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act for COVID-19 pandemic relief money to the effort. Then, late last year, the city was awarded $2.5 million in state Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program grant funding, which was acknowledged Friday with a check presentation ceremony among state Rep. Frank Burns, D-East Taylor Township, and city representatives. An additional $3.5 million in federal money is potentially lined up. But uncertainty exists with large amounts of federal spending being reviewed by President Donald Trump's administration. Even with that possible funding, there would be gaps between the secured dollars and the upward of $10 million needed for an extensive renovation of the structure that has stood at 401 Washington St. since 1925 or a 'rough guesstimate' of $20 million for a new building, according to Johnstown Mayor Frank Janakovic. 'The problem is the money's coming in fragmented,' Janakovic said during the presentation that took place inside the public safety building. 'We do have $5 million at this time, but we don't have the additional federal money that's $3.5 million. With what's going on in Washington, we're not sure if that would be in '26, '27, whenever that may be available. 'So it's really hard to plan when you've got some of it and you don't know where the rest of the money is coming from or the timeframe for it.' Johnstown received the state money for the project after Gov. Josh Shapiro toured the building with Burns and city officials in September. The involved parties want to discuss the need for additional funding with Shapiro, Pennsylvania's U.S. Sens. Dave McCormick and John Fetterman, and U.S. Rep. Dr. John Joyce, R-Blair. 'I'm committed to helping them do it, whether they want a new building or renovate an old building,' Burns said. 'I realize, for the police, this is about protecting our community, rebuilding our infrastructure one building at a time. We have to do something to help in this situation.' Which project is chosen – either an extensive remodel or the construction of a new building – will be determined by the 'parameters of the dollars,' as Janakovic explained. 'The bottom line is going to be money,' Johnstown City Manager Art Martynuska said. Johnstown Police Department Deputy Chief Mark Britton said 'a new building would be absolutely great' as it would enable the force to 'get up to date with where we need to be on the national average.' He added: 'If the money's not there and we have to do the improvements, at least we could meet with some of what the national average is doing, getting the things that we need.' Repair work has already been done on the current building. 'We have taken some steps already to make sure this building has been rendered safer than what it's been in the past,' Martynuska said. 'A good example of that is what we've done for remodeling and remediation in the basement. We put some new drainage systems in. We have industrial dehumidifiers. Servpro (cleaning and restoration service) has been in and done a bunch of cleanup there. So the air quality's going to be better in this building at least as a stopgap until we decide what we're going to do in the future.'
