Monroe County projects receive $3.7M in state funding
State Reps. Rosemary M. Brown, R-Monroe/Pike, and Jack Rader, R-Monroe, recently announced that local projects in Monroe County were awarded a total of $3.7 million in grants through the state’s gaming Local Share Account.
“These projects help make our communities better places to live and work,” Brown said. “I am pleased that our local officials and other involved organizations have these grants to move forward with these projects and I look forward to them all coming to fruition.”
“It is important for our local communities that these projects are funded and completed,” Rader added. “These LSA grants provide the means for our local project organizers to do just that. I want to thank all those who had a hand in advocating for and providing these much-appreciated funds.”
Projects in the Times News coverage area that received an LSA grant are:
• Shared Emergency Services Facility, Chestnuthill Township, $225,000.
Chestnuthill Township is planning to building a new shared emergency management facility that will house the West End Volunteer Fire Company, The West End Community Ambulance Association and the township’s emergency operations center.
Officials envision the project could also be an emergency operations center for surrounding communities.
The new building will be directly across the street from the current fire company building on Route 715 in Brodheadsville.
As part of that project, Chestnuthill has invited Ross, Jackson, Eldred, Polk and Hamilton townships to join a cooperative agreement that would give each of the townships use of the proposed operations center.
• Polk Township: Dorshimer Road Bridge, $73,500.
The old stone bridge on Dorshimer Road was inspected by McMahon and Associates in 2018.
Polk Township engineer Russell Kresge Jr. said the bridge fared well in the inspection at the time.
Kresge said the inspection recommended the township add signs and guide rails to the bridge. Some concrete patching and repointing was also recommended as well, but no major structural defects were found.
He said it was recommended that the signs and guide rails be installed within two years.
According to the inspection report, the cost of the recommended repairs and signs is about $50,000.
• Brodhead Creek Regional Authority: Pocono Water Storage Tank No. 2, $415,000.
• Pleasant Valley Ecumenical Network Clothing & Food Pantry: Building Renovations, $90,000.
• Generator, Ross Township Municipal Building, $13,537.
• Pocono Services for Families and Children: The Mountain Center HVAC & Lighting Upgrades, $421,835.
• Youth Star Inc.: Community Center Project, Monroe County Industrial Development Authority, $644,942.
• Route 611/Rimrock Drive Traffic Improvements, $450,000.
• Coolbaugh Township Volunteer Fire Company: Emergency Shelter Project, $105,000.
• Pocono Mountain Regional Police Department: Vehicle & Interview Room Cameras Project, $50,000.
