State RACP Invests $15+ Million in Local Projects

HARRISBURG PA – Ten local community projects are due to receive a combined total of more than $15 million in Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) grants announced Friday (July 17, 2026) by the state.

Among municipalities that will benefit are Pottstown, Douglass Township, Harleysville, Schwenksville, East Vincent Township, Norristown, and Reading.

The 10 projects are on a list of 129 grant recipients located in southeastern Pennsylvania, where $122 million is being distributed across several counties. Overall, Friday’s RACP commitment of nearly $445 million supported 356 projects throughout Pennsylvania.

Projects listed below consist of only those within the Travels With The Post coverage area. They represent just a portion of grant-winning projects in the state’s southeast region, or its entirety.

RACP is a commonwealth reimbursement grant program administered by the Governor’s Office of the Budget. Its funding can be used to buy or build regional economic, cultural, civic, and community development improvements.

However, the program requires a dollar-for-dollar match in non-state funding. Additionally, all project-related expenses must be incurred, and satisfied, before the state issues reimbursements.

State capitol photo provided by the Pennsylvania Department of General Services

In Western Montgomey County

Grant-winning projects that will affect western Montgomery County:

• Pottstown Borough’s multi-year plans to build a sustainable energy park and facility on Keystone Boulevard won a $1 million boost. The funds will be used to support site development and equipment acquisition;
• Douglass Township will receive $1 million for work on its administration building. It will support major municipal building renovations, systems upgrades, accessibility improvements, and an expanded public meeting space;
• Peter Becker Community in Harleysville is due to receive $500,000. The money is intended to support renovations to skilled nursing and residential care spaces;
• Camp Rainbow, a Schwenksville non-profit that holds week-long overnight summer camps for children of qualifying families, will receive $500,000 for renovations and infrastructure upgrades across camp facilities. They include multiple camper bunkhouses, a nurse’s station, dining hall, activity cabins, recreation pavilions, and restroom enclosures;
• Main Street Norristown redevelopment will benefit from $3 million. It is intended for demolition of blighted structures, and construction of new commercial storefronts, to revitalize the downtown business district;
• Elmwood Park Zoo in Norristown is receiving $5 million. It plans to build a new North America Exhibit. It would expand major animal habitats and visitor attractions with bison, wolves, and other native species; and
• Norristown Public Library is getting $500,000. It supports renovation and expansion of the public library, including systems upgrades and new community spaces.

In Eastern Berks County

Grant-winning projects that will affect eastern Berks County:

• Alvernia University is receiving $750,000 to renovate the American House in downtown Reading. It will be transformed into a multi-use facility that features a community-based health clinic.

In Northern Chester County

Grant-winning projects that will affect northern Chester County:

• East Vincent Township will benefit from $1.95 million, awarded to the county, to build a new Friendship Ambulance emergency medical services station. It is intended to improve emergency response capacity and provide a modern, fully ADA-compliant facility to support regional ambulance and 911 services. The station reportedly is to serve as the primary, 24/7 emergency response for East Vincent and Spring City. It will also serve as a backup response to Royersford, East Coventry, North Coventry, East Pikeland and Limerick Township; and
• Paoli Hospital in Paoli, which in part serves patients in the Route 202 and Route 422 corridors, will receive $850,000 to support expansion of perinatal (newborn) care facilities. They will include new treatment rooms, clinical spaces, and patient-centered support areas.

Among state legislators making individual announcements about the RACP grants were 44th District Sen. Katie Muth, 11th District Sen. Judy Schwank, 147th House District Rep. Donna Scheuren, and 54th House District Rep. Gregg Scott.

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