HARRISBURG PA – Seven grants with a total value of $385,129, funded by fees generated from gambling in Pennsylvania, will benefit four eastern Berks County municipalities, area Pennsylvania state senators report.
A Berks borough and three townships are scheduled to receive money from the Commonwealth Financing Authority to support local projects , Sen. Tracy Pennycuick (24th District) and Sen. Katie Muth (44th District) separately announced in media releases distributed Tuesday (March 18, 2025).
Also receiving grants are municipal projects in Cumberland, Westmoreland, and York counties, according to the state.
All are being paid for under the “Category 4 Facilities Program” of Pennsylvania’s Local Share Account. Administered by the authority, it uses state-collected casino revenue to pay for community improvement projects specifically within the four counties. All are hosts to casinos with between 300 and 750 slot machines and up to 40 table games.
Among those awarded in Berks County are:
Grants in Boyertown Borough, and Amity Township
- Boyertown Borough, will receive $66,462, for locker room renovations at the Boyertown YMCA. The existing locker room and an “underutilized area across from the pool” will be transformed into “a new, 2,600-square-foot family locker room.” The new space is “designed to meet various needs of the community,” the borough says. It applied for the grant on behalf of the Greater Philadelphia YMCA; and
- Amity Township, $21,788, to buy solar-powered speed radar signs. They “will be placed in high-risk areas, such as school zones and residential neighborhoods.” Traffic studies have shown that speed radar signs calm traffic and make streets safer for drivers and pedestrians, the township notes.
Three Grants in Union Township
- Union Township, $100,000, to assist in buying a new 2025 Freightliner truck for daily operations of the township Public Works Department. The new truck, which will be used for daily operations that include road and park maintenance, will replace the township’s existing 27-year-old truck.
- Union Township, $45,124, toward replacement of the existing rubber roof on the township building. The work will include complete removal of the old roof, and installation of weather-resistant materials that will provide better insulation and the ability to withstand harsh environmental conditions; and
- Union Township, $20,894, for the purchase and installation of a generator. It will serve as a secondary power source at the township Public Works building.
And Two Grants In Washington Township
- Washington Township, $100,000, to buy and install an emergency generator for its Weinsteiger Road pump station. The generator “will provide power … in emergency situations,” and help “ensure its sewer infrastructure operates efficiently during severe weather or major power outages;” and
- Washington Township, $30,681, to buy new portable radios, equipment installation, and professional services. The current radio system is more than 30 years old and “nearly obsolete,” the township explains. It hopes to address concerns over safety, slower response times in emergencies, and the need for strong radio coverage in all areas. They money will pay for a UHF repeater, 15 mobile radios, eight handheld radios, and related equipment.
“I advocated for these grants because public infrastructure and recreation are essential for healthy communities, but come with a significant price tag,” Pennycuick said.
“The funding announced … is great news for Union Township and for (district) constituents (who) live in this part of Berks County,” Muth added.
The authority is an independent agency of the state Department of Community and Economic Development.
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