Bethlehem, April 22, 2022 – State Sen. Lisa Boscola today announced $3,253,397 in Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) funding to three redevelopment projects in the 18th Senatorial District.

 "Estos proyectos son prioritarios para nuestras comunidades. Mediante la concesión de subvenciones a estos importantes proyectos de desarrollo económico y comunitario, estamos ayudando a hacerlos realidad", declaró Boscola. "Sin la inversión estatal, estos proyectos no podrían iniciarse ahora".

The following projects/beneficiaries being awarded RACP funding are:

  • The Mill at Easton–Phase II, Stewart Silk Mill Redevelopment Partners, LP City of Easton ($2,000,000);
  • 1782 & 1834 Grist Miller’s House, Historic Bethlehem Partnership T/A Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites, City of Bethlehem ($753,397)
  • Goodman Building, Collaboration 3, LLC, City of Bethlehem ($500,000);

“Working together with Governor Wolf and my colleagues from both chambers in the Lehigh Valley delegation on these joint priorities made this critical funding a reality,” Boscola stated.  “Our delegation recognizes the importance of these redevelopment and community projects such as these in our urban cores to promote economic growth and improve our communities.”

Funding for the Mill at Easton will be used for site preparation, construction and related costs to complete the redevelopment of the former silk mill site into commercial area, including a Dollar General DG Plus Marketplace (featuring perishable and non-perishable groceries and dry goods), a health clinic, and other retail uses.

Historic Bethlehem Partnership will be using the RACP funding for structural repairs including electrical and plumbing. Exterior restoration/preservation work will be to install wood shingle roof; preserve, repair, and paint wooden windows; paint doors; install gutters and downspouts; install building tie rods; restore walkway. Interior restoration/preservation work will be to stabilize two levels of the 1782 portion; repair beams first floor; re-open stairs from basement to first floor; new electrical; new plumbing and fixtures for galley kitchen and restroom; install HVAC system; refinish original wood floors; paint all walls and woodwork; upgrade alarm system.

The Goodman Building project entails the stabilization and renovation of the 100-year-old Goodman Furniture building, located at 30-32 E. Third Street in Bethlehem.  It will also allow for the creation of a new architecturally complimentary building in an adjacent empty lot at a key location in the heart of the SouthSide Arts District. The existing building will be home to 15,000 SF of commercial space, with anchor retail or restaurant on the ground floor and office space above. The new building will be constructed for modern apartments. Commercial spaces and a shared lobby will occupy the first floors of both structures.

El programa RACP (Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program) se utiliza para la adquisición y construcción de proyectos regionales de mejora económica, cultural, cívica, recreativa e histórica. Los proyectos elegibles tienen un impacto regional o multijurisdiccional, ayudan a crear o mantener puestos de trabajo y generan actividad económica.

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