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Overhead view of House floor

MEUSER SECURES $14 MILLION FOR NINTH DISTRICT PROJECTS

March 11, 2022

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. House of Representatives and Senate have passed legislation that includes $14.2 million in federal funding for eight community projects in Pennsylvania’s Ninth District. Congressman Dan Meuser and community leaders have worked for the last year to identify projects with most need and greatest potential impact for direct federal funding. Passage of this bill ensures these projects will soon receive direct federal funding including:

  • $2 million for Alvernia University’s campus in downtown Pottsville to fund programming, classroom, and technology upgrades for the new campus and support the development of two new programs, a B.S. in Nursing and Bachelor of Logistics.
  • $1 million for Lebanon Valley College’s nursing program. The funding will support construction of a facility to house the four-year nursing program, the only nursing program in Lebanon County.
  • $1.06 million for the Schuylkill County Intermediate Punishment Facility to improve security for the building and make needed facility upgrades.
  • $1 million for the Berwick YMCA to construct a new gymnasium and community center to serve the area with recreation programs, food distribution, childcare, and other community support programs.
  • $2.5 million for the Borough of Jim Thorpe to make improvements to Memorial Hall which serves as the main municipal building for the borough government.
  • $750,000 to study Reading-Philadelphia Rail Service to investigate the feasibility and economic benefits of linking these cities through reliable rail service.
  • $3 million to replace the Columbia Street Arch Bridge in Schuylkill Haven. 
  • $2.675 million for Revitalizing Independence Street in Shamokin to execute a plan to improve the appearance and safety of Downtown Shamokin.

“Passage of this bill is the culmination of more than a year of working with stakeholders in our communities to identify and secure federal support for their critical needs,” said Rep. Meuser. “These federal funds will be instrumental for completing these projects, to improve our infrastructure, accelerate revitalization, and improve Pennsylvanians’ quality of life. This process has allowed me to bring my district’s needs directly before Congress without interference from unelected bureaucrats directing federal funding. I appreciate community leaders’ collaboration with my office to see this process through and I look forward to continuing to work with stakeholders in the Ninth District to deliver federal support for local needs.”

Background on Federally Funded Projects in PA-09:

Alvernia University CollegeTowne (Pottsville)

Requested by Alvernia University, this funding will be used to advance the University’s satellite campus relocation and expansion into downtown Pottsville. The project will enable Alvernia to expand and modernize academic programming, classroom space, and technologies for the new campus.

Berwick YMCA (Berwick)

The Berwick YMCA is a central hub for health and social programs in the community. This federal funding will help build a new gymnasium and community center to house community recreations, sports programs food distribution, childcare operations, and youth feeding programs.

Columbia Street Arch Bridge (Schuylkill Haven)

Requested by the NEPA Alliance, this direct funding will contribute to replacing the entire Columbia Street bridge in Schuylkill Haven. The bridge was built in 1921 and is currently in poor condition and carries an average 10,447 vehicles per day.

GoShamokin Revitalization of Independence Street (Shamokin)

Requested by the City of Shamokin and SEDA-COG, the GoShamokin Revitalization Project responds to a community driven desire to proactively invent itself. The funding will support efforts to complete street improvements to enhance the pedestrian-oriented and aesthetic appeal of Shamokin’s “Main Street.”

Jim Thorpe Borough Memorial Hall

Requested by the Borough of Jim Thorpe, this direct funding will support efforts to repair and renovate the borough’s main municipal building. The project will allow Jim Thorpe to expand vital services including public safety, borough administration, and community services.

Lebanon Valley College Nursing & Interdisciplinary Health Education Facility (Annville)

Requested by the college, this funding will support construction of an interdisciplinary health education facility to house LVC’s newly created, four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, the only such program in Lebanon County. Demand for registered nurses is expected to grow 13.4% by 2026 and this new program will ensure LVC graduate are prepared to fill this need in our communities.

Reading-Philadelphia Rail Study

Requested by Berks Alliance, this study will evaluate the potential impact of restoring rail service between Berks County and Philadelphia. It is estimated the restoration of passenger will result in over $1 billion in increased property value in the core communities that would be served, and that more than 2 million trips would be made in the corridor annually.

Schuylkill County Intermediate Punishment Facility

Requested by Schuylkill County, this federal funding will support equipping and securing a newly constructed facility. A 2018 study identified a need for such a facility to eliminate overcrowding at the County Prison and a facility for mental health and addiction treatment for inmates. This federal funding supports equipment and security needs for the new facility.

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