Breaking News

March 14, 2008

Gambling revenues to fund $11.56 million in projects

Thirteen municipalities in Luzerne County will share nearly $11.56 million in grants awarded Friday by the state from Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs gambling revenues.

The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development reviewed 72 requests totaling $83 million before making its decision.

The awards are the first funds available for the county as mandated by the Pennsylvania Horse Race and Gaming Development Act. The local share, administered by the DCED, funds safety and economic development projects , with priority given to Plains Township , where the casino is located, and bordering municipalities.

Plains received more than $2 million split between projects to improve East Mountain Drive and remediate the former East Side landfill located on land owned by Mohegan Sun adjacent to the casino.

The other awards ranged from $155,000 to Laflin for public safety vehicles and equipment, to $1.8 million to rebuild the Hoyt Library in Kingston and $2.4 million to improve Interstate 81 Exit 175 and state Route 315 in Jenkins Township .

The projects underwent a rigorous evaluation to ensure they adhered to the Keystone Principles for Investment, said Dennis Yablonsky, DCED secretary in a prepared statement.

“These principles emphasize regional approaches to revitalization, leveraging of private and public funds and rewarding projects that articulate efforts for lasting impact,” Yablonsky said.

The full list of projects and awards are:

- $2,400,000 to Jenkins Township for an Interstate 81 exit ramp and Route 315 improvements

- $1,006,700 to Plains Township for East Mountain Drive road improvements

- $1,000,000 to Plains Township for landfill environmental remediation

- $1,000,000 to Wilkes-Barre for city-wide surveillance cameras

- $500,000 to Wilkes-Barre for a county-wide law enforcement records management system

- $155,000 to Laflin for public safety vehicles/equipment

- $425,000 to Forty Fort for Welles Street streetscape improvements

- $75,000 to Forty Fort for the restoration of the Forty Fort Meeting House

- $1,800,000 to Kingston to rebuild the Hoyt Library

- $250,000 to Wilkes-Barre Township to expand the police department’s headquarters

- $500,000 to Pittston for downtown revitalization

- $162,500 to Pittston for streetscape work in its business district

- $111,850 to Luzerne for Marion Street road improvements

- $792,546 to Duryea for acid mine drainage remediation

- $500,000 to Nanticoke for Luzerne County Community College to relocate and grow its new Culinary Institute downtown

- $250,000 to Edwardsville for the Multi-Municipal/Federal Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy Area

- $627,500 to Plymouth for downtown Main Street redevelopment.

For the complete story read The Times Leader tomorrow.

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