Ballpark renovations, K9 patrol vehicles, and fire station improvements are among several projects receiving more than $6 million in gaming grants in Dauphin County.
The Dauphin County Commissioners awarded the grants on Wednesday to the following local projects:
Host and contiguous municipalities:
- East Hanover Township ($650,000 debt service for public works building; $500,000 fire station debt service; $172,500 road/culvert projects) - $1,322,500
- South Hanover Township (new municipal complex and emergency services center) - $250,000
- Derry Township ($270,000 fire station; $25,000 M.S. Hershey Foundation; $33,000 Hershey/Derry Historical Society) - $328,000
- Middle Paxton Township ($165,000 joint municipal salt shed; $98,482 township fire apparatus debt; $50,000 fire company apparatus debt) - $313,482
- West Hanover Township (fire station debt reduction) - $325,000
- Rush and Jefferson Townships ($79,000 guide rails; $15,000 parking lot expansion) - $94,000
Other awards:
- City of Harrisburg (4 new K9 patrol vehicles) - $200,000
- Hummelstown Borough (new municipal complex debt $92,500; fire station improvements $80,000) - $172,500
- Susquehanna Township ($172,000 pedestrian safety project; $30,000 Vietnam Veterans memorial) - $202,000
- Lower Swatara Township (bridge replacement debt) - $51,000
- Halifax Borough (new police vehicle) - $39,350
- Lykens Borough ($100,000 fire engine refurbishment; $25,000 generator) - $125,000
- Lower Paxton Township ($100,000 public works building debt; $40,000 Friendship Center improvements) - $140,000
- Londonderry Township (tanker engine debt) - $75,000
- Steelton Borough ($20,866 fire engine debt; $50,000 fire station repairs) - $70,866
- Dauphin County Parks & Recreation (Fort Hunter project) - $150,000 (conditioned on zoning resolution)
- Elizabethville Borough ($70,000 sewer system improvements; $41,000 Upper Dauphin Recreation Authority pool) - $111,000
- Swatara Township ($100,000 fire engine; $100,000 Cibort Park; $20,000 Rainbow Hills Swim Club ADA lift and pool repairs; $89,000 Reliance Hose station expansion) - $309,000
- Reed Township ($10,670 for 2 radios for Halifax Fire; $13,380 for 5 radios for Duncannon Fire) - $24,050
- Gratz Area Fire (new/used rescue pumper) - $125,000
- Paxtang Fire (self-contained breathing apparatus units) - $50,000
- Highspire Borough (road improvement projects) - $91,390
- Humane Society of Harrisburg Area (facility improvements) - $120,000
- 2nd Street Realty (Brownfields development) - $250,000
- Pillow Borough (water treatment bldg. repairs) - $15,000
- Royalton Borough ($12,821 police vehicle computer system; $18,000 ADA compliant improvements at emergency operations center) - $30,821
- West Hanover Township/Court Admin (new facilities for MDJ Witmer and MDJ Lindsey) - $200,000
- Tri-County Planning Commission (Dauphin County Comprehensive Plan update)- $45,000
- R.J. Veterans Center (parking lot for veterans center) - $20,000
- Homeland Center (back-up generator project) - $78,800
- Dauphin County Library System (HVAC improvements) - $75,000
- Northern Dauphin County YMCA (senior wellness center expansion) - $19,775
- Camp Curtin YMCA (sinkhole repair & property improvements) - $75,000
- Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg (security improvements) - $50,000
- MOSELF (Harrisburg baseball field project) - $150,000 (conditioned on full funding for Phase I and field maintenance plan)
- Harrisburg Young Professionals (Market Square improvement project) - $75,000 (conditioned on matching funds)
- Susquehanna Art Museum (museum facility project) - $70,000
- AACA Museum (facility improvements) - $70,000 (conditioned on matching funds)
- Gamut Theatre (renovation of facility for theater) - $50,000 (conditioned on matching funds)
- PA National Fire Museum (property acquisition) - $50,000
- Harrisburg River Rescue (facility improvements) - $45,216
- Boys & Girls Club (John N. Hall Clubhouse facility expansion) - $80,000 (conditioned on matching funds)
- Big Brothers/Big Sisters (phone system and equipment upgrades) - $15,000
- The Program (air conditioning at program facility) - $25,000
- American Red Cross (facility improvements) - $45,000
- Hope Within Ministries (low income health center improvements) - $34,053
- Vision Resources (vehicle for vision impaired service delivery) - $17,209
- Millennium Neighborhood Family Development Center (new neighborhood center) - $75,000 (conditioned on tax credits)
- Fair Housing Council (facility renovations) - $55,193
- Amiracle4sure (computer/technology equipment) - $3,000
The money comes from the County's share of gaming revenue from Hollywood Casino in East Hanover Township. Commissioners say this money is helping tax payers and pulling in investment for the projects.
"We're going to bring in more than $81 million in 1,700 in new jobs according to figures we've presented today which you can't look lightly upon," Dauphin County Commissioner Mike Pries said, "Since the gaming grants were brought forth for the local communities and the tax payers, we`re saving the tax payers millions of dollars every year."
This is the 7th year the county is awarding gaming grants. Under state law, the county must use the grant funds for several different projects including human services as well as health and safety needs. Projects were reviewed by the Dauphin County Gaming Advisory Board.