Acting United States Commerce Secretary Rebecca Blank announced a $500,000 Economic Development Administration grant to the Allentown Economic Development Corp. and the Allentown Commercial and Industrial Development Authority to upgrade Allentown's Bridgeworks Enterprise Center during an Aug. 21 visit to the city.

Blank and Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski toured the 62,000-square-foot former Mack Truck plant.

Upgrades include replacing old fiberglass roof panels in the building's nearly century-old saw-tooth roof with energy-efficient insulated panels and insulated glass skylights. The upgrades will improve the efficiency of the facility's heating and cooling systems, lower the center's utility costs, and provide better climate control for tenants.

By attracting $350,000 in private investment, the project is expected to create 46 jobs, according to estimates by the Allentown Economic Development Corp. and the Allentown Commercial and Industrial Development Authority.

"This $500,000 EDA investment in Allentown is an example of the Obama administration's commitment to helping businesses get the tools and infrastructure they need to grow and create jobs," said Blank.

"The Bridgeworks Enterprise Center at the former Mack Truck facility plays an important role in spurring manufacturing jobs and attracting new business to Allentown and I am thrilled about this investment by the U.S. Commerce Department's Economic Development Administration to support the expansion of the business incubator and create new jobs," said Pawlowski.