State Senator Lisa Boscola today announced $8, million in Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) funding to six redevelopment projects in the 18th Senatorial District.

“It is critically important that our state provide capital assistance to assist in the redevelopment of five important economic development projects in the cities of Bethlehem and Easton and a project to improve passenger safety at Lehigh Valley International Airport,” Boscola said. “By investing in these projects, the Commonwealth is providing crucial investments to make not only make these projects economically viable, but also create additional economic development projects that will not only create jobs, but also positively impact businesses and neighborhoods in our urban areas.”

The projects being awarded RACP funding are:

• ArtsQuest Community Cultural Center II $3.5 million: Project consists of the construction of a new 80,000 square-foot arts and cultural center at the site of the current Banana Factory Arts Center in Bethlehem;

• South 3rd St Parking Garage, City of Easton $1,25 million: Peron Development will be constructing a parking garage as part of redevelopment project at old Days Inn site at 185 S. Third St;

• Goodman Building $1 million: Alloy5 Architecture will be redeveloping the former Goodman Furniture building into a mix used project;

• Security Checkpoint and Terminal Connector at Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE) $1 million: Lehigh Northampton Airport Authority will be able to increase number of security checkpoints from two to four to meet TSA standards. Project will provide for Increased Safety/Security; Enlarged Terminal Space; Improved Passenger Safety/Health; Reliable Vertical Circulation; Improved Passenger Experience.

• Lafayette College Bushkill Campus Redevelopment $1: Redevelopment of the historic Rinek Cordage Complex will provide Lafayette with additional flexibility and capacity for its expansion initiative, and transform an underutilized industrial site into a 43,000 square-foot campus complex; and,

• Boyd Theater Redevelopment II $250,000: A mixed use redevelopment of the former movie theater into ground floor retail and 120 one and two bedroom apartments in Bethlehem’s central business district.

“I am pleased to have worked with Governor Wolf and my colleagues from both chambers in the Lehigh Valley delegation on these joint priorities to make this critical funding a reality,” Boscola said. “We recognize the importance of these redevelopment projects such as these in our urban cores to promote economic growth and make neighborhoods vibrant once again. Additionally, increasing the ability of LVIA to attract travelers through these necessary improvements will only improve economic growth throughout the Lehigh Valley.”

The RACP (Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program) is used for the acquisition and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic, recreational, and historical improvement projects. Qualifying projects have a regional or multi-jurisdictional impact, help create or maintain jobs, and generate economic activity.

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