Rep. Zach Mako, R-183rd, and Sens. Jarrett Coleman, R-16th, and Nick Miller, D-14th, announced Oct. 22 they helped secure more than $3 million in Local Share Account grants and more than $2.3 million in Public School Facility Improvement grants from the Commonwealth Financing Authority for projects throughout the 183rd Legislative District.

Act 71 of 2004 provides for the distribution of LSA gaming revenues through the CFA to support projects of public interest within Pennsylvania. The Public School Facility Improvement Grant provides funds to public school districts and area career and technical schools for eligible facility improvement projects.

“Each project addressed through these two grant programs will fix or replace critical infrastructure or equipment our schools and municipalities use to make our community a better place to live,” Mako said. “I’m happy to help assist with obtaining this money. Without this aid, it would be very difficult for these projects to move forward.”

“I’m happy to partner with Rep. Mako to help our community,” Coleman said. “These are all important projects, and I’m especially excited to remove asbestos from Northern Lehigh High School.”

“I’m pleased to work in a bipartisan, bicameral manner with Rep. Mako to secure this funding,” Miller said. “All of these projects address crucial needs for our community.”

Catasauqua Area School District is receiving $1 million to repair the Catasauqua High School roof.

Other school districts receiving Public School Facility Improvement grants are Lehigh Career and Technical Institute, $400,000 to restore the roof and upgrade the HVAC; and Northern Lehigh School District, $904,350 for an asbestos abatement project at Northern Lehigh High School.

Municipalities receiving LSA funding include Allen Township, $1 million to convert and renovate the former Allen Township Fire Company Social Hall into a township administrative facility; Bath Borough, $247,271 to replace a dump truck with a new model; Bath Borough Authority, $450,000 to construct a new well and well house to provide a new source of raw water for the authority; Lehigh Township Municipal Authority, $702,000 to upgrade and expand the Pennsville wastewater treatment plant; and North Catasauqua Borough, $107,573 to purchase a multipurpose utility vehicle for the police department.

Slatington Borough was awarded $27,911 to purchase police safety gear, including body cameras and Tasers, and $49,905 to purchase and install 25 traffic light intersection cameras to deter criminal activity and traffic violations. Walnutport Borough received $150,000 to replace a tractor with a boom mower with a new model, $150,000 to purchase 40 emergency service radios for the police and fire departments and $150,000 to purchase a multipurpose utility vehicle for Diamond Fire Company.

The 183rd House District includes Allen, East Allen, Lehigh and Moore (part) townships and Bath, North Catasauqua, Northampton and Walnutport boroughs in Northampton County. It also consists of Lowhill and North Whitehall townships and Slatington Borough in Lehigh County.

Miller also announced additional funding for other public school facilities including Whitehall-Coplay School District in the amount of $500,000 for a plumbing, HVAC, energy savings and safety upgrades project at Steckel Elementary School.

Also receiving Public School Facility Improvement Grant funds are Allentown School District, $2.5 million for a plumbing project at William Allen High School; Parkland Area School District, $900,000 for an HVAC project at Cetronia Elementary School; and Salisbury Township School District, $484,818 for a safety upgrade project at Salisbury Township Middle School.

“Having formerly served on the local school board, I know the realities of not being able to financially support a school facility’s upkeep needs,” Miller said. “It leads to bigger, more expensive fixes down the road, as well as unsuitable learning and working environments for our students and our staff. They deserve access to clean, safe buildings, and I am proud to support this funding for our schools.”

“This funding goes toward fixing vital parts of our buildings, whether it’s plumbing, roofs or HVAC,” Miller continued. “Our school infrastructure is aging, and we need to prioritize fixing our schools before they become unusable. These grants are the next steps to making our schools safer and healthier for everyone.”