Sen. Nick Miller, D-14th, has announced $8,618,785 in state funding for projects across the Lehigh Valley to improve infrastructure, public safety and community enjoyment. Thirty-one projects will be awarded, and the funding comes via the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development’s Commonwealth Financing Authority Local Share Account.

“The variety of these grants, whether it is investing in new police vehicles and equipment, updating a wastewater treatment plant or developing a multipurpose field house, show a continued commitment to public safety and economic development,” Miller said. “Advocating for our cities and municipalities for necessary updates will continue the progress we have become accustomed to seeing in the Lehigh Valley.”

Project awards include Catasauqua Borough, $217,802 to purchase a street sweeper; North Catasauqua Borough, $107,573 to purchase a municipal police vehicle with upfitting; and Hanover Township, Lehigh County, $336,059 for the Sherwood Park improvement project and $570,467 to construct a multipurpose field house at First Responders Park.

Lehigh County will receive $68,000 to purchase new cameras for the coroner’s office in South Whitehall Township and $290,662 for an Emergency Operations Center technology upgrade project in Allentown.

Additional projects include Whitehall Township, $75,000 for the purchase of a utility tractor and mowing attachments; Coplay Borough, $300,000 for the purchase of a street sweeper truck; Allen Township, $1 million to support the renovation of a new township administration facility; Bath Borough, $247,271 to purchase a new dump truck; Bath Borough Authority, $450,000 to construct a new well and well house; and Lehigh Township Municipal Authority, $702,000 for a wastewater treatment plant upgrade and expansion project.

Moore Township will receive $69,775 for the purchase of a new crack sealer, $65,000 to purchase two new police vehicles, $25,000 for the purchase of a new asphalt roller, $50,000 for the purchase of an upfitted work truck and $30,348 for the purchase of a speed alert trailer and three radar speed signs.

Allentown will receive $74,570 for the creation of a master site plan to guide future development of two parcels of land at Andre Reed Park and Dieruff practice field on behalf of Allentown School District, $250,000 to renovate the interior and exterior of the Children’s Academy building on behalf of the Resurrected Life Community Development Corporation, $1 million to renovate the Baum School of Arts facility, $400,000 to renovate the Youth Education Center on behalf of Allentown Police Athletic League and $150,000 to purchase a fully upfitted heavy-duty lift truck. Allentown Economic Development Corporation is receiving $42,300 to continue its community improvement efforts.

Other awards are Salisbury Township, $250,000 to construct a new salt shed and storage facility located in the township; Fountain Hill Borough, $71,198 for the purchase of a police vehicle; Bushkill Township, $500,000 for improvements to the township park, $750,000 to purchase a heavy rescue truck for Bushkill Township Volunteer Fire Company and $75,760 for the purchase and retrofitting of a police crime scene and command vehicle; and Walnutport Borough, $150,000 for the purchase of a tractor with a boom mower attachment, $150,000 for the purchase of emergency service radios for use by its police and fire departments and $150,000 for the purchase of a multipurpose utility vehicle for Diamond Fire Company.

“This funding is crucial to boosting both community and economic development,” Miller said. “As the fastest-growing region in the commonwealth, the Lehigh Valley needs to provide residents with the resources they need.”