Three local municipalities piloting a blight remediation program will receive a combined $300,000 in state funding to address eyesore properties, legislators announced this week.

The money going to Jim Thorpe, Lehighton and Palmerton boroughs comes from the Department of Community and Economic Development’s Blight Remediation Program and was approved Tuesday by the Commonwealth Financing Authority.

Jim Thorpe applied for the funding on behalf of the three municipalities. According to the application, $118,853 is proposed for use on any of five properties in Jim Thorpe listed for reconstruction/rehabilitation, $181,147 toward the demolition of a Lehighton property, Palmerton duplex structure and Jim Thorpe residence. With local and private match, $32,326 is allocated to renovations and $24,708 toward demolition for a total program budget of $354,390.

“I commend the boroughs of Jim Thorpe, Lehighton and Palmerton for their forward-thinking approach to remediating blight in Carbon County. Municipal collaboration is the best way to complete important projects, such as remediating blight, while cutting down on the cost,” said state Sen. John Yudichak. “I was proud to help acquire funding for this innovative effort and Carbon County continues down the path of economic revitalization as even more opportunities for development will be created from this initiative.”

He and state Rep. Doyle Heffley said they are hopeful other municipalities see the partnership and join the program in the future.

“I am happy we were able to secure this valuable funding, which is going to reap benefits countywide,” said state Rep. Doyle Heffley. “The blight remediation project will have a significant positive impact on our local communities and help to improve the quality of life for residents by enhancing their safety, increasing property values and encouraging economic development.”

The proposed demolition sites include 204 Center Ave. in Jim Thorpe, 209 N. First St. in Lehighton, and 509-511 Lehigh St. in Palmerton. Proposed rehabilitation/reconstruction sites, all in Jim Thorpe, are 82 E. Third St., 56 West Broadway, 109 North Ave., 112 North Ave., and 209 Center Ave.

Addressing blight has long been on Jim Thorpe’s radar. The municipality hosted a roundtable blight workshop with Heffley and others in 2019.

Several years ago, the borough paid for a company to clean up the 204 Center Ave. property, which Councilman Jay Miller said at the time was done for fire safety reasons. There have also been roofing and other zoning violations at the site. The listed owner is Ronald Spiegel LLC of Nesquehoning.

“This is a joint project with Lehighton and Palmerton boroughs and it has become a true community project with Mauch Chunk Trust Company and Jim Thorpe Neighborhood Bank joining us with financial contributions,” said Maureen Sterner, Jim Thorpe borough manager. “While each of the three boroughs have properties slated for the grant, we are excited to use this opportunity as a Blight Remediation Model Pilot Program for all of Carbon County. Our hope is that the program can grow into the development of a blight land bank or a revolving funding program to assist all Carbon County municipalities to tackle the serious issue of blight in our communities. We want to thank Sen. Yudichak and Rep. Heffley for their assistance and support for this grant and program.”

Last year, Lehighton Borough Manager Nicole Beckett said the borough has existing civil complaints against three property owners on First Street.

She said the 209 N. First St. property was chosen for the grant application, because this project’s demolition budget was within the maximum amount for the grant to be submitted.

Beckett said council has attempted to have the property owner correct the issues since 2014.

She said that in 2017, the property had changed hands to an owner out of New York, and had provided the borough with plans to repair the building, and a building permit application was submitted and approved.

“Since then, we have heard nothing further from the property owner,” Beckett said.

Elsewhere locally, Tamaqua Borough received $100,000 through the statewide program, while Rush Township got $90,000.

Projects statewide include demolishing abandoned properties, preparing sites for redevelopment, repairing roadways and curbs, building new residences, redeveloping brownfield sites, and more.