A fundraiser for the proposed Tamaqua Police Department headquarters and a community center will be held Aug. 8 at the Wheel Restaurant, 125 E. Broad St., Tamaqua.

The event, which runs from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., will give attendees the opportunity to learn about the $4.5 million development at the former Moose Building, 133 E. Broad St.

Police and development team members will discuss plans to convert one of the floors of the building into a modern and larger police headquarters. They’ll also talk about plans for the community center and district magistrate office.

The Tamaqua Area Community Partnership purchased the building and surrounding properties last year.

Thanks to the help of retired state Rep. Jerry Knowles, a former Tamaqua police officer and mayor, the project will receive a $2 million state grant. The John E. Morgan Foundation has already provided more than $1,160,000 in matching funds that allowed the partnership to demolish vacant, blighted and dangerous buildings on Mauch Chunk Street to make way for a parking lot.

The partnership said that through its community policing and work with organizations like Hope & Coffee, Tamaqua Arts Center and others, the department has helped reduce Tamaqua’s crime risk by 42% over the past decade.

Anyone who can’t attend the fundraisers can still make donations toward elements of the project that won’t be covered by grant money, said Micah Gursky, the partnership’s executive director.

Food and drinks will be served at the Wheel Restaurant and the event is presented by M & T Bank.

To register for the event or to make a donation, visit: https://tacp.networkforgood.com/events/58870-tamaqua-police-community-center-project-fundraiser.