Over $800,000 was awarded to community development projects in Carbon County today through the Monroe County Contiguous Local Share Account, according to Rep. Doyle Heffley, R-122, and Sen. Dave Argall, R-29.

“By restoring old buildings to productive use in Lansford and encouraging some of the many visitors to Jim Thorpe to also travel to the new visitors center planned for Summit Hill, these highly competitive grants will improve quality of life for people in Carbon County,” said Argall. “I’m thankful for my partnership with Rep. Heffley in turning these requests into realities.”

“This competitive grant program is bringing valuable funds back to our communities,” said Heffley. “I’m pleased that Sen. Argall and I could collaborate to help these projects come to fruition.”

The following communities received funding:

• Beaver Meadows Borough - $150,000 to complete the construction of the Memorial Park pavilion.

• Carbon County - $73,581 for improvements to the American Legion Post #314 building in Lehighton. In October, Carbon County Commissioners adopted a resolution to submit an application to the Commonwealth Financing Authority for a Monroe County Local Share Account grant in that amount. The money will be used toward electrical renovations and the parking lot rehabilitation at the legion.

• Carbon County - $68,423 to purchase propane training equipment to prepare first responders for how to safely navigate propane and natural gas emergencies.

• Jim Thorpe Borough - $67,207 to purchase speed alert and safety message signs, helping to control traffic flow during the busy summer months.

• Lansford Borough - $252,466 to renovate a former church into a muti-use public facility containing a Second Harvest food pantry, meal center, public recreational facility, local outreach office, job support, and county assistance services.

• Lansford Borough - $33,362 to purchase new protective fire gear and a new radio for the Lansford Fire Company.

• Packer Township - $100,000 to remove and replace storm sewer piping and culverts along Grist Mill Drive.

• Summit Hill Borough - $56,800 to develop plans for a new visitor’s center operated by the Summit Hill Historical Society.

Local Share Account funding is generated by casino gambling and redistributed to improve communities in the surrounding area. Funding is awarded by the Commonwealth Financing Authority, an independent agency created by the General Assembly to administer investments in Pennsylvania’s economic growth.