A fire-damaged building in Tamaqua’s downtown will be getting a face lift through a recently awarded state grant.

The borough, on behalf of Tamaqua Area Community Partnership, will receive a $79,444 Local Share Account grant to restore the façade of 117 W. Broad St.

The building was one of six damaged in an October 2022 fire.

Micah Gursky, the partnership’s executive director, said the Tamaqua Historical Society asked if the partnership could help the property owners address the damaged façade. The partnership applied to the LSA program, which distributes gaming revenue to projects that support community and economic development.

The restoration of the apartment building, Gursky said, “will make a dramatic difference on that block of West Broad Street.”

The partnership will work with the borough and the property owner to complete the work. The project will be publicly bid and will require prevailing wage, Gursky added.

Schuylkill County property records show the building is owned by CDLS Properties, Whitehall, and contains six apartments.

The funds are from the Commonwealth Financing Authority and part of the $1.4 million awarded across the state. Local municipalities who also received grants include:

• New Ringgold Borough – $100,000 to acquire property for a traffic widening project at the intersection of Routes 443 and 895.

• Ryan Township – $69,639 for Ryan Township Fire Company to purchase a UTV to respond to emergency situations.

• West Penn Township – $290,360 to purchase an asphalt paver.

“Our municipalities have so many projects in the works trying to make our area a better place to live,” State Rep. Jamie Barton (R-124) said. “Unfortunately, many of these projects are very expensive, and our townships and boroughs don’t always have enough cash on hand.

“Towns and neighborhoods in all corners of Schuylkill County will benefit from this funding,” said state Sen. David Argall.