The Redevelopment Authority of the County of Bucks has awarded $3.9 million in gaming funds generated at Parx Casino in Bensalem Township. The grants were awarded to those municipalities most likely impacted by the gaming facility.
The Redevelopment Authority Board of Directors approved the grants to eligible municipalities at a public meeting held on Dec. 15, at the Authority’s office in Bristol Borough. The grants will be used for a variety of municipal projects that include infrastructure improvements, facilities, health and public safety, human services and equipment for law enforcement, fire fighters and emergency responders.
“The Municipal Grant Program continues to play a pivotal role in supporting various projects aimed at offsetting gaming impacts. These projects will address quality of life issues as well as invest in infrastructure improvements, health and public safety initiatives in municipalities impacted by gaming,” said Ralph DiGuiseppe, chairman of the Authority Board. “The Municipal Grant Program stands as a notable success for Bucks County, and I want to commend the communities for their careful project selection process when submitting proposals to the Authority.”
According to state law, those municipalities that are contiguous to the gaming facility or are wholly within the boundaries of a contiguous municipality in Bensalem are eligible to apply for the grants, as is the Township of Bensalem and the County of Bucks. The municipal grant application process is administered by the Redevelopment Authority and offered annually to each of the eligible municipalities.
This year, 19 grants totaling more than $1.7 million were awarded for projects supporting law enforcement, firefighters and emergency responders. Over $1.5 million was granted to 13 projects for infrastructure and facility improvements. An additional eight projects were approved for health and human service projects, totaling $618,304.00. A total of 40 grants were awarded to the 10 eligible municipalities amounting to $3,920,226.45.
Funds for the Redevelopment Authority of the County of Bucks’ Municipal Grant Program are provided by 1% of the gross terminal revenue from Parx Casino, as authorized by the Pennsylvania Race Horse and Development Gaming Act of 2004, as reenacted and amended by the Act of October 30, 2017, P.L. 419.
Language for this legislation was developed and introduced by former Senator Robert M. “Tommy” Tomlinson.
Since the inception of the Municipal Grant Program in 2008, the Redevelopment Authority has awarded more than $60 million for eligible projects.
For information on the grant program, contact Executive Director, Jeffrey Darwak at 215-781-8711.
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