Monday, September 24, 2018

Goodman, Argall Announce Grants to Boost Jobs, Improve Water Systems and Help Recreation

State Rep. Neal P. Goodman and state Sen. David G. Argall announced last week that three Schuylkill County projects will receive a total of $666,155 in state grants.


The grants -- $425,000 to the Schuylkill County Municipal Authority, $151,155 to the Mahanoy Township Authority and $90,000 to Minersville, were approved by the Commonwealth Financing Authority at its meeting Tuesday.

The Schuylkill County Municipal Authority will use its grant to bring water to the Mahanoy Business Park. The grant will help retaining existing jobs in the park while providing future opportunities for additional job creation.

“For more than a decade, Senator Argall and I have been working on bringing water and sewer to the north side of the Broad Mountain,” said Goodman, D-123rd District. “I am certain that building this infrastructure will lead to more jobs for our residents.”

“This is a huge opportunity for Schuylkill County which will aid in our ongoing efforts to bring more jobs and economic opportunities to those who call this county home,” Argall said. “With the addition of public water services to the warehouse facilities, I have been told that over 2 million square feet of warehouse space can be constructed, which in turn will bring more family-sustaining jobs to the area.”

“SCMA is extremely pleased with the commitment of the CFA for phase II of the waterline extension at the Mahanoy Business Park,” said Patrick M. Caulfield, executive director of the authority. “In 2013, the authority made an investment to extend public water service to the north side of the business park and the village of Vulcan. Phase II will extend water service to the south side of Interstate 81 to serve the proposed warehouse project and potential future commercial and residential growth. This effort was a true partnership spearheaded by both Senator Argall and Representative Goodman and supported by Representatives Jerry Knowles and Mike Tobash that has already proven successful with economic development and job creation in Schuylkill County.”

Mahanoy Township Authority is using its grant to replace four large valves controlling the water distribution system that feeds Mahanoy City. The four-valve system at the Main and Centre streets intersection, the heart of the central business district, are old and must be replaced. The replacement of the valves will result in less use of potable water during the annual flushing program. It will also improve health and safety by minimizing any shut down of the system when maintenance needs to be performed or during emergency repairs.

“Under the Rendell administration, I secured a $1 million grant to run a water line from Lofty Dam to Mahanoy Township,” Goodman said. “This grant will allow the authority to purchase valves needed for its system.”

“I hope that these funds are quickly utilized to replace the valve system and allow Mahanoy City to operate the system as it was designed to do,” Argall said.

Minersville is using its grant to help pay for new equipment at the Fourth Street Playground and for improvements to the borough’s Little League field.

“We’re elated to receive this grant,” Minersville Borough Manager Bob Mahalchick said. “We’re continuing to make improvements to the community with the help of Representative Goodman and Senator Argall.”

The lawmakers congratulated the borough and authorities for being awarded grants through an extremely competitive program.

Information Posted from a Press Release from State Representative Neal Goodman