Three local projects were awarded state Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RCAP) grants totaling $4.5 million today (August 1), according to Senator Dan Laughlin.
St. Vincent Hospital was awarded $2 million for a major expansion project to improve patient care at the facility. “This grant will support St. Vincent’s efforts to renovate its former emergency room area as a short-stay patient observation area with convenient access to several labs,” Senator Laughlin said. “This project will not only benefit patients and improve efficiency for hospital services, but is projected to add 315 new jobs.”
The Erie County General Authority was awarded $2 million for renovations to a building owned by Gannon University at 150 W. 10th Street — in the heart of the City of Erie’s economic district. In addition to 13 additional staff and faculty positions, up to 150 new jobs are anticipated to be created by the project.
“This is a great investment not only in Gannon University, but in the future workforce for our region since the school plans to use the building for a new Institute of Health and Cyber Knowledge, or I-HACK,” Senator Laughlin said. “The skills and training that I-HACK will provide are essential now and their importance will only increase in the future. When I-Hack is fully up and running, it will have the capacity to serve 200 students. Those new students are projected to contribute about $2,000 each a year to the local economy.”
Mercyhurst University was awarded $500,000 for renovations to its athletic facilities. The project is anticipated to create up to 15 new jobs and retain 32 positions in the athletic department and draw up to 500 new students. “Quality athletic facilities often play an important role in attracting top caliber students to colleges and universities,” said Senator Laughlin. “This grant will assist Mercyhurst in significantly renovating an athletic center used by four indoor sports programs and to upgrade classrooms used by its Athletic Training and Sports Medicine programs.”
RACP is administered by the Office of the Budget for the acquisition and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic, recreational, and historical improvement projects. RACP projects are authorized in the Redevelopment Assistance section of a Capital Budget Itemization Act, have a regional or multi-jurisdictional impact, and generate substantial increases or maintain current levels of employment, tax revenues, or other measures of economic activity.
Contact: Matt Azeles mazeles@pasen.gov