HARRISBURG – Sen. Dan Laughlin (R-49) today announced $17.75 million in Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) grant funding has been awarded to several Erie County projects.
“I’m proud to have worked to ensure this important funding comes to Erie County,” said Laughlin. “The construction funded by this money will help boost the economy of Erie County and the communities directly impacted by these projects.”
Pennsylvania State University’s Behrend College will receive $6.5 million to continue its “Project Resolve” initiative at its Harborcreek Township Knowledge Park Research Facility to reduce the environmental effects of plastics. The funding will be used for construction costs of the new Center for Manufacturing Competitiveness (CMC) building.
“When the CMC building is finished, it will host a plastics laboratory and a metal-casting laboratory, and offer space to local companies and manufacturers,” Laughlin explained. “In addition, the facility will be the home to Erie County’s only fully-serviced, heavy-haul battery test facility for locomotive, marine and mining purposes.”
Investment group 1001 State OZ Operator LLC, which purchased the 14-story Renaissance Centre at 1001 State Street in downtown Erie in 2023, was awarded $4.5 million to renovate the building. The finished project will provide much-needed, modern multi-use and hotel space to accommodate tourist and business demand driven by Lake Erie, the Bayfront Convention Center and downtown businesses.
“Erie City’s tallest building dominates the skyline and serves as a prominent visual anchor for the area,” said Laughlin about the Renaissance Centre. “Its historic nature and central location contribute significantly to the overall character and identity of downtown Erie; renovating it will allow it to continue to attract businesses and visitors to the downtown area, contributing to local commerce.”
Troyer Farms in Waterford Township will receive $3 million to help defray construction costs for new facilities to manufacture frozen potato products and store potatoes.
“I recently toured Troyer Farms and it’s exciting that this funding will support capital expansion that will enable the only organic potato supplier on the East Coast to grow operations, transition more acreage to organic farming and begin producing a wider range of potato products,” Laughlin said.
Three other projects received RACP grants:
- The Erie Zoological Society was awarded $2 million for the continued construction of a new veterinary center in Erie City.
- Julia Hospice and Palliative Care was awarded $1 million to help defray some of the construction costs of a new hospice house in McKean Township.
- The City of Erie was awarded $750,000 to help with the costs of constructing construction a 120-room, 6-story Marriott AC hotel as part of the Harbor Place mixed-use development on Erie’s bayfront.
Pennsylvania’s Office of the Budget administers RACP for acquiring and constructing 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 employment levels, tax revenues or other measures of economic activity.
For more state-related news and information, constituents can visit Laughlin’s website at www.senatorlaughlin.com or follow him on Facebook and Twitter @senatorlaughlin.
Contact: David Kozak 717-787-8927