Want to see how PARX casino dollars strengthen area municipalities?
Look no further than the $3.9 million in gaming funds collected from Parx Casino in Bensalem Township.
The grants were awarded to those municipalities most likely impacted by the gaming facility.
Bristol Borough, Bristol Township, Hulmeville Borough, Langhorne Borough, Langhorne Manor Borough, Lower Southampton Township, Middletown Township, and Penndel Borough, along with county government, are the localities eligible for “casino grants” as they are also known.
The Redevelopment Authority Board of Directors (RDA) approved the grants to eligible municipalities at a public meeting last month 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.
Applications are submitted by municipalities and the RDA approves which projects would be funded.
“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. He added: “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.
RDA of Bucks County
Credit: Jeff Bohen, Lower Bucks Source
This year, nineteen grants totaling more than $1.7 million were awarded for projects supporting law enforcement, fire fighters and emergency responders. Over $1.5 million was granted to thirteen 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 ten eligible municipalities amounting to $3,920,226.45.
Credit: RDA of Bucks Co
Funds for the Redevelopment Authority of the County of Bucks’ Municipal Grant Program are provided by one (1%) percent 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.
The funding for the Redevelopment Authority of the County of Bucks’ Municipal Grant Program comes from one percent of the gross total revenue from Parx Casino.
RDA Approved Grant Projects
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