Philly Leader

On Dec. 20, Gov. Tom Wolf announced that there will be $8 million distributed to 30 counties across the commonwealth of Pennsylvania that will benefit 51 community projects.

The funds are through the Keystone Communities Program, which is administered through the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED), according to a release by Wolf. The Wolf administration has approved about $38 million through the program for 247 projects across the state since 2015. This has included facade grants for businesses, infrastructure improvements, accessible housing and more. 

“The funding provided through the Keystone Communities Program supports towns and cities with initiatives that work to create growth and stability in their neighborhoods while encouraging partnerships between the public and private sectors,” Wolf said. “These projects will build stronger communities, attract new residents and businesses and boost the commonwealth’s economy.”

According to the DCED website, the program is to encourage partnerships between the public and private sectors for initiatives like helping stabilize the community, promote social and economic diversity and quality of life.

The following projects are approved for the Philadelphia metropolitan area:

Bucks County – Habitat for Humanity of Bucks County: $200,000 to continue the implementation of accessible housing.

Chester County – West Chester Business Improvement District: $50,000 for the West Chester Façade and Alleyway Improvement Grant Program, focused on helping business owners improve existing façades.

Montgomery County – Ardmore Initiative: $14,500 for the creation of a strategic plan for the Ardmore Business Improvement District and Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery and Delaware Counties, Inc.: $100,000 for the Adaptive Living Initiatives Program.

Philadelphia County – Beech Community Services: $210,000 for the redevelopment of Dox Thrash House into commercial and residential use; East Falls Development Corporation: $12,450 for flood mitigation planning and risk mitigation strategies; Fishtown Kensington Area Business Improvement District: $72,750 for a streetscape improvement project; Frankford Community Development Corporation: $500,000 for site preparation activities at 5129-35, 5119, 5113-17 Frankford Ave. for the future site of a mixed-use development; Impact Service Corporation: $394,843 for improvements to community and housing programs in New Kensington; New Kensington Community Development Corporation: $378,381 to renovate 2513-15 Frankford Ave. for a future mixed-use site and City of Philadelphia: $200,000 for a storefront façade improvement program.