State officials on Friday unveiled more than $50 million in grants earmarked for projects around Central Pennsylvania, including a life sciences incubator in Lancaster, a hotel renovation on the West Shore and a park along the Codorus Creek in York.
- Other beneficiaries include Rock Lititz and the partnership developing a mixed-use apartment building near the new federal courthouse in Harrisburg.
- The money is coming from the state’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program, or RACP, which hands out millions of dollars each year to projects statewide.
What are the projects: They span the region.
- The two largest grants — $5 million each — are going to Rock Lititz and the York County Economic Alliance.
- Rock Lititz is considering adding a new building on its Lititz-area campus where people would train for careers in the live-events industry.
- The project’s total budget is just over $10 million, according to a copy of Rock Lititz’s application for funding. The new building, called the Pod 1A Education Center, would be 29,227 square feet.
- The YCEA, meanwhile, is working on a long-term project to create an urban park and greenway along the Codorus Creek in York City. The project snagged $10 million in an earlier round of RACP funding in addition to the $5 million announced Friday.
What are the others: Here are some of the largest private-sector beneficiaries.
- $4 million for The Bridge HBG LLC, the firm hoping to transform the former Bishop McDevitt High School in Harrisburg into a multi-purpose community and education center.
- $3 million for Lancaster County developer Wright Ebersole LLC, which is building a 325,000 square-foot warehouse near the Pepperidge Farms bakery in East Cocalico Township. The project has now received $6 million in all from the RACP program.
- $2 million for Mighty Group Holdings LLC, which is redeveloping the Hudson Building, a vacant 43,000 square-foot building at the corner of North Sixth and Maclay streets in Harrisburg. The project has received $4.5 million in RACP funding overall.
- $2 million for site development work at Susquehanna Union Green, a town center-style development in Susquehanna Township, Dauphin County. The project previously received $2.5 million in RACP funding.
- $2 million for Lynthera Corp., a therapeutics company eyeing construction of a two-story 26,000 square foot building for use in its own research and as an incubator for life-sciences startup companies, according to a copy of its application for funding. The building would be in the Stony Battery Corporate Center in Lancaster County. The company is developing a contact lens drug-delivery system
- $2 million for 400 Reily Street Management, which is developing an 85-unit apartment building with commercial spaces at the corner of Reily and North Fifth streets in Harrisburg. The project is near the new federal courthouse in the capital city.
- $2 million for a project by the York County Redevelopment Authority near PeoplesBank Park. The authority plans to demolish vacant rowhomes along North George Street and erect a 20,000 square foot building. The so-called Ballpark Commons project previously received $2 million in RACP funding.
- $1 million for renovations at the Penn Harris Hotel, Trademark Collection by Wyndham. Harrisburg-based Triple Crown Corp. purchased the hotel last summer and plans to make extensive improvements to the property, formerly known as the Radisson Penn Harris.
- $1 million for Hidden Still Distillery, which is building a tasting room and tourist-friendly distillery at its location in the Hershey area.
- $1 million for the Rotunda Brew Pub to create a full-service brewpub in Hershey.
- $1 million for Koloman Development LLC, which is demolishing four buildings and erecting a new one at a Carlisle Pike intersection in Hampden Township
- $500,000 for Organic Remedies, a medical cannabis company that is renovating and expanding its greenhouse facilities in Cumberland County.
Are there more: Yes. The full list can be found here. It also includes nonprofit and government projects.
- It includes money for a childcare center in York, a sexual assault prevention and counseling center in Lancaster, and a nursing education building at Lebanon Valley College
- The state typically awards RACP grants once a year. But last fall, flush with federal Covid aid, the state reopened the application process and has now made a second round of grants.
- The first round was announced in December.
