Sep. 11, 2018
LUZERNE – Rep. Aaron Kaufer (R-Luzerne) announced today that the Jewish Community Alliance of Northeastern Pennsylvania (JCA) is the recipient of a $1 million Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) grant.
“Funding for this project is an excellent use of RACP funds. This project will revitalize an existing building for new use, and the building will provide services and programs to residents for decades to come,” Kaufer said. “I am pleased the JCA received this funding and want to thank Gov. Tom Wolf for also seeing the enduring merits of this project.”
The funding will be used to redevelop a vacant building in Kingston into the Sidney & Pauline Friedman Center for Jewish Life. Funding will be used for physical improvements to the former supermarket located at 613 Third Ave.
“I cannot express how thrilled we are to receive this funding. We are grateful for Gov. Wolf’s support, as well as the support of Sen. Lisa Baker and Rep. Aaron Kaufer,” said Len Zimmerman, COO of the JCA. “We are looking forward to bringing this project to fruition and opening our doors for the entire community in early 2019.”
“The hard work over many years by Rep. Kaufer and the strong support of Gov. Wolf and Sen. Baker has resulted in this most significant grant which will help to complete this important rehabilitation of a long-vacant and blighted property. With this strong vote of confidence by the Commonwealth, the Friedman JCC will enable the Jewish community to survive and thrive for years to come in an accessible setting while providing outstanding programming for all community members of Kingston and northeastern Pennsylvania,” said David Schwager, ¬¬¬chair of the Building Committee of the JCA.
Once opened, the center will provide community services, such as child day care, adult day care and additional programing. The project is expected to create 12 new family-sustaining jobs.
“This is an outstanding project that has multiple benefits for our area. The conversion of a former commercial building into a facility that will provide a wide range of vital community services contributes to the health and economic well-being of Kingston and the surrounding area,” said Sen. Lisa Baker (R-20). “The Jewish Community Alliance deserves a lot of credit for putting together a winning project proposal, and credit also goes to the many local supporters whose generous giving made state funding possible.”
RACP is a Commonwealth grant program administered by the Office of the Budget for the acquisition and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic, recreational and historical improvement projects. These projects 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. RACP projects are state-funded projects that cannot obtain primary funding under other state programs.
Representative Aaron Kaufer
120th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Greg Gross
717.260.6374
ggross@pahousegop.com
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