Volume 142, Number 2

State grant to help fund town development project

By Michelle Laxer
Associate Editor of Content

The University’s plan to establish stronger town-gown relations made strides with last month’s announcement of a $9 million state grant from Gov. Edward G. Rendell and the purchase of a downtown building last week.

Rendell announced in a recent press release that the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Project (RACP) grant will support the Lewisburg Core Community Initiative (LCCI). The project is a joint venture between the University, Lewisburg, Union County and other community-based organizations working to enhance and connect downtown to campus.

The $9 million grant will be used in the first phase of the LCCI while the University continues seeking funds for future projects.

First-phase objectives include building an inn and conference center with an adjacent parking garage, moving the University bookstore to Market Street, and making repairs and renovations at the Campus Theatre.

The majority of the grant will be used in the construction of the 75-room inn and conference center, the press release said. The inn and conference center is estimated to cost $16.1 million.

To continue to fund the LCCI, the University must seek private investors willing to match the amount of grant money used in phase-one projects. (read full article)