September 26, 2007
Contact:
 Anna Gustafson
717-787-2637
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Senate Update
by
Senator James J. Rhoades

Last week in Girardville, I had the pleasure of announcing a major community improvement initiative in Schuylkill County that will improve the quality of housing in several area communities and reduce blight.

The $1.6 million Schuylkill County Revitalization Initiative will fund the demolition of blighted buildings and the construction of affordable quality housing. The new homes will be offered for sale to low-to-moderate income individuals and families to promote home ownership in these communities. By offering these houses for sale to qualified area residents, we can allow several area families to realize the dream of homeownership and give them the option to live and raise a family in our communities.

In addition to helping families secure a home, the benefits of reducing blight will have a positive impact on our communities. Blighted properties are an eyesore in many communities and are a poor use of land. Blighted structures can be used for any number of illegal activities, and many children are intrigued by the mystery of these abandoned buildings. These revitalization projects will eliminate some of these blemishes on our communities and prevent these properties from presenting a danger to area residents.

The new homeownership sites will be located at 2-14 West Main Street in Girardville; 625 West Spruce Street in Mahanoy City; 11 East Market Street in Schuylkill Haven; 312 South Ferguson Street in Shenandoah; and 22 West Poplar Street in Shenandoah.

I was pleased to secure $1 million in grant funding from the Department of Community and Economic Development for the project. Offering affordable quality housing is one of the most important things we can do to improve the quality of life in our communities, and I am pleased that this funding will benefit families in our area. The funding will also be used for improvements like curbing, street lights and sidewalk improvements, and I look forward to seeing the benefits of this funding in the near future.

Senator Rhoades represents the 29th Senatorial District, which includes all of Schuylkill County and parts of Berks, Carbon, Lehigh, Monroe and Northampton Counties.