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Pennsylvania gaming grants awarded

The Pennsylvania Horse Race and Gaming Development Act (Act 71) established the Local Share Assessment Account and required DCED to distribute revenues from this licensed gaming facility to support community and economic development projects throughout Washington County.

"This first-of-its-kind investment will repair infrastructure and help to rebuild our core communities," DCED Secretary Dennis Yablonsky said. "Making our communities more attractive places to live and play while creating new jobs will go a long way toward sustaining the economic vitality of the region."

The department evaluated projects that were submitted by Washington County's review committee. Awards were made based on the proposed project's adherence to the Keystone Principles for Investment, which emphasize regional approaches to revitalization, and the ability to leverage additional private and other public funds.

"It's imperative to focus support for projects that will have a long-lasting impact on the region," Yablonsky said. "That, along with other key factors -- including demonstrated need, local and community support and project readiness -- weighed on our decision to fund these projects."

Yablonsky said Local Share Assessment funds will be available as long as the Meadows casino continues to operate and, to help future applicants and communities utilize this new program, DCED staff will provide additional technical assistance to permit municipalities to explore ways to better meet the statutory requirements and to effectively deploy these funds to generate economic growth and improve communities.

Washington County is the second county in the commonwealth to receive Local Share funds managed by the department. In March, DCED approved funding for 17 projects in Luzerne County.

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