On Dec. 18, state Sen. Nick Miller, D-14th, announced $7,053,563 in funding across the Lehigh Valley through the Local Share Account statewide program and the Act 13 programs.

The LSA grant program awards funding to eligible applicants that improve the quality of life for citizens in the community. The Act 13 programs fund initiatives that include sewage treatment, greenways, trails and recreation and watershed restoration, among others.

The Whitehall and Coplay communities will receive LSA grant funds in the amount of $500,000 to acquire a new paving machine to support maintenance of 147 miles of Whitehall Township roadways and Act 13 program funding of $181,900 for the Coplay Borough pickleball court project and $20,230 for the Whitehall Township Jefferson Street recreation center study.

Other local LSA program projects include $39,572 to purchase two new speed trailers with the goal of reducing speeds and collecting actionable data in Catasauqua Borough; $250,000 for a new pumper firetruck in Catasauqua to replace aging equipment and improve emergency response times and enhance community safety; $350,000 for the construction of a retaining wall as part of a larger project for streetscape improvements at the Catasauqua Iron Works site to make Front Street a two-way road with adequate parking between Bridge and Wood streets; $1,000,000 to replace the 28-year-old aircraft rescue and firefighting vehicle for Lehigh Northampton Airport Authority; $150,000 to replace a structurally unsound roof at North Catasauqua’s borough hall with new rafters, braces, beams and metal roofing; $150,000 to replace an aging 2004 fire engine with a new emergency vehicle and equipment for the North Catasauqua volunteer fire department; $245,000 to replace an aging 2004 dump truck with a new vehicle equipped for plowing, salting and hauling materials for Lehigh Township; $125,000 to restore East Allen Township’s Dech House for use as a community historical center; $250,000 to East Allen Township to upgrade equipment in two ambulances, purchasing two Stryker Lifepak monitor/defibrillators and two powered stretcher systems to improve emergency care for 56,000 residents across 85 square miles; and $124,000 to acquire a Ford Police Interceptor Utility vehicle and a Ford Expedition 4x4, both to be equipped with necessary police utilities, to replace the aging fleet and ensure reliable service for the Moore Township community.

State Rep. Zach Mako, R-183rd, said he is proud to have helped secure the grants for East Allen and Lehigh townships and North Catasauqua Borough.

Additional LSA program investments include $775,000 to plan a new Allentown Art Museum facility focused on preserving collections and expanding educational programming to boost tourism, attract new visitors and strengthen the region’s cultural and educational offerings; $36,158 to upgrade the Lehigh and Union streets intersection in Allentown with widening, new sidewalks, enhanced crosswalks and modern signalization to improve mobility across the city, reduce traffic accidents and strengthen connectivity between downtown and southside Allentown; $400,000 to improve security and upgrade all main-floor restrooms at the Jewish Community Center in Allentown for full Americans With Disabilities Act compliance to support accessibility for seniors, caregivers, families and individuals of all gender identities; $800,000 to construct a 1.2-mile, ADA-compliant extension of the MLK Trail to connect the MLK Trail to the Little Lehigh Parkway Network, with new segments along the creek and a link from South 10th Street to Fountain Park; $150,000 to purchase 22 P25-compliant portable radios for the Bushkill Township Police Department to improve interoperability with neighboring agencies and enhance emergency response; $150,000 to purchase 15 mobile and 35 portable P25 radios for Bushkill Township Volunteer Fire Company to improve communication with local, state and regional agencies, enhancing safety and coordination during emergency responses; $50,459 to new firefighting equipment in Fountain Hill to replace older equipment and provide volunteer firefighters with the tools needed to perform essential life safety functions during fire calls; $200,000 to purchase and install 44 Motorola APX all-band radios for the Hanover Township, Northampton County, volunteer fire company, improving emergency communication and interoperability with Northampton County’s new radio system; $521,244 to replace outdated portable and mobile radios for fire and police departments in Salisbury Township to ensure secure and reliable emergency communication; and $500,000 to replace a nonfunctioning furnace in the Walnutport Borough municipal building.

Mako also assisted with the Walnutport grant and $27,911 for a generator and computer equipment for Northern Valley EMS in North Whitehall Township.

“These awards represent a powerful investment in the future of our urban and rural communities,” Miller said. “From planning a new cultural landmark at the Allentown Art Museum to expanding the MLK Trail with a 1.2-mile ADA-accessible extension that will connect neighborhoods and park systems, these projects reflect our commitment to inclusivity, sustainability and community well-being. Whether it’s improving public safety in our boroughs or enhancing recreational access in the city, these initiatives will strengthen the fabric of Lehigh and Northampton counties for generations to come.”

A number of the grants were also announced in connection with state Sen. Jarrett Coleman, R-16th.

“I’m pleased to join Sen. Miller in announcing these state grants to the Allentown Art Museum and Lehigh Northampton Airport Authority,” Coleman said. “This funding will support these important cultural and transportation safety projects in the Lehigh Valley, encouraging our continued economic growth.”

“I’m pleased to work with Sens. Nick Miller and Jarrett Coleman to have each of these projects funded,” Mako said. “These funds will help repair or replace vital infrastructure and equipment used by municipalities and organizations to better serve our community. I am happy to help pursue this funding, as it would have been challenging to move forward without it.”

For more information about the Local Share Account program, visit dced.pa.gov/programs/local-share-account-lsa-statewide.