Nov. 30, 2023
HARRISBURG – Rep. Tina Pickett (R-Bradford/Wyoming) and Sen. Lisa Baker (R-20) announce the awarding of more than $1.1 million in state tax credits for eight community improvement projects and programs in Wyoming County. The funding support was made available through the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development’s Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP).
“NAP is an important tool that allows businesses to make meaningful investments in local communities that improve the quality of life for all,” said Pickett. “We appreciate that Wyoming County is benefiting through the program and are grateful for all the participating companies.”
“NAP is an indispensable program for building up and strengthening community services and facilities,” Baker said. “Whether the projects involve social programs, worker development or healthy living recreation, they add value to what we call quality of life. For many smaller communities, this is the place to go for funding for projects and programs that are hard to fit into a tight municipal budget. It is another instance where state money can be used to leverage private contributions, because the projects represent local priorities and have undergone review to determine worth and sustainability.”
The NAP funding will support the following projects and programs in Wyoming County:
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Children’s Service Center - $515,001 to purchase a property in Tunkhannock that will quadruple its space for treatment of mental health and substance use disorders.
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Commission on Economic Opportunity - $179,850 for charitable food distribution system that supports 275 partner organizations in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Susquehanna and Wyoming counties.
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Geisinger Health Foundation - $350,000 for renovations required to add a Convenient Care+ operation to its urgent care center in Tunkhannock.
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Wyoming County Community Alliance - $31,500 for student training program.
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Wyoming County Community Alliance - $27,500 to revitalize a basketball court.
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Wyoming County Cultural Center Inc.- $30,000 for theatre and visual arts classes for adults with disabilities.
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Wyoming County Cultural Center Inc. -$10,000 for opioid abuse prevention program.
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Wyoming County Cultural Center Inc. - $5,000 for veterans workshops at the Dietrich Theater in Tunkhannock.
Children’s Service Center currently serves more than 1,000 clients annually at its Tunkhannock location, where total clients have increased by 30% and adult clients have increased by 58% since 2017.
“Having served the residents of Wyoming County since the 1970s, Children’s Service Center and Robinson Counseling Center have reached the point where community mental health needs have challenged our physical space and programs,” said Michael Hopkins, president and CEO. “We look forward to expanding our service offerings in this new facility, which will allow us to integrate primary care and mental health services to better meet the overall needs of this rural community.”
“Geisinger is grateful to partner with Coterra and our elected officials to bring advanced care to the residents of Tunkhannock and the surrounding community through NAP. This award supports the renovations required to add a ConvenientCare+ operation to the newly expanded and relocated multidisciplinary and urgent care center and provides even greater levels of patient care options through enhancements such as higher acuity rooms, additional outreach services and more immediate access to radiology and laboratory diagnostic services,” Geisinger said in a statement.
NAP provides tax credits to businesses that contribute to the efforts of nonprofit organizations to revitalize communities. This round of tax credits total $36 million and will support 261 projects and programs across the Commonwealth.
Businesses contributing to the Wyoming County nonprofit organizations through NAP include Big Sandy Gas Company, Cargill Meat Solutions, Coterra Energy, GasSearch Drilling Services, Gerrity’s Supermarkets, M&T Bank, McLane/Eastern Inc., Price Chopper Operating Company, Sheetz and Susquehanna Real Estate Corporation.
Representative Tina Pickett
110th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Andy Briggs
717-260-6474
abriggs@pahousegop.com
RepPickett.com / Facebook.com/RepPickett