More than $6 million in gaming fund revenues, the first from Mount Airy Resort and Casino, will fund significant education, health care, infrastructure and quality of life projects throughout Monroe County, Department of Community and Economic Development acting Secretary George Cornelius announced Wednesday.
East Stroudsburg University’s Research and Technology Park, Northampton Community College’s planned Monroe County campus building and expansion project, and the Pocono Mountains Regional Airport’s planned runway expansion will each receive $1 million grants.
In all, 14 Monroe County projects will share $6.15 million generated by the Pennsylvania Horse Race and Gaming Development Act, or Act 71, which set up a “local share assessment account” and required DCED to distribute money that is generated by licensed gaming facilities to support community and economic development projects and mitigate the impact of gaming activities.
“The projects funded by these grants will improve education, local health services, housing, and recreation,” said Monroe County Industrial Development Authority (MCIDA) Executive Director Chuck Leonard. “Our community will also see some key infrastructure improvements.”
The $6.15 million distribution represents only 50 percent of Mt. Airy’s contribution to the local share account. Though Monroe County had to share gaming fund revenues equally with neighboring counties, Leonard downplayed any inequity in the funding formula.
“It would be nice if we got the entire $12.3 million, but we should focus on the fact that the $6 million in grant funding announced today is the first of an annual grant series,” says Leonard.
“As long as Mt. Airy Casino continues to thrive in Monroe County, our community can look forward to additional grants and improvements in the years to come.”
More information on the local share assessment account is available at NewPA.com or by calling 1-866-466-3972.
EDITOR’S NOTE
Monroe County projects receiving grants from the Gaming Fund follow:
Economic Development
Community Improvement
Public Interest