Completion of the new state-of-the-art Dale and Frances Hughes Cancer Center at Pocono Medical Center is one step closer after the Pocono Mountains Economic Development Corporation (PMEDC) presented Pocono Health System/Pocono Medical Center with a check for $2 million to support the project.
The funds were initially allocated in 2010 via the Local Share Account (LSA) of gaming monies generated by the Mount Airy Casino Resort. The Monroe County Industrial Development Authority (MCIDA), a sister organization of PMEDC, administers local share account projects in Monroe County.
Kathleen E. Kuck, President and CEO of Pocono Health System/Pocono Medical Center explains, “We are very grateful to have received $2 million from the Local Share Account for the construction of the new Dale and Frances Hughes Cancer Center, a project vitally important to the health care of our community.”
“The new center allows us to have the most advanced technology and protocols available all under one roof and close to home for treating the leading cause of death in Monroe County,” she continues.
“I would like to take this time to thank and acknowledge all of our local, state, and federal officials, the Pocono Mountain Economic Development Corporation, and all of our generous supporters, for their kind support of this project and remind them how the lives of tomorrow’s cancer patients and their families will be significantly impacted in a positive way because of their support in making the new Dale and Frances Hughes Cancer Center a reality.”
Citing the cancer center as an example, PMEDC Executive Director Chuck Leonard points out that some important regional projects that benefit from LSA funding may not be obvious to the public.
“The public benefits from LSA in many unseen ways,” he says. “Whether it’s the recent airport expansion, new equipment at the Pocono Family YMCA or the new Dale and Frances Hughes Cancer Center, there are dozens of projects in this community that may not have come to fruition as quickly if not for that funding,” he continues.
“We owe thanks to the Monroe County Commissioners and our local legislators for supporting projects like these that will generate a return for the community.”
The Local Share Assessment Account was established by the Pennsylvania Horse Race and Gaming Development Act, as amended, requires the Commonwealth Financing Authority to distribute money that is generated by licensed gaming facilities to support community and economic development projects.
It should be emphasized that the Local Share Account funds is from a completely separate pool of money than that which is used to reduce property taxes across the Commonwealth. This money rewards host communities who worked to attract gaming licenses with funds for projects that provide benefit to the community.