Erie County Times

Senator Dan Laughlin has announced the allocation of $17.75 million in Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) grants to various projects in Erie County. This funding aims to boost the local economy and support community development.

Pennsylvania State University's Behrend College is set to receive $6.5 million for its "Project Resolve" initiative at the Harborcreek Township Knowledge Park Research Facility. The funds will be used for constructing the new Center for Manufacturing Competitiveness (CMC) building, which will house a plastics laboratory, a metal-casting laboratory, and space for local companies and manufacturers. Additionally, it will feature Erie County's only fully-serviced heavy-haul battery test facility for locomotive, marine, and mining purposes.

Investment group 1001 State OZ Operator LLC has been awarded $4.5 million to renovate the Renaissance Centre in downtown Erie. The project aims to provide modern multi-use and hotel space catering to tourists and business demands driven by Lake Erie, the Bayfront Convention Center, and downtown businesses.

Troyer Farms in Waterford Township will benefit from $3 million in grant funding to support construction costs for new facilities dedicated to manufacturing frozen potato products and storing potatoes. This expansion will enable Troyer Farms, the only organic potato supplier on the East Coast, to grow operations and produce a wider range of potato products.

Three other projects have also received RACP grants as part of this initiative.

The RACP is administered by Pennsylvania’s Office of the Budget for acquiring and constructing regional economic, cultural, civic, recreational, and historical improvement projects with regional or multi-jurisdictional impact.

For more information on state-related news, constituents can visit Senator Laughlin's website or follow him on social media platforms.