County Commissioners Award Grants

Chester County Commissioners approved this week $2.6 million in Community Revitalization Program grants.

“These grants will improve communities across Chester County, focusing on urban areas,” said Commissioner Chair Terence Farrell. “Seven boroughs will use the money for the ‘downtown’ areas – including improvements to sidewalks, crosswalks, street lights and landscaping – all helping to increase pedestrian safety.”

Oxford is receiving $367,467 for streetscape work; Spring City is receiving $594,000 for Main and Bridge Streetscape work and infrastructure improvements; Elverson is receiving $368,440 for its Brick Lane sewer upgrade; Kennett Square is receiving $512,000 for South Walnut Streetscape; Malvern is receiving $512,000 for Powelton Avenue and King Streetscape; West Grove is receiving $248,175 for its pump station upgrade; and Modena is receiving $38,000 for its South BrandywineAvenue emergency sewer improvement.

“The projects are all in line with our award-winning Landscapes2 plan and the priorities of our strategic plan,” said Commissioner Kathi Cozzone. “Not only does it address safety and encourage more pedestrian and cycling traffic, it also supports growth and development in the County’s more populated areas.”

Commissioner Ryan Costello added, “Economic conditions have impaired the ability of local governments to fund improvements on their own. Not only do these grants help municipalities by providing direct funds, they have also, over the years, leveraged millions of dollars more in investment, and they remain instrumental in revitalizing our urban centers into more attractive places to live and work.”

Since the Community Revitalization Program began in 2002, the County has awarded almost $46 million in Community Revitalization program and Community Development Block Grant program grants to the sixteen urban centers (City of Coatesville and the 15 Boroughs) for infrastructure improvements, according to Pat Bokovitz, director of Chester County Department of Community Development.