Scranton, PA -
(via WBRE/WYOU) - Governor Tom Wolf visited Lackawanna County and brought millions of dollars for several community revitalization efforts located in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe and Wayne Counties.
The governor stopped by the 100-block of Wyoming Avenue in Scranton to visit what will become the future home of the Lackawanna County Government Center.
Governor Wolf hopes the state funding he brought for the region will benefit people who are now deciding to live in downtown areas.
"This is an integral part of our downtown!" Scranton Mayor Bill Courtright said.
City and county leaders had a lot to celebrate Friday.
Governor Tom Wolf brought $1 million in state funding to help off-set the estimated $17 million renovation of the former Globe Department Store.
By December, the building on Wyoming Avenue is expected to be the new home of Lackawanna County government.
"It's going to make government more efficient but it's also going to revitalize Scranton," Governor Tom Wolf said.
County leaders hope the money will help the entire Wyoming Avenue corridor with new businesses and restaurants.
"All you have to do is look across the street, for sale, for lease, for rent, this is going to be an injection of people every single day!" Lackawanna County commissioner Patrick O'Malley said.
It isn't just downtown Scranton that is getting economic help.
In Dickson City, the governor is providing another $1 million for new commercial and office space and a warehouse facility between the 200-and-400 blocks of Main Street.
In Carbondale, developers will get $1.5 million for a large scale redevelopment plan near the intersection of South Main Street and Eighth Avenue.
"I think the one down on South Main Street will really solidify that 'main gateway' into Carbondale because Business 6 comes up Eighth Avenue and turns left onto Main Street so you're literally entering the main street district," Carbondale mayor Justin Taylor said.
All of the projects getting money require a "dollar for dollar" match in non-state funding.
Governor Wolf says each project will attract new jobs.
"We need to do what we can to bring people back downtown, bring opportunities back downtown and this is just a part of it," Governor Wolf said.
Besides projects in Lackawanna County, the governor is also providing money for similar efforts in Luzerne, Monroe, Wayne and Wyoming Counties.
Lackawanna County
Ashburn Advisors, LLC
Carbondale Development Partners
$1,500,000
Just Believe Recovery Center of Carbondale, LLC
Lackawanna DAAWN: Drug & Alcohol Addiction - Winning with our Neighbors
$1,000,000
Lackawanna County
Lackawanna County Efficiency in Government Center Building Project
$1,000,000
Scranton-Cherry, LP
Scranton Counseling Center Project
$1,000,000
Lackawanna County
Dickson City Revitalization Project
$1,000,000
Luzerne County
Misericordia University
Misericordia University Physician Assistant Program Facilities Project
$1,000,000
King's College
King's College Spring Brook Engineering Building Project
$500,000
Wilkes University
Wilkes University Pharmacy Initiative
$1,000,000
Waterfront Management Group, LLC
Waterfront Warehouse Conversion
$500,000
Monroe County
Legend Properties Inc./DEPG Associates
Smithfield Gateway
$1,500,000
Monroe County Industrial Development Authority
Downtown Stroudsburg Parking Facility
$500,000
Wayne County
Wayne Memorial Hospital
$1,500,000
Wyoming County
Hemisphere Holdings, LLC
Factoryville-Keystone College CO-OP Project
$500,000
By: Eric Deabill / Posted: Jan 12, 2018
​http://www.pahomepage.com/news/governor-brings-economic-development-money-to-lackawanna-county/912375315
