July 22, 2026

— Jeff Ward, Lehigh Valley News Briefs

Pennsylvania’s annual budget theater is over and the school districts have sent their higher tax bills.

Now comes the fun stuff, millions of state dollars flowing to some peculiar purposes. Open the pork barrel!

State Sen. Lisa Boscola (D-Bethlehem) put out a press release last week, boasting of $17.75 million in state dollars for Northampton County.

That money started in your pocket, then went to Harrisburg to support bureaucracy, public pensions and almost as an aside, fund the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program. That font of money, known as RACP, deserves more public scrutiny than it receives.

Here’s an odd item: Lafayette College will receive $1 million to improve its baseball facilities in Forks Township.

Lafayette boasts of an endowment exceeding $1 billion (ONE BILLION DOLLARS, as Dr. Evil would say) and paid two employees more than $1 million in its last reported fiscal year.

Some disclosure, I’m a Lafayette graduate and I went to a lot of baseball games at Kamine Stadium. I still find this to be an odd use of public money.

Here’s RACP’s mission: “RACP projects are authorized in the Redevelopment Assistance section of a Capital Budget Itemization Act, have a regional or multi-jurisdictional impact, and generate substantial increases or maintain current levels of employment, tax revenues, or other measures of economic activity. 

RACP projects are state-funded projects that cannot obtain primary funding under other state programs.”

So, that covers $1 million for a wealthy private college’s baseball stadium. At least the money didn’t go to Lehigh.

Two needy causes will receive $5 million each, including a Peron Development project in Bethlehem

Let’s take a look at the projects touted by Boscola (who once secured a $100,000 state grant for the Bethlehem Co-Op Boondoggle):

Greater Community Empowerment Center, Greater Community Development Corp. ($5,000,000)

Steel General Office Complex, Peron Development ($5,000,000)

Easton-Berwick Street Renovation, ProJeCt of Easton, Inc. ($2,000,000)

Bethlehem Emergency Shelter, City of Bethlehem ($1,750,000)

Bushkill Street Warehouse Redevelopment, Black Canyon, LLC ($750,000)

Foundry at Easton, Foundry Development Group, LLC ($500,000)

Bethlehem Catholic Athletic Field, Bethlehem Catholic High School ($250,000)

Palmer Township Police Station, Palmer Township ($1,500,000)

Lafayette College Baseball Facilities, Lafayette College ($1,000,000)

Some of the above projects, if the money is spent well, may justify state aid. Meanwhile, millions more will flow to private developers.

There’s nothing new about the above.

Little people pay taxes, politicians and bureaucrats live off the money and get pensions, and organized groups and businesses fight to get grant money that is from the taxpayers.

Taxpayers have little say in the process.

It’s the circle of life.

Here is a link to Boscola’s statement and below is a cut-and-paste version.

Boondoggle On! And Go Pards!

Boscola Announces $17,750,000 in State Funding for Nine Northampton County Redevelopment Projects

July 17, 2026

Bethlehem, July 16, 2026 – State Sen. Lisa Boscola today announced $17,750,000 in Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) funding to nine redevelopment projects in Northampton County.

“State investment in these important regional economic and community development projects is critical to ensure these projects are completed to enhance job creation and improve the quality of life throughout the Lehigh Valley,” Senator Lisa Boscola stated.  “This is another example of the Commonwealth recognizing that by partnering on these economic and community development projects, we are helping make them a reality and improving our local and state economies.”

The following projects/beneficiaries being awarded RACP funding are:

• Greater Community Empowerment Center, Greater Community Development Corp. ($5,000,000)
• Steel General Office Complex, Peron Development ($5,000,000)
• Easton-Berwick Street Renovation, ProJeCt of Easton, Inc. ($2,000,000)
• Bethlehem Emergency Shelter, City of Bethlehem ($1,750,000)
• Bushkill Street Warehouse Redevelopment, Black Canyon, LLC ($750,000)
• Foundry at Easton, Foundry Development Group, LLC ($500,000)
• Bethlehem Catholic Athletic Field, Bethlehem Catholic High School ($250,000)
• Palmer Township Police Station, Palmer Township ($1,500,000)
• Lafayette College Baseball Facilities, Lafayette College ($1,000,000)

“Our Lehigh Valley delegation in the General Assembly has once again worked in a bi-partisan manner along with the Governor to make funding for these joint priorities a reality,” Boscola stated.  “Our delegation recognizes the importance of these redevelopment and community projects and the impact they will have to promote economic growth and improve our communities.”

The Greater Community Empowerment Center entails the construction of a new community facility that will house a gymnasium, health and wellness area, child care facility, a counseling center that will be used to address mental health needs, and classrooms that will provide job training services to assist individuals with employment opportunities.

The Steel General Office Complex will support the interior demolition and abatement along with the core and shell work that is required to make way for the apartment fit out phase of the redevelopment project.

Easton-Berwick Street Renovation project building will need extensive renovations to transform it into a state-of-the-art educational facility. Planned upgrades include an industrial elevator, modernized mechanical systems, energy-efficient windows that preserve the building’s historic stained glass, a fire sprinkler system, and new electrical and plumbing systems. Additional features include new doors, custom carpentry and millwork, a fortified building envelope, and secure entry points.

The Bethlehem Emergency Shelter project entails comprehensive renovation and reconfiguration of the existing structure on Market Street. The basement will be upgraded cosmetically while accommodating a kitchen, social hall, storage, and a new mechanical/elevator room. The first floor (women’s shelter) will be redesigned to include 35 congregate and 6 non-congregate beds, improved restrooms with showers and laundry, and a reconfigured administration wing with new offices and conference space. The second floor (men’s shelter) will mirror these improvements.

Bushkill Street Warehouse Redevelopment entails the redevelopment of an existing warehouse in the City of Easton, which will preserve and enhance the industrial facility. RACP funds will be used to complete critical construction and modernization, and will include buildout of second-floor office space, major upgrades to existing warehouse; installation of climate control systems, warehouse partitions, and replacing truck loading docks.

The Foundry at Easton is a mixed-use community with commercial space and parking on the buildings’ first floors, residential units on the upper floors, and unique architecture focused on environmental sustainability.

The Bethlehem Catholic Athletic Field project includes the redevelopment of the existing high school sports complex to expand a new track and field complex and new surfaces for baseball, field hockey, football, and soccer.

The Palmer Township Police Station Project will construct a new police station with visitor parking, perimeter fencing, covered fleet parking, a sally port, and evidence garage.

The Lafayette College Baseball Facilities Project will consist of comprehensive facility upgrades to Kamine Stadium. Project components include: installation of a modern turf field; new backstop and fencing with padding; demolition and foundation work; paving and field extension; field accessories and bullpens; upgraded dugouts; installation of field lighting to allow evening and low-light usage; a new scoreboard and signage; a netting system; sitework and utilities; concrete paving; and security

The RACP (Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program) is used for the acquisition and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic, recreational, and historical improvement projects. Qualifying projects have a regional or multi-jurisdictional impact, help create or maintain jobs, and generate economic activity.

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