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30
June 2008
First
Gaming Grants Awarded In
Washington County
The
Department of Community and
Economic Development has awarded
$8.2 million for 26 projects in
Washington County, the first
funds available from gaming
revenues from the Meadows
Casino
in North Strabane
Township.
The
Pennsylvania Horse Race and
Gaming Development Act (Act 71)
established the Local Share
Assessment Account and required
DCED to distribute revenues from
this licensed gaming facility to
support community and economic
development projects throughout
Washington County.
"This
first-of-its-kind investment will
repair infrastructure and help to
rebuild our core communities,"
DCED Secretary Dennis Yablonsky
said. "Making our communities
more attractive places to live
and play while creating new jobs
will go a long way toward
sustaining the economic vitality
of the region."
The
department evaluated projects
that were submitted by Washington
County's review committee. Awards
were made based on the proposed
project's adherence to the
Keystone Principles for
Investment, which emphasize
regional approaches to
revitalization, and the ability
to leverage additional private
and other public
funds.
"It's
imperative to focus support for
projects that will have a
long-lasting impact on the
region," Yablonsky said. "That,
along with other key factors -
including demonstrated need,
local and community support and
project readiness - weighed on
our decision to fund these
projects."
Yablonsky
said Local Share Assessment funds
will be available as long as the
Meadows casino continues to
operate and, to help future
applicants and communities
utilize this new program, DCED
staff will provide additional
technical assistance to permit
municipalities to explore ways to
better meet the statutory
requirements and to effectively
deploy these funds to generate
economic growth and improve
communities.
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