Bucks Projects Get Nearly $4 Million From Parx Casino (ICYMI)

BENSALEM, PA — More than 50 projects in Lower Bucks County will be getting a total of nearly $4 million in grants from money generated by gambling at Parx Casino in Bensalem.

The Redevelopment Authority of the County of Bucks has awarded the $3.9 million in grants to programs that had submitted more than $6 million in requests.

"This year we saw, and were able to support, a lot of projects that involved collaboration amongst multiple jurisdictions," said Jeff Darwak, executive director of the redevelopment authority. "It is great to see municipalities building partnerships through this program. These projects will address gaming impacts and alleviate some of the financial burden from the taxpayers in the impacted communities."

The authority's board of directors approved the grants at a meeting on Friday.

The grants will be used for a variety of municipal projects that include infrastructure improvements, municipal upgrades, human services, emergency services and equipment for law enforcement and firefighters.

Under Pennsylvania's gaming law, which was tweaked in 2017, the following municipalities are eligible to request grants paid for by Parx Casino funds: Bensalem Township, Bristol Borough, Bristol Township, Bucks County, Hulmeville Borough, Langhorne Borough, Langhorne Manor, Lower Southampton Township, Middletown Township, Penndel Borough.

"Applications presented by the municipalities represented a wide range of projects," said Sean Schafer, chairman of the redevelopment authority. "Each year the redevelopment authority board and staff spend many hours reviewing the applications before the final decision is made. I am pleased that we can help these communities to address infrastructure needs, improve the quality of life for families, and make our Lower Bucks County community safe."

The following is a sampling of a few of the larger grants awarded this year:

• $165,000 for Towns Against Graffiti, a nine-municipality partnership for graffiti removal
• $153,327 for Bensalem emergency responder radio replacement
• $133,702 for Bucks County to buy an ambulance
• $124,000 for Bristol Township traffic signal improvements
• $250,000 for Lower Southampton road improvements
• $105,000 for heart monitors for the Penndel-Middletown Emergency Squad
• $238,593 for new police department vehicles in Middletown Township
• $200,000 for road improvements in Langhorne Manor
• $109,000 for Bristol Borough pedestrian signal improvements
• $100,000 for records management for the Bucks County Police Chiefs Association

Since 2008, the redevelopment authority has awarded more than $45 million through the Parx program.