Four Berks County local governments, including the Lyons Borough Municipal Authority, the City of Reading, Richmond Township, and Ruscombmanor Township, have been awarded state H2O Water and Sewer grants totaling $3.715 million by the Commonwealth Finance Authority, Senator Judith L. Schwank announced today.

According to Senator Schwank, the Lyons Borough Municipal Authority has been awarded a $1.715 million grant to support improvements and upgrades to the Authority’s wastewater treatment plant. Senator Schwank noted that the grant funding will help offset the $4 million upgrade cost of the Authority’s Wastewater Treatment Plant. In addition to allowing the authority to meet DEP plant discharge limits, the project will also accommodate the growth plans of East Penn Manufacturing, the authority’s largest customer and Berks County’s largest industrial employer. It is projected that the company will be able to add hundreds of good paying jobs when the treatment plant upgrade is complete.

Senator Schwank also noted that the City of Reading will receive a $1 million grant to support the Fritz Island Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade Project. Senator Schwank pointed out that the City received a $5 million state H20 grant in 2009 to support Phase I of the Fritz Island Plant upgrade.

In addition, Senator Schwank said that Richmond Township will receive a $500,000 grant to support the Virginville Sewer Project. She also noted that Ruscombmanor Township will receive $500,000 to support the Breezy Corners Sewer Project.

“This state grant funding will help local officials address critical infrastructure needs and environmental issues and promote economic growth,” said Senator Schwank. “With literally hundreds of grant applications totaling billions of dollars submitted for H20 grant funding and only $172 million available this round, competition for this state aid was fierce.”

“I strongly advocated for these Berks County projects and am pleased these were approved,” concluded Senator Schwank.