July 22, 2015
HARRISBURG, July 22, 2015 – The ongoing rejuvenation of Reading’s treatment facilities today counted the approval of a $37.2 million low-interest loan for the replacement of the Fritz Island solid waste treatment plant.
Just as it approved an $84.6 million loan in April for Reading’s wastewater treatment plant, PENNVEST approved the new low-interest advance during its meeting today. The $37.2 million project will also help to protect the Schuylkill River from raw sewage discharges, and it will help to resolve National Pollutant Discharge System violations.
The new project is expected to create 65 construction jobs.
“With hard, diligent work, the understanding of PENNVEST’s board, and the cooperation of the U.S. Department of Justice, it is our pleasure to announce the approval of this new loan to get the Fritz Island solid waste treatment plant working correctly again,” said Sen. Judy Schwank. “Years of neglect jeopardized south Reading and the people living downstream from Fritz Island, but that’s about to change in a big way.”
“We need these funds to make sure Reading residents are protected from pollution and the Schuylkill River flows cleanly and freely,” Rep. Thomas Caltagirone (D-Reading) said. “More than $121 million is being delivered to Fritz Island and the city from PENNVEST, which is the help we need to improve the systems’ ability to deliver great service and to restore Reading’s role as good environmental stewards.”
The 20-year loan carries a one-percent interest rate and it will not impact the rates residents now pay for solid waste treatment.
“It’s a good news kind of day for Reading and its environs,” said Rep. Mark Rozzi. “Not only will raw sewage stop traveling into the Schuylkill during rainy weather and bodies of surface water that support the river be better protected, but residents’ monthly bills will not go up because of this project.”
Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority funding comes from a combination of state funds approved by voters, federal grants to PENNVEST from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and recycled loan repayments from previous PENNVEST funding awards.
Funds are not released until bills for work are paid and receipts are submitted to PENNVEST.
###
September 9, 2014
READING, Sept. 9, 2014 – – The Commonwealth Financing Authority today approved a state Multimodal Transportation Fund grant in the amount of $1 million to support a road improvement and bridge replacement along Saint Bernardine Street in Angelica Park in the City of Reading’s Millmont Section, according to Sen. Judy Schwank and Rep. Thomas Caltagirone.
The $2.7 million project includes the upgrade of St. Bernardine Street through Angelica Park, including the replacement of a bridge and the installation of pedestrian walkways, bike pathways, and street lighting. Alvernia University has committed significant resources to support the project as well. While additional funds still need to be secured to move forward with this project, the approval of this state grant funding represents a significant step forward.
“I am pleased that these grant funds have been approved for this important project,” said Rep. Caltagirone, whose office worked closely with Alvernia University officials to prepare and develop the Multimodal Transportation Fund grant application. “With increased traffic to Alvernia University and the Millmont Section of Reading in recent years, this roadway and bridge is in dire need of upgrades for the safe growth of the university and community. These state funds will help provide safe access for vehicular traffic, pedestrians, and bicyclists.”
“These state funds represent an important investment in the safety of local residents and in the economic future of the city,” noted Sen. Schwank, who strongly advocated for the approval of the grant funds for the project. “With Alvernia University, the expected completion of the Berks County Conservancy Facility in the Park, several significant large employers already in Millmont, and additional parcels available for development in the neighborhood, this project will serve as a catalyst for continued growth in the area, which is good for the city.”
###
September 17, 2013
HARRISBURG, Sept. 17, 2013 — Development Projects in the City of Reading will get a big boost with the approval today of more than $5 million in new investments for the Greater Berks Development Fund, and an additional $1 million for the Doubletree Hotel Project, Sen. Judy Schwank and Rep. Tom Caltagirone announced.
The investments, through the Commonwealth Financing Authority, are loans through the Building PA program.
“There are several exciting development projects, including the hotel project, moving forward in Downtown Reading,” said Schwank. “These important new investments will help keep the momentum going.”
“This investment of state funds is essential to our ongoing efforts to revitalize Reading,” said Caltagirone. “With the state’s support, we will be able to leverage additional private investment in our city.”
The Commonwealth Financing Authority had approved a $12 million loan to the Greater Berks Development Fund. Today’s approval by the authority increases that line to $17 million. The additional dollars will support development projects in Downtown Reading.
For the Doubletree Hotel project, the CFA’s approval similarly increases Building PA loan funds from $5 million to $6 million. The new support is from previously approved Building PA funds that were made available to Greater Berks for local development projects.
The Building PA Program provides capital to developers in small-to-mid-size communities for real estate assets. The funds can be used for industrial, commercial, and multi-use projects. The Greater Berks Development Fund is the Commonwealth-approved Building PA fund manager for Reading and Berks County.
###
Follow Sen. Judy Schwank on her website, Facebook, and Twitter.
May 3, 2013
HARRISBURG, May 3, 2013 – Three of Berks County’s leading Democratic state lawmakers today welcomed Auditor General Eugene DePasquale’s findings of the operation of the Reading School District.
Sen. Judy Schwank and Reps. Tom Caltagirone and Mark Rozzi said the findings, troubling as they continue to be, show that substantial and meaningful change needs to happen now in Reading.
“Unfortunately, mismanagement continues to be as much a part of the Reading School District as reading, writing and arithmetic,” said Caltagirone (D-Reading). “Our kids – the students who walk the halls of every Reading School District elementary, middle, intermediate unit, and high school – must return to be the central focus of how this district performs beginning today.”
“The fact that the auditor general, who is Pennsylvania’s independent watchdog, is pointing to the further evidence of insufficient governance policies is more evidence that the Reading School District needs to get its act together and the board needs to get down to working for the best interests of the children,” Schwank (D-Ruscombmanor Twp.) said.
“Without immediate and lasting change, the Reading School District will cement a reputation that will last generations,” Rozzi (D-Muhlenberg Twp.) said. “That’s very bad news for our children. I strongly implore the school board and the administration to work together like they’ve never worked together before.”
DePasquale’s findings that Reading remains mired in an unending cycle of lapsed teacher certificates, insufficient internal controls and other problems are similar to an audit conducted a year ago by the auditor general’s office.
In January 2012, then-Auditor General Jack Wagner found 14 teachers had been working with improper certification; the district did not properly account or retain records for grant receipts and expenditures; and weaknesses in vendor computer databases could allow for unauthorized changes that could not be tracked.
The district is on the state’s “financial watch” list due to overwhelming deficits in 2012-’13 ($40 million) and in the upcoming fiscal year ($8 million).
###
September 10, 2012
READING, Sept. 10, 2012 — Nearly two dozen Berks County arts programs have received state funding, according to state Sen. Judy Schwank and state Rep. Tom Caltagirone.
“The arts are an important part of any community. They provide entertainment, creative expression, and education to people of all ages,” said Schwank (D-11th dist.). “I’m grateful that the state is supporting our local arts programs.”
“There are many unique arts programs in Berks County that deserve recognition and support,” said Caltagirone (D-127th dist.). “This funding will help these programs continue to thrive.”
The Pennsylvania Council on the Arts awarded a total of more than $172,000 in state grants to the following programs in Berks County:
- Berks Arts Council, located in Reading, received $22,687 for the support the council and $15,055 for the support the administration of the PA Partners in the Arts program to serve Berks, Lancaster, and Schuylkill counties.
- Berks Bards, Inc., located in Reading, received $748.
- Berks Classical Children’s Chorus, located in Reading, received $3,532.
- Berks Community Television, located in Reading, received $4,338 for the support of its arts programs.
- Berks Encore, located in Reading, received $2,000.
- Building a Better Boyertown received $2,000 for the support of the Studio B: Arts and Activities Alliance
- Clay on Main, located in Oley, received $2,000.
- Community School of Music and the Arts, located in Reading, received $3,070.
- Foundation for the Reading Public Museum received $25,639
- Goggle Works, located in Reading, received $27,204.
- Kutztown University received a $4,895 for the support of KU Presents!: Performing Arts Series
- Mifflin Community Library, located in Shillington, received $1,494 for support of the arts programs at the library
- New Arts Program, Inc., located in Kutztown, received $2,000
- Our Town Foundation, located in Hamburg, received $2,000 for the support of the Hamburg Area Arts Alliance.
- Reading Area Community College received $3,245 for the support of the Miller Center for the Arts.
- Reading Choral Society received $2,000.
- Reading Musical Foundation received $9,507.
- Reading Symphony Orchestra received $19,280.
- Yocum Institute for Arts Education, Inc., located in Wyomissing, received $10,210 for the support of a Long-Term Residency (LTR) project at the Wilson Area High School, coordinating a professional theatre artist with the theatre faculty and curriculum
- Yocum Institute for Arts Education, Inc., located in Reading, received $9,310.
###
March 13, 2012
READING, March 13 – House Judiciary Committee Chairman Thomas Caltagirone, D-Berks, and state Sen. Judy Schwank announced the approval of more than $30,000 in grants by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency to improve the juvenile justice system in Berks County.
Caltagirone, who serves on the PCCD board, said: “These grants will help Berks County Courts handle juvenile criminal cases quickly and smoothly because the offices will have appropriate staff to accommodate case loads.
“Ultimately, this makes the court system more accountable to the public and more effective in rehabilitating troubled children,” Caltagirone continued. “It also eliminates unnecessary and costly courtroom appearances and backlogs. It’s important to remember that when we let children get lost in the criminal justice system, in the long run, no one benefits.”
“The court system is critical to maintaining order and enforcing laws, so obviously we want to make sure they are appropriately staffed,” Sen Schwank added. “This funding will help the courts meet increasing demands on their resources, but it also will give minors the counsel they need to get their lives back on track, and hopefully avoid future entanglements with the law.”
The Berks County District Attorney’s Office received $15,042 for two assistant district attorneys and one support staff for the Berks County Juvenile Court. The funding will help increase pre-hearing diversion cases, pre-hearing case negotiations, and decrease the number of preventable case continuances.
The Berks County Public Defender’s Office received $15,043 to partially fund a fully-time assistant public defender and support staff to meet increasing needs of juvenile offenders. The funding will ensue that juveniles are represented at the earliest opportunity and help public defender staff reduce conflicts that cause court delays and the need for new counsel.
The funding comes from the federal Juvenile Accountability Block Grant program for continuation projects.
January 25, 2012
READING, Jan. 25, 2012 — A Reading development project has been awarded significant state funding toward the construction of a four-star downtown hotel, according to state Sen. Judy Schwank and state Rep. Tom Caltagirone.
The Greater Berks Development Fund has been awarded a $5 million Building PA Fund loan to support, among other projects, the Downtown Reading Hotel Project.
Reading Hospitality, LLC will develop a 190,000 square-foot, four-star Doubletree Hotel located directly across from the Sovereign Center.
“The construction of a new hotel will provide a real boost to our local tourism and economy,” said Schwank (D-11th dist.). “It will entice visitors of the Sovereign Center to stay overnight in Reading before or after a show, and will attract companies and organizations to host meetings and presentations in Reading.”
“I’m so pleased that the state is investing in our area,” said Caltagirone (D-127th dist). “Hotels are economic engines for cities, and it will give out-of-town guests an opportunity to visit our shops and restaurants and enjoy all that Reading and Greater Berks have to offer.”
The funds were approved by the Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA).
###
January 19, 2012
READING, Jan. 19, 2012 — Reading School District has been awarded a $500,000 federal grant to help foster after-school educational programs, according to state Sen. Judy Schwank and state Rep. Tom Caltagirone.
Reading was one of 17 school districts across the state to receive the 21st Century Community Learning Center Challenge grant, which will be used to establish community learning centers that would provide educational services to students in struggling school districts.
“This is an innovative plan that will reinforce the lessons our students are learning in the classroom in a safe environment,” said Schwank (D-11th dist.). “We have so many bright and eager students in the Reading School District who want to learn, and thanks to this grant, they will be able to continue their studies after school dismissal.”
“Every child deserves an opportunity to succeed, and so many students can benefit from extra opportunities to learn and grow,” said Caltagirone (D-127th dist.). “This grant will help the Reading School District ensure that students are receiving a quality education.”
Reading was selected among 119 applicants from across the state. The Pennsylvania Department of Education distributed a total of $20.9 million in federal grant funding.
###
