HARRISBURG, PA – State Rep. Thomas Caltagirone is praising $424,193 in state funding announced to help clean up and redevelop two former industrial sites in Berks County for business use.
The Industrial Sites Reuse Program awarded Fleetwood Borough a $285,443 grant to perform environmental remediation at the former Garden State Tannery site. The borough plans to transform the two-acre lot into a public parking facility for businesses on Main Street.
The ISRP also approved a $138,750 grant for the Berks County Convention Center Authority to cover cleanup costs for a contaminated building at the Pearle Building Site in Reading. The organization plans on constructing a 33,000-square-foot, multi-level bar/restaurant in its place.
“Blight can cripple any community, but the key is to recognize these areas and figure out ways to repurpose them that benefit our neighborhoods,” said Caltagirone, D-Berks. “This money will allow developers to restore and rebuild, while opening the door to new job opportunities and economic ventures for Berks County.”
The Berks County projects were two of 11 approved across the commonwealth by Gov. Tom Wolf.
