HARRISBURG – Two Indiana County projects received a total of $3.5 million in grant awards from the state Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP), according to Sen. Joe Pittman (R41) and Rep. Jim Struzzi (R-62).
The Indiana Regional Community Medical Center (IRMC) was awarded a $1 million grant to expand its White Township facilities.
“I am extremely pleased the state is making this significant investment to protect and improve the health and well-being of our local residents,” Sen. Pittman said. “IRMC is looking to invest in facilities on its current campus that will allow them to branch out in delivering different aspects of health care services in the community.”
This will be the third round of RACP funding received by IRMC (the prior awards were received in 2019 and 2020), with each of the three awards being $1 million. This latest round of funding will be used to construct a two-story, 15,000-square foot facility housing a Biosafety Level 2 Lab. In additional to the lab, there will be an outpatient specialty clinic, an ambulatory surgery clinic, and a family practice clinic in the building.
“This state funding supports the sustainability of independent hospitals in rural communities,” added Sen. Pittman. “These hospitals are focused on providing care in their home community, as opposed to those that are part of a larger network, which tend to be more focused on bottom lines and balance sheets.”
“It is essential that we provide the highest level of care possible for our local residents and I am happy to support these grants for IRMC that will allow us to do that,” said Rep. Struzzi. “This funding has had a huge impact on the level of care and variety of services we can provide locally to our residents. I look forward to seeing this investment put to use toward the new lab.”
IRMC has served Indiana County and surrounding communities since 1914. As a nationally recognized employer, IRMC continues to meet the needs of patients and employees alike. IRMC maintains its commitment to serving the region by continually re-investing in its facilities, technology and people in order to provide the highest level of care possible.
Also receiving grant funding is the Indiana County Development Corporation, with its $2.5 million award focused on the acquisition and redevelopment of student rental housing properties with the plan being to prepare the properties for conversion to an adaptive reuse.
“As the regional demographics have declined, along with the recognition the student enrollment of Indiana University of Pennsylvania isn’t what it used to be, the Indiana County Development Corporation is looking at ways to repurpose old, outdated rental housing complexes near the IUP campus,” said Sen. Pittman. “This effort will create a property that can be reused to help improve the economy of the community.”
“In these times, we need continuous, visionary leadership to take Indiana County to the next level. I applaud the strategic thinking of the Indiana County Development Corp. to repurpose existing buildings for potential economic growth in the area,” said Struzzi. “I have been honored to be part our of economic development team for many years and I am hopeful we can create more opportunities for businesses and residents in the area through transforming these buildings.”
“The Board of Directors of the Indiana County Development Corporation are pleased to partner with Sen. Pittman and Rep. Struzzi along with the Indiana County Commissioners to work towards solutions to our economic challenges as well as to create new real estate and job opportunities for the benefit of our community,” said James Wiley, President of the Indiana County Development Corporation, a non-profit economic development organization.
RACP is administered by the Office of the Budget for the acquisition and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic, recreational, and historical improvement projects. RACP projects are authorized in the Redevelopment Assistance section of a Capital Budget Itemization Act. They must have a regional or multi-jurisdictional impact, and generate substantial increases or maintain current levels of employment, tax revenues, or other measures of economic activity.
CONTACT: Sen. Pittman – Jeremy Dias jdias@pasen.gov
Rep. Struzzi – Scott Little slittle@pahouse.gop 717-260-6137