PHILADELPHIA, PA – September 6, 2018 – The Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) recently awarded $5 million in Commonwealth grant funding to six projects in 7th Senatorial District, represented by Senator Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery).

Senator Hughes thanked Gov. Tom Wolf for supporting development in the district, adding that he is pleased to have the investments and eager to see the positive impact in the community. Under Wolf’s direction, more than $150 million in RACP grants have been administered through the Office of the Budget this year, which includes the recent awards in the district for New Courtland Elder Services; 22 South 40th Street Owner, LLC; SUPRA Enterprises, LLC; Community College of Philadelphia; Esmith Properties; and the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House.

“These grants will help improve much needed services as well as spurring the economy in the district,” Senator Hughes said. “The Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program remains vital in assisting projects across the commonwealth and we are thankful for the Wolf administration’s commitment to development in our district and beyond.”

RACP is a Commonwealth grant program administered by the Office of the Budget for the acquisition and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic, recreational, and historical improvement projects. Projects are selected based upon their job-creation potential, their economic impact, as well as their viability and construction readiness.

Details on the projects include:

NewCourtland Elder Services was granted $750,000 under the RCAP program. The project entails demolition, abatement, site work, construction costs, architecture, engineering, permits, and insurance for the LIFE Center and commercial space at 3232 Henry Avenue. The LIFE Center will be built as part of Phase 1B along with 36 units of housing and 6,000 SF of commercial space.

An award of $500,000 will help 22 S. 40th Street Owner, LLC complete its West Philadelphia Institute Project. The company has acquired a historically significant, 20,000 square-foot office building at 40th and Ludlow Streets in West Philadelphia. The owners’ intent is to restore it to its original condition, creating a vibrant community of small for-profit and non-profit enterprises. The group plans for a complete renovation of the interior spaces with new building systems, flooring, drywall, wall/ceiling finishes and FFE. It will also restore the exterior facades to renew the building to its 1927 appearance. This will involve masonry restoration, all new historically appropriate windows, storefront and doors. A new attractive sidewalk and streetscape improvements at ground level will be installed.

SUPRA Enterprises, LLC was awarded $750,000 for its Parkside Industrial Park project, which entails the Acquisition of 8.6 acres of land from PIDC and construction of a 60,000 square foot Office & Warehouse facility, in the West Parkside Industrial Park, area of Philadelphia. This project will entail site environmental remediation and extensive site soil and foundation stabilization work.

Community College of Philadelphia was awarded $1 million for its West Philadelphia Expansion project. The West Regional Center will become the destination campus for workforce development. The college plans to construct a new 64,000 sq. ft. automotive technology training center. The project budget includes the land purchase, demolition of existing facilities, construction and outfitting of new facilities, and parking. Grant funds will cover construction costs of the new facility.

A $1 million award to Esmith Properties for its Venice Innovation Island project will help fund the redevelopment of a massive 31-acre former industrial site into a vibrant 21st century live/work/play community in Manayunk. This project will entail a master plan that will transform a recently decommissioned paper plant into a new “Innovation Island.” The plan includes the adaptive re-use of nearly 500,000 square feet of existing space, selective demolition, new construction of several commercial buildings, 100 +/- new units of multifamily residential, and public access and amenity space.

Finally, the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House will use the $1 million awarded to fund part of its Chestnut Street Expansion. This project will expand the 2,000 sq. ft., 45-bedroom property at 3925 Chestnut Street in West Philadelphia through the addition of a new 93,000 sq. ft. tower, increasing the size of its facility to 127 bedrooms and enabling them to more than double the number of families who can stay at the Ronald McDonald House and utilize its services.

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