Spring Break
NCC gets $5 million in state grants
FRANK SCHULER
Issue date: 1/16/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
An early Christmas gift from Gov. Ed Rendell has the staff at NCC's Fowler Family Southside Center smiling from ear to ear.
Rendell announced $18 million in state capital grants, $5 million of which will go directly to the Southside Center. Rendell presented the check to NCC president Arthur Scott Dec. 18 at the Southside Center.
"This facility is expected to play a critical role in training workers for the 20,000-plus jobs expected to be created in this area over the next 10 years," Rendell said.
The $5 million allows NCC to pay back money it borrowed to renovate the former Bethlehem Steel building. Without the grant NCC would have had to pay back more than $250,000 per year over the course of 20 years. Now NCC can invest that money in itself and the community.
"We're in position to offer more accessible programs to the community," said Paul Pierpoint, dean of the Southside Center.
The grant is the result of pressure put on state officials by Lehigh Valley legislators including Lisa Boscola, Craig Dally and T.J. Rooney. They had worked together for years trying to convince officials that their goals coincided with Rendell's economic development initiatives.
"Lisa and I even cornered the governor on his tour bus at 11:30 at night after he'd been campaigning all day," Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan said.
"He rolled his eyes," said Boscola, laughing.
The Southside Center also has received nearly $4 million in private funding.
"[Bethlehem is] poised to capitalize on rapidly advancing industries like health care and biomedical research and commercialization," Rendell said. "That translates into promising new opportunities-opportunities that will create high-paying jobs and spawn new businesses that will drive Bethlehem's economy for years to come."
Rendell announced $18 million in state capital grants, $5 million of which will go directly to the Southside Center. Rendell presented the check to NCC president Arthur Scott Dec. 18 at the Southside Center.
"This facility is expected to play a critical role in training workers for the 20,000-plus jobs expected to be created in this area over the next 10 years," Rendell said.
The $5 million allows NCC to pay back money it borrowed to renovate the former Bethlehem Steel building. Without the grant NCC would have had to pay back more than $250,000 per year over the course of 20 years. Now NCC can invest that money in itself and the community.
"We're in position to offer more accessible programs to the community," said Paul Pierpoint, dean of the Southside Center.
The grant is the result of pressure put on state officials by Lehigh Valley legislators including Lisa Boscola, Craig Dally and T.J. Rooney. They had worked together for years trying to convince officials that their goals coincided with Rendell's economic development initiatives.
"Lisa and I even cornered the governor on his tour bus at 11:30 at night after he'd been campaigning all day," Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan said.
"He rolled his eyes," said Boscola, laughing.
The Southside Center also has received nearly $4 million in private funding.
"[Bethlehem is] poised to capitalize on rapidly advancing industries like health care and biomedical research and commercialization," Rendell said. "That translates into promising new opportunities-opportunities that will create high-paying jobs and spawn new businesses that will drive Bethlehem's economy for years to come."
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