New $1 Million "Green" Housing Rehab Grant for the West Ward!

How's this for great news?

CACLV AND LAFAYETTE COLLEGE TO ANNOUNCE INNOVATIVE “GREEN” HOUSING REHAB PROJECT 

Urban Ecology Project in Easton’s West Ward to Receive as Much as $1 Million from Feds Through State

Easton Mayor Sal Panto, Jr., will be joined by representatives of the Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley, Lafayette College, and the city’s West Ward in announcing funding for and details of an innovative "green" housing rehabilitation program as part of the West Ward Neighborhood Partnership’s urban ecology project.  The announcement will be made at a press conference to be held on Monday, August 17, at noon, at the offices of the West Ward Neighborhood Partnership located at 668 Northampton Street in Easton.

Last year, the West Ward Neighborhood Partnership, established and operated by CACLV, announced it will receive nearly $740,000 over five years from the Wachovia Regional Foundation.  In announcing the initiative, Panto said the foundation was providing key seed funding that would leverage significant amounts of additional funding toward making the West Ward one of the greenest urban neighborhoods in the state.  At the August 17 press conference, a major piece of that additional funding will be detailed.

The West Ward Neighborhood Partnership serves the area bounded by Sixth Street to the east, 15^th Street to the west, Butler Street to the south, and Bushkill Creek to the north.  The Partnership’s core funding is provided by Easton Hospital and Lafayette Ambassador Bank, which are investing $1 million each over ten years, for which they are receiving tax credits from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.  The Partnership is also Easton’s Elm Street Program.  To date, more than 150 new trees have been planted, over 50 residential facades have been improved, and nearly 70 sidewalks have been replaced.  Funding was provided to the Boys and Girls Club to start and operate the teen center on Northampton Street.  Additionally, commercial signs have been upgraded, porches painted and repaired, and murals and mosaics created.