NEWS INFORMATION FROM |
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THE OFFICE OF MAYOR STEPHEN R. REED |
FOR IMMEDIATE USE |
GOVERNOR RENDELL PRESENTS $15 MILLION FOR HARRISBURG UNIVERSITY PROJECT
Governor Edward G. Rendell today presented $15 million in Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) funds to the City of Harrisburg for the construction of the first permanent location that will house the Harrisburg University of Science and Technology. The 100,000-square-foot facility will serve as a one-of-a-kind educational institution, as well as an important economic development resource for the Capitol Region and the Commonwealth. “The funding we are providing today will help not only support new capital for the region, but a continued advancement of education and technology in the Commonwealth that supports the economic growth and development of our communities,” Governor Rendell said. “I commend Mayor Reed and the University trustees for creating programs and opportunities that will provide a vital incentive for our young talent pool to stay right here in Dauphin County.” The new $59 million facility, with construction scheduled to begin by February 2006, will include state-of-the-art classrooms, laboratories and offices. Designed to meet the needs of high demand high-tech careers of the 21st century, this facility will accommodate the University’s programs and operations for at least five years. As enrollment increases, the university will have the opportunity to build additional space in downtown Harrisburg. The new facility will also include a parking garage creating approximately 1,020 parking spaces. Harrisburg University will utilize the top three floors of the parking garage, while the additional five to seven parking floors will be purchased and used by the Harrisburg Parking Authority. Harrisburg University of Science and Technology is a comprehensive university that integrates an affiliated regional math and science magnet high school and business incubator within its university programs. The university offers an education for students seeking 21st century careers in broad areas of science and technology including computer science, biotechnology and biosciences, geographic and geospatial imaging (GIS), health careers and premedical studies. Certificate programs designed in cooperation with businesses for continuing workforce development are also among the offerings at Harrisburg University. The Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) is a Commonwealth grant program administered by the Office of the Budget for the acquisition and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic, and historical improvement projects. The $640 million in RACP funding approved by the Legislature in July 2004 is a vital component of the Governor’s economic-stimulus package, which leverages $2.3 billion in grants, loans and guarantees over the next three years to generate an anticipated $5 billion in private-sector investment to help start new businesses in Pennsylvania and help existing companies expand here. Since February 2003, Governor Rendell has awarded more than $528 million in RACP grants for projects in 47 counties. These state funds are expected to attract at least $2.8 billion in private investment. RACP works concurrently with stimulus programs that are already underway: Main Street Program; Elm Street Program; Housing and Redevelopment Assistance; Homeownership Choice Program; Enterprise Zones; Base Retention and Conversion Program; Keystone Innovation Zones; the expanded Research and Development Tax Credit; Infrastructure and Facilities Improvement Program; and Core Industries. The stimulus legislation that passed last spring also included the creation of the Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA). The CFA has approved guidelines and is accepting applications for the following stimulus programs: Business in Our Sites; Tax Increment Financing Guarantee Program; First Industries Fund; Second Stage Loan Program; New PA Venture Capital Investment Program; and PennWorks. The majority of the package programs will be administered through the Department of Community and Economic Development. For more information on Governor Rendell’s economic-stimulus package and Department of Community and Economic Development programs, visit www.newPA.com, or call 1-866-GO-NEWPA (1-866-466-3972 |
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