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Secretary of Education Dr. Khalid Mumin said investments in Pennsylvania’s community colleges will impact learners now and in the future. PHOTO/PACAST
Lehigh Valley colleges receive funding for projects
Ed Gruver//August 28, 2024//
Berks, Lehigh, Montgomery, and Northampton are Lehigh Valley counties receiving funding for community college projects approved by the commonwealth.
The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) on Tuesday awarded more than $33 million to 12 community colleges to assist with short-term and long-term debt service projects, capital leases, and cash capital projects. This funding complements the Shapiro Administration‘s efforts to reinvest in Pennsylvania‘s postsecondary system and create more opportunities for learners to chart their own course.
“The Shapiro Administration is committed to reversing decades of disinvestment in our postsecondary education system, and this grant funding will help Pennsylvania’s community colleges update buildings, make improvements, and better serve learners on their campuses,” Secretary of Education Dr. Khalid Mumin said in a statement. “Investments like this, combined with a focus on access and affordability, will have a real impact on learners both today and in the years to come.”
The following are Lehigh Valley awardees and their approved projects:
- Lehigh Carbon Community College; $625,000; Public Safety System improvement.
- Montgomery County Community College; $10.3 million; Campuswide deferred maintenance.
- Northampton Community College; $2 million; Campuswide roof and paving.
- Reading Area Community College; $6.5 million; Student Union Building renovations.
Eligible projects included new facilities to serve emerging or current growth populations and/or to meet high priority workforce facility needs; major repairs and critical deferred maintenance; renovations to and replacement of existing aging facilities, which no longer meet programmatic demands; and ADA compliance projects based on a formal action plan, code compliance and life safety repairs.
Shapiro’s 2024-25 bipartisan budget invests nearly $60 million to make postsecondary education more accessible and affordable to Pennsylvanians. The budget also establishes a State Board of Higher Education to coordinate higher education sectors, including community colleges.
