NEW CASTLE Officials discuss grants for 2 new pavilions

Two downtown businesses are apply for fa & ccedil;ade improvement grants.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- The city will get two new pavilions, thanks to state grants.
New pavilions will be built at Sylvan Heights Golf Course and the Clayton Street playground with $15,000 from the Department of Community and Economic Development.
State Sen. Gerald LaValle of Rochester, D-47th, secured a $10,000 grant for the golf course and state Rep. Chris Sainato of New Castle, D-9th, got a $5,000 grant for the playground, said Mayor Timothy Fulkerson.
Both state officials were on hand Tuesday to discuss the grants at the city council caucus.
The pavilions should be constructed sometime next year, said John DiMuccio, city business administrator.
Also on agenda
In other business, city council will consider two applications for the downtown fa & ccedil;ade program at Thursday's meeting.
Butz Flowers is seeking the grant for a new entranceway, a sign and to repair slate on the building, and Hudson Lunch wants to paint its red roof green to match the scheme of downtown revitalization, and get a new awning and sign, DiMuccio said.
Both are expected to cost less than the $20,000 maximum given out by the grant, he said.
The businesses will be required to get two to three bids for the work and bids must meet the approval of the city, he added.
The fa & ccedil;ade program is part of the downtown revitalization program. It gives up to $20,000 grants to building owners on East Washington Street to improve a building's exterior.
Anything costing more than $20,000 is the building owner's responsibility.
The grant comes from a revolving fund the city set up.
DiMuccio said he is talking to several other building owners about making improvements.