Lebanon County projects land nearly $2 million in gaming-funded state grants

Fire companies, police departments, parks, and water infrastructure across Lebanon County will share nearly $2 million in gaming-funded state grants, three local lawmakers announced Tuesday.

Sen. Chris Gebhard (R-48), Rep. Russ Diamond (R-102), and Rep. John Schlegel (R-101) said 17 projects were awarded Local Share Account funds from the Commonwealth Financing Authority, an independent agency of the state Department of Community and Economic Development.

The Pennsylvania Gaming Act allocates Local Share Account funds to the host county of a casino to help offset the facility’s impact.

“I am happy to have played a role in securing these funds solely for Lebanon County,” Diamond said in the announcement. “Without this gaming revenue, funding these projects would have been passed on to the taxpayers.”

Eight projects were funded through the county’s local share program:

• South Lebanon Township, $25,000 to buy and install playground equipment at South Hills Park.
• North Cornwall Township, $60,265 for paving at Neversink Fire Company to mitigate stormwater pooling.
• Annville Township, $25,000 toward a municipal utility task vehicle.
• Myerstown Borough, $25,000 to repair waterlines and the water heater at the Myerstown pool.
• North Annville Township, $25,000 for a backup generator for the fire hall’s social hall.
• Myerstown Borough, $26,075 to buy and install a personal protective equipment extractor and dryer for Keystone Hook & Ladder’s fire station.
• Myerstown Borough, $33,960 for automated external defibrillators for the borough’s first aid unit.
• Palmyra Borough, $28,036 for upgraded firearms and associated equipment for Western Lebanon County Regional Police.

Nine more projects were funded through the statewide Local Share Account program, which uses online gaming revenue to support projects across the commonwealth:

• Union Township, $697,870 for Northern Lebanon Fire & EMS to purchase five vehicles outfitted with traffic control measures.
• West Lebanon Township, $325,000 for recreation facility renovations, including an ADA-compliant bathroom, a walking path, lights at the baseball field, a pickleball court, and a basketball court.
• Cornwall Borough, $128,452 for fire station repairs at Community Fire Company.
• North Cornwall and North Lebanon townships, $99,000 for two police pursuit package vehicles for Lebanon County Regional Police.
• Heidelberg Township, $72,718 to upgrade a Schaefferstown EMS ambulance with a power-operated patient stretcher.
• Jackson Township, $116,830 for structural and stormwater remediation at the Myerstown Water Authority’s water treatment plant.
• North Cornwall Township, $200,000 for a two-bay expansion of the township’s highway garage.
• Myerstown Borough, $169,075 for three cardiac monitors.
• Heidelberg Township, $98,101 for nine self-contained breathing apparatus units for Schaefferstown Fire Company.

“These grants ensure our residents won’t bear the cost of these upgrades,” Gebhard said. “It’s exciting to see so many crucial projects move forward in Lebanon County.”

Schlegel said the funding “will cover nearly all project costs.”

“Public safety, emergency services, clean water systems, expanded recreational opportunities — these grants will help keep our communities thriving,” he said.

West Lebanon Township’s award follows a divided vote by its board of commissioners in October 2025 to apply for a $325,000 grant for improvements to the township’s Lehman Street recreation area.

The announcement is the latest round of gaming-funded awards for the county. In December 2025, the same three lawmakers announced nearly $3 million in Local Share Account funding for Lebanon County projects.