Pocono News Section

Scranton hopes for stimulus funds

Scranton hopes for stimulus funds - Wednesday, March 4, 2009 at 6:27PM EST

Federal stimulus package money is now in the hands of each state.

Governors will dive up the money and some could be coming here to Northeastern Pennsylvania .

Scranton Mayor Chris Doherty has some projects that could use the stimulus money.

One is repaving the most traveled Scranton streets.

Kathy Niznick of Blakely says, "Any time we can fix the roads better it's good. They're hard on our cars."

Repaving Mulberry Street and Jefferson Avenue is an example of a project that could be funded with federal stimulus money.

Calvin Nowlan of Scranton says, "I think they're terrible cause they cause accidents, you know it's all about safety for the people."

On Friday, mayor Doherty will meet with governor Rendell.

He'll join mayors from major Pennsylvania cities.

Doherty hopes Scranton gets a slice of the billions in stimulus money headed to the keystone state.

Mayor Doherty says, "My hope is it will be a catalyst for two or tree projects in the city."

The repaving project is one project mayor Doherty hopes to get started with federal funds.

Another proposed project would be creating a new Scranton public library.

The site is at the Penn Security Bank building at the corner of Cedar and Alder.

Right now, the city of Scranton has some new funds to work with.

Since congress approved the stimulus bill, Scranton has been told it will get the following:

Two point three million in housing authority assistance, one point four million in homeless initiatives and one million for infrastructure projects and job creation.

The housing authority funds will renovate the Washington Plaza housing project.

That should be finished by the end of summer.

And after Friday's meeting, the city could know how much more federal money it will get.