BUCKS COUNTY – September 15, 2026 – Senator Steve Santarsiero (D-10) along with Representative Tim Brennan (D-29) announced today $2,887,209 in state funding:
- $900,000 for the Midway Volunteer Fire Company for a fire engine
- $433,092 for the PA Biotech Center to renovate and expand their conference area
- $400,000 for The Moravian Tire Works to install radiant heat flooring
- $100,000 for the American Legion Post 210 for kitchen upgrades
- $150,000 for the Central Bucks Regional Police Department for portable radios
- $35,000 for Doylestown Hospital to purchase a courier van
- $46,589 for the Oscar Hammerstein Museum and Theater Education Center to make safety improvements to Highland Farm
- $425,000 for River Crossing YMCA for the Doylestown Skatepark Revitalization Project
- $150,000 for the Doylestown Township Police Department for portable radios and a drone
- $36,568 for the New Hope Police Department for body and in-car cameras
- $57,158 for the Free Library of New Hope and Solebury for exterior rehabilitation
- $100,000 for Solebury Township for Bond House adaptive re-use
- $53,802 for Solebury Township for a utility vehicle
The Bucks County Biotechnology Center is receiving funds to expand a conference room in their building located in Buckingham Township. The Bucks County Biotechnology Center is a life science incubator dedicated to the creation of a world-class biotechnology center for economic development, job creation, education, and training. The Center offers building space to other nonprofit organizations and community groups at no cost to facilitate meetings, events, and essential services. The Center plans to renovate 3,000 SF of existing conference rooms, undersized kitchenette, and underutilized offices into a flexible, multi-purpose community meeting hub.
“The Biotechnology Center in Buckingham has long been not only a local but national leader in launching new technologies and companies that are creating jobs and saving lives in the life science sector,” said Senator Santarsiero. “This funding will help them improve their conference facilities, which they also share with other local nonprofit organizations.”
“The Bucks County Biotech Center is more than a center for cutting-edge research. This investment will create new, flexible spaces designed to bring people together to learn, collaborate and build new opportunities,” Rep. Brennan said. “It will help expand the Center’s role as a hub for innovation, community, and economic growth right here in Bucks County.”
The Moravian Tile Works is receiving funds to install radiant floor heating at the Moravian Pottery & Tile works located in Doylestown Borough. The building’s mechanical systems are inadequate to support visitation and programming during the colder winter months at this living history museum that has produced arts and crafts tiles since its founding. They plan to install a hydronic radiant floor heating system that will provide higher levels of comfort on cold winter days to visitors and staff than the current patchwork of electric and gas space heaters.
“This investment in radiant floor heating will help ensure that the Moravian Pottery & Tile Works can continue welcoming visitors and providing educational programming throughout the year,” said Senator Santarsiero. “The Tile Works is an important part of Doylestown’s history and a unique place where people can experience the arts and crafts traditions that have been part of our community for generations.”
The American Legion Post 210 in Doylestown Borough is receiving funds to update its outdated kitchen from the 1930s to meet modern safety and building codes. The current kitchen lacks proper ventilation and fire suppression, requiring a full gut renovation to remain functional for veterans and community events. Planned upgrades include new flooring, walls, ceilings, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, and a code-compliant hood and suppression system. The project will also install commercial-grade appliances to support Post 210’s broader effort to revitalize the facility and strengthen its role as a community and veteran hub.
“Organizations like American Legion Post 210 play an important role in bringing veterans and the broader community together, but maintaining an older facility can be a real challenge,” said Senator Santarsiero. “This investment will give Post 210 a safe, modern kitchen that can better serve veterans and residents at community events for years to come.”
The Oscar Hammerstein Museum and Theatre Education Center in Doylestown Township is receiving funds to address safety hazards at Highland Farm, the historic home of Oscar Hammerstein II, which now serves as a museum and theatre education center. The project will add a professionally installed safety cover to the historic pool, reconstruct the deteriorated pool house as a nonfunctional decorative structure, and remove the crumbling tennis court to restore safe, accessible grounds. These improvements will eliminate safety hazards while preserving the property’s historic character. The upgrades will allow the museum to better host school groups, families, and community events, which will expand access to this culturally significant site.
“Highland Farm where visitors can learn about the life and legacy of Oscar Hammerstein II is an important part of Bucks County’s cultural history,” said Senator Santarsiero. “By addressing these safety hazards, we can help ensure that Highland Farm can continue welcoming school groups, families and community members and sharing this important piece of our local history with future generations.”
“Preserving our history doesn’t stop at keeping old buildings standing. Smart preservation efforts make sure we can continue to use these unique places that helped build our communities, enjoying them and passing them along from generation to generation,” Rep. Brennan said.
“At Moravian Tileworks, that means making the building able to be enjoyed comfortably by visitors and tourists through the coldest months. At American Legion Post 210, it means renovating the kitchen so it can remain a safe gathering place for servicemembers who rely on it for camaraderie and companionship,” Rep. Brennan continued. “And at the Oscar Hammerstein Museum & Theatre Education Center, it means fixing the safety hazards and making other necessary renovations to the building so the people who staff it can keep sharing the important history of its namesake.”
Doylestown Hospital is receiving funds for the purchase of a courier van. One of the hospital vans currently used to transport medications, medical specimens, and medical supplies at Penn Medicine Doylestown Health is aging and unreliable and a replacement is needed.
“Supporting the infrastructure behind our healthcare system is an investment in the health and well-being of our community,” said Senator Santarsiero. “This investment will help Doylestown Hospital make sure that medications, medical specimens and supplies can get where they need to go safely and efficiently.”
The River Crossing YMCA is receiving funds for a skatepark renovation project in Doylestown Township. The project will involve the revitalization of the Doylestown Y Skate Park. The Doylestown Y’s Skatepark has served the community for decades through open skate sessions, day camps, and as the home of the local high school skate club. The project includes demolition of the existing structure and installation of a new steel skatepark, elements, and fencing. The completion of this project will allow the community to benefit from the skatepark for decades to come.
“The Doylestown Y Skate Park has been a place where generations of young people have come together to skate, learn new skills and build community,” said Senator Santarsiero. “This investment will give the park a new lease on life, creating a safe and modern space for skaters in Doylestown for years to come. Recreation spaces are worthwhile investments that make our communities healthier and happier.”
Solebury Township is receiving funds to redevelop the Bond House into an environmental, historic education center and area for flexible meeting spaces. The Bond House was constructed as a private residence in the 1950s. On site, there is the Aquetong Spring, a source of spring water known to Native Americans and Early European Settlers. The Township funded a feasibility study to evaluate its use as an education center. The study came back and reported that the House is in good structural condition, and its required work mainly includes its conversion from residential to public use, including a new walkway and ramp, door width revisions, additional restrooms and water closets. The plumbing and HVAC system will be replaced as well.
“This investment will transform the Bond House into a space where residents, students and visitors can learn about the area’s environmental and historic significance while also providing a place for community meetings and events in Solebury Township,” said Senator Santarsiero. “I’m pleased to support a project that will preserve this important site and create a resource for the community for years to come.”
“Public service takes many forms, and sometimes the most important investments are those that allow an institution to keep showing up for its community. Doylestown Hospital’s new courier van will keep their essential operations moving. Renovating the skatepark at the Doylestown Y will keep it safe and welcoming for young people who need somewhere to gather and have fun together,” Rep. Brennan said. “And giving the Bond House a new purpose – a place where people can learn and hold meaningful gatherings – is a wonderful way to breathe life back into one of our treasured, historical institutions.”
“These are very different projects, but they share a common thread: they’re investments into the spaces where neighbors can learn, gather, and care for one another,” Rep. Brennan continued.
The Central Bucks Regional Police Department is receiving funds to purchase portable radios for use in Doylestown Borough, Chalfont Borough, and New Britain Borough. The Central Bucks Regional Police Department is a cooperative council which provides police protective services through a regional commission. Central Bucks Regional Police Department is currently experiencing service issues related to outdated portable radio communication devices that its officers use to communicate internally and with Bucks County. The communication radios are 12 years old and do not currently provide a supportive signal, which leads to interruptive services and possess safety concerns for the officers and the public.
“Reliable communication is essential for keeping our police officers and the public safe,” said Senator Santarsiero. “Our officers need dependable equipment, especially when responding to an emergency. This investment will replace outdated radios and help ensure officers have the tools they need to do their jobs safely and effectively.”
The Doylestown Township Police Department is receiving funds for the purchase of 30 portable handheld radios, a drone, and associated accessories. The police department’s current radios are at the end of their life and are no longer repairable. The drone will be used to assist with crowd surveillance and improve the accuracy of accident diagrams and scene reconstruction without putting victims or officers in further danger.
“Having reliable equipment is essential for our police officers to do their jobs safely and effectively,” said Senator Santarsiero. “These new radios will ensure Doylestown Township officers can communicate reliably when responding to emergencies, while the drone will give them another tool to assess scenes and document accidents without putting officers or the public at additional risk on busy roads. This investment will strengthen public safety and give our local police the equipment they need to serve our community.”
The New Hope Police Department is receiving funds to purchase and implement a comprehensive digital video recording system of body-worn and in-car cameras for all sworn patrol and supervisory officers. The goal of the new system is to increase transparency and accountability, improve evidence collection, enhance officer safety, and reduce civilian complaints.
“Body-worn and in-car cameras are important tools for promoting transparency and accountability while helping our officers do their jobs safely and effectively,” said Senator Santarsiero. “This investment will give the New Hope Police Department a modern system for documenting interactions, collecting evidence and protecting both officers and the public. Strengthening these tools ultimately helps build trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve.”
“Good police work has always depended on good judgment, and today it also depends greatly on having the right tools. Body cameras, in-car cameras, modern radios, and drones can give officers better information when they need it – and they give the public greater confidence in how tense moments are handled, building trust between police departments and the public they serve,” Rep. Brennan said.
“I’m glad to see the state making modern tools available to the officers in our communities who are asked to make difficult decisions in high-stress moments. And I’m grateful to the officers who put these tools to work in service of your family, mine, and our neighbors,” Rep. Brennan continued.”
The Free Library of New Hope and Solebury is receiving funds to renovate the library’s exterior. The library will have the roof replaced and pathways installed. This will extend the life of the library’s physical location and expand access for all visitors.
“Libraries are more than places to borrow books,” said Senator Santarsiero. “They are community spaces where people of all ages can learn, connect and access resources they might not otherwise have. This investment will help ensure The Free Library of New Hope and Solebury can continue serving residents for years to come. Replacing the roof and improving the pathways will preserve the library’s physical home while making it more accessible and welcoming to everyone who walks through its doors.”
“The library is a cornerstone of the New Hope & Solebury community, a place where people come together to connect with each other, learn and share ideas,” Rep. Brennan said. “I’m proud to support these funds to help preserve this unique building for years to come, while improving access and making the library even more welcoming to everyone.”
The Midway Volunteer Fire Company is receiving funds for the purchase of a fire engine for use in Buckingham Township. At 19 and 29 years old, both engines owned by the fire company are beyond accepted service life and suffer significant ongoing repairs and downtime. They are no longer capable of providing the highest quality fire protection services and they are ultimately unsafe not only for the members as drivers and passengers, but for the community at large. The fire company plans to replace both outdated and unsafe engines with one new compliant rescue-engine. To meet the critical life and property saving needs of the organization and the community most efficiently, the fire company plans to purchase a new apparatus with a 6-person cab, 1,000-gallon tank, 1,500 GPM pump, and 60 gallons of foam. It will also be equipped with adequate supply hose, 6 preconnected attack lines, and space for rescue tools.
“Residents rely on local fire companies to keep them safe, and our fire companies need updated vehicles and tools to do their job,” said Senator Santarsiero. “I will always support funding for our heroic first responders, like the firefighters at Midway Volunteer Fire Company, to make sure they have the equipment they need to serve our communities as safely as possible.”
Solebury Township receiving funds to purchase a utility vehicle, outfitted with a fire suppression and medical evacuation skid unit, along with necessary emergency lighting. The vehicle will be used by three different fire companies (New Hope Eagle, Buckingham Midway, and Pt. Pleasant) as Solebury Township does not have its own dedicated fire company and relies on these 3 through a mutual aid agreement with surrounding townships. It will be stored within the township’s public works garage. The purchase of this vehicle will enhance emergency response not only in Solebury Township, but to surrounding townships as well. The base UTV will be outfitted with a fire suppression skid unit that includes an emergency medical evacuation platform. Additionally, an integrated winch will be installed for heavy towing which can be used in emergency situations. The skid unit will serve as a fire suppression unit and a medical evacuation support unit, featuring an 85-gallon water tank, 100-foot forestry hose, and a rack to strap a stretcher. This is particularly important due to the extensive preserved land and wooded areas in Solebury Township that are inaccessible by traditional emergency vehicles. Recent brush fires in the township have underscored the critical need for a specialized vehicle that can reach these areas quickly and efficiently.
“Our municipalities rely on local fire companies to provide emergency services, and this investment will strengthen that regional response system in Solebury Township,” said Senator Santarsiero. “When an emergency happens, having the right equipment close at hand can make all the difference, and this investment will help our brave first responders protect residents and save lives.”
“Emergencies don’t stop at municipal boundaries – that’s something our local fire departments are very familiar with. When smaller departments can share equipment and work together, everyone is better prepared to respond to their neighbors’ moments of crisis,” Rep. Brennan said. “At a time when municipalities are having to make tough financial decisions, these grants are putting new and better resources in firefighters’ hands.”
Administered through the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, the Local Share Account (LSA)- Statewide program allocates gaming revenue through the Commonwealth Financing Authority to support projects that improve the quality of life of citizens in the Commonwealth.
Additional information about the Local Share Account- Statewide program can be found on the DCED website.
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