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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State Rep. Tim Seip
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Legislators announce $1 million state grant to help women in crisis services
POTTSVILLE, Aug. 6 – State Rep. Neal P. Goodman, D-Schuylkill, announced that Schuylkill Women in Crisis has received a $1 million grant to expand and modernize its facilities through the state's Redevelopment Capital Assistance Program.
The agency will raise an additional $1 million to complete the project.
Goodman joined fellow state Rep. Tim Seip, D-Berks/Schuylkill, and Quarter Century Capital Campaign Co-Chairmen Jule Quandel and Paul Datte for the announcement today at the center in Pottsville.
"For 25 years, Schuylkill Women in Crisis has opened its doors to women who need protection and shelter at the most frightening time in their life," Goodman said. "Women who are abused and belittled need an advocate and a place to go when they have no one else. It is vitally important that no local victim needing shelter be turned away because of space limitations and potentially sent back to a dangerous situation. This grant will allow the agency to be prepared to meet community needs well into the future."
The $1 million grant was obtained in order to help SWIC meet its $2 million capital campaign goal. Funds raised from the campaign will enable the agency to construct an addition onto its existing shelter. The agency’s board has become increasingly concerned by the number of area domestic violence victims left homeless, who have been turned away due to lack of space. The current facility, nearly 100 years old, is also accessible on all floors for people with disabilities.
At the announcement, SWIC officials said they
have secured $700,000 of their matching funds.
The RCAP program provides grants for economic development projects that generate increases in employment, tax revenues or other measures of economic activity, including projects with cultural, historical or civic significance.
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