Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility Smith-Wade-El brings home nearly $1.8 million in state grants for community improvement projects, local museum funding

Smith-Wade-El brings home nearly $1.8 million in state grants for community improvement projects, local museum funding

Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus    December 18, 2025 | 1:57 PM

HARRISBURG, Dec. 18 – State Rep. Ismail Smith-Wade-El, D–Lancaster, announced today that nearly $1.8 million in state funding has been awarded for community improvement projects and local museums across his legislative district.

Smith-Wade-El advocated for grants awarded through the statewide Local Share Account, which is funded by the Pennsylvania Race Horse Development and Gaming Act, as well as the Act 13 Greenways, Trails and Recreation Program, which supports the development, rehabilitation, and improvement of public parks, recreation areas, greenways, trails, and river conservation projects.

“This state funding will make a real difference in our community -- from expanding affordable housing to creating more community centers and improving our trailways,” Smith-Wade-El said. “I am honored to have helped bring this funding home to support these worthy projects. I want to thank my fellow legislators who also advocated for these grants and give a huge shout-out to the many dedicated people who spearheaded these initiatives to improve their neighbors’ lives. Compassion and collaboration are what community is all about.”

Projects awarded LSA funding in Smith-Wade-El’s legislative district include:

  • 250,000 to Lancaster City/Chestnut Housing Corp. to transform a long-vacant historical building into 1,100 square feet of office/meeting space and 11 new affordable apartments called the Dinah's Hill Apartments.
  • $300,000 to Lancaster City/YWCA Lancaster YForward Project to renovate an auditorium into two classrooms at the YWCA Lancaster building in Lancaster City.
  • $200,000 to Lancaster City/ LancasterHistory.org to create exhibits at The Thaddeus Stevens and Lydia Hamilton Smith Center for History and Democracy in Lancaster City.
  • $500,000 to Millersville Borough/ Loft Community Partnership Facility for the purchase and installation of equipment and construction costs of a community resource facility in Millersville Borough.

Smith-Wade-El also worked with fellow lawmakers in the region to help secure the following LSA grant:

  • $400,000 to East Hempfield Township for the Little Conestoga Creek Blue/Green Corridor, Phase 2 Trail for trail improvements in Lancaster, East Hempfield, and Manheim Townships, Lancaster County.

The following project was awarded GTRP funding in his district:

  • $75,000 to Millersville Borough for Freedom Memorial Park Recreation and Accessibility Improvements - Phase 1.

Earlier this week, the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission announced that Cultural and Historical Support Grants were awarded to two Lancaster-based institutions:

  • $40,000 to Lancasterhistory.org LCHS & Wheatland (DBA Lancaster County Historical Society).
  • $25,000 to the Rock Ford Foundation (DBA Historic Rock Ford).

The goal of the Cultural and Historical Support Grant program is to strengthen Pennsylvania’s museum community by supporting the general operations of eligible museums and official county historical societies that do not receive funding through other state agency programs.