State Rep. Isaacson, Sen. Saval announce $14K grant awarded to fight blight in Fishtown

HARRISBURG, May 25 – State Rep. Mary Isaacson and Sen. Nikil Saval announced today that a $14,000 grant to fight blight in Fishtown has been awarded to the Fishtown Kensington Area Business Improvement District. 

“I am very excited to help bring this money home to the business district as well as Fishtown and Kensington neighbors to both address quality of living issues and make investments and improvements on a block-by-block basis,” Isaacson said. 

“Our public spaces are the hearts of our communities,” Saval said. “This grant is important for the health and vitality of the district and its residents, and I’m proud to join Representative Isaacson in offering support and congratulations!” 

The Fishtown Kensington Area Business Improvement District requested the funds because, it noted in its application, the Fishtown District has suffered from blight, hindering its economic growth. The Fishtown Kensington Area Business Improvement District said it would use grant funds to develop a comprehensive blight plan where one currently does not exist. 

“Blight, no matter what the scope, hinders the continued growth and vitality of the Fishtown/Kensington commercial corridor,” said Marc D. Collazzo, executive director of the Fishtown Kensington Area Business Improvement District. “We are gratified to receive this generous funding award to prepare an active and comprehensive plan to take blighted, vacant properties and return them to productive use. The Fishtown Kensington Area Business Improvement District is thankful to Senator Nikil Saval and Representative Mary Isaacson for their advocacy, efforts and partnership in bringing these funds to our community, and we look forward to our continued work in making the Fishtown District second to none!” 

The grant was awarded by the Commonwealth Financing Authority, which is an independent agency of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development that administers Pennsylvania's economic stimulus packages.