Politics & Government

Council Deals with Several Grants, Applications

Grant programs included the Municipal Redevelopment, Community Development Block and Delaware Riverfront.

On Monday, Jan. 23, authorized the acceptance of a $165,000 grant to fight graffiti.

The grant was awarded to the township by the Bucks County Redevelopment Authority as part of its Municipal Grant Program. According to its website, the Redevelopment Authority assists municipalities, businesses and homeowners in the rehabilitation of deteriorated properties.

Township Solicitor Joseph Pizzo explained the application was for funding under the Towns Against Graffiti (TAG) program – a cooperative program between nine Lower Bucks County municipalities.

Find out what's happening in Bensalemwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Council also considered approval of the 2012 Community Development Block Grant Program as presented by Mayor Joseph DiGirolamo.

The mayor and Councilman John Matthieu were absent from the meeting so Council President Joe Knowles read a letter from the mayor. It explained that the majority of this grant application was for housing-related programs for low- and moderate-income people.

Find out what's happening in Bensalemwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

It included $75,000 for the handicap access curb-cut program and $60,000 for housing rehabilitation. It also includes $124,792 for acquisition of a property on Mill Road for senior housing and $27,500 for annual support of the homeless shelter in Bristol Township, Knowles said.

Finally, council considered a resolution approving an application for funds under the Bucks County Open Space Delaware Riverfront Program, which is aimed at facilitating land preservation along the riverfront corridor.

These grants are available to municipalities for the acquisition of land and conservation easements for recreation, natural resource and other priorities. Applicants may receive up to 50 percent of the property’s appraised value or $500,000 and up to $250,000 for improvements.

Councilman Tony Belfield explained that this application is for public river access at a planned residential development near Street and State roads.

“There will be no cost to township,” Belfield said. “All matching funds (and construction costs) for this grant will be provided by the developer.”

“At the end of the day, we get a free park,” he added.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here