Six grants totaling $73,289 have been awarded to area projects
State Theatre and Colebrookdale Railroad among recipients
Berks County Community Foundation has awarded six grants totaling $73,289 for projects intended to improve the quality of life in the Boyertown area.
The advisory committee for the Boyertown Area Charitable Program of Berks County Community Foundation has approved the following grants:
• $30,000 to the Colebrookdale Railroad Preservation Trust to hire a Marketing and Business Development Manager for the Colebrookdale Railroad Boyertown Area Tourism Marketing Initiative.
• $30,000 to the State Theatre Preservation Society to purchase digital projection and sound equipment for the State Theatre, 61 N. Reading Ave., so that films can once again be shown.
• $6,000 to the Boyertown Lions Community Ambulance Service Inc. to replace a heating/air conditioning system and an emergency generator. The Ambulance Service is in the process of receiving an energy audit supported by the Community Foundation’s Metropolitan Edison Company Endowed Sustainable Energy Fund. Once the audit is completed, the service will be eligible for a performance-based loan from the Metropolitan Edison Company Endowed Sustainable Energy Fund to implement recommended upgrades.
• $5,000 to the Gilbertsville Fire and Rescue Company, jointly with Gilbertsville Area Community Ambulance Service, to purchase body armor protection and personal protection equipment for first responders.
• $1,448 to the Eastern Berks Fire Department for the purchase of a rescue manikin, a life-sized anatomical human model used to practice emergency care.
• $841 to fund repairs to a mural painted years ago in the downtown Boyertown area by artist Robert L. Williams. That grant will be combined with six previous grants of $500 each for mural maintenance, which were set aside by the Boyertown community for mural maintenance. The cost of repairs is estimated to be about $3,800. More information on this project is available from Mayor Marianne Deery.