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Lebanon City approves grant applications for updated comprehensive plan and downtown façade program
Summary
The council voted 5-0 to adopt two resolutions authorizing grant applications to the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development: a MAP grant to update the city's comprehensive plan and a Main Street Matters grant to fund façade improvements in the central business district.
Lebanon City Council on Aug. 25 approved two resolutions authorizing city officials to apply for state grants to update the city's comprehensive plan and to fund façade improvements downtown. Both measures passed on unanimous roll-call votes.
The council approved Resolution No. 28 to apply to the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development’s Municipal Assistance Program (MAP) for a comprehensive-plan update. Mayor (name not specified) said the city's current plan was last adopted in February 2004 and described an updated plan as a “critical tool” to guide land use, infrastructure, housing, transportation and economic development decisions. The total project cost is $79,000, and the city will request $39,500 from MAP and budget a local match of $39,500 from the general fund for 2026.
Resolution No. 29 authorizes an application to DCED under the Main Street Matters program for up to $100,000 to support a façade improvement program in the Central Business District. The program offers 50/50 matching grants up to $10,000 per property for permanent, street-visible exterior work reviewed by the city’s design review board. Mayor (name not specified) described the district roughly as Willow Street to Chestnut Street to Fifth Street to Twelfth Street and said five property owners had submitted letters of interest to date, representing about $60,000 of the $100,000 grant request. Examples of eligible work include storefront restoration, window and door replacement, masonry repair, painting or façade cleaning, and exterior lighting.
Councilmembers moved and seconded both resolutions and approved them by roll call. The clerk recorded votes as yes from Missus Hados, Mister McGuire, Mister Morales, Mister Potash and Chairman Martin for each resolution.
The mayor said the MAP-funded comprehensive plan update would help the city align with the county’s ongoing plan update and improve the city’s ability to secure future grant funding and coordinate with adjacent municipalities. For the Main Street Matters application, the mayor said staff had contacted downtown property owners and would accept additional letters of interest through the application deadline; interested owners were asked to contact Janelle Groh (contact transcribed at the meeting). The city will follow program rules, including design-review standards, and property owners would be responsible for at least half of each project’s cost.
Votes at a glance: Resolution No. 28 — Authorize MAP grant application for a comprehensive plan update: Motion by Councilmember Joe (first name only), second by Councilmember Sean (first name only); roll-call vote 5-0; outcome: adopted. Project cost $79,000; grant request $39,500; city match $39,500 (budgeted in 2026 general fund).
Resolution No. 29 — Authorize Main Street Matters grant application for downtown façade improvements: Motion by Councilmember George (first name only), second by Councilmember Karen (first name only); roll-call vote 5-0; outcome: adopted. Grant request $100,000; matching grants up to $10,000 per property (50/50).
