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Freemansburg council authorizes PennBID listing to move Phase 1 community center forward as grant funds near sunset
Summary
Council authorized placing a 14,000 sq ft Phase 1 Community Center on PennBID as a design‑build project after noting a $670,000 borough grant that will expire in May 2026 and an additional $250,000 DCED LSA award. The vote was unanimous.
Council on Dec. 30 authorized placing the Borough’s Phase 1 Community Center project on PennBID to seek design‑build bids, a step officials said is needed to capture expiring grant funding.
The 14,000‑square‑foot project has a $670,000 borough-held grant that will sunset in May 2026; during the meeting Council also noted receipt of a separate $250,000 State Department of Community and Economic Development Local Share Account (PA DCED LSA) statewide grant for the Community Center project. Council members thanked State Representative Robert Freeman and State Senator Lisa Boscola for their support with the DCED award.
Why it matters: Council members framed the PennBID authorization as a time‑sensitive move to advance design‑build procurement and use grant dollars before the borough’s larger grant lapses. The design‑build approach will solicit a combined design and construction proposal for the 14,000 sf facility.
The motion to place the Phase 1 Community Center Project on PennBID was moved by Councilmember Margaret Lorrah and seconded by Councilmember Colleen Gallagher; the motion passed 6‑0. Council materials noted the $670,000 grant and that the sum will sunset in May 2026; the DCED LSA award of $250,000 was presented as informational in the meeting packet.
Next steps: With the PennBID authorization, staff will proceed with advertisement and procurement under the design‑build approach. Council also recorded that the Borough Engineer will brief Council in January 2026 on other infrastructure project matters (an attached Phase 1 Main Street report was noted).
