The Borough of Seven Springs has been awarded a $1 million state Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) grant according to Senator Pat Stefano (R-32) and Representative Carl Walker Metzgar(R-69), who said the funds will help to create jobs and promote economic development in the area.
The legislators said the funding will be used to build two multi-purpose event centers, with year-round food service, to be constructed in the Seven Springs Mountain Resort (Somerset/Fayette Counties) and Hidden Valley Resort (Somerset Township).
“This funding is crucial to jobs, economic development and promoting tourism expansion in the Laurel Highlands,” Stefano said. “I’m pleased that as a result of this grant, we can grow this regional asset into a year-round attraction and increase hotel stays at these facilities, which provides revenue to both the Commonwealth and County. This investment will bring more visitors to our area to enjoy its natural beauty and recreational opportunities in the tri-county area.”
“For many years, Seven Springs has provided jobs to countless residents that have included the first job for many of our youth and a career path for many others,” Metzgar noted. “The new facilities this investment will bring will continue that proud legacy. This is the kind of project that will pay dividends in our community for years to come with the expanded jobs and tourism in our region.”
Seven Springs CEO Eric Mauck thanked the legislators for their support, “Seven Springs and our region are fortunate to have strong representatives like Sen. Stefano and Rep. Metzgar. We take great pride and responsibility in being the largest private employer in Somerset County; these projects will strengthen our contribution to our region’s economy and tax base. They will help us continue to increase and strengthen our 1,200 year round employee base which expands to more than 2,100 during the winter months.”
The Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) is a Commonwealth grant program for the acquisition and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic, recreational, and historical improvement projects. RACP projects are authorized in the Redevelopment Assistance section of a Capital Budget Itemization Act, have a regional or multi-jurisdictional impact, and generate substantial increases or maintain current levels of employment, tax revenues, or other measures of economic activity. RACP projects are state-funded projects that cannot obtain primary funding under other state programs.