Pike County looking for training center funding

State DCED says ‘no’ for gaming funds

By TOM KANE

MILFORD, PA - The Pike County Commissioners have a vision to complete a state-of-the-art emergency training facility and they’re looking for help from two sources.

The facility, which will be located on county property in Blooming Grove, will offer much needed training in the most up-to-date methods for firemen, emergency medical teams and other emergency responders of Pike and surrounding counties. The cost is approximately $5 million.

“The center is top on our list of shovel-ready projects that could be funded by the Obama stimulus package,” said Rich Caridi, chairman of the Pike County Commissioners. “We sent our list to both Congressman Carney and the Northeast Pennsylvania Alliance (NEPA) in response to their requests. We have no idea when the funds will be allocated.”

The second source for funding has already been eliminated.

“We were most disappointed that this project, which was number one on another list we sent to the PA Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) for consideration for gaming commission money, which is now being funded, was rejected,” he said. “We are very upset that this important facility, which will serve our and other county residents, was so easily dismissed.”

Pike, Wayne, Carbon and Lackawanna, the four counties that surround Monroe County where the casino is located, are eligible for gaming funds. This is the first time the counties will receive such funding.

Caridi expressed how essential the training is for emergency services volunteers.

“We’re talking about saving people’s lives and saving their homes?nothing is more important,” he said.

DCED approved several projects that the commissioners listed, among which are $425,636 to Dingman Township for the township’s first public park; $334,100 to Palmyra Township for a Pocono Mountains Vacation Bureau Visitors Center and walking trail, and $1 million to Pike County Industrial and Commercial Development Authority for the Pike County Public Library headquarters and Dorothy E. Warner Community Center.

“No matter what, we promise to finish this important facility that is so important to the volunteers, who are risking their lives every day,” he said.

Commissioners Harry Forbes and Karl Wagner seconded Caridi’s disappointment.

“Every community is having difficulty enlisting volunteers these days, so it becomes essential that those who do serve receive adequate training,” Forbes said.

“The training that these volunteers are getting now is adequate, but could be much better with this facility,” Wagner said.