Eighteen projects throughout Lackawanna County were awarded more than $2.2 million in Local Share Account grant funding to support public safety initiatives, infrastructure improvements, municipal facilities and community spaces, state Sen. Marty Flynn, D-22, Dunmore, announced.
LSA grants are funded through gaming revenue and administered by the Commonwealth Financing Authority to support eligible community projects, state officials said.
Scranton-based Meals on Wheels of NEPA — which prepares and delivers more than 1,500 meals daily, serving vulnerable populations in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Wyoming, Monroe, Pike and Wayne counties — will receive $264,321 for the purchase and installation of commercial kitchen equipment at the nonprofit’s new location on Cherry Street.
Lindsey Skripka, executive director of Meals on Wheels of NEPA, stressed the funding will be vital as the organization transitions to a new facility and faces increased demand.
“I’m in shock because that’s going to be so helpful for us,” she said. “We’re aware that Lackawanna County has a very high proportion of older adults and we’re definitely seeing that reflected in the need for services. We’re seeing anywhere from a 10% to 20% increase year-over-year, and that’s one of the reasons we need this new location. We really saw the biggest increase during COVID, and then it has just been sustained.”
While the new location provides less space than the current facility on Wyoming Avenue, Skripka noted it will allow workers to streamline operations.
“It’s smaller, however it’s going to be much more efficient,” she said. “With our (current) operation being split over all the different floors, we lose a lot of time and labor just moving product around. All the new equipment, which this grant will help cover, is going to be high efficiency. It’s going to help us cook more food in a way where we have less waste.We’ll basically get more for the same amount of input.”
Skripka anticipates having the new equipment installed in the Cherry Street location by mid-February with operations moving to the new location by March or April.
In May 2024, Meals on Wheels announced its 2024-2025 strategic plan, marking a milestone decision to move to a new location to enhance its impact and better serve the expanding community of older adults. In August 2024, the organization completed its sale of the 541 Wyoming Ave. building to John Basalyga’s JBAS Realty, under a plan calling for Meals on Wheels to rent 305 Cherry St. from the developer.
Other projects to receive LSA funding include:
Clarks Summit: $130,000 for a stormwater equipment replacement project.
Dalton: $135,641 to purchase a plow truck for the borough’s Department of Public Works.
Dalton: $80,269 for the purchase of police pursuit vehicles and modification costs.
Dunmore: $45,000 for a flooring replacement project at the borough’s community center.
Dunmore: $40,000 for construction costs for phase 2 of the Borough Building project.
Greenfield Twp.: $97,298 for construction, engineering and administrative costs for playground and ADA court safety improvements and upgrades at the Merli Sarnoski Park field.
Moosic: $62,005 for the purchase of equipment and professional services costs for a municipal network and technology upgrade.
Old Forge: $100,000 to install artificial turf for the baseball/softball field at Miles Street Park.
Scranton: $200,000 for construction, engineering and administrative costs for the 717-719 Capouse Ave. sidewalk project.
Scranton: $183,425 to purchase four simulators to prepare nursing students with mimicked real patient responses for the University of Scranton.
Scranton: $175,000 for demolition and reconstruction of the Lackawanna Blind Association’s headquarters.
Scranton: $144,449 for construction and administrative costs for the Everhart Museum roof replacement project.
Scranton: $125,000 for improvements to the North Scranton Little League batting cages.
Scranton: $100,000 to replace and improve sidewalks adjacent to St. Ann’s Passionist Monastery in West Scranton.
Scranton: $66,449 to design and implement an educational program at the Electric City Trolley Museum.
Scranton: $54,560 for the purchase of equipment, construction and administrative costs for West Scranton Little League field improvements.
South Abington Twp.: $200,000 for construction and engineering costs for the White Birch Road culvert replacement project.
Additionally, state Rep. Kyle Donahue, D-113, Scranton, announced several other projects throughout the county that also received LSA grant funding:
Covington Twp: $200,000 for roadway improvements to Center Street.
Moscow: $125,000 for the flushing and maintenance of the borough’s sanitary sewer system.
Moscow: $62,000 for the purchase and upfitting of a new police patrol vehicle.
Spring Brook Twp.: $160,000 to construct an indoor batting cage facility at the Ashton Baseball Complex for the North Pocono Little League.
Spring Brook Twp.: $60,000 for the paving of Spring Lane and Brook Lane.
Susie Mellen assemble meals at Meals on Wheels on Wyoming Avenue on Scranton on Monday, Dec. 22, 2025. (.CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO)
Susan Mulholland assembles meals at Meals on Wheels on Wyoming Avenue on Scranton on Monday, Dec. 22, 2025. (.CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO)