Cumberland Township was awarded $700,000 in Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) grant dollars to expand and upgrade police operations while keeping township administration under one roof.
“We are thrilled to see this project move forward and realize the direct impact it will have on our operations and the community once the facilities can be upgraded,” said Shaun Phiel, chair of the Cumberland Township Board of Supervisors. “We are appreciative to Rep. Moul and Sen. Mastriano for securing additional funds for this critical project.”
The funding will support the renovation and expansion of the existing municipal administration and police department buildings, increasing the space available for these operations while keeping them under one roof. The original building was constructed in the late 1970s and the last major addition to the building was made 30 years ago.
Each year, the demand for the township’s services continues to increase as more residents move into the township, and millions of tourists visit the Gettysburg National Military Park and the Eisenhower Farm National Site.
“The Cumberland Township Municipal Building project will provide benefits that go beyond just those who work in the building,” State Rep. Dan Moul said. “Township residents and the many visitors to the facility will benefit from an expanded police department headquarters, a more spacious municipal complex, and a safer facility. Investing these funds into the township will provide significant benefit to the level of service the township can provide to its residents.”
The project will include upgrades to the police headquarters, such as an upgraded secured evidence room, and increased security for police, staff, and visitors. The construction will also upgrade the front entrance to the building, expand offices for Township employees, and provide a larger and more technologically advanced public meeting room that can be utilized by the community.
Funding for this project comes on the heels of a $1.3 million award in 2022 from the same funding program. Since the inception of the project, costs have increased due to necessary security upgrades and design considerations, as has the need for additional funds. In addition, the project recently received a $100,000 award from the Statewide Local Share Account program to specifically support security components. To date, the project has received a total of $2.1 million in grant funding, amounting to almost half of the total project cost.
Please send any questions or comments to David Blocher, Township Manager at dblocher@cumberlandtwppa.gov.
Donate Gardner is a freelance journalist who came to Gettysburg in 2021 from Montgomery County, Maryland.
A former linguist-turned-legal professional, Donate recently retired from the corporate world and is eager to support her new community in a variety of ways. She currently serves as the news communicator for the Adams County migrant outreach program, Pasa La Voz.
As an immigrant born, raised, and educated in Germany, Donate still maintains a strong connection to the German language as a writer and translator. Donate is an active musician and has made her new home in Gettysburg available to host house concerts for traveling musicians and local artists in need of support. Donate and her husband have two daughters and three grandchildren.