News Flash

The City of Easton concluded 2025 with a significant investment in its future with the receipt of $1.25 million in grants secured during the month of December. This diverse portfolio of state and local funding is set to modernize public safety operations, enhance the city’s iconic waterfront, and deliver pedestrian and traffic safety improvements to two of Easton’s most traveled corridors.

"We are grateful to State Senator Lisa Boscola, State Representative Robert Freeman, and the Northampton County Department of Community and Economic Development for their continued partnership and advocacy for our city,” said Mayor Sal Panto, Jr. “This $1.25 million investment allows us to 'future-proof' Easton by modernizing our public safety infrastructure and making our streets safer and more walkable for everyone. By working together with our state and county leaders, we are ensuring that Easton remains a premier destination to live, work, and visit for generations to come."

Enhancing Pedestrian Safety and Connectivity

The centerpiece of the grant awards is a combined $663,932 dedicated to Larry Holmes Drive, a project identified as the most visible and impactful for the community. Funding from the Statewide Local Shares Account ($375,568) and PennDOT Multimodal Transportation Fund ($288,364) will support comprehensive safety enhancements to Larry Holmes Drive, including the installation of pedestrian bump-outs to reduce crossing distances, high-visibility crosswalks, and traffic calming measures to improve the flow of both vehicles and foot traffic.

Additional infrastructure improvements on the city’s South Side at the Berwick St. and Seitz St. intersection, funded by a $339,416 Green Light GO grant from PennDOT, will replace aging traffic signals and add ADA-compliant ramps at all four corners.

Modernizing Public Safety and Regional Collaboration

A significant portion of the funding is directed toward ensuring the City’s public safety infrastructure is resilient and efficient:

• Evidence Storage: A $150,000 Statewide Local Shares Account grant will fund the construction of a new police evidence building, replacing the current storage facility, which is located within a floodplain.
• Shared Services: A $20,000 Public Safety Grant from Northampton County will fund a feasibility study to explore collaboration between the City of Easton and Wilson Borough, seeking ways to improve regional emergency response and efficiency.

Investing in Community Spaces and Tourism

Beyond infrastructure, the grants support the city’s parks and festivals:

• Waterfront Vitality: $60,000 in combined funding from the Pennsylvania Environmental Council’s Statewide Waterway Access Grant and Northampton County’s Grow NORCO grant will be used for a new lighting plan and engineering improvements at Scott Park, focusing on improved water access as outlined in the City’s Waterfront Plan.
• Easton Winter Village: A $15,000 Northampton County Hotel Tax Grant will support enhancements for the annual holiday event in Centre Square as it enters its seventh year of drawing visitors to the downtown area.

All of these projects, except the new police evidence building, are slated to begin in 2026, with some continuing into 2027 for completion.