HARRISBURG – Sen. Chris Gebhard (R-48) announced more than $2.3 million in support to convert Lebanon Steel Works to a small business incubator, artist space and cultural amenity.
Through the Commonwealth Financing Authority’s Business in Our Sites Program, the project will receive a more than $631,000 grant and a 20-year loan totaling more than $1.7 million.
The old Bethlehem Steel Site in the city of Lebanon consists of multiple acres centrally located in between the city’s historic downtown and some of the fastest growing housing markets in Pennsylvania. The project will focus on redeveloping one square acre of this land with a 30,000-square-foot masonry and timber structure to be revamped.
Second Sail Development LLC plans to pre-lease spaces and conduct a phased renovation and tenanting strategy while redeveloping the site. This will allow Second Sail to convert the vacant space into 15-25 individual spaces for small businesses, most of which will have one to five jobs. The project is expected to result in the creation of 70 new jobs.
“While historically an economic driver, the old Bethlehem Steel Foundry is unfortunately just a blighted brownfield site. This project will breathe new life into the area as it will offer employment and business opportunities with cultural amenities – allowing Lebanon residents to enjoy those experiences like Hershey, Lititz, Harrisburg or Lancaster cities,” Gebhard said.
The grant and loan money will be used to lightly renovate the structure by modernizing, subdividing and bringing it up to code while retaining its industrial character. By limiting renovation costs, more affordable rents will be available to tenants.
The first floor of the building will be set aside for larger maker-type users and a three-season event space open to the train tracks for an industrial experience. Renovations on the second floor will focus on an auditorium event space, a small format artist studio, executive office space and coworking. Two existing vaults will be repurposed as “mini-museums” showing the site’s history through photos and artifacts.
The Business in Our Sites Program empowers communities to attract growing and expanding employers by helping them build an inventory of ready sites. Funding can be used of all site development activities that are required to make a site shovel ready.
CONTACT: Matthew Urban, 717-787-5708