Local Share Account (LSA) - Fayette County

The Local Share Account (LSA) – Fayette County program is a grant initiative established under the Pennsylvania Race Horse Development and Gaming Act (Act 2004-71, as amended). Administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED), this program directs a portion of the local share assessments from certain licensed gaming facilities to benefit communities within Fayette County. The primary aim is to support community and economic development by reinvesting gaming revenues into projects that improve quality of life, promote job creation, and stimulate local economic activity. Funding through the LSA program can be used for three main categories of projects: economic development, community improvement, and projects deemed to be in the public interest. Economic development initiatives are those that stimulate local economies and generate or retain employment. Community improvement projects can include developments or renovations that support civic, cultural, or recreational opportunities. Projects serving the public interest focus on broader enhancements that improve life within affected areas, without necessarily fitting into the two prior categories. Administrative costs associated with managing awarded grants are eligible for funding, capped at 5% of the grant total. The only eligible applicant under this program is the Redevelopment Authority of the County of Fayette (RACF), which serves as the conduit for all applications and funding. All project applications must be submitted to RACF and are reviewed in collaboration with the Fayette County LSA Steering Committee. RACF is responsible for publishing its own local program application guidelines and schedules that conform to DCED’s requirements. Once applications are reviewed locally, RACF submits funding recommendations to DCED by November 30 each year. DCED is responsible for the final approval and disbursement of grant funds. Projects must not begin prior to receiving approval from DCED; any costs incurred beforehand are ineligible for reimbursement and may disqualify the application. Additionally, funds may not be used for refinancing or reducing prior debts. Projects are evaluated based on multiple factors including economic impact, regional conditions, leveraged private investment, site reuse (particularly brownfield or underutilized areas), financial readiness, strategic importance, and funding need. Supporting documentation such as contracts, invoices, bid tabulations, and expenditure reports must be maintained for auditing purposes. Disbursements are typically processed within 4 to 8 weeks, and unutilized funds are reallocated for the next round. Compliance with state and federal laws is required, including bidding regulations, nondiscrimination clauses, and prevailing wage statutes. An annual audit and periodic reporting are mandatory for grantees, along with maintaining a separate account for each funded project. Counties and municipalities receiving funds must file a report with DCED detailing the amounts received and their specific uses in accordance with Act 1 of 2010. These reports are accessible online. All inquiries about the program should be directed to the Department of Community and Economic Development, Center for Community Enhancement, LSA - Fayette County Program, 400 North Street, 4th Floor, Commonwealth Keystone Building, Harrisburg, PA 17120-0225. They can be reached by phone at (717) 787-6245 or by fax at (717) 787-9154. Additional application information is available via RACF at racfpa.org.