Local Share Account (LSA) – Washington County

The Local Share Account (LSA) – Washington County program is administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) under the authority of the PA Race Horse Development and Gaming Act (Act 2004-71). This initiative is designed to distribute a portion of the local share assessments from certain licensed gaming facilities to fund projects that support and enhance economic and community development in Washington County. The program is tightly focused on promoting local improvements through a competitive grantmaking process. The sole eligible applicant for this funding opportunity is the Redevelopment Authority of the County of Washington (RACW), which also manages the local intake and evaluation of proposals. While only RACW can apply to DCED, other entities such as municipalities, nonprofits, and other stakeholders may submit their projects through RACW for consideration. The types of projects eligible for support under this program include economic development efforts that foster job creation and business growth, workforce development or job training programs, public interest projects aimed at improving quality of life, and community improvement efforts such as civic, cultural, and recreational facilities. Applications must be submitted through DCED's Electronic Single Application for Assistance portal, located at www.esa.dced.state.pa.us. However, the local process begins with the submission of a proposal to RACW, which evaluates each project in partnership with the Washington County LSA Committee. Approved proposals must meet a set of defined criteria, including economic impact, private investment leveraged, strategic importance, project readiness, financial need, and alignment with regional economic conditions. Funding amounts are variable and contingent upon the nature and scope of the project. Administrative costs, including advertising, legal, audit fees, and staff costs, may be covered but are capped at 6% of the total grant award. Projects must not commence prior to DCED approval; any costs incurred before approval are ineligible. Refinancing or debt reduction activities are explicitly excluded. Upon DCED approval, a grant agreement is executed, and RACW may then request funds quarterly. Projects must maintain separate accounts and undergo reporting and audit procedures as defined by DCED. There is an annual deadline for submission to DCED, with funding recommendations due no later than March 31 each year. The entire application process is governed by state and federal compliance measures, including prevailing wage requirements, nondiscrimination clauses, and conflict of interest disclosures. Questions should be directed to DCED's Center for Community Enhancement by phone at (717) 787-6245 or via fax at (717) 787-9154. The current iteration of the guidelines dates to March 2020, and applicants are advised to check for updates or changes before submitting their application.

Projects must not begin before DCED approval; strong proposals demonstrate readiness, private investment, and regional need.