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Options for post-Thanksgiving dinner fun

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Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble presents ‘Every Christmas Story Ever Told’

<p>HAZLETON &#8212; A Hazleton firm Wednesday was awarded $2.5 million in funding through the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program for the redevelopment of the former Altamont Hotel in downtown Hazleton, according to state Rep. Tarah Toohil, R-Butler Township.</p><p>Specifically, the funding will be used by Hazleton Partners LP to complete the rehabilitation of the Altamont building into retail space on the ground floor, offices on the second and third floors and 62 housing units for senior citizens on floors four through eight. The overall project is estimated at $10 million.</p><p>&#8220;I want to thank Gov. Tom Wolf for his willingness to work in a bipartisan manner to move this important project forward,&#8221; Toohil said in an emailed news release. &#8220;The redevelopment of the Altamont will immediately contribute to downtown Hazleton&#8217;s revitalization by providing much-needed jobs, tax revenue and more housing choices for seniors. The project will greatly contribute to improving the vitality of the central business district, which is our ultimate goal.&#8221;</p><p>Toohil said a study commissioned by the Downtown Hazleton Alliance for Progress estimated the project would create 152 construction jobs and result in 30 permanent positions.</p><p>&#8220;Redevelopment of the historic Altamont building is a critical component of the downtown&#8217;s ongoing revitalization,&#8221; said Downtown Hazleton Alliance for Progress Executive Director Krista Schneider. &#8220;We are very happy to know that this landmark building will soon be restored and adaptively reused to provide much needed housing in the downtown area. More people living downtown will add vibrancy to the district, and will result in greater patronage of our local businesses.&#8221;</p><p>The old hotel has also been utilized as a nursing home, commercial space and, most recently, as a pre-release corrections facility, which was closed in 2012.</p><p>The Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program is a state grant program administered by the Office of the Budget for the acquisition and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic and historical improvement projects with a focus on job creation.</p><style>
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<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/web1_TTL011616WolfVisit_2-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Gov. Tom Wolf, right, and state Rep. Tarah Toohil at a news conference in Drums in January. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/web1_TTL011616WolfVisit_2-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Gov. Tom Wolf, right, and state Rep. Tarah Toohil at a news conference in Drums in January. </caption0><photoCredit0>Times Leader File Photo </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/web1_Altamont-Hotel-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Former Altamont Hotel </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/web1_Altamont-Hotel-1.jpg</photo1><caption1>Former Altamont Hotel </caption1><photoCredit1>Times Leader File Photo </photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Bill O&#8217;Boyle</p><p>boboyle@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Bill O&#8217;Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

State awards $2.5 million for redevelopment of historic Altamont Hotel