Foundation supports Community Pool Rehabilitation with Grant, Seeks Tax Credit for Select Pool Donors

MILL HALL – The Clinton County Community Foundation, working in association with Mill Hall Borough, has applied to the state Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) for Neighborhood Assistant Program eligibility to help facilitate rehabilitation of the Mill Hall Community Pool Complex.

If NAP eligibility is awarded by the state, already-designated donors – as listed in the application – to the pool rehabilitation via the Foundation are eligible to receive a 65% tax credit.

“This is within the Foundation’s mission and purpose – to support projects that enhance the quality of life for our residents, families and children,” said Bob Rolley, Foundation outreach coordinator. “The Community Pool at Mill Hall is unique and serves hundreds of kids and families each season as the only outdoor pool in the county that’s accessible to most of the general population. The Foundation has supported the pool since it opened with competitive grants.”

Indeed, in 2023 – the last year the pool was open – average daily attendance at the pool was 75 to 100 participants.

Included in that number are children from the local YMCA daycare program, while the summer swim team averaged 60 to 70 swimmers every day, according to the borough.

Filing of the NAP application follows the Foundation board’s unanimous approval earlier this year of a $50,000 competitive grant to the project, Rolley noted.

A decision on the NAP eligibility should come this summer.

“The borough is demonstrating a strong commitment to the pool rehabilitation, as are many other groups and entities,” said Mark Weaver, Foundation board president. “Further, the borough has received approval of a $952,000 matching grant from the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.”

All told, the rehabilitation cost estimate is $1,905,000 over the course of three phases.
The NAP application reads as follows: “The newly renovated pool will accommodate up to 544 users of all abilities. It will provide access for people of all economic and social levels, regardless of income, disability, age or status. The current facility does not provide Americans with Disability Act (ADA) compliancy, thus limiting the attendees.”

“The Community Pool offers spaces for recreation, physical activity, swimming competition, social interaction, and providing a safe and accessible environment for people of all ages and backgrounds to enjoy swimming and aquatic activities. Community pools also serve as a platform for swimming lessons and water safety education, fostering a sense of community and contributing to a healthier, more connected society,” the application continues.

The borough is hoping pool rehabilitation will start by this summer and that the pool can open in the summer of 2026.