Oxford Borough has received a state grant to help fund a much-needed project that the borough wouldn’t be able to complete on its own because of financial constraints.

State Rep. John Lawrence announced this week that Oxford Borough will receive a $736,000 state grant for sidewalk repair and safety improvements. Nearly 9,000 linear feet of sidewalks and curbing will be installed in areas where none exist or where deterioration dictates the need for replacement. ADA-compliant ramps will also be installed where appropriate.

“This grant will be used to replace old, broken sidewalks in areas that have not seen repair for decades,” said Lawrence.  “Receiving this grant is a real win for these neighborhoods and the Borough as a whole. This grant funding is very competitive, and I strongly advocated on behalf of Oxford’s application. This funding will benefit both residents in town and school children from the entire Oxford Area School District.”

At the Nov. 18 council meeting, Oxford Borough officials expressed their gratitude for the assistance from the state representative.

Borough manager Brian Hoover said that Lawrence really went to bat for the borough to help secure funding for the project.

Pauline Garcia-Allen, a consultant who helps the borough with the efforts to secure grant funding, noted that it wouldn’t be possible to get this kind of grant without the support of lawmakers. She said that both Lawrence and State Sen. Andy Dinniman have been good advocates on behalf of the borough.

Oxford Borough estimates that the entire scope of the project will cost about $1.8 million. There is hope that additional funding might be possible because of the importance of the work being undertaken. The project will enhance pedestrian mobility and safety on sections of Broad, South Franklin, Nottingham and Garfield streets in residential areas of the borough. The work will focus on the area surrounding the elementary and middle schools in the middle of Oxford.

“The Borough of Oxford would like to thank Representative Lawrence for his continued support in helping Oxford and its residents secure this important funding,” Oxford Borough Council President Sue Lombardi said in a statement. “This grant makes possible infrastructure improvements in areas around several of our schools where current sidewalk and curbs are non-existent or in need of replacement.”