SELINSGROVE – Friday, March 20, 2026 – The Regional Engagement Center (REC) in Selinsgrove announced today that it has halted its plan to create a new intergenerational center and would instead continue to focus on providing essential programs, resources, and services at its current facility.

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REC President Kelly Feiler said the decision to stop pursuing a new building was due to a number of factors including site acquisition and sewer access issues, land development costs, rising construction costs and local municipal partnership concerns.

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“While the REC has a tremendous record of serving youth and their families and providing excellent programs for citizens of all ages, we found difficulty in securing a site that made economic sense,” Feiler said. “There’s too much uncertainty, questions about suitable sites, and potential cost that would not be recuperated for years, if ever, to move forward with the project.

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“Instead of moving to a new center, the REC will continue to offer and improve upon our high-quality programs and services at our facility on the corner of Mill and 8th Streets in Selinsgrove.”

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The REC had planned to use an earmarked, not distributed, $2 million state grant and another $1 million in federal housing funds as the financial foundation for a proposed $4 million intergenerational center. The center was slated to be a multi-faceted, multi-layered facility designed for enhanced services for the entire community.

The original planned structure would have provided housing for seniors but also have room for student programming and space for business development.

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“While the REC board decided against continuing to develop a new center, our leadership remains determined and in position to provide excellent services and community resources where they are now located” Board Chair, Melissa Laniewski, said.

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The REC currently offers a wide array of programs at its facility. These include Free After School and Summer Drop-In, food distribution, community exercise classes, leadership club, and mental health resources among other programs to engage the community, like the Adult Prom and Community Art Show.

 

“The REC has a robust menu of programs and services that it now offers, Board member, Robert Bertram said. “Instead of incurring a slew of up-front building and site preparation costs that may not ultimately resolve outstanding issues and would require bridge loans, we think it best to direct our energy toward making the programs at our current facility even better and more accessible.”

 

Last academic year, the REC had more than 340 students registered for its after school Drop-In Program. It currently has more than 300 registered this year and is aiming to surpass last year’s mark, Feiler said. The program provides students with a safe place to gather, enjoy a meal, gain help with homework, learn leadership skills, and enjoy recreational opportunities.

 

The original construction plan called for the repurposing of the Selinsgrove Inn into the new center. However, the Inn was sold prior to the REC being preliminarily awarded the federal and state monies. As a result, various other sites both in Selinsgrove and in nearby communities were considered, yet each raised potential site development and construction issues that were unresolvable, Feiler said.

 

“There are so many avenues available for the REC to have a positive impact on the region’s quality-of-life right where we are,” Feiler said. “We will be thoughtful and progressive in our efforts to add new programs and offer meaningful assistance to the community at large.”

 

Feiler said that the REC will notify both the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the State Budget Office – the governmental entities that awarded the grants -- that the board has decided against moving the project forward.

 

The REC president also expressed thanks to former U.S. Senator Bob Casey, former state Sen. John Gordner, Sen. Lynda Schlegel Culver and local officials for their belief in and support of the project.