State Sen. David G. Argall, R-29, remembered a time when discussions focused on the need for jobs in Schuylkill County.

But now that employment opportunities have arrived, those discussions are turning to the need for housing.

“We’re hearing a new plea from employees and employers - where can all those employees live here, so they can work here, without long, expensive daily commutes from distant communities,” Argall said.

He gathered with other local officials in Pottsville on Tuesday to announce the receipt of housing grants that will help solve the need for housing. The competitive grants - $500,000 each for Tamaqua and Pottsville - will be used to develop quality, upper-floor housing in now-vacant spaces in both communities.

Funding arrived after the Tamaqua Area Community Partnership and the Pottsville Area Development Corporation completed a study to determine how to restore upper floor apartments in both communities. Using their findings, the organizations successfully applied for a $1 million grant.

It will be used to create several dozen new market-rate housing units in the communities.

Argall said Pottsville and Tamaqua brought life back to their downtown areas, including restoring the Tamaqua train station and welcoming a new Alvernia University to Pottsville.

“That station has attracted a nearby microbrewery, coffee shop, and arts center within the last few years - and they and their neighboring businesses would welcome some new residents as customers,” Argall said.

State Rep. Tim Twardzik, R-123, recalled his mother saying that local towns lost their “gumption” when owners who lived above their stores moved out.

“Now we have the opportunity to put people back on top of those businesses,” he said.

Micah Gursky, executive director of the Tamaqua Area Community Partnership, said folks typically bought properties on Broad Street in the borough and used only their first floors.

“The second and third floors - and sometimes the fourth floors were afterthoughts, were throwaways, or were a burden on the buildings” he said.

A 2008 study of upper floors in the downtown found 235,000 square feet of vacant and underutilized space, he said.

“For those of you in real estate development, you know what the price tag would be to construct new space at 235,000 square feet. It would be very expensive - and here we have it,” he said.

In his role at St. Luke’s University Health Network, Gursky helps recruit medical providers to the area. Several of those physicians are now living in upper floor apartments in Tamaqua.

“With this funding, we will be able to attract more talented people, young people to our community,” Gursky said. “It won’t just be a competitive place to live but a compelling place to live.”

Argall said the program is just beginning.

“Once Pottsville and Tamaqua have shown us all how to do this successfully, we can then begin to initiate other, similar efforts in many of Schuylkill County’s other communities, from Pine Grove to McAdoo, from Shenandoah and Ashland to Orwigsburg and Schuylkill Haven. We’re not thinking small today, we’re planning for big things in the future,” he said.