A Nesquehoning fire department received nearly $200,000 to help with its expansion project.

Nesquehoning Hose Company was awarded $198,835 through the Monroe County Local Share Account grant recently.Shawn McArdle, fire department captain said that the grant "was much needed to move our expansion project forward."Nesquehoning borough, in September, on behalf of the hose company, applied for just under $400,000 for the project, which calls for excavating an existing embankment on the south side of the property as well as building a retaining wall to correct the drainage problem onto Route 209, and constructing a 36-by-60-foot two-bay addition onto the existing fire house to store the department's equipment and vehicles.Since the department received half of the anticipated cost of the total expense, the hose company will complete the project in three phases and continue to apply for additional funding.McArdle said phase one will be site preparation work; phase two, the construction of the two-bay addition onto the existing building; and phase three, drainage and paving the property.McArdle also commended Mike Tirpak of Carbon Engineering, who is overseeing the project; Vice President Lt. Joe Starosta for dedicating his time to getting everything together; RoniSue Ahner and the borough for applying for the grant; and the Kovatch family, who provide employees to assist with designing the site survey and plot plans for the expansion project.Nesquehoning Hose Company has been working on developing the expansion project for two years.In 2014, McArdle announced the department's plans for expanding the building, which came with an estimated price tag of $398,214, and requested Nesquehoning's help in applying for the LSA funds.Nesquehoning was denied that grant round.Last August, Nesquehoning Hose Company Fire Chief John McArdle asked borough council if it would renew the application for the grant, which council agreed to do.