Schuylkill County now has a wrecking ball in the form of a $1.4 million state grant to raze blighted buildings.

The money is through the state Department of Community and Economic Development.State Sen. David G. Argall, R-Schuylkill/Berks; state Rep. Neal P. Goodman, D-Schuylkill, and county Commissioners George F. Halcovage Jr. and Gary J. Hess on Wednesday gathered on the front porch of adjoining dilapidated homes at 136-138 W. Ogden St., Girardville, to announce the grant."There is such a need for demolition money, and we really appreciate what the legislative delegation has done," Halcovage said."State Sen. David G. Argall and state Rep. Neal P. Goodman have stepped forward with the support of state Reps. Jerry Knowles and Mike Tobash. It's a way we all work together to better Schuylkill County," he said."It's good to have a good bipartisan team to work together as a whole for the good of the county," Halcovage said.County Administrator Gary R. Bender said the grant is state funds.He said local state legislators have been working for more than a year to get money to help demolish Schuylkill's blight problem.Communities will have to acquire the properties before they can be demolished, he said.The county already has a list, but with the grant, "more communities will be stepping up to the plate," he said."The nice thing about it is that before, the county money before in the demolition program could only help nonentitlement communities. Those that receive their own Community Development Block Grant money could not participate in the program. Now they can," he said.But communities wanting a share of the grant need to move quickly."The grant will end in June 2019, so we'll have to hit the ground running," Bender said.