Harrisburg’s Broad Street Market receives $2.25 million state grant

Pennsylvania has awarded Harrisburg’s Broad Street Market a $2.25 million state grant for renovation work at the historic brick building, adding public funding to an ongoing reconstruction project.

The award was announced July 16 through the state’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program, or RACP. The state describes RACP as a reimbursement grant program for eligible design, acquisition and construction work. Local reporting says the Broad Street Market project’s planned work includes new roofing, ADA-compliant infrastructure, HVAC systems, an outdoor plaza, walkways, seating, lighting and landscaping.

The award adds another source of support, but it does not immediately reopen the brick building or change the city’s published estimated schedule.

The grant is one part of a larger project

The $2.25 million award is less than the $13.2 million in RACP funding reportedly requested for the market project, according to TheBurg. It is also only one portion of the broader reconstruction effort.

Local reporting said the project’s estimated cost rose from $20.8 million to $23.7 million after about $3.2 million in change orders. A significant portion of those additional costs followed the collapse of a wall during construction and related foundation and shoring work. The city has also been pursuing insurance proceeds and using other public funding to keep the rebuild moving.

Because RACP grants are reimbursed, eligible work must be performed before the recipient is reimbursed. The award should not be understood as an immediate $2.25 million payment to the market or as funding for the entire reconstruction budget.

City schedule still targets May 2027 move-in

The City of Harrisburg’s reconstruction page lists construction from October 20, 2025, through April 23, 2027. The page then lists substantial completion, occupancy inspection, punch-list work and cleaning through May 14, 2027.

Move-in is listed for May 31, 2027. Those dates are part of the city’s estimated project schedule, not a guarantee that construction will finish on time.

While the brick building is under construction, the market’s displaced vendors are operating from a 5,000-square-foot temporary tent at the corner of Third and Verbeke streets, across from the Stone Building. The city says the tent is open Thursdays and Fridays from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., and will remain in use until the rebuilt building is ready for vendors to return.

What the award means locally

For vendors and shoppers, the immediate consequence is additional public funding for an active rebuilding effort, not an immediate return to the historic market hall. The planned work is intended to address basic building systems and access, along with customer circulation and outdoor amenities, but those improvements are not yet complete.

The next practical steps are continued construction and reimbursement of eligible expenses under the RACP program. The city’s estimated May 2027 completion and move-in milestones remain subject to project progress and any further changes documented by Harrisburg.

Sources

• Pennsylvania governor's RACP announcement
• City of Harrisburg Broad Street Market reconstruction page
• TheBurg coverage of Harrisburg-area redevelopment grants