Tionesta Market Village Plan Unveiled

Posted on May 2, 2013 by Roy

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Forest County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Tionesta’s long-vacant downtown will be given a jump-start this spring with the creation of the Tionesta Market Village. The Forest County IDA and IDC have partnered up and completed plans to establish this addition to the main street on the southern of the two IDA-owned lots, now known as the “Gazebo Lot”. This site will become the home of several custom-built small scale retail buildings designed to look like 1800s store fronts, fronted by a wide walkway for shoppers and offering a variety of small retail establishments.

While the IDA owns the property, the IDC is funding this project and is now searching for new start-ups or small home-based businesses looking to move into a small retail space. This is an attempt to fill two needs: providing small, high-visibility retail space to small businesses and making use of the vacant property until a permanent development is established.

“Over the past couple of years there have been several individuals that have expressed an interest in starting a small business in downtown Tionesta.” says Dick Johnson, owner of Forest Hardware in Tionesta and Vice President of the Forest County IDC. “Two of the biggest drawbacks are the lack of available space and the cost of building new.” He hopes that the Market Village will give those people an “economically feasible way to get their new ventures up and running.”

IDC president, Farley Wright, says “The project is a unique, low-risk, high potential reward grass roots effort to increase the attraction and traffic to the community. It’s an opportunity, without relying on governmental funding, to assist local folks as well as benefit our community.” In answer to why this type of use for the property, he adds “Sometimes you can’t wait for others to provide the solutions; and while there may be detractors (nay-sayers) to the project, I know of no one that has presented a better idea. We can support the effort and contribute to its success, or we can deride it and it may fail…….but at least we are doing something.”

Smart Growth Conference In Pittsburgh Focuses On Transportation, Green Infrastructure And Urban Redevelopment Financing

Posted on December 10, 2012 by Roy

A map of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with its neighborhoods labeled. For use primarily in the list of Pittsburgh neighborhoods. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This week’s 12th annual Southwestern Pennsylvania Smart Growth Conference will focus on three issues its organizers call “make or break” for the region: transportation funding, green infrastructure and urban redevelopment financing.

Pennsylvania Transportation Secretary Barry Schoch will be a featured speaker at the event, scheduled for 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Thursday at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Downtown.

The General Assembly and Gov. Tom Corbett are expected to take up transportation funding in the coming session. Funding cutbacks and shortfalls have caused a decline in road quality across the state and threaten to arrest progress in repairing structurally deficient bridges.

Public transit systems, including the Port Authority of Allegheny County, have struggled financially and been forced to raise fares and reduce service.

Pennsylvania Counties Line Up For New State Block Grant Program

Posted on August 24, 2012 by Roy

The Corbett administration’s plan to allow counties to use a new block grant to pay for such key social services as drug and alcohol treatment and intellectual disabilities programs was one of the most contentious proposals of this year’s budget debate.

But with the money now up for grabs, county officials have apparently gotten over their reservations. Officials in 30 of the state’s 67 counties have applied for 20 available spots in the new block grant program. And funding recipients are set to be announced next month, the state Department of Public Welfare said this week.

Counties have “repeatedly asked for greater flexibility in human services funding” and the new program delivers it, Public Welfare Secretary Gary Alexander said in a statement. County governments had until Aug. 17 to apply for the funding.

Bill Would Allow Small Breweries To Expand Sales

Posted on June 11, 2012 by Roy

Bottle of Tusker Beer from East African Breweries. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Editor’s note: This is good news for Pennsylvania‘s many small breweries!

Customers can already purchase wine at some farmers markets, and they could add craft beer to their shopping lists under a proposal in the state House.

Sponsored by Rep. Dante Santoni Jr., a Reading Democrat, the bill would allow craft breweries to offer tastings and sell up to two six-packs at farmers markets and food expos.

The move could help craft brewers grow their business, Santoni said. Craft breweries are small, independent operations that produce much less beer than big-name breweries.

“It’s a niche market and it’s growing,” said Santoni, the Democratic chairman of the House Liquor Control Committee. “We’re trying to help.”

The Three Statistics That Every Downtown Should Live By

Posted on May 1, 2012 by Roy

Editor’s note: This is phenomenal advice for all downtown shopping districts and their umbrella organizations.

Lancaster and its James Street Improvement District are prime examples of living by these three simple rules! I suggest a field trip for any struggling downtown merchants or downtown organizations who want to see what is possible!

I call this the 7-8-7 rule because of the three most important statistics that make a downtown a successful and vibrant destination. Think of your favorite destination downtowns. Are they beautiful? Do they feel safe? Are there things to do after 6:00 pm?

New $10 Million YMCA To Be Built In Williamsport

Posted on March 8, 2012 by Roy

Image via Wikipedia

Citing the need for an improved city YMCA, officials announced plans Wednesday for a new $10 million facility that will be built just south of Susquehanna Health’s recent campus improvements.

“We can’t afford to keep this Y and continue to serve the community,” Jim Bower Sr., campaign chairman, told members of the community and potential donors at the announcement at the Williamsport Country Club.

The present YMCA building on West Fourth Street was constructed in 1923. Since then, it has seen numerous expansions and additions to keep up with needs of the community.

Land Bank Bill Newest Anti-Blight Tool

Posted on February 19, 2012 by Roy

HARRISBURG – Local governments could set up land banks to prepare abandoned and tax-delinquent properties for new uses under a House-approved bill offering the latest tool to fight blight.

The House approved the measure this week enabling a county, city or borough with a population greater than 10,000 to create a land bank.

Sen. David Argall, R-29, Tamaqua, has sponsored a companion bill in the Senate. He thinks the land bank idea would be welcomed in Northeast Pennsylvania. “Any community that has any degree of economic distress is going to have a blight problem,” he said.

Coal Boosts Railroad Traffic

Posted on January 21, 2012 by Roy

Image via Wikipedia

PORT CLINTON, PA - In spite of a weak economy, The Reading Blue Mountain & Northern Railroad had a good year, thanks in part to an overseas demand for coal.

According to a statement issued this week, the company saw double-digit traffic growth, handling close to 24,000 carloads over its tracks in 2011. Railroad officials believe the growth will continue this year.

“(It) represented the highest carloadings in the company’s 20-plus year history,” the statement read.

Corbett Business Aid Plan Gets Second Wind

Posted on January 9, 2012 by Roy

HARRISBURG, PA - The Corbett administration hopes to promote business growth by taking advantage of low-interest bond rates and having more flexibility to move funds among different state economic development programs to meet evolving needs.

The administration wants to create a Liberty Financing Authority to oversee this initiative. The authority idea surfaced shortly after Gov. Tom Corbett took office last January, but it was left out of state budget negotiations after lawmakers of both parties raised concerns about it.

Now the proposal is getting a second wind with more details ironed out and lawmakers more receptive to it. The shift in attitude was noticeable when Alan Walker, secretary of the state Department of Community and Economic Development, testified about the authority recently before the Senate Committee on Community, Economic and Recreational Development.

The proposal contained in a Senate bill would combine nine existing state authorities and programs under a single authority with the ability to sell bonds to investors to generate revenue and shift available funds around to meet demand by businesses for financing.

Lebanon Valley Chamber of Commerce Supports Sustainable Cities Initiative

Posted on January 2, 2012 by Roy

The Lebanon Valley Chamber of Commerce has joined in the fight to seePennsylvania’s third class cities get the financial tools needed to stave off fiscal insolvency.

The chamber recently announced its support of the Sustainable Cities Alliance. Comprised of other chambers and organizations, the alliance is focused on solutions to address pension and binding arbitration costs as well as economic development issues for the commonwealth’s 53 third class cities.

Last year, a white paper was produced that outlined the philosophies and goals of the alliance’s Sustainable Cities Initiative. Last month, a group of local leaders with the Pennsylvania League of Cities and Municipalities renewed the call for legislative action as a growing number of cities are edging closer to the commonwealth’s Act 47 program.

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