Unlocking opportunities: Cal U hosts river summit
Dozens of business and community leaders attend the Mon River Town Summit at California University of Pennsylvania Wednesday to share ideas for economic growth through expanded recreational use of the Monongahela River, and another waterways in south western Pennsylvania.
Jay Sukemek, vice president and CFO of Riverlife, talks Wednesday at the Mon River Town Summit about the Waterfront Development Tax Credit and how it can help Nom Valley communities with recreational development on the water.
Cathy McCollom (left), director of the Mon River Town Program, details the plans for future development through the growth of recreational opportunities along the Monongahela River in Non Valley communities during the Mon River Town Summit Wednesday at California University of Pennsylvania.
The communities along the Monongahela River each have their own identities, but they share one commonality — the river that runs through them.
On Wednesday, more than 60 people from 19 communities met for the Mon River Town Summit “Unlock the Opportunities,” held in the Convocation Center.
Organized in 2011, the Mon River Coalition works with 19 Monongahela River communities. Coalition Program Director Cathy McCollom said the program is about building partnerships to promote the river.
“Communities are now turning to face their connection to the river, to encourage visitors and encourage residential growth,” said McCollom.
McCollom said the communities are improving their amenities along the river to attract visitors. She said Monongahela, Charleroi, Fredericktown and Brownsville are planning boat launches in the spring. Other plans for the river communities include developing canoe and kayak rental businesses, developing work spaces for artists and promoting each other’s events.
“Almost all 19 communities have at least one festival,” McCollom said.
McCollom said the coalition continues to add communities, including Monessen, North Belle Vernon and Elizabeth.
Jay Sukernek, vice president and CFO of Riverlife, spoke about the state’s new Waterfront Tax Credit. The state will make available $1.5 million in tax credits, beginning July 1, 2017. State Sen. Camera Bartolotta, R-Carroll Township, who was in attendance, was a co-sponsor of the bill, Sukernek said.
Organizations which have corporate tax liabilities can get a 75 percent tax credit on their contribution to a program that promotes waterfront projects.
Sukernek estimated the state’s $1.5 million tax credit could create 750 jobs and return $3.6 million in sales tax and $1.1 million in income tax revenues annually. He hopes success of the program in its inaugural year will yield greater grants in future years.
“We need to show how many projects are out there,” said Sukernek.
Lisa Brown, director of environmental initiatives and projects for the Economic Development South, outlined five case studies of communities embracing the waterfront.
She noted that in Yonkers, N.Y., a project was completed in 1922 to bury the Saw Mill River in order to manage sanitation and floods. In the early 2000s, $3 billion in investment was promised if the city “daylighted” the river.
“We don’t have to daylight the Monongahela River,” Brown said. “We just have to embrace it. We have this asset.”
John H. Thatcher, board treasurer for the Allegheny County Conservation District, noted how his organization helped preserve four miles of the Peters Creek Watershed, which stretches from his home of Jefferson Borough in Allegheny County to Peters Township in Washington County.
“We said, ‘This as pristine,'” Thatcher said. “We said, ‘We have an idea what we want it to look like in 50 years. Take that development elsewhere.'”
Brown issued a similar challenge for Monongahela River communities.
“Get people to come to your communities,” Brown said. “They’re going to engage. They’ll say, ‘Maybe I don’t need to go to Europe every year. I could have a great life right here along the trail.'”
Thatcher said conservation districts are great resources for help in local waterways-related projects.
“One of the members has to be an elected official so if you’re looking for money for your project, connect with your conservation districts,” Thatcher said.
Lindsay Baxter, program manager/energy and climate for Pennsylvania Environmental Council, said a handful of hydroelectric power plants, including one in Charleroi, are planned to commence construction in the spring of 2018.
She said now is the time for local leaders to weigh in on any concerns they may have about possible impacts of the projects on river recreation, including the possible removal of fishing access, benches along the river and walking tracks.
Dr. Andrew Mowen, Pennsylvania State University professor in the Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Management, said a state outdoor recreation study was conducted in 2014. The study concluded that local elected officials understand the value of parks and recreation, including the economic benefits. He said the survey also indicated that those public officials who believed that outdoor recreational facilities improved property values were more likely to invest in them as assets.