Mon River Valley Coalition to focus on regionalization projects
Mon Valley Regional Chamber President Jamie Protin remembers the fierce rivalries that used to define the Mon Valley.
It got to the point that all the river communities identified themselves by their school colors, he said.
“When I was growing up, we didn’t know each other that well,” said Protin, who graduated from Charleroi Area High School. “If you were a Cougar, you didn’t have anything to do with a Greyhound. That was a big no-no. Back then, each of the Mon Valley towns was also focused on its own industries, whether it was the steel mills, glass-making factories or the coal mines. All of these towns did well on their own, and they had no reason to talk to each other.”
That “every-community-for-itself” approach won’t work any longer if the Mon Valley is to revitalize itself, stressed Protin.
“We can’t be individuals any longer,” said Protin. “We can’t look at our ourselves as just Belle Vernon, Charleroi, Donora, Monessen and Monongahela. Collaboration is the key. The Cougars and the Greyhounds need each other if this region is to become successful again.”
Protin was one of several speakers who made presentations at the spring meeting of the Mon River Valley Coalition at California University of Pennsylvania’s Kara Alumni House. During the quarterly meeting, business leaders, entrepreneurs and elected officials get together to share ideas for revitalizing downtown business districts, creating jobs and attracting more visitors to the area. All the speakers agreed that regionalization will be key to the future success of the Mon Valley.
“Across the country, groups are becoming more regional,” said State Senator Pat Stefano (R-32), who represents Fayette and Somerset counties, as well as part of Westmoreland County. “And the same holds true for the Mon Valley. The more we work together, the more we can advance our communities.”
State Rep. Bud Cook (R-49), who represents parts of Fayette and Washington counties, added that collaboration will be essential if the Mon Valley is to carve out a regional identity for itself.
“Local businesses, nonprofits, municipalities, county officials and state government have to work together to make economic revitalization happen,” he said. “We can’t do it alone. We have to come up with a regional vision, then develop a plan and take action.”
Protin, who is founder of the Protin Group, said that the Regional Council of Governments (COG) will help the region’s communities to work together to solve common problems.
“We have spoken to 40 communities throughout Fayette, Washington and Westmoreland counties and about half of these municipalities have passed ordinances to join our group,” he said. “What’s interesting is that the commissioners from Greene County got word of this and asked if they could also be a part of COG. So now, we are adding another 35,000 people from Greene County to the 100,000 people who live in the Mon Valley’s communities.”
Protin said that the Regional Council of Governments should be operational by next January.
Christopher Whitlach, CEO of the Mon Valley Alliance, spoke about several revitalization projects that are currently underway in the Mon Valley, including a stadium redevelopment project in Charleroi.
“The old Charleroi high school football stadium will be demolished within the next two weeks,” he said. “That will make way for a riverfront park that will offer a number of recreational opportunities along the river. The stadium will also live on in other community projects. The concrete will be crushed up and used for a road project in Dunlevy, while the bricks will be used for a hall of fame at Charleroi High School. We will also be refurbishing the steel doors from the lockers and auctioning them off for anyone who wants a keepsake of the old stadium. The proceeds will help to fund other community projects.”
Whitlach added that the Mon Valley Alliance is working together with the Mon Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce on several other initiatives, including a regional economic revitalization plan, a regional blight strategy, and a street revitalization project that will encompass Belle Vernon, North Belle Vernon and part of Rostraver Township.
“We want to connect the dots between commerce, manufacturing and recreation,” said Whitlach.
One of the key destination points along that pathway will be Community Bank Park in North Belle Vernon. R.J. Sokol, a councilman from North Belle Vernon, said that parks help to improve the quality of life for communities in a variety of ways.
“Studies have shown that parks help to lower blood pressure, reduce stress and improve overall health,” said Sokol, who spearheaded reconstruction of Community Bank Park. “Not only that, but parks can help to build self-esteem and reduce crime. If you want to bring in more families to your town, you better provide recreational activities. And there’s no better place to start than with a park.”
Sokol noted that Community Bank Park is undergoing more enhancements, such as adding playground equipment for people with disabilities. It also has a full slate of activities coming up, including deck hockey, pet adoption day, wine and arts festival and a farmer’s market.
“We’re proud of what we are doing with Community Bank Park,” said Sokol. “We are drawing people from all across the Mon Valley and beyond.”
Other speakers at the quarterly meeting included JoAnne Marshall, communications and tourism director for the Greene County Tourist Promotion Agency; Andrew J. Schwartz, managing principal of Environmental Planning & Design, who helped to oversee a project that rebuilt the California public boat launch; and Ken Yonek, a local blogger.
“This whole initiative is really about the communities,” said Cathy McCollum, president of McCollum Development Strategies, who co-chairs the Mon River Towns organization along with Donna Holdorf. “These meetings help us to learn from each other and find ways to work together. We invite more people to join us at our next meeting in September.”