Dec 19, 2003 By James Pletcher Jr. 3 min read

The Fay-Penn Economic Development Council went through a shopping list of items at its quarterly board meeting Thursday morning ranging from approving a proposed $1.8 million operation budget for 2004 to voting to spend $10,000 on a new telephone system. And, Fay-Penn announced it has established a new Downtown Revitalization Loan Fund (DLRF) with a $75,000 Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development grant.

“Eligible businesses or applicants will be a for-profit corporation, partnership, proprietorship located or expanding into a Fayette County downtown business district,’ said Donna M. Bates, Fay-Penn economic development manager.

The applicants must be a small or emerging private enterprise, defined as “any private business which will employ 50 or fewer employees and has less than $1 million in projected gross revenues,’ she added.

Fay-Penn is involved in an aggressive effort to revitalize downtowns in Fayette County. Uniontown City recently entered into an agreement with the organization to lead plans to secure $4 million from Pennsylvania’s capital budget to revitalize its downtown.

The new DLRF will assist projects including building acquisition, equipment purchases, leasehold improvements, fa?ade and building improvements such as Americans with Disabilities Act accommodation, certain costs such as engineering and others related to these projects and working capital.

Those interested in more information on the program can call Bates at Fay-Penn at 724-437-7913.

Fay-Penn’s board also approved a proposed operation budget that has a deficit of $1.17 million. The group plans to receive $1 million from the Eberly Foundation and the balance from other grant sources.

In other action, the board named new officers and directors for the coming year. Officers are Leo Krantz, chairman of the board; Robert Eberly, vice chairman; Mike Krajovic, president; Steve Neubauer, first vice president; James Foutz, secretary; and Russell Mechling, treasurer.

The board also approved upgrading Fay-Penn’s telephone system by spending $10,000 with Buzzcomm. The system Fay-Penn is using is a decade old.

Kim Dillinger, assistant coordinator of Reaching Educational Achievement with Community Help (REACH), presented a review of current REACH programs, including a National Academy Foundation being formed in the Laurel Highlands School District, the pilot site; intensive training; and Keys to Work, which tests students for future career and employment needs. Also, Verizon recently presented REACH with $25,000 to support its projects.

Krantz noted how important it is for businesses to support REACH.

“It is almost as important to bring business into the county as it is educating our kids. Without an educated work force, business won’t come here.’

He urged Fay-Penn members to get involved “to see what is going on in our community. Companies can donate money to REACH in lieu of their tax dollars. They can redirect those tax dollars so REACH can become self-supporting.

“Some of its accomplishments are that all our school superintendents are sitting down together each month, and we had the first ever in-service day for all teachers in Fayette County schools.

“We can sit here and not do anything and things will be the same as they have been over the last 20 to 30 years. Or we can get involved,’ Krantz added.

“This is a unique role for us, supporting REACH, as a development organization but it is important for Fay-Penn to do so.”