Fay-Penn touts record
Fay-Penn Economic Development Council’s main thrust in its dozen years has been to spur business and job growth. At its quarterly meeting Friday, Fay-Penn team members reviewed progress in that area, helped by a revolving loan fund (RLF) that continues to surpass goals.
Since 1993, the RLF has assisted 114 projects, meaning money has been loaned to that many new or expanding local businesses that created new jobs. The RLF was projected to be at $10 million by this point. Instead, it is at $13.5 million with the goal to grow it to $15 million by 2010.
However, it’s not just one RLF but seven, all operating under Fay-Penn’s auspices.
In 2004, Fay-Penn received a $300,000 Rural Business Enterprise Grant through the U.S. Department of Agriculture to establish a downtown loan fund to promote growth, commerce and economic development in downtown.
Recently, Fay-Penn announced a $50,000 loan from the Downtown Revitalization Loan Fund, to Sharon Mullen, owner of S. Mullen & Co. Salon & Spa at 161 Pittsburgh St., Uniontown.
“This is the first loan from that fund,’ Linda Yuhaniak, Fay-Penn accounting manager, said.
“Approximately 20 years ago, I started the Hair Stop in the Uniontown Mall,’ Mullen said. “Six years ago I decided to move my business into the community and renamed it S. Mullen & Co. It has been a vision of mine to provide the working community with cost affordable services,’ she added. Mullen said she can continue to do that with the expansion of the salon and spa on Pittsburgh Street.
“These services are not exclusively for the women of the community, but for the men as well. Thanks to Fay-Penn’s assistance, my vision is now a reality,’ Mullen said.
Mullen, who has been in the business for 28 years, specializes in hair color, men’s and women’s cuts, massages, nails, waxing, perms and customized wigs. The project will allow the business to expand into a full-service hair salon, day spa and hair replacement service, a Fay-Penn spokesman said.
“This is a prime example of positive results achieved through our local economic development efforts,’ Donna Bates, Fay-Penn economic development manager, said.
Fay-Penn also recently received $1.1 million from the state that will also be used in the RLF.
“State Sen. Richard Kasunic was our point man in getting that funding, but all of our legislators should be thanked for their support and work in getting it, too,’ Leo Krantz, Fay-Penn chairman, said.
Fay-Penn also received a $29,000 state grant for the Business Retention and Expansion Project, a state program where team members will visit 100 local businesses to determine their needs and offer assistance.
Hanna Gearhart, Fay-Penn special projects coordinator, said 20 visits have been completed with nine businesses receiving assistance.
“We are also actively working with eight clients who are interested in expanding or locating their business in Fayette County,’ she added.
Dana Kendrick, technical assistance specialist, updated the Fay-Penn board on the Hunter Panel project and the Vertex expansion in the Fayette Business Park near Smithfield. Both are 100 percent complete, she said.
Hunter Panel will produce insulation for construction in its 258,000-square-foot facility and Vertex is a customer service call center for Columbia Gas, which recently moved into a 10,000-square-foot, $1.6 million expansion.
Kendrick said construction is almost finished on the new downtown Uniontown parking garage and it should be ready to use by mid-October.
Other projects Fay-Penn is working on are the Hometown Street program and a new police building for the Uniontown Police Department.
Kim Dillinger, education/workforce development manager, said Fay-Penn managed state-mandated Act 1 training for community committees charged with developing tax reform plans and that Fay-Penn will again apply to the Benedum Foundation for a grant to help students interested in science, technology, engineering or math careers. Dillinger also thanked Scottdale Bank and Trust Co. for an almost $90,000 grant, which will be used through Reaching Education Achievement with Community Help (REACH) to benefit students in the Connellsville and Albert Gallatin school districts.
Sue Quinn, workforce development specialist, reported on the Fayette Enterprise Community (FEC) program. She said $120,000 will be disbursed from federal funds to help education, economic development, human services and communities. Some 19 projects were approved.
Uniontown High School, Menallen Elementary School and Southside Elementary School will each receive $12,000; grants of $6,000 each will go to REACH, Junior Achievement, Connellsville Area Community Ministries, East End Community Center, The Falcon Foundation, Fayette County Community Action Agency, Uniontown Police Department, Keisterville Community and Youth Center, Gallatin Avenue Concerned Citizens Association, Fayette County Agricultural Improvement Association, Redstone Township, Wesley Health Center, Highlands Hospital and Menallen Township.