Connellsville to participate in project
CONNELLSVILLE – The Connellsville Cultural Trust was authorized Friday to oversee Connellsville’s participation in the Main Street Community project. Suzanne Gagliardo, coordinator of Pennsylvania Downtown Center, Western Regional Program Services, told trust President Michael Edwards that a separate committee from the trust board of directors would be required, but that the nonprofit organization would qualify as the community project overseer.
“It seems to make a lot of sense to have the cultural trust involved,” she said. “(The trust) has the structure in place.”
The city has discussed re-establishing the downtown business authority to implement the project, but it would require the establishment of a board of directors and approval of a nonprofit status from the Internal Revenue Service.
Edwards said that the trust applied for the IRS designation in June and anticipates verification within a few weeks.
“We’re just about ready to go,” he said. “Once we are advised that (the nonprofit status) has been approved, we will install our board of directors.”
The cultural trust will work to obtain funding that will be utilized in partnership with other grants or separate projects.
Gagliardo – along with representatives of the state Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED), the Progress Fund/ Great Allegheny Passage Trail Town Initiative, Pittsburgh Film Office, state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), Youth Trail Council, Connellsville Historical Society, Connellsville Redevelopment Authority and several residents – met to discuss the Main Street project and its close ties to trail bike and hike traffic.
As a trail town, Connellsville is in a very unique position, said Cathy McCollom, regional director of the trail town initiative.
“The completion of the trail from Pittsburgh to Washington, D.C., gives Connellsville a tremendous opportunity,” she said. “And, this dovetails into the Main Street Community project.
Through a cooperative effort, the Main Street initiative assists with the revitalization of communities through grant funding and technical assistance.
While the preparation of the application can be tedious, said Gagliardo, it requires the community to develop and then implement a five-year strategic plan to enhance its business district.
More than 80 communities throughout the state are either Main Street Community designees or in the process of preparing applications to receive funding, she added.
“The (Main Street Community initiative) has a proven methodology,” she said. “It works.”
If approved, the city would receive nearly $335,000 over five years to defray costs associated with the hiring of a full-time manager, part-time assistant, health-care benefits for the two and office space and supplies. The city must contribute $90,000 over the time frame to assist with the costs.
While part of the Main Street Community, other grant programs will be available, including a revolving loan program that would generate up to $500,000 for improvements to a site designated as an “anchor” along the main street.
Edwards indicated that the Brimstone building, located at the intersection of Crawford Avenue and Pittsburgh Street, fits the criteria for the grant.
If the site can be obtained from its current owner, Edwards said that the 105-year-old former bank building could be transformed into a boutique hotel and restaurant.
Once the loan funding is repaid, it can be used for other projects, said Gagliardo.
Business owners, too, would be eligible to participate in funding programs to upgrade building facades and make improvements to their sites.
McCollom, meanwhile, said that with the anticipated increase in trail use, Connellsville likely would benefit, provided it has something to draw the trail travelers from the path to the downtown.
“They are looking for restaurants, bed and breakfasts, hotels and cafes,” she said.
Edwards, meanwhile, said that while the application is being prepared, the trust would be seeking volunteers to serve on four Main Street Community subcommittees to assist with design, promotion, organization and economic restructuring through the initiative.
The design subcommittee would assist with fa?ade improvement programs, streetscape and comprehensive plans, analyze current conditions and establish displays and other public amenities.
The organization subcommittee would be responsible for financial plans, fund raising, training and bylaw management, with the promotion subcommittee overseeing events and activities.
The economic restructuring committee would work with in-place businesses and entrepreneurs looking to start a new endeavor. “This is a very exciting time for the city,” said Edwards. “The state representatives are very anxious to assist us; we now need community residents that also want to see the city grow.”
For more information or to volunteer, call Edwards at 724-626-0141 or e-mail the trust at cctrust@zoominternet.net.