Jun 25, 2010 By Patty Yauger 4 min read

CONNELLSVILLE – The newly hired Downtown Connellsville liaison, McCarthy Public Relations, said the city is on track with communities across the state that have implemented a “Main Street” program. Susan McCarthy, who along with Nancy Henry, will serve as the coordinators for the city initiative, said during a recent meeting of the program steering committee that the appropriate steps in preparation of being a state Main Street Program designate have been taken, should the opportunity arise within the next few years.

McCarthy recently attended a Pennsylvania Downtown Center conference tied to the state program.

“Everything that was talked about at the conference, we are doing it,” she said.

The local firm was recently hired by the committee after it was learned that the city would not be designated by the state Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) as a main street community or receive funding to implement the plan.

The steering committee had worked for nearly two years to meet the rigid program requirements, including raising more than $125,000 in local contributions that would be matched by state funding.

After learning the city would not be included in the 2010 funded program, the committee contacted local contributors and, with their support, determined to move forward.

The Connellsville Cultural Trust, in partnership with the Connellsville Redevelopment Authority and the Downtown Connellsville Steering Committee board of directors, is administering the program.

McCarthy said that the firm would begin contacting new businesses and those that have yet to invest in the program to garner additional support.

Several new businesses have been established in the past few months.

Those businesses include a new bakery, pizza shop and photography studio.

Those that own vacant properties in the downtown, too, will be contacted by McCarthy to determine how the local program can aid them in leasing or selling the buildings.

Progress Fund/Trail Town Program director Cathy McCollom said that the organization is also willing to post the available properties on its website to help market the properties and provide posters for the buildings to advise potential buyers or leasees how to obtain information.

“This would allow for those that would like to quietly obtain information to do so,” she said. “A lot of people don’t want to immediately call a realtor and (the trail town website) would provide that opportunity.”

Also, the firm will begin seeking other revenue resources and partnering with local businesses and organizations, said cultural trust president Michael Edwards.

“Should the state look at our application again they are going to want to see where we have been able to draw other sources of money,” he said.

The first visible partnership was the flower baskets attached to 15 lamp posts in the downtown, said Edwards, adding that Lowe’s, Community Foundation of Fayette County, Connellsville Rotary, Pat’s Bridal and the Connellsville Area Garden Club aided the purchase and planting of the flowers with resident Johanna Hardin donating a 30-gallon tank to help with watering the plants.

“It has been a well-received and supported project,” he said. “And, it brightens up the downtown.”

Steering committee member and Charleroi Federal Savings and Loan manager Dave Marchewka said that the bank is partnering with Downtown Connellsville to help business owners improve building facades.

The program is offering improvement grants up to $1,000 for exterior improvement and up to $500 for new signs with the building owner contributing a similar amount for the upgrade.

Charleroi, Marchewka said, will with credit approval, offer loans and waive all fees to help owners make needed enhancements to their business properties.

In other matters, the committee also conducted the following business:

n Discussed tentative plans for a fall festival and a December church and business tour.

n Noted that a donation was made to the Connellsville Lions Club to help in scheduling concerts every Sunday evening through August.

n Encouraged all members to visit the organization website at www.downtownconnellsville.org.