Redevelopment authority hears update on new business in business park
Businesses continue to open at the Fayette County Business Park in South Union Township.
Fayette County Redevelopment Authority executive director Andrew French said two additional medical offices have opened at the park, located off Route 40. French said two lots were purchased by Dr. Sunil Rayan and medical offices were placed on them. French said both are “open and operating,” including a dialysis center.
French added that the developer that constructed the Walmart, Cedarwood Development, is planning to build a separate medical office building at the corner of Walmart Drive and Matthew Drive.
The business park also includes restaurants, a motel, engineering firm, the Fayette County Behavioral Health Administration, CareerLink and numerous other businesses and medical offices.
In other business at the redevelopment authority board meeting on Tuesday, French said the authority’s fiscal year 2011 Community Development Block Grant allocation was a cut of 16 percent from last year’s amount. French said this year’s disbursement is nearly $1.6 million, while more than $1.9 million was received last year.
“That was depressing. Obviously, we use those resources to help communities throughout Fayette County and we will now have less resources to help communities,” French said.
CDBG funding is used for infrastructure improvements.
In agenda items, the board approved a cooperation agreement with the county for administration of a $50,000 Community and Economic Development grant to loan program for downtown improvements.
French said $25,000 will be used for a feasibility study on the upper floors of the redevelopment authority building on West Main Street in Uniontown. The top two floors of the building contain 15 apartments that have been vacant since 1980.
A separate agreement was approved with the Connellsville Redevelopment Authority for $25,000 for a downtown redevelopment initiative. French a consultant will be hired to put a strategy together to attract private investment.
French said more applicants are needed for a program to make their homes more energy efficient.
A $4.1 million countywide Better Buildings Initiative grant was allocated through the U.S. Department of Energy with the goal of reducing energy usage.
Incentives will be provided in the form of rebates to help residents obtain an energy assessment of their homes and to implement measures to make their homes more energy efficient and reducing their overall energy costs.
“If you live in Fayette County, you qualify,” French said.
French said 60 households have been completed and 250 applications were received while 1,067 homes must be served. All income levels are eligible and anyone who is interested should call the authority at 724-1547, extension 206.