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Programs continue downtown preservation work in Connellsville

By Amy Fauth Afauth@heraldstandard.Com 3 min read
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Amy Fauth | Herald-Standard

O’Donnell’s Pub in Connellsville was just one of the downtown businesses that took advantage of the city’s facade and signage program, which helps business owners create new signage with dollar-for-dollar matching funds. Funds are raised through fundraisers and donations by local businesses and individuals dedicated to seeing the downtown continue to grow and prosper.

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Amy Fauth | Herald-Standard

Major facade work on buildings in downtown Connellsville is available to business owners through a matching grant of up to $10,000 by the Allegheny Conference through an initiative by the Fayette County Cultural Trust. One business that has entered into the program is Double Dragon on Pittsburgh Street, which is putting two new windows in the first level of the building.

Businesses in downtown Connellsville looking to revitalize will once again be able to apply for matching funds from two historic restoration and renovation initiatives through the Fayette County Cultural Trust (FCCT).

The city’s business signage and façade program is accepting applications for businesses wanting an opportunity to get new awnings, do small façade improvement projects or create new signage. The program offers matching funds of $500 for signage and $1,000 for façade improvement projects.

Funds for the program have been raised locally through fundraisers and donations by businesses and individuals who want to see Connellsville grow and prosper.

“These matching funds are from our fundraisers. We have fundraisers for our downtown organization and this is what those funds go for,” said Daniel Cocks, executive director of the FCCT.

Some projects that have participated in the program in the past include Connellsville Little House, Tangles Hair Salon, O’Donnell’s Pub and the Connellsville Bed and Breakfast.

Projects must be approved for the project prior to work starting. Properties must also be located in the designated “downtown Connellsville” area, which includes Crawford Avenue and Pittsburgh Street on the East Side and Crawford Avenue, and Third and First streets on the West Side. Signage requests must also adhere to city ordinances regarding signs.

Applications are available at www.downtownconnellsville.org.

A grant awarded to the FCCT from the Allegheny Foundation is also enabling the trust to offer matching funds for major façade restoration for businesses in the downtown.

“If a building owner wants to do some major façade work, we can match up to $10,000,” said Cocks.

One stipulation with the grant is the building must be 50 years old or older, but Cocks said pretty much every building in the downtown corridor fits the criteria. The work also needs to fit with the timeline of the building.

According to Michael Edwards, president of the trust’s board of directors, buildings and businesses in the identified area for revitalization have struggled for years and this program has already made big strides in downtown Connellsville over the last 10 years. This program provides businesses with an added incentive to improve the look of the outside of their buildings, while preserving the historic look of Connellsville. However, buildings don’t need to be on the historic registry.

Residential buildings are not eligible for the matching program.

One business that has agreed to participate is the Double Dragon on Pittsburgh Street, which is installing two windows in the downstairs of the building, according to Cocks and Edwards. The trust has also contacted several other historic buildings to see if they would be interested in the program.

To start the application process, contact Edwards at the Connellsville Redevelopment Authority at 724-626-1645.

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