Connellsville 2007 - 2017

Fayette County Cultural Trust Connellsville Redevelopment Authority Downtown Mixer – October 17, 2018

2007

Planning began in 2007

Cumberland, MD Trip 2007

Downtown Connellsville 2007-2018

Vision Statements approved by the 2007 Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee: Our central business district has experienced revitalization, appropriate in-fill development and creative re-use of historic structures.

Underutilized sites (Aaron’s and Anchor Hocking) have been revitalized, redeveloped and adapted for use by new businesses.

Amenities such as new restaurants, lodging facilities and shops exist to attract area tourists and travelers into Connellsville for lodging, dining and shopping.

An arts incubator links local artists with art space, resources, classes and potential markets for their wares.

The Amtrak Train Station has been rebuilt and serves as a great resource to connect residents, tourists and travelers to recreational amenities.

The roads and bridges are upgraded to provide for a range of uses.

Yough Park has been transformed and is more integrated with the Great Allegheny Passage running through it, better connected with the river, and more user-friendly for cyclists and families using the playground and picnic facilities.

Residents have access to adequate parks and playgrounds which are well maintained and equipped.

Revitalization Efforts – Buildings and Churches being renovated.

Carnegie Free Library – New roof, furnace, windows, renovated theater, and handicapped accessible equipment.

Connellsville Downtown Promotions Committee is made up of retired and business professionals. Planning includes the Mum Festival and It’s A Connellsville Christmas.

Downtown Connellsville Festivals Geranium Festival; Golden Reunion; Mum Festival; It’s a Connellsville Christmas

Connellsville – Downtown Events Soup Walk; Lion’s Square Concert Series; Chili Festival

Famer’s Market

Local Foods Local Places visited Connellsville – April 2016 Based in Washington DC – Local Foods Local Places helps cities across the country protect the environment with local partners to reinvest in existing neighborhoods as they develop a local foods system.

Connellsville was one of 27 communities chosen.

We received technical assistance to integrate local foods and healthy downtown economic development activities by strengthening the downtown farmers market, improving walking and biking infrastructure, expanding local food access at restaurants and lodging, and enhancing local foods access for low –income and senior populations.

Local Foods, Local Places

Connellsville was represented at the Local Foods Local Places Summit in Washington DC. - 2017 In 2017, the program was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), and the Delta Regional Authority (DRA).

Connellsville – Festivals Historic Braddock’s Crossing & Art on the Yough Connellsville Historical Society Fayette County Cultural Trust

Downtown Connellsville - Parades

Connellsville Officer McGruff Program Crime Prevention/Anti Bullying Funding for this program came from PNC Foundation

Greater Connellsville Chamber of Commerce Savor the Avenue Job Fairs Community Engagement Projects New Business Ribbon Cuttings

Connellsville Investments – New Amtrak Station -Capital Limited Line – $1.25 Million Project Amtrak launched their “Bring Your Bike on Board” There are only 24 Amtrak stations in Pennsylvania

Funded through Amtrak’s Mobility First initiative under the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009.

Annual Station Revenue: FY2017 - $257,713 Annual Station Ridership: FY2017 – 4,762

Connellsville was visited by a group of students from Heidelberg University in Germany. The students stayed a couple days in Connellsville learning about our economic development efforts before taking the Amtrak train to Washington DC– September 2016

Carol Love Mystery Tours – Connellsville was the host to several “Carol Love Mystery Tours”

Great Allegheny Passage is completed!

40th Anniversary 1978-2018 Welcome to Connellsville!

Partnership with Yough River Trail Council Student Conservation Association Career and Tech School

Connellsville Economic Development – The Great Allegheny Passage Bike/Hike Trail In 2017, YRTC has documented riders from 48 States and 6 overseas countries.

New Business Openings Investments

Connellsville Downtown Investments – Aaron’s Building Multi-million dollar renovation

Connellsville Economic Development -Cobblestone Hotel Before

Funding secured through: Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau, Benedum Foundation, The Reinvestment Fund, Fay Penn Economic Development Council, Bridgeway Capital, McKenna Foundation and Local Investors.

Cobblestone Hotel

Connellsville Downtown Investments On the Great Allegheny Passage Bike/Hike Trail.

Faรงade Improvement Program

Before- Auto Parts Store

Connellsville Downtown – Economic Development

Historic Restoration Project to the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards

Former P&LE Train Depot.

Now home to Somerset Trust Company – one of our Neighborhood Program Partners.

Connellsville Investments – Sheetz Station –Demolition of Blighted Structures and New Construction

Blighted Properties Demolished along Route 119.

Downtown Connellsville - New Businesses – Creating Jobs

New Businesses – Creating Jobs

Local owners of the Domino’s Pizza invested in updates to the interior and exterior of their building.

New home of Kisiel & Associates.

Former vacant downtown building.

Purchase and building renovation.

New Economic Developments New Ownership

Southside Grocer

Kickstand Kitchen 507 West Crawford Avenue Private Investor Total building renovation Before

Connellsville Canteen

World War II Museum and Café is the project of the Fayette County Cultural Trust and features Harry Clark’s Indian Creek Valley Railroad Display.

Connellsville has been visited by not only tourists but Mayors from other cities who come here to learn about our economic development efforts.

Mayor Richard Roach -Gassaway, West Virginia 08 May 2017

Steps to a Healthier Fayette County

30 concrete flower planters were placed around Connellsville’s downtown. These planters weighed a total of 8 tons! They were paid for by the Neighborhood Partnership Program, PNC Charitable Trusts, LHVB and Downtown Connellsville.

Connellsville – Creating Public Art

Public Art Project with Connellsville Career & Tech School The students in three classes (design, welding and auto painting) participated in this project to create seven birdhouses that will be incorporated into the Downtown Planters. More to come in 2019!

Neighborhood Partnership Program 2014-2020 Partners – Connellsville Area Community Ministries Carnegie Free Library Wesley Health Center Connellsville Redevelopment Authority

Blight Removal And Code Enforcement

Connellsville – Removal of Blight These two structures were demolished by the owner.

Connellsville – Removal of Blight These two buildings located in Connellsville’s downtown were demolished by their owners.

Connellsville – Economic Development Condemned Property Demolition

Before This condemned property was demolished.

This empty lot is for sale and ready for development.

Connellsville – Blight Removal

Connellsville – Blight Removal These three condemned buildings have been taken down. Currently there are no plans for developing these lots.

Economic Development Demolition funds from Hillman Foundation.

New home to Johnson’s Tax & Accounting Service.

Connellsville Still Work to be Done-

New Housing Privately Developed

New Housing Privately Developed

Former Zac Connell School Repurposed – Highlands Hospital “Center for Autism” and “Blended Care Center for Women.”

Partners include: Cleveland Clinic; Highmark, R.K. Mellon Foundation RACP from the state

Highland’s Hospital getting new entrance and lobby renovations

Before

Connellsville Investments Demolition of Blight – Future spot of a 14,000 square foot office building.

Prime Downtown Location

Connellsville -Economic Development Investment

This condemned property was demolished and is being replaced with a new residential 9 unit apartment complex.

This property is located a block from Connellsville’s Amtrak Station.

Before

Connellsville – Blight Removal Economic Development

This building sat vacant for over 15 years and was condemned. The property was purchased, the building was demolished and is now the District Magistrate’s office.

Before

Connellsville – Economic Development Investment South Side School was recently closed. A private developer bought the old school. It is being demolished with future plans for housing.

7th Street – Blighted houses being razed

Property being raised up above the flood plain.

Connellsville Yough River Park Improvements Funding for new playground equipment came from DCNR & CDBG Funding for upgrades to the restrooms were funded by the McKenna Foundation

Other playgrounds throughout Connellsville have been updated with new playground equipment, tennis, basketball & volleyball courts.

Community Development Block Grants Projects Parks being Revitalized

Connellsville Community Center-Porter Theater CDBG

Churches—Lighting and Renovation Projects

Connellsville Historic East Park -Stone Work Restoration Project Private and CDBG United Way – Day of Caring Event The Fayette County Cultural Trust has sponsored several clean up and paint projects with the United Way of Westmoreland County.

Connellsville Historic East Park Renovations Through the NPP Program new roofs were installed on 3 pavilions and the concession stand.

Connellsville Historic East Park -Stone Work Restoration Project – Stone Water Fountain Funding is provided by the Allegheny Foundation Before

After

Flood Recovery Richard King Mellon Foundation

Civic Engagement & Improvements

Veteran’s Plaza by Rotarians

Col. Crawford Statue Library

Carnegie Free Library

Connellsville –The bronze Col. Crawford Statue, that sits in front of the Connellsville Carnegie Free Library celebrated it’s 100thanniversary in 2017.

To celebrate this occasion the Fayette County Cultural Trust raised the funds to cleaned and repair the statue.

Funding came from the National Daughters of the American Revolution, Fayette County Cultural Trust and private donations.

Refurbishment of the Connellsville War Memorial.

Funding for this project came from Scott’s Electric, private donations a Spaghetti dinner fund raiser and the Fayette County Cultural Trust.

The Connellsville Historical Society – Gibson House was repointed with a grant from the Allegheny Foundation through the Connellsville Redevelopment Authority.

This house is believed to be the oldest standing house in Connellsville.

Connellsville Investments – Cameron Court Park Transform this space into an outdoor event area Connellsville Garden Club City of Connellsville Connellsville Redevelopment Authority Fayette County Cultural Trust Connellsville Festival Association

Local Share Account LHVB Hotel Grant

Connellsville Investments – Cameron Court Park Transform this space into an outdoor event area

Opportunities These commercial buildings are currently for sale in the downtown.

New events and distinctions in Connellsville

The Connellsville Canteen is the project of the Fayette County Cultural Trust. The Canteen is Fayette County’s WWII Museum & Harry Clark’s Indian Creek Valley Railroad Display.

Since opening the Canteen has won the State Award from the Downtown Center for downtown asset enhancement.

The Canteen has been featured on the Travel Channel – Mysteries at the Museum, hosted several group tours, been filmed for Black History Month by NBC 4 – Columbus, Ohio and hosted sever boy and girl scout tours.

The Canteen replaced an empty lot and was funded by the Fayette County Cultural Trust, Laurel Highlands Visitor’s Bureau and a private citizen.

Connellsville Redevelopment Authority Award - 2017

Allegheny Foundation has awarded a $125,000 grant to the Fayette County Cultural Trust to provide up to $10,000 in matching funds for Historic Faรงade Renovation and Preservation in the Downtown District!

Thank You to Armstrong Business Solutions for hosting this mixer

What’s in store for the next 10 years in Connellsville?

Appalachian Regional Commission ARC—Local Foods, Local Places Richard King Mellon Foundation