The
Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), in partnership with the
PA Department of Community and Economic Development and the
City, have awarded $402,500 in
Mainstreets Pittsburgh funds to
twelve neighborhood business districts.
Funds must be used to
support activities that revitalize local business districts, stimulate
economic growth and impact targeted areas via measurable criteria.
Mainstreets districts are also eligible for technical assistance
provided by the URA,
PA Downtown Center,
Community Design Center of Pittsburgh, and
Community Technical Assistance Center.
“The six-year program
moves communities from reliance on public funding to a more diverse
funding structure, so they can become more self-sustaining through a
variety of mechanisms,” says Megan Stearman, with the URA.
“Neighborhoods are selected because of their readiness—they have
existing organizations in place, can steward new programs and
have been through community planning.”
Grants will support
community events in Hazelwood, marketing efforts in the West End, a
visioning plan in Mt. Washington, and the Clean, Green & Screen
initiative in Friendship. “Many neighborhoods are thinking about the
built environment in terms of crime prevention,” says Stearman. “The
South Side is managing the success they’ve had, and
Lawrenceville is in the unique position to learn from that.” South Side
and Lawrenceville—both in the final phase of Mainstreets—are launching
neighborhood beautification strategies.
As the URA’s new
Mainstreets Pittsburgh coordinator, Josette Fitzgibbons will manage
relationships with district awardees and funders, and develop
educational programs for neighborhood organizations and businesses.
Since 2002, Mainstreets districts have stimulated $94 million in total
investment, recruited 558 new businesses and created 3,200 new jobs.
Writer:
Jennifer BaronSource: Megan Stearman, URA
Image courtesy Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh