HOME Investment Partnerships Program: Mary Street Revitalization Project nearly complete

The Lead Safe Program offers assistance to low- and moderate-income people in owner-occupied homes and eligible rental property owners. Eligible applicants will receive financial assistance to address lead-based paint hazards and to address other health and safety hazards with projects such as window/door replacements, paint stabilization and minor structural repairs.

Parents, caregivers and property owners can ensure the safety of our community’s children by protecting them from the toxic threat of lead exposure in our homes. For details about the program and qualification process, see the Lead Safe Program website.

The Economic Growth Connection helped Westmoreland-based Quality Support, LLC obtain a 15-year, low-interest loan that will be used consolidate and expand its operations and create new jobs.

At its Sept. 28 annual event, the EGC was proud to honor Chad Amond, president and CEO of Westmoreland County Chamber of Commerce, with the Lifetime Achievement Award for his years of service to the Westmoreland County business community as well as his contributions to the economic development of the county as a whole. Joined by more than 300 of his closest friends, family and colleagues, Chad accepted the award at Bella Terra Vineyards.

In October, the WCIDC finalized the first land sale at our newest industrial park — Commerce Crossing at Westmoreland. Commercial real estate developer Al. Neyer bought Lot 3 and will build a 250,000 SF Class A distribution center on its 11.77-acre pad ready site.

Al. Neyer — which has an option agreement to purchase a 12.13-acre pad-ready adjacent lot — began site preparation in October and expects to complete the facility in summer of 2022. At full capacity, it's expected to employ 140 workers.

The October ribbon-cutting event that Elliott Company held for its $60 million cryogenic pump test facility in Jeannette was a celebration of what can be accomplished through public-private partnerships.

The 13 acres that Elliott built upon had been home to Jeannette Glass, one of several glass manufacturers that had flourished in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and earned Jeannette its “Glass City” nickname. However, by the mid1900s most of the glass plants in the city had been shuttered, and in 1983, the Jeannette Glass plant shut down for good. As this blighted property sat unused, its dilapidated industrial buildings further deteriorated. 

Intervala, an electrical equipment manufacturer, held a grand opening event for its new facility at RIDC Westmoreland Innovation Center in September. The WCIDC is a marketing partner with RIDC for the former Sony manufacturing plant in Mount Pleasant, and we’re excited to celebrate the facility’s newest tenant. 

Intervala moved its operation and 210 employees to RIDC Westmoreland from East Pittsburgh in late 2020 and signed a five-year lease for 217,000 SF in January of 2021 to house both its corporate headquarters and an electronics manufacturing facility. RIDC invested $5.6 million to renovate the space, and Intervala made a multimillion-dollar investment into equipment, technology tools and software for its manufacturing complex. At the time of its move to Westmoreland, Intervala expected to add 140 jobs over five years. This investment by a cutting-edge, technology-based company illustrates the opportunity that this site presents and validates the mission to transform this regional manufacturing asset into a multi-tenant facility.

There are seven sub-regional planning districts. You can follow along with the Planning District process by visiting ReimaginingOurWestmoreland.org.

The continuation of the Planning District process is made possible with support from the Westmoreland County Board of Commissioners, and guidance and facilitation from consultant Susan Hockenberry. A native of the region, Susan is an experienced educator, facilitator and executive coach. 

Using ArcGIS Online, the data was integrated into a custom mapping tool along with other essential data sets to provide municipal officials with a complete picture that will inform the strategic implementation of blight prevention, mitigation and removal tactics. Once the mapping tool is finalized, the Redevelopment Authority of Westmorland County will build off of the initial inventory to create a plan to generate consensus for a blight strategy, assess the nature and extent of blight, convene a blight task force, engage municipal officials, and set out a blight strategy and tactics necessary to address blight. This phase is set to start December 2021.

This project supports Reimagining Our Westmoreland’s Strategy 5.1, Eliminate Blight.

New logo, same mission

You might have recently noticed a new look to the materials from the Redevelopment Authority and the Land Bank. After years of being represented by separate logos, we've adopted a single logo to better convey our unified mission to build healthy and whole communities by eliminating blight and its influences. We hope you like it as much as we do!

Corey Block joined the Planning Department in the role of Planner III in late July. Corey handles general planning and GIS mapping for the department. She earned a bachelor’s degree in sustainable urban environments from New York University and a master’s degree in urban and regional planning as well as a graduate certificate in GIS from the University of Florida. Corey started her career interning for the New York City Health Department as well as the U.S. Army training base in Grafenwoehr, Germany. Prior to joining the department, she held planner positions for the City of Hampton and Fairfax County, Va.

Karen Horchak has joined the Community Development Division in the position of Grants Coordinator II. Karen assists with the administration and implementation of the county’s Community Development Block Grant, Emergency Solutions Grant, HOME Investment Partnerships Program, the Lead Safe Westmoreland program and other state and local grant programs. Karen holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology and philosophy and a master’s degree in policy analysis and administration. Most recently, she held the position of operations manager for a small nuclear engineering firm, where she oversaw the administration of several Department of Energy grants. She also has extensive experience in the nonprofit sector, having worked for the United Way, East Liberty Chamber of Commerce and Downtown DuBois Revitalization Group.

Rick Mills has joined the Community Development Division as the Housing Specialist for the Lead Safe Westmoreland program. Rick is tasked with the inspection of program-eligible housing units for lead-based paint hazards, preparation of work specifications and cost estimates. He also will consult with homeowners and landlords and monitor the projects throughout the assigned remediation work. Rick, who brings nearly 30 years of experience to the position, has spent most of his career in the residential and small commercial construction industry. A former owner of a fire and disaster restoration company, he most recently managed a demolition company for a local nonprofit.    

Kristi Mitchell joined the Planning Department in the Planner II position in late August. Kristi handles general planning and is the primary administrator of the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance (SALDO). She earned a bachelor’s degree in social sciences and history from the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg and a master's degree in landscape architecture from Chatham University. Prior to joining the department, Kristi worked in the private sector in the fields of landscape architecture, architecture and master planning.