New C-PACE program makes it easier for property owners to obtain long-term, low-interest loansBefore we dive into each organization's winter updates, we want to highlight the Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) program that the county commissioners approved last year.
The Westmoreland C-PACE program makes it easier for the owners of commercial, industrial and agricultural properties to obtain low-cost, long-term financing from private lenders to purchase efficient equipment or to fund renewable energy and/or water-conservation projects. C-PACE can provide up to 100 percent of funding of total project costs by enabling property owners to repay a private loan through an additional assessment. Funding is available for existing buildings as well as the development of commercial, industrial, nonprofit and agricultural properties.
C-PACE does not decrease a property owners’ tax obligation. It adds a special lien to the property, which makes these loans more secure and attractive to the private lenders who finance C-PACE projects.
For an overview of the Westmoreland C-PACE program, click here.
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Division reviews 32 Community Development Block Grant applications as it prepares 2022 Annual Action Plan
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The Community Development Division is in the process of preparing its Fiscal Year 2022 Annual Action Plan for submission to the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development. Thirty-two municipal applications totaling nearly $7 million were received for projects in the following categories: public services; countywide demolition; emergency rehabilitation; and infrastructure improvements that include street reconstruction, stormwater facilities and water-line improvements.
Community Development staff visited the sites of each proposed project and currently are evaluating applications to ensure that they meet HUD’s national objectives and eligibility requirements. The Community Development Division will notify successful applicants once the Annual Action Plan is finalized by the county commissioners and approved by HUD.
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County is expected to received more than $3.6 million in HOME-ARP fundingThanks to the 2021 American Rescue Plan, Westmoreland County is expected to receive more than $3.6 million in funding through HUD’s HOME Investment Partnerships Program. This HOME-ARP money can be used for four eligible activities: - the production or preservation of affordable housing;
- tenant-based rental assistance;
- supportive services, homeless prevention services and housing counseling; and
- the purchase and development of non-congregate shelter.
The Community Development Division will be conducting extensive outreach in the coming months to develop the allocation plan that HUD requires before the money can be spent. To determine the best use of the funds, the county will consult with local service agencies and providers and solicit community feedback as part of the needs assessment and gap analysis.
To increase housing stability across the nation, the American Rescue Plan provides $5 billion to assist individuals or households who are homeless or at risk of homelessness — as well as other vulnerable populations. |
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Congressman Reschenthaler, RIDC's Smith headline EGC's Annual Luncheon
Congressman Guy Reschenthaler and RIDC President Dr. Don Smith will discuss transportation funding, workforce issue and the growing autonomous vehicle industry in western Pennsylvania when they join Economic Growth Connection of Westmoreland for its annual luncheon this month.
Slated for Thursday, Feb. 24, in the Fred Rodgers Center at Saint Vincent College, the annual gathering has become one of the must-attend events for the Westmoreland business community. Networking begins at 11:15 a.m.; lunch is served at 11:45; and the program is expected to run from 12:15 to 1 p.m.
Tickets are $40, and seating is limited. To register, click here.
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WAB Associates purchases 6.23 acres in Westmoreland Business & Research Park
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Westmoreland Business & Research Park came one step closer to being fully occupied when WAB Associates purchased Lot 22 in December. WAB Associates represents New Jersey-based Weiss-Aug Group, which plans to build a 32,000 SF manufacturing facility on the Washington Township lot.
Weiss-Aug Group already has a presence in the park, thanks to its JK Tool operation. Although details of of the new manufacturing operation haven’t yet been disclosed, Weiss-Aug expects its total employment at the park to grow from its current figure of 25 to at least 75 within three to five years.
Construction will begin this year and will take 12-15 months to complete. Plans call for the building to be expanded to 65,000 SF as the business grows.
This sale means the largest of the WCIDC’s parks is almost full. All but one of B&R Park’s 44 lots has been sold. Only one 3.62-acre lot remains available. Westmoreland Business & Research Park is home to 21 companies that employ more than 2,580 workers. It generates approximately $1.9 million in county and local taxes each year.
To view the full announcement, click here.
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Westmoreland Community Action signs seven-year lease; will relocate its administrative headquarters to GreenForge Building
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In January, Westmoreland Community Action signed a seven-year lease with the WCIDC for 8,310 SF at GreenForge Building in Hempfield.
A nonprofit agency dedicated to strengthening communities and families to eliminate poverty, Westmoreland Community Action has experienced significant program growth during the past two years. While telework and some creative working strategies have enabled its new employees to begin working, the WCA had outgrown its offices along South Maple Avenue in Greensburg. GreenForge Suites 111 and 201 will serve as the administrative headquarters for all of the programs WCA operates, and many of the program staff will continue to work out of the South Maple Avenue location. For more details, click here.
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Sign up for WCIDC's weekly 'Featured Site' newsletter
Stay up to date on available commercial properties in Westmoreland County with our weekly "Featured Site" newsletter. Highlighting the commercial properties on westmorelandsites.com, this mailing list is ideal for business owners, real estate agents and site-selection specialists. Sign up here.
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Subdivision and land-development plans – 2021 Year in ReviewIn 2021, the Planning Division reviewed a total of 327 subdivision or land-development applications — an increase of 40 percent over 2020.
The Planning Division reviews all such applications for land in the county. For the 34 municipalities that have their own planning ordinance, it provides a state-mandated courtesy review before local officials may act on the application. But for the 31 municipalities that follow Westmoreland County Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance (SALDO), it provides a final determination on applications.
Of the 327 applications we reviewed last year, 82 were for land in municipalities that follow the county SALDO. Of those, Derry Township had the most applications (25), followed by Donegal Township (12) and South Huntingdon Township (9).
Among the 34 municipalities with local ordinances, Unity Township had the most (49), followed by Hempfield Township (39) and North Huntingdon Township (23).
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2020 Census update – Westmoreland County
2020 Census figures are beginning to become available, with more updates scheduled throughout 2022. As for Westmoreland County, we saw a population decline of 10,506 — from 365,169 in 2010 to 354,663 in 2020. Though a -2.88 percent decline, these figures are not as bleak as were projected and anticipated.
For the 2010-2020 period, the average loss was -162, or -5.56 percent, across municipalities. Here's a summary of the highs and lows:
Total gain/loss – Communities with the greatest population growth include North Huntingdon (1,271), Murrysville (927) and Manor (346). Municipalities with the greatest total loss include Hempfield (-1,775), Unity (-1,001) and New Kensington (-946).
Percent gain/loss – Municipalities with the greatest percent gain include Manor (10.68 percent), New Stanton (7.64 percent), and Hunker (6.53 percent). Municipalities with the greatest percent loss include Arona (-31.08 percent), Youngstown (-22.7 percent), and Adamsburg (-17.44 percent). It should be noted that a municipality’s size plays a significant role in percent gain/loss.
Stay tuned for the Planning Division’s 2021 comprehensive plan annual report, which will highlight the division's efforts to address our aging and declining population. And stay tuned for more 2020 Census updates.
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Welcoming Westmoreland leads the effort to create welcoming environment that will help attract new residents
‘A welcoming population that supports inclusivity and celebrates the diverse cultures throughout the County’ – that’s the desired result of Strategy 2.3, Welcome Everyone, outlined in the county’s comprehensive plan, Reimagining Our Westmoreland.
Thanks to leadership from Greensburg-based nonprofit Westmoreland Community Action, local partners are beginning to take steps toward making this desired result a reality. Over the last year, WCA has been engaging with representatives from the education, government, business, nonprofit and religious sectors to focus on cultivating a welcoming environment and attracting new residents through the Welcoming Westmoreland initiative.
Welcoming Westmoreland’s mission is to create and share opportunities to educate community members in order to cultivate diversity, equity and inclusion for a flourishing and welcoming Westmoreland. The effort already has created two committees that are working on developing welcome materials; assembling diversity, equity, and inclusion resources; and increasing social engagement in the county.
WCA is seeking feedback from residents through an online survey on diversity and inclusivity. Responses will help guide the group’s efforts to improve inclusion, promote the understanding of others and eliminate discrimination in Westmoreland County.
The survey is open through Tuesday, Feb. 22, and takes less than 15 minutes to complete. Click here to take the survey.
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Regional and county broadband efforts continue
The Department of Planning and Development is enthusiastically awaiting the final deliverables from the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission’s equitable broadband access initiative, Southwestern Pennsylvania Connected. The SPC received more than 3,600 survey responses from the region, and this month (February) is slated to complete the development of tools for counties to increase accessibility to broadband. Final deliverables include the overall study; a social media tool kit; funding and implementation matrixes; implementation and guidance elements; and a Connectivity Hub website with mapping applications to illustrate broadband access, infrastructure and adoption and equity.
With the SPC study wrapping up, the county is accelerating efforts to expand reliable and affordable internet to areas in need across Westmoreland. A task force is being formed to help the initiative by providing thoughtful feedback and collaboration with stakeholders in fields such as public safety, healthcare, technology, education and business/economic development. The task force will advise on goal and priority setting and consultant and project selection. It also will provide technical expertise. After creating the task force, the county will hire a consultant, find and secure potential funding and request proposals for individual projects.
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Register now for Blight Boot Camp 2022!Westmoreland County Redevelopment Authority & Land Bank will hold its inaugural blight-remediation summit — Blight Boot Camp 2022 — in April to address the causes of and solutions to blight in Westmoreland County. This one-day event is intended to highlight the work of RACW and its partners, as well as share a set of blight-remediation tools while teaching local-government staff the steps they can take to address blight in their communities. Participants will gain exposure to industry best practices, data-driven solutions and real-world examples of what has worked in similar communities.
The summit runs 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, April 22, in the Event Center at Westmoreland County Community College's Youngwood campus. In attendance will be municipal and county officials; code-enforcement professionals; school district administrators, solicitors and business managers; magistrates; developers; real estate agents; and other relevant participants from both in and outside of Westmoreland County.
RACW has lined up a host of dynamic speakers with years of relevant experience in the fight on blight. Topics will include the importance of data-driven decisions, using local tools and resources for local solutions, and — most importantly — what people at the community level need to know to start revitalizing their neighborhoods.
Click here to register for Blight Boot Camp 2022. Sponsorship opportunities available; for details, click here or email. |
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 RACW Executive Director Brian Lawrence provides an overview of the components of a blight-remediation plan during a recent presentation.
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RACW helps Latrobe develop, implement blight-remediation plan
RACW is partnering with the City of Latrobe to create and implement a data-driven plan of progressive discipline to address and remediate blight throughout the city. Progress already is under way as the Redevelopment Authority works closely with Latrobe Community Development, city officials, law and code enforcement officers, local business owners and bankers, as well as the Westmoreland County planning department and foundations such as the Katherine Mabis McKenna Foundation, the Latrobe Foundation and the McFeely-Rogers Foundation.
A blight inventory has been conducted within the city, and a Blight Task Force has been formed to analyze the data and tailor and prioritize a toolkit specific to the types of blight-remediation projects that will have the most positive impact on the community and economic health of Latrobe.
This long-term project seeks to address and remediate blight in ways that are tangible and accessible to the community of Latrobe. Through regular meetings, accountability and cooperation between the public and private sectors, local stakeholders and charitable organizations, it is our hope that the Latrobe Blight Plan can be a blueprint for similar communities in the area in the fight on blight.
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 Joe Sisley
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Longtime Marketing Director Joe Sisley retires; Alicia Henry promoted to lead county's marketing efforts
As December came to a close, the WCIDC and its Dev Council colleagues celebrated the 43-year public service career of WCIDC Marketing Director Joe Sisley. Joe retired at the end of 2021.
During his time at the WCIDC, Joe played a role in every land sale and lease in our industrial parks. He was instrumental in helping hundreds of businesses find a home in Westmoreland County, and his impact extends beyond the county park system as Joe often connected buyers with the owners of privately owned properties outside of our parks.
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Subscribe to the Dev Council newsletterFor those who were forwarded this newsletter or who are viewing this as a webapge, you can make sure you don't miss out on updates by signing up to be emailed the Dev Council newsletter. The newsletter comes out four times a year, and we promise not to spam you. Sign up by clicking here. |
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