Community Development

The Homes Build Hope staff and board of directors gather for a photo at one of the new residences during the May 19 Mary Street revitalization open house.

Homes Build Hope completes Mary Street Revitalization project

The Community Development Division is excited to announce the completion of a new affordable housing rental project in Latrobe.

In partnership with Westmoreland County, Homes Build Hope, Inc. has strategically worked for several years on the development of a a blighted area in Latrobe to create an attractive multi-unit rental complex. The Mary Street Revitalization project got underway in 2017 when HBH began to acquire 12 properties along a two-block stretch of Mary Street. HBH used grant funding from the county to demolish the blighted structures and prepare the site for redevelopment.

After several covid-19-related delays, construction began in early 2021, and an open house celebrating its completion was held last month. The development features two triplex buildings, each with a three-bedroom unit and two two-bedroom units. Homes Build Hope is currently reviewing applicants for income eligible tenants with full rent-up expected within the coming months.

For details on affordable housing for low- to moderate-income households in Westmoreland County, click here.

Grand View Senior Residences - rendering

Construction of the 50-unit Grand View Senior Residences is expected to begin in the fall of this year.

Housing authority to build 50-unit Grand View Senior Residences

A new senior affordable housing community is one step closer to becoming a reality. In late 2021, the Westmoreland County Housing Authority (WCHA) was awarded Low-Income Housing Tax Credits to construct a 50-unit four-story apartment building for senior citizens in Irwin Borough. Westmoreland County has pledged $1.5 million of HOME Investment Partnerships grant funding toward the project.

The building is designated for income-qualified seniors ages 62 and older. Several units will be designated for households with income below 20 percent of the area median income, with the remainder of units to be rented to tenants whose household income is below 60 percent of the area’s median income. Furthermore, eight units will be targeted specifically to income-eligible veterans.

WCHA has received conditional plan approval by Irwin Council, and construction is anticipated to begin in fall of 2022.

Economic Growth Connection

Wendi Hurley

EGC welcomes new outreach & projects coordinator

In May, Wendilyn Hurley joined the EGC as the outreach & projects coordinator with the Forum for Workforce Development, which collaborates with educators, employers and communities to engage students to prepare a highly qualified workforce that meets the needs of the regional economy. In her new role, Wendi is responsible for building and maintaining the relationships that are so vital to executing the Forum’s mission and vision.

Wendi has held roles in both nonprofit and private sector industries, from auto financing to textiles to public utilities and more. Most of her experience is in project management, marketing and communications. She has a bachelor's in communications with a minor in graphic communication technology from California University of Pennsylvania and also an associate's degree in liberal arts and related certificates from Westmoreland County Community College.

Are you an employer or educator who's interested in preparing students for the regional job market? If so, email Wendi.

Industrial Development Corporation

An affiliate of Al. Neyer signed an option agreement for Lot 16 (highlighted above) at Westmoreland Technology Park II. The property is across the street from another Al. Neyer-affiliated facility.

Al. Neyer affiliate signs option agreement for 14.79 acres at Technology Park II

In the first of two option sales agreements approved this year for parcels at Westmoreland Technology Park II, an affiliate of real estate development company Al. Neyer LLC agreed to purchase Lot 16 for $887,400. The affiliate — Hempfield Commerce Center II — has until August to finalize the purchase.

Al. Neyer plans to build on the 14.79-acre lot a 150,000 SF flex industrial warehouse facility that could support more than 150 jobs when at full occupancy. This lot is located across the street from the 150,000-SF Hempfield Commerce Center I facility that another Al. Neyer affiliate is building. To view the full Lot 16 announcement, click here.

Red Fish, LLC has signed an option agreement to purchase Lot 6 at Tech Park II for a Fossil Industries expansion project. Fossil Industries' existing facility is located immediately behind and to the left of the highlighted lot.

Fossil Industries plans to expand operation to Lot 6 at Technology Park II

Fossil Industries may have just opened its manufacturing facility this year, but the company already has an expansion in the works. In April, an affiliate of the company — Red Fish, LLC — signed an agreement to purchase Lot 6 in Tech Park II for $228,000. The option agreement calls for Red Fish to finalize the purchase of the 5.72-acre lot by October.

Fossil Industries, which opened its 41,000 SF advance manufacturing facility on an adjacent lot earlier this year, uses high-tech processes to manufacturer items for various industries. It intends to build a 52,000 SF facility on Lot 6. This expansion project is expected to add five salaried employees and up to 20 hourly employees to the company's workforce within three years. To view the full announcement, click here.

Roechling Industrial, which has called Technology Park I home since 2001, has signed an option sales agreement to purchase the last available lot in the park. The sale will make Tech Park I the sixth county industrial park to have all lots sold.

Roechling Industrial signs option agreement to purchase last available lot in Westmoreland Technology Park I

In May, the WCIDC approved an option agreement for Roechling Industrial to purchase Lot 1-R in Westmoreland Technology Park I. Roechling, which operates out of a building on an adjacent lot, plans two expansions that will increase its number of employees in the park from 61 to nearly 100. Roechling has six months to complete the purchase. When the sale is finalized, Tech Park I will join Industrial Parks I-IV and Monessen Riverfront Industrial Park on the list of parks for which the WCIDC has sold all available lots.

Currently, Tech Park I is home to 14 businesses that employ more than 610 workers. The park generates approximately $550,000 annually in local and county tax revenue. For details, click here.

Westmoreland Community Action signs seven-year lease for GreenForge Building; Donohoe Road office building now fully leased

GreenForge Building is the new administrative headquarters for Westmoreland Community Action. A nonprofit agency dedicated to strengthening communities and families to eliminate poverty, WCA signed a seven-year lease for 8,310 SF of space in Suites 111 and 201. The lease took affect May 1.

Westmoreland Community Action has experienced significant program growth during the past two years. While its administrative team will work out of GreenForge, many of its program staff will continue to work out of its old Greensburg location.

The lease brings GreenForge — a building with 17,023 SF of leasable space along Donohoe Road in Hempfield — to full occupancy. It currently has six tenants with approximately 90 employees. To view the full announcement, click here.

WCIDC 2021 Annual Report

Published in the first quarter of the year, our 2021 Annual Report recaps a very busy year for the WCIDC. Click here to review the land sales, leases, expansions, new construction, business outreach and partnerships that made 2021 such a successful year.

As part of a statewide network, our Business Development office can help your company overcome challenges by connecting you with the right resources

Westmoreland County Industrial Development Corporation's Business Development staff is dedicated to helping connect local businesses with resources and programs that can help them thrive. As part of a statewide network of service providers, we often can offer solutions that many don't realize are available. And what we learn during our visits to area workplaces is then relayed to county and state officials and policy makers so they can help our county and state be more competitive in the global marketplace. For details, email Business Development Director Kim Donnelly.

Familiar faces from Westmoreland Development Council join IDC staff

Melissa Iarussi

The WCIDC is excited to welcome to its ranks two people who previously worked closely with the organization through their roles with other Dev Council agencies.

Melissa Iarussi, who had been serving as administrative assistant in the Planning Department, has taken the position of WCIDC development coordinator. In her new role, Melissa assists with managing the overall development, construction and maintenance of WCIDC properties, facilities and development projects. She also assists with the process of soliciting bids and awarding contracts for all WCIDC construction and maintenance projects.

Karen Horchak

Karen Horchak, who had been working as a grants coordinator in the county Community Development Division, has moved over to fill the role of WCIDC operations manager. In her new role, Karen will assist the operations director with overall financial stewardship and operations, including grant development and administration. Karen holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology and philosophy and a master’s degree in policy analysis and administration. She previously 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.

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.

Planning Division

Commissioners hire Michael Baker International to design and deploy equitable broadband internet plan for Westmoreland County

After reviewing the recommendations of a broadband taskforce organized by the Planning Department, the County Commissioners hired a consultant that will lead the efforts to bring reliable internet service to unserved and underserved locations in Westmoreland. Hired May 12, Michael Baker International will:

create an equitable broadband expansion plan for the county,
identify areas in need of an investment in broadband infrastructure, including two early action projects, and
aid the county in creating a partnership with a private internet provider to expand its services to those target areas.

Additionally, the civil engineering firm is tasked with ensuring residents have access to affordable options and digital literacy programs. Funding for the hire comes from the federal American Rescue Plan.

Developing broadband capacity is identified as a priority in the Reimagining Our Westmoreland comprehensive plan. To that end, the county has collaborated with the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission since 2020 to identify broadband challenges and opportunities at a regional level.

For the full Michael Baker International announcement, click here.

2021 Comprehensive Plan Annual Report released

Last year, communities, businesses, nonprofits and other organizations helped make progress on implementing aspects of Reimagining Our Westmoreland, the county’s comprehensive plan. Adopted in 2018, the plan identifies more than 300 action steps, 38 strategies, seven core objectives and one overarching goal to attract, develop and retain a diverse and stable workforce that can sustain a healthy economy. In the three years since the plan’s adoption, progress has been made on all 38 strategies.

In 2021, Planning Division staff, strategy champions and other supporters were busy connecting students to future careers within the region; mitigating blight within our communities; identifying ways to be more welcoming and inclusive; and championing broadband investment to close the digital divide.

Click here to check out the 2021 Comprehensive Plan Annual report to learn more about the great work occurring throughout Westmoreland County.

Corey Block discusses the county's role in planning during the May 2 Economics Exchange Day.

Block shares insights into county planning role at Economic Exchange Day

Planner Corey Block was among the guest speakers at the Economic Exchange Day that the Greater Latrobe Laurel Valley Chamber of Commerce organized for a select group of high school students.

About 50 economics students from the Derry and Latrobe areas gathered at Greater Latrobe Senior High School on May 2 to learn how land use and economics are interconnected. Block spoke about the county’s role in planning and how the goals and strategies of the comprehensive plan aim to create better places, which have both direct and indirect effects on our economy.

Other speakers — including Unity Township Solicitor Gary Falatovich, Arnold Palmer Regional Airport Executive Director Gabe Monzo, Penn State Extension educator in agriculture Dustin Heeter and Joshua Theakson of PennDOT — discussed their roles and interaction with land use. Panelists also talked about their involvement with the Laurel Valley Transportation Improvement Project, how it has come to fruition after 30-plus years of planning, and how the project can be seen as an economic opportunity.

Students were given the opportunity to do asset mapping and also envision what development or preservation along the corridor could look like. Unity Township intends to take the student comments into consideration as they update their comprehensive plan.

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Alle-Kiski Intergovernmental Council update

The Planning Division is proud to continue providing administrative and facilitation support to the Alle-Kiski Intergovernmental Council. Seven of the 11 Alle-Kiski communities have formally committed to explore and advance intergovernmental arrangements to accomplish community goals as members of the AK IGC.

In its first year of operation, the AK IGC member communities have explored opportunities for sharing services/equipment and jointly purchasing items; initiated talks of regional code enforcement with the Westmoreland County Redevelopment Authority and Land Bank; and started laying the groundwork to conduct a regional blight inventory by considering enlisting additional services from the Planning Division. To learn more about what the AK IGC is working on, click here.

The AK IGC currently is made up of Allegheny Township, Arnold, East Vandergrift, Lower Burrell, New Kensington, Upper Burrell Township and West Leechburg. Vandergrift has expressed interest in joining as the eighth member community. Thus far, representatives from these eight municipalities continue to show up to the table energized about intergovernmental opportunities to improve their communities.

The AK IGC stems from the year-plus Planning District process in the Alle-Kiski Planning District. This year, the Planning Division started working with the 15 municipalities of the Central Planning District to align county strategies with local priorities and find shared solutions to common challenges across municipal boundaries. Speaking of the Central Planning District ...

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Central Planning District update

In January, the Planning Division kicked-off its second Planning District process by working with 15 communities located in the center of Westmoreland County. The Central Planning District is made up of the cities of Greensburg, Jeannette and Latrobe; the townships of Hempfield and Unity; and the boroughs of Adamsburg, Arona, Hunker, Madison, New Stanton, Penn, South Greensburg, Southwest Greensburg, Youngstown and Youngwood.

This process aims to tap into the vision, intelligence and capabilities of the central Westmoreland communities with the goal of connecting them to the effort to attract, develop and retain a diverse and stable workforce that will sustain a healthy economy.

Early on, it became clear that the Central Planning District is one that values commitment to community; is motivated by progress and meaningful action; expects integrity, cooperation and collaboration as members work together; and cannot abide arrogance or a lack of commitment and regard for others. As conversations shifted to land use, the Planning Division led a series of exercises designed to help local officials identify areas and assets to preserve, enhance and transform within the central Westmoreland communities. Information gathered through this exercise will be used to create a future land-use map to help guide the communities to think about future growth and development decisions.

Over the next several months, local officials will engage in activities and discussions centered on mobility and intergovernmental cooperation to continue to align County strategies with local priorities. To follow along with the process, see https://www.reimaginingourwestmoreland.org/.

Redevelopment Authority

More than 150 attendees help make Blight Boot Camp 2022 a huge success

With more than 150 attendees, Blight Boot Camp 2022 was a great success! The Redevelopment Authority & Land Bank’s inaugural blight-remediation summit featured lively and informative sessions and provided participants with actionable steps they could take to start remediating blight in their communities right away.

In addition to learning how to partner with the RA/LB on blight-remediation efforts, attendees made valuable connections during the April 22 event. While discussing their best blight remediation practices, municipal officials networked with one their governmental colleagues and various corporate and nonprofit organizations in attendance.

RA/LB is excited to keep the Blight Boot Camp momentum going throughout the year with regular follow-up events to help municipalities be intentional and impactful in the fight on blight in their communities.

Browse the Land Bank's inventory of properties

The Land Bank has helped re-energize communities by facilitating the rehabilitation of dozens of properties throughout the county. To view a map of all Land Bank projects past and present and browse a list of the current inventory of properties, click here.

Interested in purchasing and rehabbing a Lank Bank property? You can learn more by clicking here.

RACW Executive Director Brian Lawrence (standing) and his staff meet with members of the Latrobe community to discuss blight-remediation efforts.

Redevelopment Authority helps Latrobe formulate plan to address blight

The Redevelopment Authority & Land Bank is pleased to be a part of the City of Latrobe's blight-remediation plan. Working in cooperation with the Westmoreland County Planning Department, city officials, local charitable organizations, business owners and more, the city was able to complete a full blight inventory, which translated the full scope and scale of blight into data that Latrobe officials are using to make informed decisions to remediate blight and enforce property maintenance codes.

The blight inventory and plan is already yielding positive results for Latrobe. The city used the data for a Neighborhood Assistance Program application by the Latrobe Community Revitalization Program that will help the city fund future blight-remediation efforts. Be sure to join us in October (see below) to learn how you can get started with a blight inventory and plan in your own community!

Blight-remediation event planned for October

On the heels of Blight Boot Camp 2022, the Redevelopment Authority & Land Bank of Westmoreland County is planning a follow-up event. Planned for October, the program will expand on topics selected by attendees of the spring event. While smaller in scale than the April summit, the fall event will include regional speakers and interactive learning. It also will allow time for reflection on actionable steps taken following the spring summit and discussion of specific blight issues facing communities. Topics, dates, and venue will be announced soon; keep an eye on the Redevelopment Authority & Land Bank of Westmoreland County’s Facebook page to stay updated!

Development Council

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