Allegheny County Welcomes Two New Communities to Allegheny Together
 
In September 2008, Bridgeville Borough and Verona Borough were selected from a competitive pool of applicants to join Elizabeth Borough, Stowe Township, Swissvale Borough, and Tarentum Borough in the Allegheny Together program. The Allegheny Together program was launched in 2007 by the County Executive Dan Onorato in four pilot communities to assist traditional pedestrian-based business districts throughout the county. The new program stresses community organization and data-driven planning as a way to direct public investment, spur private investment and revitalize our communities. 
 
The focused, three-year approach led by the Economic Development Department aims to build the capacity of community groups in these neighborhoods with the support of a professional staff of architects, real estate experts, community planners, community development specialists and project managers. Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation and Town Center Associates were hired by the County to implement the program in all six of the Allegheny Together communities. Both organizations have a wealth of experience and successful track records in commercial revitalization activities.
 
The services provided to each community can be broken down into three main components;
 
Organizational Start-Up Services: A series of key-issues workshops and centralized educational seminars will give community members an opportunity to get involved. Each community will go through a long range planning process to establish a vision and direction for the community's business district.  From this process annual action plans will be developed to help communities turn their vision into a reality.
 
Downtown Organization Support: In order to help communities communicate with their constituents and to stay organized, management assistance will be provided in the form of website development, central office support, newsletter development, business communication services, downtown recognition awards, and an online property database.
 
Downtown Planning Resources: Analytical tools and resources will be provided to each community to aid the organizations in their planning processes.  Tools will include a market analysis, traffic and parking study, a strategic plan, design guidelines, ordinance review, and property data collection.  
  
Allegheny County welcomes you to the program, and we look forward to working with you.

Downtown Bridgeville Recognition