In 2009, two new communities, Bellevue Borough and Coraopolis Borough were selected from a competitive pool of applicants to join Elizabeth Borough, Stowe Township, Swissvale Borough, Tarentum Borough, Bridgeville Borough, and Verona 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 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 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.

PHLF Main Street Revitalization

The Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation (PHLF) brings over forty years of experience in community revitalization to the Allegheny Together team.  We are looking forward to working with both Coraopolis and Bellevue, the 2009 additions to the Allegheny Together Program, as they enter into the Year One planning phase of the Allegheny Together program. In year one of the program, PHLF's goal is to make sure that we are setting the stage in both communities for a productive revitalization as we transition to more physical implementations in the second and third years.   

PHLF has a proven track record of utilizing historic buildings, good marketing and innovative real estate techniques, to harness new investment to restore buildings, to bring fresh initiative to the merchandising of shop owners, and to attract new businesses.

We take pride in delivering results.  We work with communities to identify strategic opportunities and then we pursue them aggressively.  This means accessing a variety of funding programs.  It means leveraging those dollars and building partnerships.  And it means taking purposeful steps that build the kind of momentum that can lead to a sustained revitalization.  This is what we do.  And it is why we are known throughout southwestern PA for our ability to deliver lasting results.