Allegheny Together
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Allegheny
Together endeavors to encourage well-planned, well-designed and
geographically-focused investment in the established, urban commercial
districts of Allegheny County while respecting the unique history,
character, and built environment of each. The program aims to help
organize and empower each community to fulfill its collective vision.
Allegheny Together is a program of:
ALLEGHENY COUNTY
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
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Please Forward this E-Newsletter!
Spread the word about the great things happening in YOUR downtown by clicking on "Forward Email" located at the bottom of this column. Thank you!
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DOWNTOWN RECOGNITION AWARD
Frank Zieger, Jr.
The Stowe Business District Advisory Committee (BDA) has chosen Frank Zieger, Jr. as its Downtown Recognition Award recipient. Frank is being recognized for his many years of community service and his dedication to Stowe's revitalization initiatives.
In addition to owning and operating Ace Tavern on Broadway for 33 years, Frank has served as Stowe Commissioner for the past 12 years and has also represented Stowe on the Char-West Council of Governments (COG) for over 7 years. Frank was instrumental in helping to bring the Allegheny Together Program to Stowe, which supports Stowe in the renewal and revitalization of our central business district.
Frank worked along with the COG's Multi-Municipal Task Force to secure grants of about $170,000 to implement Phase One of Allegheny Together's Stowe Business District revitalization program. Additionally, he worked with the Public Safety Committee of the Board of Commissioners and the Stowe Police Department to have crime watch cameras placed at key locations in the Business District to reduce crime and loitering. This was done at little expense to the township.
This quote from Frank sums up his philosophy: "Revitalizing the central business district is key to bringing in new businesses and the future long term stability of Stowe Township."
The BDAC congratulates Frank on this honor and thanks him for his many years of service.
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DOWNTOWN STOWE CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Annual Stowe Township Fire Department Fair
July 5-10
Sto-Rox Football Field
Sto-Rox Block Watch Meeting
July 22
7 PM
Municipal Building
To find out about fun events happening in other Allegheny Together communities, check out the Allegheny Together Events Calendar. |
POSITIVE PROGRESS IN DOWNTOWN STOWE!
Good things are happening in Stowe's downtown. The Stowe Business District Advisory Committee (BDAC) continues to work hard toward the goals in their outlined in their Annual Strategic Action Plan which they created with Town Center Associates through the Allegheny Together Program. The BDAC is focused on building upon the positive aspects of downtown Stowe and working towards necessary improvements.
The Architecture and Design Initiative of the BDAC has recently focused a great deal of attention in working with the Township regarding streetscape improvements. The Township Commissioners have approved the proposed streetscape improvements (lighting & landscaping) for the two core blocks on Broadway and are moving forward towards the biding process. Additionally, the BDAC has been working on a revised signage ordinance proposed for the central business district which has been approved by the Ordinance Committee and Officer. The ordinance will next move through the Planning Commission, and then will move on to the Township Commissioners for possible approval in June. The BDAC will also be sending a member to take the required class offered through TreeVitalize to become a Tree Tender. Doing so may eventually allow Stowe to participate in a program through TreeVitalize which offers free trees to the community for the business district.
As part of the committee's Business Development Initiative, the committee recently hosted a Merchant Breakfast to update the local merchants as well as community members about the committee's efforts. The Merchant Breakfast was also a forum for the introduction of two new business development programs, Downtown First and Downtown Properties, which are being offered to Stowe's businesses and property owners by Town Center Associates (TCA). These innovative new programs are focused on supporting and retaining Stowe's current businesses, as well as recruiting new businesses to the community. To learn more, please see the specific articles about these programs in this e-newsletter.
As you can see many positive things are happening through Stowe's participation in the Allegheny Together Program and through the persistent efforts of the Township, the BDAC Committee, and the Stowe's invaluable volunteers!
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YOUR WORK AND YOUR HEALTH
Health and wellness are receiving a lot more attention today than they have in the past for good reason: increasing healthcare costs are a burden and more and more people are looking for ways to take control of their health and feel better. Workplace wellness is the term for any activities and policies that a business adopts to support employees making healthy lifestyle choices. Focusing on workplace wellness makes sense because a worker spends more waking hours at work than at home or anywhere else.
Often very simple changes can improve employee wellness and morale. A well-designed wellness program can help businesses see positive results in their bottom line. The Allegheny County Health Department is offering to help businesses start their own workplace wellness programs and will provide resources and technical assistance to interested businesses. Even if you own a small business there are opportunities to partner with neighboring businesses to develop wellness programs. If you would like more information please contact Darija Wiswell at the Allegheny County Health Department 412-247-7815.
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TAKE THE DOWNTOWN FIRST PLEDGE TODAY!
Join the Movement. Put
Your Money Where Your House Is
"Homes located in communities with a walkable downtown business district are worth 10-20% more than homes in other communities"
The Downtown First Pledge is simple. All you have to do is try to choose businesses in your
downtown first. Before looking elsewhere, try to think about what local
restaurants, shops, or professionals in your community might offer the
service or product you are looking for.
When you take the Downtown First Pledge,
you'll quickly see the difference these simple decisions have on your
quality of life. You'll spend less time in your car, get to know local
business owners, and help ensure that good businesses remain in your
community.
Furthermore, the economic benefits of shopping locally will be felt throughout our region by strengthening our local economies. If
half the employed population spent just $50 each month in locally
owned, independent businesses, it would generate more then $42.6
billion in revenue. How's that for a return on your investment!*
CLICK HERE TO TAKE THE DOWNTOWN FIRST PLEDGE TODAY. It only takes a few seconds and demonstrates your support for your community!
DOWNTOWN FIRST PLEDGE:
I
PLEDGE that I will try to choose my downtown businesses FIRST. I will
try to think about what restaurants, shops or professionals in my
community might offer what I am looking for, before looking
elsewhere. By supporting this movement, I am helping to improve the
vibrancy of my community and our region.
Downtown First is a downtown business support and promotion program created by
Town Center Associates.
*According to a study by the US Department of Labor |
FIND AVAILABLE PROPERTIES IN DOWNTOWN STOWE!
If
your business needed a retail storefront or office space in downtown Stowe, how would you find a building currently available for sale or
lease?
Town Center Associates has the answer: a new website, www.downtownproperties.net. Think
of it as a multiple listing service just for downtown properties in
select towns in the Pittsburgh area. This site lets you search for
available commercial properties in nearly 30 area downtowns. Each
listing has a recent property photo and contact information, as well as
demographic information on the community, mapping, and other helpful
features.
If you own a downtown property that you would like to
sell, or if you have a storefront you would like to lease, contact Town
Center Associates at 724-728-0500 or 412-577-7447, or email us at tca@towncenter.info. Our
friendly staff will make sure that your property is placed on this
website for all to see. Best of all, your property will be promoted at
NO CHARGE to you! When you call or write, ask about receiving a FREE
poster that will help promote both your property and the site!
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PHLF UPDATE
Great businesses capture foot traffic, maintain their building's historical integrity, and are intensely focused on customer service. PHLF is offering technical assistance to business owners to help them make their businesses the best they can be. As many property owners are aware, Allegheny County's Allegheny Restores program is a way for you to make capital improvements to the façade of your building. However, this is not the only assistance available to you. PHLF is offering the services of an interior designer to you and your business. Our designers can help you draw in more foot traffic through an eye-catching window display, improve the interior layout of your space, and offer suggestions for new paint colors or window treatments. This is a great opportunity for your business to get recommendations from a design professional, free of charge. To set up an appointment, please contact David Farkas at 412-471-5808.As previously mentioned, Allegheny Restores is a great opportunity for property and business owners in the Allegheny Together communities to make improvements to their facades. PHLF will be stepping up its role in this area and assisting property and business owners in bidding the work out to subcontractors, as well as helping to advise about the construction phase. PHLF brings over 40 years of restoration and renovation experience, and we are excited about working with interested business and property owners.
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STAY UP TO DATE ON DOWNTOWN STOWE
With Our Quarterly E-Newsletter
You are
reading the Stowe FOCUS: your quarterly downtown e-newsletter. By using
e-newsletters instead of print newsletters, we can send the information about
our downtown revitalization efforts to a greater number of people and save
paper--a win for the community and the environment!
To
receive your copy of the e-newsletter via email, simply send an email to
tca@towncenter.info and indicate your email address, as well as the name of the
town or towns for which you'd like to receive the e-newsletters. You can
also call Town Center Associates to sign up at 412-577-7447.
Please also
take a moment to forward this email along to your friends, colleagues, family
and neighbors, and encourage them to sign up today! This will help to inform
(and involve) more citizens about the revitalization efforts taking place in
our downtown. |
This e-newsletter was created by Town Center Associates for the
Allegheny Together Program of Allegheny County Economic Development.
For more information about the Allegheny Together program, please visit
www.alleghenytogether.com.
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