Second Quarter 2010
              Downtown Swissvale E-Newsletter
Swissvale Business District Advisory Committee

ALLEGHENY TOGETHER PROGRAM 
In This Issue:
Welcome!
Downtown Recognition Award
Calendar of Events
Sunflower Garden
Positive Progress in Downtown Swissvale
Your Work and Your Health
Downtown First
DowntownProperties.net
PHLF Update
Downtown Swissvale Newsletter
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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DOWNTOWN RECOGNITION AWARD
Sharon Ramsey

The Swissvale Business District Advisory Committee has named Sharon Ramsey Downtown Recognition Recipient. Sharon attended West Penn Hospital School of Nursing and graduated from the University of Pittsburgh. She has lived in Swissvale since 1977. Sharon enjoyed a 30 year career in nursing in the operating room of UPMC Presbyterian Hospital.

Upon her retirement from nursing Sharon says, "I was looking for something worthwhile to occupy my time. I first became a user of the library and then a volunteer at their book and bake sales. I was approached by a staff member who was looking for someone to rejuvenate the 'Friends of the Library' program. I didn't know much about the group and even less about the library operations, but having a great love of books it seemed a good match for me. Our group started very small and has grown to over 40 members in the last 3 years. The more involved I have become with the library the more I have come to appreciate the staff and the invaluable service that they provide the community. I see reading programs for young children, daily usage of the computers, a book and movie review group, a knitting group and many senior citizens making visits. It is a vital hub for the entire community."

Sharon has assisted in many neighbors and local residents becoming involved in the library. The group is now able to provide desperately needed extras for the library such as furniture, carpeting, a refrigerator, many books and movies for adults and children and countless other items. Sharon says, "It is especially satisfying to the group to be able to see immediate changes in the physical environment and programs implemented for the children."

Sharon is hopeful that attention to the library will remind residents of the value and importance of the library to the community and the possibilities that it can provide to our youth in the future. The building and staff are in place and need the support and attention that they deserve. Federal, state and local budget cuts have had a big impact on the library system of Western Pennsylvania and thanks to many articles in local newspapers many library users have been happy to volunteer their services. Everyone brings something unique to this organization. The Friends of the Library organization is currently investigating ways to recycle unsold books from our book sales to local charity organizations.

The group's goal is to continue to provide needed services to supplement the library and to support additional programs such as 'Summer Reading Programs' and children centered activities for the community. "We have seen that a little effort from many people can have a large impact. And, we all have fun making a difference."
DOWNTOWN SWISSVALE CALENDAR OF EVENTS
   
Open House/Reception of renovated properties
on Park Avenue

June 27
 (Renovated via the Mon Valley Initiative)

Community Day at Dixon Field
July 9 & 10

To find out about fun events happening in other Allegheny Together communities, check out the Allegheny Together Events Calendar.

SUNFLOWER GARDEN

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The Swissvale BDAC is proud to announce that Swissvale has been selected to participate in a Sunflower Bio-energy Garden Initiative that has been offered to the first six Allegheny Together communities including, Bridgeville, Elizabeth, Stowe, Swissvale, Tarentum, & Verona.  The goal of this initiative is to enhance the downtown corridor with a bold statement of beautiful sunflowers while adding beauty to a formerly vacant lot transforming it into a fresh urban green space and to hopefully promote future investment and development here in our downtown.

The site, located along Monongahela Avenue near Triangle Bar, will be developed under the local leadership of Mayor Schwatrzwelder with the help of volunteers from local community groups and individuals.  G-Tech Strategies has been retained by the County to provide startup materials, as well as technical and educational assistance. The garden will be planted this May, weeded and maintained, and harvested sometime in September or October. The harvested sunflowers will be made into biofuel and possibly packaged food for the local Whole Foods market.
POSITIVE PROGRESS IN DOWNTOWN SWISSVALE!

Good things are happening in Swissvale's downtown. The Swissvale Business District Advisory Committee (BDAC) continues to work hard toward the goals outlined in the Annual Strategic Action Plan the committee created with Town Center Associates. The BDAC is focused on building upon the positive aspects of downtown Swissvale 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 Borough to finalize the design and engineering request for proposals for Swissvale's streetscape project. Through this process, a consultant will be chosen to complete the design and engineering of the various elements to be included in the streetscape improvements.

In the past few months, the BDAC's Community Life Initiative applied for a GTECH Sunflower Garden Project. The application was accepted and approved. The sunflower garden will be located on Monongahela Avenue. The Sunflower Garden Project plants bio-energy gardens in urban areas to address blighted lots, improve the soil conditions and appearance of the property, and serve as a transitional project for the community to foresee and possibly develop new possibilities such as parklets, etc. The BDAC will also be sending one person 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.

Finally, 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 Swissvale's businesses and property owners by Town Center Associates (TCA). These innovative new programs are focused on supporting and retaining Swissvale'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 Swissvale's participation in the Allegheny Together Program and through the persistent efforts of the Township, the BDAC Committee, and the Swissvale's invaluable volunteers!
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.
TAKE THE DOWNTOWN FIRST PLEDGE TODAY!
Join the Movement. Put Your Money Where Your House Is

Swissvale Logo

"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 SWISSVALE!

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If your business needed a retail storefront or office space in downtown Swissvale, 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 [email protected]. 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!

PHLF UPDATE

PHLF
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 fa�ade 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.

STAY UP TO DATE ON DOWNTOWN SWISSVALE
With Our Quarterly E-Newsletter

You are reading the Swissvale 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 [email protected] 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.