PENNSYLVANIA Officials await governor's visit

The city has been seeking more money to finish the downtown project.
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Gov. Ed Rendell is on his way here to drop off some money.
Lawrence County Commissioner Dan Vogler said the governor will make a check presentation Sunday when he is scheduled to appear in downtown New Castle at 2:45 p.m. in front of Main Street Clothiers on East Washington Street.
"Downtown is looking better. If they can get another shot in the arm -- the better," Vogler said during Thursday's commissioner caucus meeting. Vogler did not give any details of the amount of money Rendell is expected to bring.
New Castle Mayor Wayne Alexander said Thursday he does not know specifically why Rendell is coming to the city.
The governor's office also is keeping quiet on the purpose of Rendell's visit.
But Vogler said word of Rendell's check presentation was given out at a Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce meeting this week.
The city has been seeking more money to help complete its downtown revitalization project. In 2001, the city received $5 million to resurface streets, replace sidewalks, street lights and signals. Most of that work was completed on East Washington and Mill streets and officials now want to expand it to other areas.
The revitalization is in conjunction with a Hollywood-themed mall being created by Cascade Development in the first theater owned by the Warner brothers -- Youngstown natives who went on to be Hollywood movie moguls.
Distributing money
Rendell also is scheduled to visit the city of Sharon in Mercer County on Saturday with some good news about state assistance for local economic development efforts.
Specific details of the governor's visit haven't been released, but he is expected to announce that $10 million in state redevelopment funds have been earmarked for the Winner Development LLC project that is converting the former Westinghouse Electric Corp. plant on Sharpsville Avenue into an industrial park.
Rendell also is expected to bring checks for $1.5 million for Sharon's downtown revitalization project and another $250,000 for the West State Street hill street improvement project.
Rendell will be at Winner Steel Services Inc. on Sharpsville Avenue at 4 p.m.