Business owners push for nonprofit

The organization wants to determine where and how project money will be spent.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
SHARON, Pa. -- They need to raise $90,000 in "good faith" money and create a nonprofit cooperation, but some downtown businessmen are pushing forward on a plan to revitalize the city's business district.
The "good faith" money is a requirement of the state, which will be asked to help finance the project, to show the business community is behind the effort. It will provide the funds needed to kick off the project, said Mark Jubelirer, president of Reyers Shoe Store and a driving force behind the effort.
Converting the Downtown Sharon Associates into a nonprofit corporation to handle money coming into the project is already under way, said Glenn Siminick, president of the group and owner of the Golden Memories jewelry store.
Siminick organized the first meetings to push for revitalization.
Attorneys have drawn up the paperwork for seeking nonprofit status from the federal government.
The group will have a board of directors and an executive board with the sole focus on revitalizing the business district, something the state suggested, Siminick said.
Grant money
The group has met with representatives of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development and learned there is between $5 million and $7 million available in grant money for this type of project, he said.
The department would prefer to deal with a nonprofit agency committed solely to the revitalization effort, he said, adding that the plan is to have Downtown Sharon Associates handle and allocate any money coming into the project.
The organization will determine what work will be done and where the money will be spent, he said. It will likely follow closely a 2-year-old downtown revitalization plan commissioned by the city. That plan includes things such as building facade improvements, pedestrian amenities such as brick intersections, brick trim on sidewalks and landscaping.
Putting overhead utilities underground could also be part of the work and the state has indicated the renovation and opening of the Columbia Theatre, owned by the Vocal Group Hall of Fame Foundation, should be a focal point of the revitalization.
"I just want the best for the community," Siminick said. "I want to get more stores into the town."
Needs help
The group can't do it alone. It will be up to the city to apply for the state funding, although the city could serve only as a "pass through" for state funds to flow to Downtown Sharon Associates.
Mayor David O. Ryan is willing to look at that scenario if it will help the city. Fred Hoffman, council president, said city council is willing to cooperate but needs to be kept abreast of what the group is planning.
Siminick said the sitting mayor and council president will have permanent seats on the group's board of directors.
The state requires matching funds for its grants and both Siminick and Jubelirer said pending improvements that Penn State Shenango is making to its Shenango Avenue campus might be applicable.
Dr. Thomas Rookey, campus executive officer and vice president of Downtown Sharon Associates, recently told the city that $7 million in improvements are planned.
Other projects
Ryan said work already started by the city might also be considered matching funds.
The city is about to launch a $1.2 million improvement project at the Shenango Valley Community Library located on the eastern end of the business district and has secured a $250,000 state grant for sidewalk and other improvements on West State Street at the western end of the business district.
Sharon is also applying for a $500,000 state grant to make the type of intersection improvements called for in the revitalization plan at the corners of State Street and Sharpsville, Vine and Irvine avenues.
This project is "critical," said David Grande, executive director of the Shenango Valley Chamber of Commerce.
"Look at the downtown," he said, pointing out empty and underutilized storefronts and failing facades. There are still some big draws for shoppers but the downtown needs to rejuvenate itself, he said.
gwin@vindy.com