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TRANSCRIPT
The unified plan to
Building Sustainable
Communities in
Uniontown, PA
This is the Unified Plan for Building Sustainable Communities in Uniontown, PA. Building Sustainable Communities is an initiative of the Local Initiative Support Corporation (LISC) designed to target investment and resources into specific distressed places as a proven strategy for change. It is a comprehensive and holistic way of transforming disadvantaged places into healthy, vibrant places that are sought after by people who want to stay there and live, work and raise a family. The comprehensive nature of the process lies in the five goals through which we build sustainable communities. LISC has been investing in Uniontown since 2000 in a partnership arrangement between the Rural LISC program and the Fayette County Community Action Agency. LISC has approved the investment of over $6.8 million through FCCAA since 2000, resulting in total development costs of an estimated $62 million. Through the grants, predevelopment recoverable grants, loans and lines of credit to FCCAA, the results have been the development of affordable homes, creation of community and commercial space, establish of local businesses, creation/retention of jobs, opening of a medical and dental clinic, support for summer-time and after-school educational initiatives, health fairs, adult education classes, as well as additional programs and projects. Investments, resource allocation and on-going support do not continue without a plan for their use resulting in positive impacts of revitalization. The Building Sustainable Communities program places a premium on resident developed Quality of Life plans. The planning work previously completed in Uniontown by agencies and entities involved in revitalizing the community mitigated the need for yet another plan, specifically a Quality of Life Plan, for Building Sustainable Communities. What Uniontown needed was an assimilation of existing plans and a partnering of existing agencies. This Unified Plan as designed to accomplish that. This Unified Plan creates a common vision for the partnering agencies to work together, yet allows each the flexibility to work on its own individual work plan, complete projects/programs it is responsible for, be responsible to its individual funders, and be accountable to its specific audience(s). LISC invests through and considers FCCAA the lead agency for Building Sustainable Communities. This Unified Plan presents the five Sustainable Community goals, provides a brief introductory background on the efforts, discusses LISC’s model as well as the selection of Uniontown, inventories the various partner agencies and their individual plans, produces the unified vision, identifies a specific workplan, and concludes with a Declaration of Interdependence. While the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, the success of revitalizing Uniontown is clearly dependent upon an admitted interdependence between and among the partnering agencies. There is more than enough credit to go around for the successful activities that are resulting in positive impacts when the agencies work cooperatively and jointly through a unified plan. In a comprehensive community development initiative such as Building Sustainable Communities, there is always room to put more seats available “at the table”. This is not an exhaustive list of partnering agencies or development plans. This initiative is meant to be inclusive and all those not yet included in the Unified Plan are invited and encouraged to join us.
The Five Pillar Goals of
Building Sustainable
Communities
Work Stimulating economic activity – connecting to the regional economy
Wisdom Improving access to quality education
Wealth Increasing family income and wealth
Health Supporting healthy environments and lifestyles
Home Expanding capital investment in housing and all other real estate
The Introduction
In 2005, LISC undertook an extensive strategic planning process to create a vision and a plan that would build on LISC’s successful investments and experiences around the country, and take community development to the next level. The result was an ambitious new plan for LISC to create Sustainable Communities. Sustainable communities are ones that offer the positive environments needed to ensure that all residents of varied income levels are provided the opportunities and tools to build assets, participate in the benefits inuring to their communities, and become part of the mainstream economy. LISC envisions Sustainable Communities as places that people want to be in, contribute to, thrive in and be proud of. Such communities will be able to attract and maintain their populations and contribute to the overall health of their cities and regions. As part of the planning process, there are five program objectives that, taken together, can lead to this larger goal of comprehensive community health and sustainability:
1. Developing, preserving and investing in the physical environment -- expanding capital investment in housing and other real estate development
2. Increasing family income and wealth
3. Stimulating and connecting economic activity, locally and regionally
4. Improving access to quality education
5. Fostering and supporting livable, safe and healthy environments and lifestyles
Through an internal competitive process open to all of LISC’s program offices at the end of 2007, Uniontown was selected as Rural LISC’s demonstration site for LISC’s Building Sustainable Communities Initiative in western Pennsylvania. As one of the original eleven demonstration sites, Uniontown has been selected to represent LISC’s efforts in revitalizing and sustaining rural communities through the five pillar goals listed above. Uniontown was selected as one of the original eleven demonstration sites because of its past and current efforts in revitalization. Being the home of George Marshall, Uniontown understands the need for planning. Through the philanthropic investments by two beneficiaries, Uniontown implemented the Marshall Plan II. In 2004 Rural LISC introduced its Healthy Village Initiative (HVI) to help the Fayette County Community Action Agency (FCCAA) plan for and implement projects targeted in the Gallatin Avenue Neighborhood. In 2006 the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh selected Uniontown as one of its twenty-two Blueprint Communities, providing planning and technical assistance targeted to the East End neighborhood. And, now as a Sustainable Communities demonstration site, through holistic and comprehensive strategic processes, as lead agency Rural LISC partner CDC, FCCAA can bring together efforts happening in downtown, East End, Gallatin Avenue and the FCCAA Campus of Services.
The Rural Demonstration Model
The original eleven LISC demonstration sites included Washington DC, Chicago, Indianapolis, Kansas City, San Francisco, Milwaukee, Duluth, Rhode Island, Twin Cities, Detroit, and Rural Pennsylvania (Uniontown in western PA and Tamaqua in eastern PA). The differences as well as the similarities between urban places and rural places are austere. Issues are similar, solutions are different. Rural and urban places both have unemployment, homelessness, crime, blight, teen pregnancies, school dropouts, failing infrastructure, poor health, disenfranchised populations, and the like. Unfortunately, rural places do not have the variety of resources available to address these issues. Philanthropic opportunities are lacking in rural areas. Leadership and talent are less available in rural. Supportive infrastructure of non-profits providing support to the underserved populations do not exist in rural to the extent they do in urban places. In urban places many non-profits are sole-purpose compared to the holistic, comprehensive and multi-disciplinary approach of many rural agencies. Sustainable Communities works in rural places because the non-profit agencies are typically holistic and strategic. All five pillar goals are already being handled by a leading community development agency. In rural places, Building Sustainable Communities is not about doing “something else”, but it is more about finding a way to do what we already do, just better. That better way is, in part, through partnerships with other agencies for a comprehensive approach. Early work in these eleven pilot sites has several common features that, in broad strokes, helps to outline what a mature Sustainable Communities effort would look like. All of the sites target clearly defined communities where planning and programs are led by residents, organizations, and institutions that are essential to the community’s life and prosperity. Typically, the efforts include a strong resident planning process that is aimed not only at setting priorities based on firsthand knowledge of the territory, but also at assigning responsibility and ensuring accountability for the performance of the planned activities. And each of these efforts sets out to fund an expanding and comprehensive array of capital investment and human development programs, pursuing a substantial increase in private and public investment and enlarging the circle of partners funding and carrying out the work. To ensure that plans lead to action and that action is effective, Sustainable Communities typically need a designated lead agency — a central organization responsible for organizing the community, coordinating participants’ work, sharing information, serving as steward of the program’s financial and administrative responsibilities, and ensuring an open, effective collaboration. The nature of the lead agency will be different in different places, depending on the strengths and experience of the partners, the traditional relations among local organizations, and the issues to be addressed at any given time. In Uniontown, for LISC, it is the FCCAA. Following is a feature at www.lisc.org of the Rural model for Sustainable Communities.
The Partners
Bob we want to make sure all partners are including and we describe work-FayPenn, Community College, Penn State etc. Not sure how to deal with police and the other three
entities Need to add Weed and Seed at least.
The following agencies represent the Sustainable Communities team. Each entity has its individual mission and reports independently to its funders. Each entity has its own approved plan that has been developed with input from the targeted neighborhoods. As such, the Sustainable Communities plan for Uniontown allows each entity to operate and implement independently yet ensures the common vision of making Uniontown a place people want to be in, contribute to, thrive in and be proud of. The Building Sustainable Communities plan for Uniontown, PA, is the assimilation of these individual entities and visions into progress for Uniontown, allowing for the independence while fostering interdependence. Fayette County Community Action Agency (FCCAA) Lead agency for Sustainable Communities
vision: The Fayette County Community Action Agency’s mission is to strengthen
individuals and families to become more self sufficient, achieving their potential by
taking advantage of opportunities, improving the conditions in which they live and
taking ownership of their community. Southwestern PA Community Development Corporation (SWPA CDC)
Social enterprise activities vision: This CDC is dedicated to entrepreneurs in southwestern
PA who are starting or growing a small business. The CDC’s goal is to help
entrepreneurs find the information needed quickly and easily by providing a one-stop
and on-line shop for all business needs. City of Uniontown Police Department
vision: The mission of this law enforcement agency is to affirmatively promote,
preserve, and provide as much as practicable and given existing resources, a feeling of
security and safety among all persons within our agency's jurisdiction.
City of Uniontown Fire Department/Code Enforcement
vision:The primary mission of the Uniontown Fire Department is to provide a range of programs designed to protect the lives and property of the inhabitants of the City of Uniontown from the adverse effects of fires, sudden medical emergencies, or exposure to dangerous conditions man-made or natural.
City of Uniontown Redevelopment Authority
vision: The Comprehensive Plan Update for the City of Uniontown provides the City’s
policies and plans concerning desirable physical development and redevelopment of the
community. Related documents have been reviewed so future activities will be
conducted with the knowledge and understanding of the recommendations for each
plan element. East End United Community Center
vision: East End United Community Center (EEUCC) has the mission to provide
cultural, educational, and recreational facilities and enrichment programs for the
residents of the Uniontown Area School District and surrounding neighborhoods,
especially those residing in the East End section of Uniontown. The East End United
Community Center and the Uniontown Redevelopment Authority are the coordinating
bodies for the Federal Home Loan Bank BluePrint community program in the
Uniontown area. Threshold Housing Development, Inc.
vision: Threshold is a nonprofit organization formed to acquire, develop, hold, maintain
and manage real estate and personal property in Fayette, Washington, and Greene
Counties. Threshold’s mission is to develop, promote, encourage or enhance the level of
self-sufficiency of low-income, disabled or elderly individuals and families through
developing affordable, efficient housing units for both rental and ownership by low
income families or individuals. Fayette County Redevelopment Authority
vision: Established in 1949, the Authority works in partnership with various local,
state, and federal entities to implement a multitude of programs and initiatives with
the aim of improving and sustaining our communities and helping to continue to
make Fayette County a wonderful place to call home. The Redevelopment Authority of
the County of Fayette (RACF) is the principle public agency in Fayette County
responsible for community development and single-family affordable housing
activities. Established in 1949, the Authority provides general community development
services and administers several programs on behalf of the County and its
municipalities. Programs administered by the Authority include:
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program
Homeowner Rehabilitation Program
Homeownership Assistance Program
Weatherization Program
Main Street Program
vision: Main Street program grants are used to enhance the business districts of
Uniontown with improvements to existing businesses, streetscape upgrades and other
rehabilitation projects. North Gallatin Avenue Neighborhood Elm Street Program
vision: The Elm Street Program emphasizes a five-point approach to integrated
neighborhood revitalization: a sustainable neighborhood organization; clean, safe and
green streets; good design elements; neighbors and economy; and, the image and
identity of the neighborhood. The Master Plan provides for strategic goals in each of
the five points.
Others: Rural LISC Healthy Villages Initiative funded by State Farm 2004 thru 2007 in Uniontown
vision: Rural LISC’s mission is to build the capacity of resident-led rural CDCs,
increase their production and impact, demonstrate the value of investing in and
through rural CDCs and make the resource and policy environment more supportive of
rural CDCs and their work. Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh (FHLBank) Blueprint Communities Program
vision: The mission of the Blueprint Communities initiative is to serve as a catalyst to
revitalize older communities and neighborhoods. The objectives include: Fostering
strong local leadership, collaboration and development capacity in older communities;
Serving as a catalyst for revitalization based on sound local and regional planning
that includes a clear vision for the community and a comprehensive implementation
strategy; Encouraging coordinated investments in targeted neighborhoods by public
and private funders. US Department of Agriculture – Rural Development (USDA - RD) Business, housing and community development loans, grants and/or guarantees
vision: To increase economic opportunity and improve the quality of life for all rural
Americans.
The Vision
Uniontown will be a place where all people are
committed to family, neighbors and visitors.
We value safety, respect and diversity. We
believe that by working together we can create
a quality of life that includes sustainable
employment, new business and reinvestment
in our city. A community where everyone
contributes to one vision.
-Uniontown Vision statement developed with
citizen input for Fay-Penn Strategic Plan
2010. Rural LISC and Fayette County
Community Action were partners in this
effort.
Their Plans
One key element of Building Sustainable Communities is the engagement of the local residents and citizenry through grass-roots planning processes. LISC refers to this as the Quality of Life plan. Because these local planning processes had already been put into place in Uniontown prior to the start of the Sustainable Communities initiative, this Unified Plan for Building Sustainable Communities in Uniontown is an assimilation of those local planning processes. We decided that we did not need to do yet another plan in Uniontown for Sustainable Communities. Instead, we built upon the existing work of the various agencies and entities that are here and have been here for years working to revitalize Uniontown. In this manner, the agencies can come together as the Sustainable Communities team and work together through this Unified Plan and yet also each entity can work independently on its own workplan for which it is responsible to its individual funders, audience and priorities. This unified plan can be updated through the local steps and procedures used by the various partner agencies as they engage in the planning process with the residents of Uniontown. The Sustainable Communities program allows the agencies in Uniontown to work together on the bigger picture, and yet work independently on their own when the need is there. Not everything that all these agencies do happens in the targeted neighborhoods for Sustainable Communities. This Unified Plan brings them together when it makes sense to do so. The plans and workplans of the partner agencies participating “at the table” of Sustainable Communities are the foundation of this Unified Plan. The Unified Plan is built on and includes the processes implemented by the team agencies in their individual plans:
1. Comprehensive Plan Update. City of Uniontown, Fayette County, Pennsylvania.
January, 2002
2. Fayette County Community Action Agency Annual Report. 2007
3. North Gallatin Avenue Elm Street Plan. Uniontown, Fayette County, Pennsylvania.
4. Sustainability Plan for the East End United Community Center, Inc.
Uniontown, PA. Draft February 18, 2008
5. Uniontown Downtown Business District Authority Overview. Draft Narrative.
6. Fayette County Strategic Plan. June 8, 1995.
7. Fayette County Strategic Plan. 1998.
8. Fayette County Strategic Plan. 2010
9. Uniontown Downtown Blueprint 2004. (The Hyett Palma report)
10. Redevelopment Area Plan. Gallatin Ave Redevelopment Project, City of Uniontown,
Fayette County, Pennsylvania. July 2008.
11. Fayette County Housing Consortium Housing Market Analysis. Fayette
County, Pennsylvania. June, 2005.
The Work Plan
Uniontown Sustainable Communities Work Plan Strategy/Project Short term -- Intermediate -- Long term Agency/Entity
1. Expanding capital investment in housing and other real
estate development Uniontown Family Homes
30 homes, Gallatin Ave and East End neighborhoods – occupied 2009
FCCAA
Uniontown Family Homes Phase 2
Construct 28 homes in Gallatin, Lafayette and East End neighborhoods – start construction 2012
FCCAA
Gallatin Avenue Homes
15 homes, Maple Street – construct in 2010 Threshold
Republic Incubator
Commercial kitchen expansion; Unforgettable Sweets; Food-related cluster for Republic Incubator/Enterprise Building
SW PA CDC
Office Building on Main Street (GSA)
30,000 square feet new construction; negotiating with GSA – development stage
Fayette County Housing Authority
Neighborhood Stabilization
Clear blighted properties Uniontown Redevelopment Authority
Main Street renovations
Façade improvements; Vacant structure issues; Additional shopping downtown;
Main Street program;
Senior living Elderly/senior apartments – 30 units; construction in 2010-11
FCCAA
Redstone Township Subdivision
26 Self-help, affordable and market rate housing – occupied by 2010
Threshold
Community Foundation Predevelopment fund
Provide funds to support predevelopment activities Fayette County Community Foundation
Fairchance Senior Housing
24 units of senior supportive housing developed by 2015 and an additional 24 units developed by 2020
Fayette County Community Action
Maple Street development
Develop 9 new homes on Maple Street for sale on property owned by the Redevelopment Authority
Threshold Housing
Uniontown Sustainable Communities Work Plan Strategy/Project Short term -- Intermediate -- Long term Agency/Entity
2. Increasing family income and wealth Uniontown Family Homes
30 new affordable homes, Gallatin Ave and East End neighborhoods – occupied 2009
FCCAA
Uniontown Family Homes Phase 2
Construct 28 new affordable homes in Gallatin, Lafayette and East End neighborhoods – start construction 2012
FCCAA
Gallatin Avenue Homes
15 homes, Maple Street – construct in 2010 Threshold
Fairweather Lodge
8 residents developing an internet based business FCCAA
Republic Incubator
Creating jobs; Development of a food industry cluster
SW PA CDC
Office Building on Main Street (GSA)
Bringing jobs back downtown, creating foot traffic on Main Street, providing a customer base for downtown businesses
Fayette County Housing Authority
Medical clinic Creating 3-4 jobs Cornerstone Care
Dental clinic Creating 3-4 jobs Cornerstone Care
Family Savings Accounts
Helping residents save money and manage finances.
FCCAA
FOC Working with LISC to create a Financial Opportunity Center (FOC)
FCCAA
Uniontown Sustainable Communities Work Plan Strategy/Project Short term -- Intermediate -- Long term Agency/Entity
3. Stimulating economic activity – connecting to the
regional economy
Republic Incubator
Creation of 16-20 jobs at Unforgettable Sweets; marketing product across the seaboard
SW PA CDC
Office Building on Main Street (GSA)
30000 square feet new construction will bring about 80 jobs downtown.
Fayette County Housing Authority
Medical clinic Re-open with 3-4 new jobs in 2010 Cornerstone Care
Dental clinic Re-open with 3-4 new jobs in 2010 Cornerstone Care
Main Street Renovations
Bringing businesses and jobs back downtown; increasing foot traffic downtown; blending commercial activities with social activities on Main Street.
Main Street Program
Buy Local Campaign
Continue support and expansion of buy local initiative
Fay-Penn
Small business support
Development of additional resources to assist small businesses
Fay-Penn; Chamber of Commerce; PSU; WCCC
Uniontown Sustainable Communities Work Plan Strategy/Project Short term -- Intermediate -- Long term Agency/Entity
4. Improving access to quality education Staff training Professional training to FCCAA staff, building
capacity, strengthening ability FCCAA
CNA training Providing continuing adult education program to certify nurse’s assistants for the workforce
FCCAA
Education Initiative
Providing after-school and summer-time supplemental educational opportunities for children
East End United Community Center
Vocational education
Partner with other organizations to improve the quality of vocational education
Fay-Penn; Workforce Investment Board
Expand Community College Options
Provide programs and services to enhance access to higher education, and assist all students to achieve their educational and career goals. Develop and expand programming that promotes lifelong learning.
Westmoreland County Community College
Continue growth and development of Penn State campus
Address diverse student needs and provide multiple entry points in the creation of programs and services. Offer education and training opportunities based on community needs.
Penn State Eberly Campus
Reach Program Continued improvement of primary and secondary education
Fay-Penn
Uniontown Sustainable Communities Work Plan Strategy/Project Short term -- Intermediate -- Long term Agency/Entity
5. Supporting healthy environments and lifestyles Uniontown Family Homes
30 homes, energy star FCCAA
Street lights Look for opportunities to upgrade Street light to solar lights
Uniontown Redevelopment
Republic Incubator
Healthy food choices for institutional food SW PA CDC
Healthy Fayette Facilitating educational sessions for residents; attacking obesity and other health initiative
Community Health Improvement Partnership and Steps to a Healthy Fayette
Elderly/Senior Apartments
Green construction FCCAA
Weed N Seed Improve police protection and neighborhood watch activities as well as alternative community programs through Weed and Seed initiative
Uniontown Redevelopment
Medical clinic Re-opened 2009 Cornerstone Care
Dental clinic Re-opened in 2009 Cornerstone Care
Increase health options and professional
Continue to improve the quality of health care and professionals serving the community
Uniontown Hospital, Fayette County Behavioral Health; Cornerstone Care and others
Support active arts program
Successful performing arts program State Theater
The Investment
RURAL LISC INVESTMENTS IN UNIONTOWN 2001 - 2010
SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES Community Development
offer the positive environments needed to ensure that
all residents of varied income levels are provided the
opportunities and tools to build assets, to participate
in their communities, and to become part of the
mainstream economy
HOMES WEALTH WORK WISDOM HEALTH
Expanding
Investment in
Housing and
Other Real Estate
Increasing
Family Income
& Wealth
Stimulating
Economic
Development
Improving
Access to
Quality
Education
Supporting
Healthy
Environments
and Lifestyles
$3,463,750 Private - $3,390,750
Public - $73,000
$50,000 Private - $0
Public - $50,000
$182,000 Private - $58,000 Public - $124,000
$283,500 Private - $119,000 Public - $164,500
$2,853,500 Private - $2,610,000
Public - $243,500
$6,832,750
Private - $6,177,750 Public - $655,000
Estimated Total Project Development Costs $62 million
▪ 150 homes ▪ 200,000 sf ▪ 40 enterprises ▪ 200 jobs ▪