GRANTEESFOR YEARFOUR 2018 BOLI VA R BO RO U GH $25,000 To improve river access and recreation amenities. MON E S S E N ’S NATI O N A L ROA D HERITAGE C O RRID O R $25,000 For phase one of the Monessen 6th Street Beautification Project. DELM O N T BO RO U GH $15,000 For upgrades at Shield’s Farm community gathering place. IRWI N $15,000 ToThe LampTheater for development of a vacant lot and other renovations. NORTH BE LLE V E RN O N $15,000 For upgrades at the North BelleVernon Community Park Bank, including a handicap accessible swing park. SMIT H TO N BO RO U GH $8,065 For beautification efforts in downtown Smithton, including planters and landscaping. NEW A LE XA N D RIA $5,325 To the New Alexandria Lions Club’s Connecting Our Community project to complete a new pavilion at the community park. WEST N E W TO N BORO U GH $5,000 To renovate the West Newton Public Library’s façade. construction of the parklet showed the community that this revitalization of downtown is being taken seriously.” The project helped spur other improve­ ments in downtown Latrobe, including façade upgrades for neighboring businesses and preservation work on historic buildings. In its pilot phase, Revitalizing Westmoreland focused on seven cities: Arnold, Greensburg, Jeanette, Latrobe, Lower Burrell, Monessen and New Kensington. To provide for three years of small grants, a $450,000 funding pool was established: Pittsburgh’s McCune Foundation, CFWC and The Pittsburgh Foundation each donated $150,000. Applicant cities were required to provide some funding of their own; at least $1 for every $3 in grant funding. As an example, for the parklet project, Latrobe added $8,375 to the Revitalizing grant. Grants in the first three years went to such projects as the community garden in New Kensington, façade repairs to buildings in Greensburg and Arnold, and replacement of unsafe playground equipment in Jeanette. “During the pilot phase, we learned what works best and that helped us shape the next three years,” says CFWC Executive Director Phil Koch. “Latrobe and New Kensington were the most successful because they consistently collaborated with community members and nonprofits, brought significant additional dollars to their projects and designed initiatives that spurred further development nearby.” As an example, the parklet in Latrobe was designed with the input of nearby business owners. They agree with Trunzo that additional development would not have happened without the building of the parklet. Foundation officials say that the catalyst effect is now what Revitalizing Westmoreland grantmakers look for in applicant projects. Other objectives for the second phase include creating partnerships among municipalities, community organizations and residents; encouraging communities to pursue additional funds for their projects; and supporting development of community plans. Funders for the next three-year Revitalization Program are The Allegheny Foundation, CFWC, The Pittsburgh Foundation and the McCune Foundation. Each is investing $150,000 for a total of $600,000, or $200,000 annually for grants. In this phase, any Westmoreland County municipality can apply for funding. Average grants are expected to be about $20,000. To qualify, a project must align with Revitalization Program goals, and applicants must raise funds equal to 50 percent of their Revitalizing Westmoreland grant. The service purpose of eligible projects also has changed for the next round. In the first two years, programs that focused on human-centered activities such as job training were allowed. Now, only those projects that improve physical assets in communities will be considered. “After looking back at the first two years, it became clear that projects dealing with infrastructure and other community assets, especially in removing blight — these had a higher success rate and have led to more development,” says Koch. “The result is real quality-of-life improvement for communities that need it most.” By Deanna Garcia S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 1 8 9