We Are Seeking Main Street Designation!
The Jeannette Initiative has begun the process of applying for Main Street Designation with help from the Pennsylvania Downtown Center (PDC) and Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED).
You can help!
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What Is Main Street Matters?
Main Street Matters is a program that helps communities revitalize their downtowns and nearby neighborhoods by providing tools, funding, and guidance to build vibrant, welcoming, and safe places. Designation gives access to grants for planning, business support, aesthetic improvements, and safety upgrades, while requiring investment to focus on the downtown business district.
What Does This Mean for Jeannette?
If designated, Jeannette would receive five years of funding to support our Main Street Manager and revitalization operations, with the goal of becoming financially self-sustaining as an organization during this period of growth. Designation also opens doors to additional grants to further community goals.
Applicants must identify “Transformative Strategies,” or focus areas that shape how downtown revitalization will happen. Instead of just picking random projects, these strategies act like themes that help communities pick a clear direction that matches the town’s strengths, challenges and ultimate goals. Each committee of a Main Street community — Safe, Clean and Green, Business Development, Marketing, Organization and Design and Façade — develop a set of projects that are meant to help the city make those Transformative Strategies a reality. The specific actions we will take are defined extensively in a 5 Year Plan.
What Happens After Designation?
Main Street Matters designation allows for real time funding to fuel revitalization efforts in Jeannette. Our team will drive these efforts in stride with our partners and community to make an immediate impact.
Here’s the good news — designation comes with accountability. The 5 Year Plan is not a wish list; it’s a required action plan. The PA Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) monitors progress, and failure to meet obligations can result in losing designation. The Jeannette Initiative will not be able to make promises and not keep them. There may be projects that do not work out for one reason or another, or that take much longer than we anticipate, but we are required to be committed to meeting these obligations. And we need your help to make this happen for Jeannette!