DCED deputy secretary visits Mon Valley to discuss development initiatives
Mark Soroka/For the Observer-Reporter
Rick Vilello, deputy secretary of community affairs and development for the state Department of Community and Economic Development, shared experiences about how he helped to revitalize the community of Lock Haven in Clinton County.
Jamie Protin, a local entrepreneur, spoke to a group of local business and community leaders about the benefits of joining the Mid-Mon Valley Council of Government, an initiative some Mon Valley officials are working together to relaunch.
BELLE VERNON – An official with the state Department of Community and Economic Development met with a group of community leaders in Belle Vernon on Thursday to share ideas for revitalizing the mid-Mon Valley.
Rick Vilello, deputy secretary of community affairs and development for the DCED, met with local borough and township officials, business leaders and other key stakeholders. The group discussed a wide range of topics, including job creation, blight removal, economic development and Council of Government initiatives.
Vilello, who previously served as mayor of Lock Haven, Clinton County, told the group that his community experienced many of the same economic problems that have ravaged the Mon Valley the past 50 years.
“We faced serious challenges when International Paper started laying off employees in our area,” he said. “More than 700 jobs were lost. That might not seem like a lot of people to a larger city, but for a community the size of Lock Haven, those layoffs were devastating.”
Vilello added that Lock Haven gradually recovered from the closing of the International Paper mill by working with DCED to implement a long-term urban revitalization plan.
“It took us 14 years, but now Lock Haven has nearly full occupancy in its downtown district,” said Vilello. “We started building on successes, and people are really seeing a difference. One of the things we learned is that it doesn’t matter who gets credit for turning things around. It’s all about working together and getting things done.”
As a state official, Vilello has made a commitment to helping other municipalities in Pennsylvania rebound from similar economic hardships to become thriving communities again.
“I wish I could say we have pots of money in Harrisburg to give out, but the reality is, those days are long gone,” he said. “What we do have is a team of dedicated people that are helping communities address budgetary and program issues.”
Vilello pointed out that DCED is the first point of contact for local agencies and municipalities regarding economic development programs. It provides technical assistance to local and regional agencies relating to planning, implementation, funding opportunities, grant applications and project management. He encouraged municipalities in the Mon Valley to join the Mid Mon Valley Council of Governments to save money and coordinate planning efforts.
“As leaders of your communities, you have to start having conversations with each other, even if you have differences,” said Vilello. “Each one of your communities will have a voice in your COG. You are stronger working together, than working separately.”
Jamie Protin, principal of The PROTINGroup, is working with Christopher Whitlatch, chief executive officer of the Mon Valley Alliance, to relaunch the Mid Mon Valley Council of Governments. This organization was originally formed in the 1960s to provide member municipalities with efficient and expanded services, but it began to disband in the 1980s because of dwindling interest.
The Mon Valley Alliance, with assistance from the Mon Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce and MRG Consulting, has been recruiting municipalities from Fayette, Washington and Westmoreland counties to join the newly reformed COG.
“We are steadily building a base of municipalities to start this group,” said Protin. “So far, Charleroi, Donora, Dunlevy, Monessen, Monongahela and North Belle Vernon have submitted ordinances pledging their desire to join the Council of Governments. Several other municipalities are also in the process of passing similar ordinances. Ideally, we would like to have everyone aboard by January 1, 2019, but other municipalities can join the Council of Governments at any time.”
Whitlatch said each municipality that joins the COG will select its own representative to serve on the organization’s board of directors. The Mid Mon Valley Council of Governments will adopt its own bylaws and decide which projects it wants to undertake. Communities will be able to achieve savings by sharing the costs for products and services such as salt, asphalt, insurance and office supplies. In addition, there is the potential for sharing code enforcement services.
“The great thing about COG is that each participating municipality can use these savings for other important projects in their respective communities,” said Whitlatch.
As an added incentive for joining the Mid Mon Valley Council of Governments, the Mon Valley Alliance will pay first year’s dues for each participating municipality.
One of the most pressing issues that was brought up during this discussion was the problem of blight in the Mon Valley. Vilello said each community must take a strategic approach when demolishing or rehabilitating blighted buildings.
“You can’t do everything at once,” said Vilello. “Obviously, you have to start by tearing down properties that are considered emergencies. From there, you should set priorities and do a blight inventory. As a COG, you should think ahead about what your communities will look like 10 years from now.”
Several local officials who attended the presentation said they are optimistic that the Mid Mon Valley COG will ultimately help the Mon Valley’s communities overcome many of their challenges.
“Even though we have different zip codes, and we’re located on different sides of the river, we share similar problems,” said Jerry Jericho, president of the Charleroi council. “It’s important for all of us to help each other out.”
Added Dennis Gutierrez, a member of the Donora council, “As the towns and cities here are getting smaller, there’s a greater need for our communities to work together to save money and streamline services. The Mid Mon Valley Council of Governments is giving us an opportunity to achieve that.”
Vilello told attendees that the Mon Valley’s best days are yet to come.
“People talk about the golden years of the past, but when you think about it, we are really a young country and a young state,” he said. “There are still a lot of challenges for communities in this region, but there are signs of hope. Good things are starting to fall into place. You just have to work together to make that happen.”