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Press Release: For Immediate Release
Date: 4/23/08
Re: Irwin Grants
Ctc: Donn R. Henderson
Downtown Irwin Gives First $5,000 Grant
The Irwin Main Street program has seen the first Design Challenge Grant Project completed and in turn handed out the first $5,000 grant. The grants are part of the revitalization efforts funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development through the Pennsylvania Downtown Center.
The first grant was awarded to Brett and Christine Fulton who recently purchased a building on Second Street. The couple has replaced the concrete block façade with brick and added windows, doors, and aesthetic improvements on the exterior of the building. Although interior improvements are not eligible for this grant, the new building owners have been able to use the offset of costs to put toward interior upgrades. The newly remodeled building offers two new office/retail rentals of approximately 845 sq. ft. each with an additional 470 sq. ft. of basement storage space. According to owner Brett Fulton the grant program helped with his decision to take the façade improvement to the next level. “We had some ideas that were quite costly and this program allowed us to look at some permanent improvements that will enhance the value of the building for a long time to come” said Fulton.
Businesses and property owners are reimbursed up to $5,000 or 50% of the costs of façade improvements in exchange for designing improvements that enhance the appearance of the community. Community volunteers serve on the Main Street Design Committee headed by Hallie Chatfield. “We are working diligently with individual property owners and businesses to enhance our downtown appearance in conjunction with the two million dollars streetscape improvement project” said Chatfield.
The Design Committee is one of four working committees within the Irwin Main Street Program which follows the nationally approved “Four-Point Approach” structure of the National Main Street Center. The Irwin Main Street Program is part of a comprehensive revitalization effort that is funded in part the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, Borough of Irwin, Irwin Bank and several small business contributors. The Irwin Main Street Program was recently named a nationally recognized “Main Street Community” by the Pennsylvania Downtown Center and the National Trust for Historic Preservation and National Main Street Center in Washington D.C.
DRH
Press Release: For Immediate Release
Date: 4/19/08
Re: Art and Jazz Night in Irwin
Ctc: Donn Henderson, Irwin Main Street Manager 724.296.8074
Irwin using Art as part of Revitalization: Art and Jazz night in ‘08
The Irwin Project and Irwin Main Street program are taking some preliminary steps to use art as part of their downtown improvement efforts. Recent expansion by the Norwin Art League and increased participation made it clear to Main Street Manager Donn Henderson that the town can use the growing interest as one of many tools. Henderson believes that a number of prospering venues in existence and others being planned are a good start. “With performance venues of Covenant Hall currently active and the Lamp Theater planned for opening in the forthcoming year we have quite a start” said Henderson. “We also have the expanded home of the Norwin Art League, several music and dance studios as well as shops that carry Lincoln Highway Artisan products” he added. Art has been used nationwide as a catalyst for community development.
In conjunction with expanding the creative art sector in Downtown the Irwin Main Street program will hold “Third Thursdays Art and Jazz Nights” in June, July and August. The event will feature are musicians at various curbside and restaurant venues and sidewalk Art and artisan sales throughout the downtown. The program has been funded in part with a grant from Target.
The events will be June 19, July 17 and August 21 from 5 to 11 p.m. People interested in participating can get more information by contacting the Irwin Main Street office via
e-mail at IrwinPa@comcast.net or by calling 724-296-8074. The deadline for artist applications is May 16th.
DRH
Press Release: For Immediate Release
Date: 4/11/2008
Re: Irwin Main Street Recognition
Ctc: Donn R. Henderson Irwin Main Street 724-296-8074
Irwin Downtown Receives National Recognition
The Irwin Main Street Program, under the oversight of the Irwin Project Board, recently received recognition as a 2008 National Trust for Historic Preservation Main Street program. The designation was presented to less than 800 communities in the nation. The National Main Street Trust in Washington D.C. in conjunction with the Pa. Downtown Center in Harrisburg evaluate criteria set forth by the National Trust. Programs that have demonstrated their ability to effectively follow the Main Street “Four Point Approach” receive the honor.
Irwin Main Street is entering its second full year with a full-time manager and continues to show success with a gain in the number of businesses moving into Downtown over that period. The program is funded by local donations, annual commitments from area businesses and the Borough of Irwin and Irwin Bank. State funding for operations come through the Pa. Department of Community and Economic Development.
Gerald O’Brien, Chairman of The Irwin Project, is pleased with the designation and progress. “The hours of volunteer work by so many volunteers and elected officials who care about our town is validated with this recognition” says O’Brien now in his second year as Chairman.
Irwin Borough Council President John Fonzo believes the Main Street Program brings a professional approach to community revitalization. “While economic revitalization of Irwin’s downtown is of extreme importance to the Borough, the Main Street Program has afforded the opportunity to have citizen participation and professional management in a focused effort to augment Borough support. This will accelerate plans to improve the attractiveness and commercial prosperity of downtown Irwin” stated Fonzo.
Since 1980, the National Trust Main Street Center has assisted hundreds of downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts across the country to reclaim the unique quality of life that only a thriving community center can provide.
Downtown Irwin ended 2007 with a net gain of three businesses and another has opened in 2008 with a second signing a lease to open this summer.
Some of the other items being worked on by the Irwin Project and Irwin Main Street are; new internet marketing techniques for small businesses, second floor uses study, three segment bike trial study, final design for $1.9 million streetscape improvements, long-term funding, art and jazz nights, “greening” of downtown, business succession planning, distribute $120,000 worth of façade grants and Elm Street Program funding for the nearby residential community.
DRH
Press Release: For Immediate Release
Date: 4/9/2008
Re: New Business Opening in Irwin
Ctc: Donn Henderson-Irwin Main Street Mgr. 724-296-8074
Linda Pence-Store Owner 724-861-9687
“Your Beading Heart” adds to unique Downtown Irwin Mix
Historic Downtown Irwin has added yet another specialty shop to it’s one of a kind business mix. The latest store is located at 102 Fourth Street and features beading and jewelry making supplies.
“Your Beading Heart” is a small business owned and operated by Linda Pence of Irwin. The showroom features supplies for everyone from the home hobbyist to the retail craft person. “We supply everything from stringing material to clasps” says the newest of Irwin’s more that 20 female owned or operated businesses. “Downtown Irwin’s reasonable rent and other specialty shops made it the perfect fit for what we want to do” added Ms. Pence.
The store will also hold classes starting soon and can be the perfect shop for a bracelet birthday party or a way for scout troops to earn a project badge. Supplying specialty glass beads, seed beads and natural materials like shell, seed and bone from around the world will set “Your Beading Heart” apart. Offering expert advice, classes and one-on-one service will keep you as a “customer for life” according to Pence.
Irwin Main Street Manager, Donn Henderson says the town continues to offer a wide variety of unique shopping and dining experiences. “ You can come downtown for accessories, clothes, massage, performances, yoga, ceramics class, tea, bridal dress, pizza, cappuccino, golf clubs, cheesecake, televisions and now beading-how’s that for a mix?” asks Henderson.
Henderson says his tracking shows the town ended 2007 with a net gain of three new businesses and with newly remodeled space becoming available that number is expected to rise in 2008 despite the slowing economy. “We already have word of another shop opening in a month or so and have several inquiries about available space” says the Downtown Manager.
For more information on “Your Beading Heart” you can go to the web site Yourbeadingheart.net or call the store at 724-861-9687. More information about Downtown Irwin is available at IrwinPa.Org or by calling 724-296-8074.
DRH
