Recently, the YMCA servicing my hometown was awarded a significant grant to construct a child care facility at the new YMCA building in Clarion County (https://bit.ly/2x6frxQ). The award was huge for the community and had a special meaning to me because of all the time my parents put into starting and growing that YMCA. That good news was followed by Emily Thurlow’s article in the Central Pennsylvania Business Journal (https://bit.ly/2xb96jZ) on September 13, 2018. I started thinking about the under-utilization of alternative financing options and cost savings available through various statutes for development projects, including those combating blight.
This post is just a teaser. (Sorry.) But through the fall and winter you can expect to see follow up posts on our blog related to these topics. Those posts will explain the purpose and benefits of working with the various development corporations in Pennsylvania, discuss grant and alternative financing options (they’re not just for non-profits!), and explain existing statutes that can help convert blighted properties into prosperous properties. So stay tuned, and in the meantime, contact your local development corporations and think outside the box!