The unified plan to

Building Sustainable

Communities in

Uniontown, PA

This is the Unified Plan for Building Sustainable Communities in Uniontown, PA. Building Sustainable Communities is an initiative of the Local Initiative Support Corporation (LISC) designed to target investment and resources into specific distressed places as a proven strategy for change. It is a comprehensive and holistic way of transforming disadvantaged places into healthy, vibrant places that are sought after by people who want to stay there and live, work and raise a family. The comprehensive nature of the process lies in the five goals through which we build sustainable communities. LISC has been investing in Uniontown since 2000 in a partnership arrangement between the Rural LISC program and the Fayette County Community Action Agency. LISC has approved the investment of over $6.8 million through FCCAA since 2000, resulting in total development costs of an estimated $62 million. Through the grants, predevelopment recoverable grants, loans and lines of credit to FCCAA, the results have been the development of affordable homes, creation of community and commercial space, establish of local businesses, creation/retention of jobs, opening of a medical and dental clinic, support for summer-time and after-school educational initiatives, health fairs, adult education classes, as well as additional programs and projects. Investments, resource allocation and on-going support do not continue without a plan for their use resulting in positive impacts of revitalization. The Building Sustainable Communities program places a premium on resident developed Quality of Life plans. The planning work previously completed in Uniontown by agencies and entities involved in revitalizing the community mitigated the need for yet another plan, specifically a Quality of Life Plan, for Building Sustainable Communities. What Uniontown needed was an assimilation of existing plans and a partnering of existing agencies. This Unified Plan as designed to accomplish that. This Unified Plan creates a common vision for the partnering agencies to work together, yet allows each the flexibility to work on its own individual work plan, complete projects/programs it is responsible for, be responsible to its individual funders, and be accountable to its specific audience(s). LISC invests through and considers FCCAA the lead agency for Building Sustainable Communities. This Unified Plan presents the five Sustainable Community goals, provides a brief introductory background on the efforts, discusses LISC’s model as well as the selection of Uniontown, inventories the various partner agencies and their individual plans, produces the unified vision, identifies a specific workplan, and concludes with a Declaration of Interdependence. While the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, the success of revitalizing Uniontown is clearly dependent upon an admitted interdependence between and among the partnering agencies. There is more than enough credit to go around for the successful activities that are resulting in positive impacts when the agencies work cooperatively and jointly through a unified plan. In a comprehensive community development initiative such as Building Sustainable Communities, there is always room to put more seats available “at the table”. This is not an exhaustive list of partnering agencies or development plans. This initiative is meant to be inclusive and all those not yet included in the Unified Plan are invited and encouraged to join us.

The Five Pillar Goals of

Building Sustainable

Communities

Work Stimulating economic activity – connecting to the regional economy

Wisdom Improving access to quality education

Wealth Increasing family income and wealth

Health Supporting healthy environments and lifestyles

Home Expanding capital investment in housing and all other real estate

The Introduction

In 2005, LISC undertook an extensive strategic planning process to create a vision and a plan that would build on LISC’s successful investments and experiences around the country, and take community development to the next level. The result was an ambitious new plan for LISC to create Sustainable Communities. Sustainable communities are ones that offer the positive environments needed to ensure that all residents of varied income levels are provided the opportunities and tools to build assets, participate in the benefits inuring to their communities, and become part of the mainstream economy. LISC envisions Sustainable Communities as places that people want to be in, contribute to, thrive in and be proud of. Such communities will be able to attract and maintain their populations and contribute to the overall health of their cities and regions. As part of the planning process, there are five program objectives that, taken together, can lead to this larger goal of comprehensive community health and sustainability:

1. Developing, preserving and investing in the physical environment -- expanding capital investment in housing and other real estate development

2. Increasing family income and wealth

3. Stimulating and connecting economic activity, locally and regionally

4. Improving access to quality education

5. Fostering and supporting livable, safe and healthy environments and lifestyles

Through an internal competitive process open to all of LISC’s program offices at the end of 2007, Uniontown was selected as Rural LISC’s demonstration site for LISC’s Building Sustainable Communities Initiative in western Pennsylvania. As one of the original eleven demonstration sites, Uniontown has been selected to represent LISC’s efforts in revitalizing and sustaining rural communities through the five pillar goals listed above. Uniontown was selected as one of the original eleven demonstration sites because of its past and current efforts in revitalization. Being the home of George Marshall, Uniontown understands the need for planning. Through the philanthropic investments by two beneficiaries, Uniontown implemented the Marshall Plan II. In 2004 Rural LISC introduced its Healthy Village Initiative (HVI) to help the Fayette County Community Action Agency (FCCAA) plan for and implement projects targeted in the Gallatin Avenue Neighborhood. In 2006 the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh selected Uniontown as one of its twenty-two Blueprint Communities, providing planning and technical assistance targeted to the East End neighborhood. And, now as a Sustainable Communities demonstration site, through holistic and comprehensive strategic processes, as lead agency Rural LISC partner CDC, FCCAA can bring together efforts happening in downtown, East End, Gallatin Avenue and the FCCAA Campus of Services.

The Rural Demonstration Model

The original eleven LISC demonstration sites included Washington DC, Chicago, Indianapolis, Kansas City, San Francisco, Milwaukee, Duluth, Rhode Island, Twin Cities, Detroit, and Rural Pennsylvania (Uniontown in western PA and Tamaqua in eastern PA). The differences as well as the similarities between urban places and rural places are austere. Issues are similar, solutions are different. Rural and urban places both have unemployment, homelessness, crime, blight, teen pregnancies, school dropouts, failing infrastructure, poor health, disenfranchised populations, and the like. Unfortunately, rural places do not have the variety of resources available to address these issues. Philanthropic opportunities are lacking in rural areas. Leadership and talent are less available in rural. Supportive infrastructure of non-profits providing support to the underserved populations do not exist in rural to the extent they do in urban places. In urban places many non-profits are sole-purpose compared to the holistic, comprehensive and multi-disciplinary approach of many rural agencies. Sustainable Communities works in rural places because the non-profit agencies are typically holistic and strategic. All five pillar goals are already being handled by a leading community development agency. In rural places, Building Sustainable Communities is not about doing “something else”, but it is more about finding a way to do what we already do, just better. That better way is, in part, through partnerships with other agencies for a comprehensive approach. Early work in these eleven pilot sites has several common features that, in broad strokes, helps to outline what a mature Sustainable Communities effort would look like. All of the sites target clearly defined communities where planning and programs are led by residents, organizations, and institutions that are essential to the community’s life and prosperity. Typically, the efforts include a strong resident planning process that is aimed not only at setting priorities based on firsthand knowledge of the territory, but also at assigning responsibility and ensuring accountability for the performance of the planned activities. And each of these efforts sets out to fund an expanding and comprehensive array of capital investment and human development programs, pursuing a substantial increase in private and public investment and enlarging the circle of partners funding and carrying out the work. To ensure that plans lead to action and that action is effective, Sustainable Communities typically need a designated lead agency — a central organization responsible for organizing the community, coordinating participants’ work, sharing information, serving as steward of the program’s financial and administrative responsibilities, and ensuring an open, effective collaboration. The nature of the lead agency will be different in different places, depending on the strengths and experience of the partners, the traditional relations among local organizations, and the issues to be addressed at any given time. In Uniontown, for LISC, it is the FCCAA. Following is a feature at www.lisc.org of the Rural model for Sustainable Communities.

The Partners

Bob we want to make sure all partners are including and we describe work-FayPenn, Community College, Penn State etc. Not sure how to deal with police and the other three

entities Need to add Weed and Seed at least.

The following agencies represent the Sustainable Communities team. Each entity has its individual mission and reports independently to its funders. Each entity has its own approved plan that has been developed with input from the targeted neighborhoods. As such, the Sustainable Communities plan for Uniontown allows each entity to operate and implement independently yet ensures the common vision of making Uniontown a place people want to be in, contribute to, thrive in and be proud of. The Building Sustainable Communities plan for Uniontown, PA, is the assimilation of these individual entities and visions into progress for Uniontown, allowing for the independence while fostering interdependence. Fayette County Community Action Agency (FCCAA) Lead agency for Sustainable Communities

vision: The Fayette County Community Action Agency’s mission is to strengthen

individuals and families to become more self sufficient, achieving their potential by

taking advantage of opportunities, improving the conditions in which they live and

taking ownership of their community. Southwestern PA Community Development Corporation (SWPA CDC)

Social enterprise activities vision: This CDC is dedicated to entrepreneurs in southwestern

PA who are starting or growing a small business. The CDC’s goal is to help

entrepreneurs find the information needed quickly and easily by providing a one-stop

and on-line shop for all business needs. City of Uniontown Police Department

vision: The mission of this law enforcement agency is to affirmatively promote,

preserve, and provide as much as practicable and given existing resources, a feeling of

security and safety among all persons within our agency's jurisdiction.

City of Uniontown Fire Department/Code Enforcement

vision:The primary mission of the Uniontown Fire Department is to provide a range of programs designed to protect the lives and property of the inhabitants of the City of Uniontown from the adverse effects of fires, sudden medical emergencies, or exposure to dangerous conditions man-made or natural.

City of Uniontown Redevelopment Authority

vision: The Comprehensive Plan Update for the City of Uniontown provides the City’s

policies and plans concerning desirable physical development and redevelopment of the

community. Related documents have been reviewed so future activities will be

conducted with the knowledge and understanding of the recommendations for each

plan element. East End United Community Center

vision: East End United Community Center (EEUCC) has the mission to provide

cultural, educational, and recreational facilities and enrichment programs for the

residents of the Uniontown Area School District and surrounding neighborhoods,

especially those residing in the East End section of Uniontown. The East End United

Community Center and the Uniontown Redevelopment Authority are the coordinating

bodies for the Federal Home Loan Bank BluePrint community program in the

Uniontown area. Threshold Housing Development, Inc.

vision: Threshold is a nonprofit organization formed to acquire, develop, hold, maintain

and manage real estate and personal property in Fayette, Washington, and Greene

Counties. Threshold’s mission is to develop, promote, encourage or enhance the level of

self-sufficiency of low-income, disabled or elderly individuals and families through

developing affordable, efficient housing units for both rental and ownership by low

income families or individuals. Fayette County Redevelopment Authority

vision: Established in 1949, the Authority works in partnership with various local,

state, and federal entities to implement a multitude of programs and initiatives with

the aim of improving and sustaining our communities and helping to continue to

make Fayette County a wonderful place to call home. The Redevelopment Authority of

the County of Fayette (RACF) is the principle public agency in Fayette County

responsible for community development and single-family affordable housing

activities. Established in 1949, the Authority provides general community development

services and administers several programs on behalf of the County and its

municipalities. Programs administered by the Authority include:

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program

Homeowner Rehabilitation Program

Homeownership Assistance Program

Weatherization Program

Main Street Program

vision: Main Street program grants are used to enhance the business districts of

Uniontown with improvements to existing businesses, streetscape upgrades and other

rehabilitation projects. North Gallatin Avenue Neighborhood Elm Street Program

vision: The Elm Street Program emphasizes a five-point approach to integrated

neighborhood revitalization: a sustainable neighborhood organization; clean, safe and

green streets; good design elements; neighbors and economy; and, the image and

identity of the neighborhood. The Master Plan provides for strategic goals in each of

the five points.

Others: Rural LISC Healthy Villages Initiative funded by State Farm 2004 thru 2007 in Uniontown

vision: Rural LISC’s mission is to build the capacity of resident-led rural CDCs,

increase their production and impact, demonstrate the value of investing in and

through rural CDCs and make the resource and policy environment more supportive of

rural CDCs and their work. Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh (FHLBank) Blueprint Communities Program

vision: The mission of the Blueprint Communities initiative is to serve as a catalyst to

revitalize older communities and neighborhoods. The objectives include: Fostering

strong local leadership, collaboration and development capacity in older communities;

Serving as a catalyst for revitalization based on sound local and regional planning

that includes a clear vision for the community and a comprehensive implementation

strategy; Encouraging coordinated investments in targeted neighborhoods by public

and private funders. US Department of Agriculture – Rural Development (USDA - RD) Business, housing and community development loans, grants and/or guarantees

vision: To increase economic opportunity and improve the quality of life for all rural

Americans.

The Vision

Uniontown will be a place where all people are

committed to family, neighbors and visitors.

We value safety, respect and diversity. We

believe that by working together we can create

a quality of life that includes sustainable

employment, new business and reinvestment

in our city. A community where everyone

contributes to one vision.

-Uniontown Vision statement developed with

citizen input for Fay-Penn Strategic Plan

2010. Rural LISC and Fayette County

Community Action were partners in this

effort.

Their Plans

One key element of Building Sustainable Communities is the engagement of the local residents and citizenry through grass-roots planning processes. LISC refers to this as the Quality of Life plan. Because these local planning processes had already been put into place in Uniontown prior to the start of the Sustainable Communities initiative, this Unified Plan for Building Sustainable Communities in Uniontown is an assimilation of those local planning processes. We decided that we did not need to do yet another plan in Uniontown for Sustainable Communities. Instead, we built upon the existing work of the various agencies and entities that are here and have been here for years working to revitalize Uniontown. In this manner, the agencies can come together as the Sustainable Communities team and work together through this Unified Plan and yet also each entity can work independently on its own workplan for which it is responsible to its individual funders, audience and priorities. This unified plan can be updated through the local steps and procedures used by the various partner agencies as they engage in the planning process with the residents of Uniontown. The Sustainable Communities program allows the agencies in Uniontown to work together on the bigger picture, and yet work independently on their own when the need is there. Not everything that all these agencies do happens in the targeted neighborhoods for Sustainable Communities. This Unified Plan brings them together when it makes sense to do so. The plans and workplans of the partner agencies participating “at the table” of Sustainable Communities are the foundation of this Unified Plan. The Unified Plan is built on and includes the processes implemented by the team agencies in their individual plans:

1. Comprehensive Plan Update. City of Uniontown, Fayette County, Pennsylvania.

January, 2002

2. Fayette County Community Action Agency Annual Report. 2007

3. North Gallatin Avenue Elm Street Plan. Uniontown, Fayette County, Pennsylvania.

4. Sustainability Plan for the East End United Community Center, Inc.

Uniontown, PA. Draft February 18, 2008

5. Uniontown Downtown Business District Authority Overview. Draft Narrative.

6. Fayette County Strategic Plan. June 8, 1995.

7. Fayette County Strategic Plan. 1998.

8. Fayette County Strategic Plan. 2010

9. Uniontown Downtown Blueprint 2004. (The Hyett Palma report)

10. Redevelopment Area Plan. Gallatin Ave Redevelopment Project, City of Uniontown,

Fayette County, Pennsylvania. July 2008.

11. Fayette County Housing Consortium Housing Market Analysis. Fayette

County, Pennsylvania. June, 2005.

The Work Plan

Uniontown Sustainable Communities Work Plan Strategy/Project Short term -- Intermediate -- Long term Agency/Entity

1. Expanding capital investment in housing and other real

estate development Uniontown Family Homes

30 homes, Gallatin Ave and East End neighborhoods – occupied 2009

FCCAA

Uniontown Family Homes Phase 2

Construct 28 homes in Gallatin, Lafayette and East End neighborhoods – start construction 2012

FCCAA

Gallatin Avenue Homes

15 homes, Maple Street – construct in 2010 Threshold

Republic Incubator

Commercial kitchen expansion; Unforgettable Sweets; Food-related cluster for Republic Incubator/Enterprise Building

SW PA CDC

Office Building on Main Street (GSA)

30,000 square feet new construction; negotiating with GSA – development stage

Fayette County Housing Authority

Neighborhood Stabilization

Clear blighted properties Uniontown Redevelopment Authority

Main Street renovations

Façade improvements; Vacant structure issues; Additional shopping downtown;

Main Street program;

Senior living Elderly/senior apartments – 30 units; construction in 2010-11

FCCAA

Redstone Township Subdivision

26 Self-help, affordable and market rate housing – occupied by 2010

Threshold

Community Foundation Predevelopment fund

Provide funds to support predevelopment activities Fayette County Community Foundation

Fairchance Senior Housing

24 units of senior supportive housing developed by 2015 and an additional 24 units developed by 2020

Fayette County Community Action

Maple Street development

Develop 9 new homes on Maple Street for sale on property owned by the Redevelopment Authority

Threshold Housing

Uniontown Sustainable Communities Work Plan Strategy/Project Short term -- Intermediate -- Long term Agency/Entity

2. Increasing family income and wealth Uniontown Family Homes

30 new affordable homes, Gallatin Ave and East End neighborhoods – occupied 2009

FCCAA

Uniontown Family Homes Phase 2

Construct 28 new affordable homes in Gallatin, Lafayette and East End neighborhoods – start construction 2012

FCCAA

Gallatin Avenue Homes

15 homes, Maple Street – construct in 2010 Threshold

Fairweather Lodge

8 residents developing an internet based business FCCAA

Republic Incubator

Creating jobs; Development of a food industry cluster

SW PA CDC

Office Building on Main Street (GSA)

Bringing jobs back downtown, creating foot traffic on Main Street, providing a customer base for downtown businesses

Fayette County Housing Authority

Medical clinic Creating 3-4 jobs Cornerstone Care

Dental clinic Creating 3-4 jobs Cornerstone Care

Family Savings Accounts

Helping residents save money and manage finances.

FCCAA

FOC Working with LISC to create a Financial Opportunity Center (FOC)

FCCAA

Uniontown Sustainable Communities Work Plan Strategy/Project Short term -- Intermediate -- Long term Agency/Entity

3. Stimulating economic activity – connecting to the

regional economy

Republic Incubator

Creation of 16-20 jobs at Unforgettable Sweets; marketing product across the seaboard

SW PA CDC

Office Building on Main Street (GSA)

30000 square feet new construction will bring about 80 jobs downtown.

Fayette County Housing Authority

Medical clinic Re-open with 3-4 new jobs in 2010 Cornerstone Care

Dental clinic Re-open with 3-4 new jobs in 2010 Cornerstone Care

Main Street Renovations

Bringing businesses and jobs back downtown; increasing foot traffic downtown; blending commercial activities with social activities on Main Street.

Main Street Program

Buy Local Campaign

Continue support and expansion of buy local initiative

Fay-Penn

Small business support

Development of additional resources to assist small businesses

Fay-Penn; Chamber of Commerce; PSU; WCCC

Uniontown Sustainable Communities Work Plan Strategy/Project Short term -- Intermediate -- Long term Agency/Entity

4. Improving access to quality education Staff training Professional training to FCCAA staff, building

capacity, strengthening ability FCCAA

CNA training Providing continuing adult education program to certify nurse’s assistants for the workforce

FCCAA

Education Initiative

Providing after-school and summer-time supplemental educational opportunities for children

East End United Community Center

Vocational education

Partner with other organizations to improve the quality of vocational education

Fay-Penn; Workforce Investment Board

Expand Community College Options

Provide programs and services to enhance access to higher education, and assist all students to achieve their educational and career goals. Develop and expand programming that promotes lifelong learning.

Westmoreland County Community College

Continue growth and development of Penn State campus

Address diverse student needs and provide multiple entry points in the creation of programs and services. Offer education and training opportunities based on community needs.

Penn State Eberly Campus

Reach Program Continued improvement of primary and secondary education

Fay-Penn

Uniontown Sustainable Communities Work Plan Strategy/Project Short term -- Intermediate -- Long term Agency/Entity

5. Supporting healthy environments and lifestyles Uniontown Family Homes

30 homes, energy star FCCAA

Street lights Look for opportunities to upgrade Street light to solar lights

Uniontown Redevelopment

Republic Incubator

Healthy food choices for institutional food SW PA CDC

Healthy Fayette Facilitating educational sessions for residents; attacking obesity and other health initiative

Community Health Improvement Partnership and Steps to a Healthy Fayette

Elderly/Senior Apartments

Green construction FCCAA

Weed N Seed Improve police protection and neighborhood watch activities as well as alternative community programs through Weed and Seed initiative

Uniontown Redevelopment

Medical clinic Re-opened 2009 Cornerstone Care

Dental clinic Re-opened in 2009 Cornerstone Care

Increase health options and professional

Continue to improve the quality of health care and professionals serving the community

Uniontown Hospital, Fayette County Behavioral Health; Cornerstone Care and others

Support active arts program

Successful performing arts program State Theater

The Investment

RURAL LISC INVESTMENTS IN UNIONTOWN 2001 - 2010

SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES Community Development

offer the positive environments needed to ensure that

all residents of varied income levels are provided the

opportunities and tools to build assets, to participate

in their communities, and to become part of the

mainstream economy

HOMES WEALTH WORK WISDOM HEALTH

Expanding

Investment in

Housing and

Other Real Estate

Increasing

Family Income

& Wealth

Stimulating

Economic

Development

Improving

Access to

Quality

Education

Supporting

Healthy

Environments

and Lifestyles

$3,463,750 Private - $3,390,750

Public - $73,000

$50,000 Private - $0

Public - $50,000

$182,000 Private - $58,000 Public - $124,000

$283,500 Private - $119,000 Public - $164,500

$2,853,500 Private - $2,610,000

Public - $243,500

$6,832,750

Private - $6,177,750 Public - $655,000

Estimated Total Project Development Costs $62 million

▪ 150 homes ▪ 200,000 sf ▪ 40 enterprises ▪ 200 jobs ▪