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Redbank Renaissance, Inc.
is a group of area citizens who have incorporated to
revitalize New Bethlehem and the Redbank Valley area by
utilizing its assets. Our members include business
owners, borough council members, bankers, the former school
superintendent and teachers, nurses, doctors, ministers,
retired folks and others who are concerned about the
Redbank Valley. Our organizational structure follows the
trademarked Main Street and Trail Town program structure that was
developed by the National Trust for Historic
Preservation to address revitalization needs with a
comprehensive, long-term approach.
The
four committees and a brief outline of their
responsibilities are:
Design – Downtown
streetscape, buildings, infrastructure and appearance,
sign and façade grants.
Promotion – Marketing, events and promotion
of area image,
community calendar, church directory.
Economic Restructuring – Assistance for
existing businesses and recruitment of new businesses.
Organization –
Legal, financial and reporting requirements, fundraising
and volunteer recruitment and training.
The program has been successful in over 1900 other
communities around the country, including Brookville,
Ridgway, Lock Haven and Warren among others. See the
National Trust’s Main Street Center for more
information:
http://www.mainstreet.org. Our goal is to follow
this model to bring new life to the Redbank Valley for
sustained economic health and the benefit of its
residents.
Please enjoy and use this website and join us in our
efforts!
Our
Current Efforts:
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Redbank Renaissance has
raised $54,788.03 in pledges and donations. Your support
is appreciated!
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Design
Committee focusing on improvements of appearance of
downtown New Bethlehem, including community clean
ups, banners and a façade and signage improvement
program. For more information on the FAÇADE GRANT PROGRAM see the following:
- Organizing an Artists’ Cooperative to provide a cost effective central location for area artists and craftspersons. For information call Ty Poster, Economic Restructuring Committee Chair, at 814-275-3421. Interested area artists met several times during 2009 and 2010, are seeking additional participants and are currently working on organizational structure, documents and a possible location. Renaissance, Carol Wahl and Linda Moore sponsored a reception on January 23rd with 11 artists in attendance with several more expressing interest. There was good discussion about many issues. An intensive workshop was held on Saturday, Feb. 20th to work on organizational documents.
Plans included the arts festival on July 4th in Gumtown Park and participation in other area shows during the year. Anyone interested in participating should call Carol Wahl at 814-764-6086 or Sandy Mateer at 814-275-1718 or send an e-mail to scmateer1@comcast.net. Watch the calendar for additional meeting dates.
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Redbank Renaissance has purchased banners for the street poles on Broad Street which will change with the seasons and promote area events or groups, including the Redbank Valley Bulldogs, the library’s Art in the Park and the Chamber’s Peanut Butter Festival. Donations for this effort would be greatly appreciated. The banners were custom designed and are of a good durable quality.
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Renaissance was successful in obtaining a grant through Pennsylvania Wilds to install a Welcome to New Bethlehem sign as you come south on Rt. 66 at the Borough line. The sign was installed in May 2010 and was landscaped by the Clarion County Garden Club in September. We hope to work with other community organizations to install 2 more welcome signs at the entrances to the Borough on Route 28.
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DCED
applications for Funding of Main Street type
programs to be filed when matching funds are
available
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501(c)(3) IRS public charity exempt status approved
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Community Outreach & Fundraising
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Business Assistance through Partnerships with
Clarion University and The University of Pittsburgh –
(Please see upcoming business seminars under
“Business Assistance”)
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Marketing & Promotion of the Redbank Valley and its
Businesses. See this flyer for things to do, places to eat and
business opportunities.
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Working with engineers on a Trail Town study for promoting New
Bethlehem as a demonstration Trail Town for the water
trail on Red Bank Creek and rails to trails. New Bethlehem Borough has been awarded an $18,000 grant for trail town planning through the Northwest Commission. Trail Town Planning Presentation (PDF)
- Working with the Allegheny Valley Land Trust and the Redbank Valley Trails Association, which formed in May, to promote trail development. The group is meeting on the third Monday of each month at the New Bethlehem Presbyterian Church at 403 Penn Street at 7 PM. New Bethlehem and AVLT were awarded a $25,000 grant for a feasibility and planning study for the trail from Lawsonham to Brookville.
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Pursuing Route 28 access for Smuckers
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Community Calendar
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Friday, January 27th, 2012
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