July was an important month for work in and around the River Towns Program. We moved past our town assessments and have begun to work on projects that were identified as important in each community. I compiled all of the raw data from our town assessment in Fredericktown. I tallied up community member's answers to determine what projects the town felt was important. I then wrote a report on our findings, which detailed the service gaps in the Fredericktown area, pointed out the problems that a potential visitor would face, yet also highlighted what the strengths of the community are. We used these findings to decide what kinds of projects we would implement in Fredericktown.
Moving past the town assessment, I began to compile a database of available commercial properties. That way, if a person looking to open a business needs a building, they can come to us and we will work with the owners to help establish a new business. I worked on a number of grants to help get projects off the ground. We are applying for a "Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful" grant which will provide paint and supplies to paint a derelict building in town. We are applying for the National Park Service's Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program, to get the NPS involved with our River Towns project. Finally, I am assisting as we put together a proposal for the "Local Share" fund, a program in which gambling revenue from a casino in Washington County can be used for community development projects. Our idea is a river enhancement package, with upgraded docks, signs, and a public restroom. Last but not least, we held a meeting of the Economic Team, which was formed after the town assessment, to discuss signage, business attraction, and real estate issues.
