Making a Case for Community Revitalization

Meadville is lucky to have several community and economic development organizations working to better our community, but none have the explicit mission and staff capacity to lead and implement downtown (re)development and public improvement initiatives. Communities with thriving downtowns often have a dedicated organization and staff who are waking up every day thinking about how to make downtown better. 

Community Revitalization corporations (CRC’s) (also referred to as community development corporations) bring together different players–like private developers/investors, business, government and charitable organizations–for a focused strategy to improve the vibrancy of the downtown and community.  CRC’s do this by facilitating public-private partnerships, leveraging grants, tax credits and other development financing tools for difficult-to-develop real estate or by spearheading public improvement projects (curbs/sidewalks, lighting, traffic signals, public art, etc.).  A group of stakeholders were invited to form a steering committee to imagine the possibilities of how a CRC dedicated to downtown revitalization could deliver a shared vision for a vital Meadville.