Economic development helps Pittsburg businesses
New paint, bright landscaping and a fresh façade can do wonders to the exterior of a business and when business is booming, so is the economy.
The Pittsburg Economic Development Corporation has helped many business owners in Pittsburg spruce up the exteriors of their buildings by awarding incentives made possible through local sales tax.
The EDC funds the Main Street program, and grants for exterior improvements are available for Main Street businesses. Incentives through the EDC board, however, are available to any Pittsburg business owners.
Amanda McCellon, Pittsburg’s community development coordinator, said Pittsburg’s EDC has already funded parts of the former Pittsburg Police Station, now known as the Wallace building downtown. The building was purchased by attorney James W. Wallace who turned the building into his law office, as well as adding additional office space for renters.
“A lot of people probably don’t realize that economic development had a part in that renovation,” Mrs. McCellon said. “Everything the economic development corporation does is linked back to job creation. That’s what’s important to them – jobs here in Pittsburg.”
Mrs. McCellon said EDC funds were awarded to Pittsburg Hot Links on Marshall Street for roof repair and improving their existing buildings, which will lead to new businesses and job creation.
Salina Dollinger, with Pittsburg Hot Links, said these incentives help business owners.
“If the city has money that can help people in the downtown area, that’s a great incentive for people to make improvements to their buildings,” she said. “It would allow us to freshen things up.”
Money for EDC incentives comes from local sales tax which is then given back to the community through incentives.
“We use part of our sales tax money to be able to give incentives to current and new businesses,” Mrs. McCellon said. “We want people to understand that this office is constantly and aggressively going after new business. We’re making phone calls, we’re emailing people, we’re sending out information – because job creation is very important to us.”
Incentives are available for both industrial and retail businesses. Mrs. McCellon said she’s working closely with area realtors to get this information into the hands of new business owners in Pittsburg or anyone out of town thinking about opening a business here.
“I’m trying to get some promotional materials put together,” she said. “Realtors are often the first line with new businesses. They know who’s coming in. I’m working on a brochure they can give out to potential businesses.”
EDC funds were also used to help fund a new website for the City of Pittsburg that will be more user friendly.
“We’re working on going live with it by the end of the month,” Mrs. McCellon said. “It’s going to have a brand new look and people are going to be able to do more things with it.”
Paying water bills online, getting permits and paying for permits online and finding an online email directory for every staff member at the city are just a few of the features the public will be able to find on the new site.
“The website now is kind of out of date. There’s a lot of information there, but you have to do a lot of digging to find what you need,” Mrs. McCellon said. “We’re trying to clean it up.”
Another upcoming project the EDC is working on concerns the Highway 271 business corridor. While Main Street has its own downtown district and board of trustees to oversee beautification, Highway 271 business owners have largely been on their own. The EDC hopes to fund a grant program and create a Highway 271 business district.
By Tori Lyle, news@campcountynow.com -- To continue reading this article, purchase the print edition of The Pittsburg Gazette or go to our online e-edition at:http://www.etypeservices.com/
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