Greensburg conference to highlight development opportunities in the city

Opportunities for developing properties in Greensburg will be highlighted during the city’s second development conference, set for Tuesday at the Seton Hill Performing Arts Center.

Organized by the nonprofit Greensburg Community Development Corp., the conference is free and open to the public and will cover a range of programs and incentives designed to help foster growth in the city. Registration is required and can be completed by visiting the nonprofit’s website, thinkgreensburg.com.

The event will begin with a check-in and networking period, from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m., and will continue through noon, with keynote speaker Bill Arrowood of the Pennsylvania Downtown Center joining a lineup of local speakers and panelists.

The Pennsylvania Downtown Center is a statewide nonprofit that provides technical assistance and educational services to assist communities in revitalizing their central business districts and surrounding residential neighborhoods. Arrowood has served as assistant director of the South Street Headhouse District in Philadelphia, which helps manage a commercial corridor with more than 400 small businesses.

Conference topics will include grants available to help in developing properties and tax incentive programs. Light refreshments will be available.

Afterward, attendees will have an opportunity to take a self-guided walking tour of properties and points of interest in downtown Greensburg. Owners will be available at the sites to answer questions and field any interest.

“We believe there are properties worth being featured,” said city Councilman Gregory Mertz. “This isn’t just a pipe dream of what the potential is. There are active (development) opportunities now.

“It’s important for us to let developers and business owners know they have a partner in the city.”

The Greensburg Community Development Corp. works with developers to let them know about programs that can help them, and city staff can help them navigate Greensburg’s permitting process, Mertz said.

City planning director Jeff Raykes is scheduled to speak at the conference. Other presenters will include: Jason Rigone, executive director of Westmoreland County’s Industrial Development Corp and Department of Planning and Development; Brian Lawrence, executive director of the county’s Redevelopment Authority and Land Bank; Dan DeBone, president and CEO of the Westmoreland County Chamber of Commerce; representatives from The Westmoreland Museum of American Art, Seton Hill University and the Community Foundation of Westmoreland County; several local developers and business owners.

The first development conference was held in 2019, before the covid-19 pandemic, and this year’s event has generated a strong response from sponsors and those who attended the first event, according to Alec Italiano, executive director of the Greensburg Community Development Corp.

“I’m very excited for the event and connecting with folks interested to learn more about doing business in Greensburg,” he said.