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Revitalization Initiatives

Elm Street & Neighborhood Partnership Program (NPP)

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What is the Elm Street Plan?

Pennsylvania’s Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) established the Keystone Communities Program to assist communities in achieving revitalization. The Elm Street Designation is one of four Keystone Community Designations. While the other three designations are designed for downtowns and industrial sites, the Elm Street Designation will encourage targeted investment and development in areas near a downtown or central business district.

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Upload Final Plan: Elm Street Final Plan

 

Achieving the designation:

In applying for an Elm Street Designation, a community has to meet several requirements. A community must prove they’re an older residential community in need of physical revitalization. They must also develop a Five-Year Strategy that identifies objectives, benefits, and a specific outline of anticipated activities to achieve their objectives. This strategy must address all aspects of the Elm Street Five-Point Approach outlined below:

  • Sustainable Organization

  • Clean, Safe, and Green

  • Design

  • Neighbors and Economy

  • Image and Identity

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DON Enterprises, in partnership with New Castle Blueprint Communities and other community partners, worked hard with Mackin Engineering to create an Elm Street plan and apply for the Elm Street Designation.

 

How does this help my community? 

Once a community is awarded an Elm Street Designation, it receives preferential consideration for residential reinvestment grants which are generally reserved for use in Elm Street Communities. These funds are granted to projects that will encourage community revitalization.

Specific programs include:

  • Implementation Grants

  • Facade Grants

  • Development Grants

  • Public Improvement Grants

  • Housing Grants

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The designation has been awarded to the Lower East Side of New Castle, PA, and is funded by a Neighborhood Partnership Program (NPP) grant through generous contributions from WesBanco and DON Management, LLC.

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Learn more: 

Elm Street

Neighborhood Partnership Program (NPP)

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