Community Revitalization – Page 3 – SEDA Council of Governments

Shamokin to Receive $2.6 Million in Revitalization Funds

Posted on March 24, 2022March 28, 2022 by

Congressman Dan Meuser has announced that Shamokin is receiving $2.675 million in federal funding for Revitalizing Independence Street. The funds, which are derived from H.R.2471 – Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022, will allow Shamokin to execute their GoShamokin plan to improve the appearance and safety of Downtown Shamokin.

In total, Pennsylvania will receive $14.2 million in funds, which will be distributed to communities throughout the commonwealth.

The revitalizing Independence Street project is focused on complete street improvements that will greatly enhance the pedestrian-oriented and aesthetic appeal of the city of Shamokin’s “Main Street.”

The proposed improvements will be:
• Hardscape Improvement plans that focus on replacing the existing unit accent pavers, repairing any damaged concrete sidewalks, and upgrading ADA ramps and crosswalks.
• New crosswalk marking plans or crosswalk treatments (i.e. texture paving) will be prepared.
• A street tree planting plan will be developed.
• A streetscape amenities plan that includes replacing light fixtures, benches, trash/recycling receptacles, and vertical planters to provide additional greenery in place and in addition to street trees, depending on the location.

Independence Street is the city’s main commercial corridor and is located 2 blocks from the Sunbury Street/Route 61. The downtown benefits from not being a heavily trafficked through-put arterial roadway, making it more pedestrian-oriented and suitable for main street-type development.

The biggest barrier to pedestrian mobility in the downtown is the intersection crossings. Performing a makeover of Independence Street (which is located in a Federal Opportunity Zone and eligible Historic District) is an imperative initiative in the community to upgrade the downtown with a focus on ADA/safety and aesthetic improvements such as architectural lighting, planters, banners, etc. which will all have a major impact in supporting the influx of tourists, attracting new business to the downtown and creating better livability for the nearly 7,000 citizens of Shamokin.

This project is an implementation initiative based upon the GoShamokin Revitalization Plan, funded by a Keystone Community Grant, created by Stromberg Garrigan and Associates and adopted by Shamokin City Council October 2020.

The GoShamokin Revitalization Project responds to a special Shamokin community driven desire to proactively invent itself with fresh initiatives that will enable community members to revitalize itself with fresh initiatives by harnessing new opportunities, such as the recent influx in tourism through the introduction of over 8,500 acres of former coal lands in the Shamokin Area which now comprise the Northumberland County Anthracite Outdoor Recreation Area (AOAA). The AOAA is a family-friendly motorized and non-motorized recreation facility that attracts 30,000 visitors annually.

SEDA-COG’s Betsy Kramer, Revitalization Coordinator, said, “This is a much needed and appreciated influx of funds by Congressman Meuser to assist the City of Shamokin’s efforts to revitalize and create a safe, pedestrian-friendly downtown for its businesses, citizens, and visitors.”

“I first want to thank Congressman Meuser, Betsy Kramer, and former Mayor John Brown on behalf of everyone in Shamokin. I am truly grateful Congressman Meuser cares about Shamokin the way he does. These funds will go a long way in making our downtown more accessible for everyone with the ADA improvements, as well as beautifying the City,” said Shamokin Mayor Richard Ulrich.

SEDA-COG is a community and economic development agency in Lewisburg and is one of seven Local Development Districts in Pennsylvania. SEDA-COG enhances the quality of life and economic advantage for residents and businesses in the 11 central Pennsylvania counties through its vital partnerships and initiatives.

For more information, please contact Elaine Stauder, communications coordinator, SEDA-Council of Governments, at 570-522-7249 or estauder@seda-cog.org

Plan GoShamokin Recognized by 10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania

Posted on January 10, 2022 by

During the 10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania Commonwealth Awards, held virtually on December 15, 2021, the Plan GoShamokin project received the 2020 & 2021 Plans and Policy Initiative Award.

As stated on the 10,000 Friends website, the Commonwealth Awards honor projects, plans and initiatives that demonstrate smart growth, community resilience, and equity principles in action. The awards recognize individuals, businesses, and organizations with the vision to find new uses for vacant and underutilized land, increase opportunities and access for all in communities on the rise, and breathe new life into older neighborhoods.

According to The Shamokin Area Implementation Plan, “GoShamokin responds to a community driven desire to proactively reinvent itself. The plan focuses on a combination on of public/civic realm investments in infrastructure and public spaces combined with programs and resources that can be tapped to partner with the private sector to stimulate building rehabilitation and business expansion. This layered approach to economic development emphasizing ‘placemaking’ fosters the greatest potential for creating jobs, reducing crime, enhancing community pride, and elevating the overall quality-of-life for all of Shamokin’s residents.”

Sean Garrigan, the Principal with Stromberg Garrigan and Associates (SGA) – the lead firm contracted with the City to prepare the plan, submitted the plan for consideration of an award. “SGA was honored that 10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania awarded our Plan GoShamokin project a Commonwealth Award. SGA was supported by Urban Partners and the KSA Group on the effort; Plan GoShamokin was completed in October 2020 for SEDA-COG on behalf of the City of Shamokin and provided a 5-year implementation plan for economic revitalization in downtown Shamokin. SGA is currently working to create a pocket park in Shamokin called Illumination Station, a direct result of the recommendations in the plan. Thank you to 10,000 Friends for the honor,” said Garrigan.

“The GoShamokin plan has provided direction for the momentum of many different organizations at work in the city. The recognition is a huge honor and it’s exciting to see so many aspects from the GoShamokin Plan happening – including the Illumination Station Pocket Park, Hydrology & Hydraulic (H&H) Study, U.S. EPA Brownfield Assessment Grant, Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Book Rewrite, and more,” said Betsy Kramer, Revitalization Coordinator at SEDA-COG.

For more information, please contact Elaine Stauder, communications coordinator, SEDA-Council of Governments, at 570-522-7429 or estauder@seda-cog.org

Shamokin City Council adopts revitalization plan

Posted on October 19, 2020 by DNS Admin

Shamokin City Council voted unanimously to adopt the Shamokin Area Implementation Plan for Economic Revitalization on Oct. 12.

The plan, also known as the GoShamokin! Plan, responds to Shamokin’s community-driven desire to proactively reinvent itself, and was created in partnership with the city and SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG).

Shamokin Mayor John Brown said the plan is central to the city moving into revitalization and thanked the parties involved.

“On behalf of the city, we are so appreciative to the collaborative effort of SEDA-COG, especially their Revitalization Coordinator Betsy Kramer, and the business community and SABER for putting together a plan to move Shamokin into a new era of revitalization,” Brown said.

After extensive community research, the plan focuses on the core of downtown, including the blocks of Independence Street between Market and Shamokin streets. At the center of the plan is creating successful places in the city as the building blocks of revitalizing the city. It lists ways to stimulate building rehabilitation and business expansion through public-private partnerships and resources.

The plan states this approach “fosters the greatest potential for creating jobs, reducing crime, enhancing community pride, and elevating the overall quality of life for Shamokin’s residents.”

Following are the plan’s key recommendations:

Foster public-private partnerships to make bricks-and-mortar redevelopment and business expansion happen;
Make the city development-ready through sound policies and promotion;
Perform a makeover of Independence Street focused on complete street improvements that greatly enhance the pedestrian-oriented and aesthetic appeal of the city’s Main Street;
Explore interim and pop-up solutions to address blight and vacancy downtown;
Create multi-purpose public spaces downtown as civic amenities and economic development venue;
Advance critical infrastructure improvements.

The plan also includes next steps.

Council’s plan adoption means they agree that a strategic approach to revitalization will best serve the community. Council will need to approve the plan’s individual steps, such as for grant applications. The plan is a living document that will evolve and change as needed, along with funding strategies.

In 2019, SEDA-COG created a partnership with Shamokin and SABER to guide the city into a revitalization revolution.

Betsy Kramer, SEDA-COG revitalization coordinator, was the point of contact for the plan and created the Request for Proposals. After receiving six proposals and conducting three interviews, Stromberg Garrigan & Associates (SGA) was the winning consultant and created the plan. Conducting the interviews were Kathy Vetovich, president of Shamokin Area Businesses for Economic Revitalization (SABER); Kathy Jeremiah, who was executive director of Faith Alliance for Revitalization (FAR) at the time; and Christine Jacoby, district constituent outreach specialist to state Rep. Kurt Masser.

“This is an exciting time for the city with momentum building toward Shamokin’s revitalization revolution. Mayor John Brown, city council, Shamokin businesses, and all our partners have incredible vision for making Shamokin the best it can be. We are honored to guide that momentum into one concerted effort,” Kramer said.

Vetovich said SEDA-COG’s efforts are vital to coordinating Shamokin’s roadmap for success.

“Before SEDA-COG got involved in Shamokin, we were all over the board. We didn’t know how to pull it off, how to get the resources we need to truly revitalize Shamokin. The support SEDA-COG has offered has been game changing,” Vetovich said.

To view the plan, visit www.goshamokin.com.

As a community and economic development agency, SEDA-COG enhances the quality of life and economic advantage for residents and businesses in 11 central Pennsylvania counties through its vital partnerships and initiatives. SEDA-COG also is an advocate for the interests of its communities at the state and federal levels. For more information, visit www.seda-cog.org.

Shamokin restaurants: We’re open – eat local

Posted on August 14, 2020 by DNS Admin

Shamokin restaurants and breweries want the public to know that even with the pandemic’s restrictions, they are open with outdoor and indoor dining options.

SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG), a community and economic development agency, has an office in Shamokin to coordinate revitalization efforts. SEDA-COG Revitalization Coordinator Betsy Kramer reviewed some restaurants’ outdoor seating expansion plans for the city to help ensure the aesthetics meet a revitalization plan that is being finalized.

HERITAGE RESTAURANT

Heritage Restaurant’s outdoor expansion fits with the revitalization plan and adds 13 outdoor tables at 52 N. Market St. and live music every Saturday night.

They offer “great food” like Bangin’ Shrimp, scallops, poutine, steaks, seafood, and more, said owner Kathy Vetovich.

“It’s a really cool vibe outside with plenty of atmosphere on our patio including signs from old Shamokin businesses,” Vetovich said. “It’s a destination.”

On display inside are vintage artifacts of days gone by of Shamokin like posters of a theater and a faux brick wall of the Fun Shop, a building that burned down several years ago.

She’s “born and bred” in Shamokin and a mural of her grandfather and her husband’s grandfather – both miners – is painted on her restaurant.

Vetovich started “rebuilding Shamokin one ugly building at a time” in 2014. She’s rejuvenated six buildings so far. The Heritage Restaurant was dilapidated, but she saw its potential in its tin ceilings and size. “It was an eyesore, but it had to be a gorgeous restaurant,” she said.

“I saw the demise of my hometown and I really couldn’t stand it,” she said. She wanted to stay and reinvest in the area where she knew people and people knew her.

One of the buildings she bought was the former Trinity Episcopal Church at 150 E. Liberty St. One of several offerings it will house is BAMSE Coffee and Roasters, a dog-friendly coffee shop. Its grand opening is 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. this weekend, Aug. 15 and 16. Regular hours will be 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

“This dog-friendly coffee shop is another opportunity for Shamokin to be a little distinct,” she said.

MAURER’S DAIRY AND ICE CREAM SHOPPE

Maurer’s Dairy and Ice Cream Shoppe at 34 S. Market St. offers daily outdoor barbeques of smoked chicken wings with picnic table seating.

“We put the wings on the grill, and they taste like no one else’s,” said owner Ken Bethge.

Besides the bar inside, they offer a pared down menu of freshly made sandwiches, burgers, soups, baked beans, coleslaw, and more.

Their ice cream features unique flavors like Bittersweet, their version of chocolate chip. They top it with a decadent 14% butter fat.

“We melt chocolates together and dump them into the hopper. When it splatters into the hopper, it gets into little pieces and you get a lot of chocolate in every bite. It’s a unique chocolate with a unique taste and it’s delicious and rich,” Bethge said.

Their ice cream cake sales have increased because of people celebrating more at home, he said.

From March to June, he offered free breakfast to serve the people of Shamokin. He started by delivering milk to schools, then expanded it to serving food to anyone in need thanks to donations.

“I always knew there was good people in this town, but it really hit home when we did the free breakfast here when people came out of the woodwork and dropped food and cash off – including other businesses,” Bethge said. “I’m totally shocked what the Coal region and people out of the area did.

“I want to keep thanking everybody who has kept helping us throughout this. They keep coming here – we’ll deliver curbside or outside. People are still supporting us and I’m thankful and without people, we wouldn’t be in business,” Bethge said.

Love drew Bethge to the area. Originally from the Bronx, he met a Shamokin woman and moved to Trevorton. He bought Maurer’s in 1993.

LOST MINED BREWING COMPANY & RESTAURANT

Dennis Kaleta has poured himself and his family’s mining heritage into his business, the Lost Mined Brewing Company & Restaurant at 100 S. Market St.

His grandfather worked in the Shamokin mines and was a bootlegger. Some artifacts in the restaurant are from his family with many others from the area.

“Nothing is fake; it’s all actual items that were used in the area,” Kaleta said. “Some are from ruins; others were given by customers.”

His outdoor dining seating has a planter made with an old tin roof he found in the area. They offer live music every Sunday night, supporting local artists.

They have a 30-tap system they made themselves and plan on putting 20 of their own beers on tap starting before year’s end. They have freshly cut French fries and homemade sauces and dressings to complement their full restaurant menu.

He started out in the home-brewing business 18 years ago and wanted to add variety to the local market. Now, he wants to add to the city.

“I believe in rebuilding this city,” Kaleta said.

COVERED BRIDGE BREWHAUS & TAPROOM

Covered Bridge Brewhaus & Taproom at 506 N. 8th St. also has outdoor and indoor dining. They offer about 25 new original beers a year like strubarb, a strawberry rhubarb beer; bragot made with local honey; cherry triple; and their flagship beer, coconut porter. They have 12 beers on tap along with wine from Kulpmont Winery, local spirits, and mixed drinks. Customers can take out beer in growlers, cans, and bottles.

“It’s my passion for beer and to try to create a European setting,” said owner Eric Kuijpers, who is originally from Holland. “My favorite beer is the next one; I always like to experiment.”

The Brewhaus has about 10 rotating food trucks that come and offer a variety of food like burgers, grilled cheese, BBQ, Mexican, and more.

It has three connected storefronts made into a taproom, a Speak Easy, and a parlor.

Originally from Neeritter in southern Holland, coming to Shamokin was “just a little adventure that turned into a longer stay,” Kuijpers said. “I started with some friends in the PA-Alers, a local homebrew club, maybe 15 years ago. I enjoy making different beers and sharing it with people.”