Community Improvement & Economic Development

Almost two dozen organizations in Washington County address the broad need for community improvement and economic development in our area, tackling such issues as blight removal, business incubation, capacity improvement, financial literacy, and job training.

Impact

• Through their Block by Block Home Repair program, City of Washington Citywide Development Corp. is helping to address blight by offering an average of $7,500 per house to address safety and stabilization concerns.
• With the opening of their Business Resource Center, Mon Valley Alliance has expanded its mission to uplift local business by offering education, training, workshops, and advice on topics crucial to sustaining and growing a business.
  
• Monongahela Area Revitalization Corp. seeks to improve the quality of life in Monongahela, New Eagle, and Carroll Township by hosting a variety of programs and services, including the Monongahela Farmers’ Market.

Challenges

Housing for people of all ages and backgrounds is a top concern in the county, with 9.8% of our population experiencing severe housing problems. Given housing can also be a social determinant of health and access to it can often be the difference maker in someone’s mental, physical, or financial wellbeing, this makes the need particularly dire. Unfortunately, the fact that roughly 26% of all homes in the county are 80 years old or older and do not adequately fit modern needs for housing makes rectifying this an uphill battle. Organizations such as the Redevelopment Authority of Washington County and the Washington County Land Bank are assisting the best they can through renovations of properties that can be salvaged and repurposed for modern needs, as well as demolition of others to make way for new constructions.

These efforts often go hand in hand with the removal and revitalization of blighted areas, another significant concern that has made strides in recent months with projects such as the approved demolition of Washington Mall in favor of new retail establishments.