Gilpin officials are seeking volunteers for a new committee aimed at expanding business development in the rural community.
Regulators Chairman Charles Stull on Wednesday announced plans to set up an Industrial and Economic Development Advisory Committee.
“As a local official, I am always concerned and look for ways to bring more development to the community to strengthen our tax base and spread the tax burden to take the heavy burden off current residents,” Stull said.
Stull said he spearheaded efforts to form the volunteer-led committee after receiving little help from Armstrong County Industrial Development Corp.
“They told me they already have a lot of big projects coming up,” Stull said. “I decided if the county couldn’t help I would take it into local hands as these derelict and abandoned sites affect our local taxpayers more than anyone else.”
The Committee’s mission is to serve as a resource for the business community by supporting the growth of local businesses.
“The committee will look for new and innovative ways to market existing businesses and industries in the community and to attract new businesses and industries that will complement our existing base,” Stull said.
Len Kalmar, 80, of the Kalmar Chevrolet family business on Route 66, has seen businesses come and go in Gilpin.
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Co-owners and brothers Chris and Scott Kalmar at the showroom of the family-owned Kalmar Chevrolet in Gilpin Township on Wednesday.
Kalmar’s has been selling and servicing cars for more than 80 years and is one of 21 companies in the community.
“It’s progress for the community to want to do this,” Kalmar said, “but I don’t know if it’s the right time to do it with everything going down and sliding into a recession.”
Kalmar said Route 66 has a lot of vehicular traffic passing through the community.
“There aren’t enough attractions out here,” Kalmar said. “You won’t see Sheetz or anything up here. We don’t have enough traffic.”
Kalmar said the biggest obstacle facing Gilpin officials may be a lack of incentives.
“We don’t have tax breaks or anything like that. Maybe a tax break for new businesses,” Kalmar said.
According to Stull, the most recent companies to move to Gilpin are Portage Inn, Bazella Concrete, Phoenix Granite and NB Hair Studio.
The borough’s most heavily taxed corporations are the closed ATI plant and the Schenley Industrial Park.
“But we have the potential for much more as new buildings or businesses move in. In addition, ATI continues to fight for a lower tax assessment of their vacant building and shifts the tax burden to community residents,” Stull said.
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Businesses along Route 66 in Gilpin.
The committee will serve as a liaison with companies, potential companies and developers regarding the new zoning ordinance that is being written, Stull said.
Committee members are expected to work closely with community businesses, the Planning Commission, the Zoning Commissioner, community supervisors, the Leechburg Area School Board, Armstrong County Commissioners, non-governmental organizations and potential developers.
Supervisor Linda Alworth is confident that community members and business owners will join the committee.
Alworth said she would like more medical facilities to find their way to Gilpin.
“Economic development can also generate large job-creation initiatives that bring higher-paying jobs and education. Better infrastructure and more jobs can boost the region’s economy and raise residents’ standard of living,” Alworth said.
Joyce Hanz is a contributor to the Tribune-Review. You can contact Joyce via email at [email protected] or via Twitter.
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