Vandergrift, PA: The Vandergrift Improvement Program, Inc. (VIP) today announced receipt of a $100,000 grant award from the Allegheny Foundation to augment the VIP’s Real Estate Revolving Fund.
To date, the VIP has raised $475,000 for this Fund, including a seed grant from the Allegheny Foundation and support from Sen. Jim Ferlo.
With these funds, the VIP has begun to implement an ambitious strategy to bring vacant, underutilized and deteriorating buildings in the heart of downtown Vandergrift back into useful service.
“Our main street revitalization strategy is based on fundamentally changing the underlying economics of our downtown,” said Meade Jack, President of the VIP Board of Directors. “That means bringing new businesses, residents and energy to our historic architecture.”
The VIP has worked with the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation’s (PHLF) planned giving services to secure three key buildings in the core of downtown Vandergrift.
Restoration work is already underway. The first of those buildings located at 143 Grant Ave is 80 percent complete, including a fully restored facade, new roof and interior upgrades that will restore a residential use to the upper floors.
Richard Scaife, President of the Allegheny Foundation, which began the Fund in 2006 with a grant of $300,000 said, “Our trustees have been very impressed with the grassroots Main Street effort in Vandergrift. Two years ago, the Allegheny Foundation established a revolving fund to be used for the acquisition and restoration of historic buildings with the guidance of PHLF; the VIP has put the funds to very good use.
We are also grateful that Senator Ferlo has allocated State funds to augment the program. We are now pleased to announce a further grant from the Allegheny Foundation of $100,000 to enlarge the fund significantly and build its excellent momentum”
