Mercer County

                    Shenango Valley Initiative

 

                                         Vision Statement and Leadership

 

                                      Define the issues affecting our lives and address the underlying causes

                                                        to promote an acceptable quality of life for all of the residents

                                               of the Shenango Valley, and to root out the basic causes of poverty Mission:

 

                                       The Shenango Valley Initiative will undertake to collaborate with area congregations,

                                       governments, agencies, and organizations... “Define the issues affecting our lives

                                       and address the underlying causes.”' SVI will work for a quality community with

                                       quality schools, quality jobs, quality leaders, quality planning. SVI is dedicated to

                                       bringing new jobs to Mercer County, to reduce crime and drug abuse, to improve

                                       housing, our schools, and the quality of life.

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Text Box: 2008Goals:   ·        Demand full funding for 'equity' in education from the State of Pennsylvania.   ·         Support “Treatment instead of Prison” to insure         solutions to drug addiction.   ·         Promote comprehensive Shenango Valley regional planning to reinvest in the total community.  Insure adequate, affordable housing, with planning for any disadvantaged, deteriorating community areas.  Make sure that such a comprehensive community plan has a zoning concept that provides proper screening and barriers between housing and business/industrial areas.   ·        Train volunteers for community leadership roles.   ·        Support the continued development of the Legacy Commons Industrial Park, adjacent to Duferco Steel , and other presently 'at risk' brown fields to promote jobs. Support the Penn Northwest Economic Development Corporation 1000 acres program for local job sites.   ·         Support the continued Westinghouse cleanup and          promote employment at that site. SVI’s initial effort           was to petition for the cleanup of the former        Westinghouse plant site, 10,000 signatures, now employing hundreds.     Text Box: 2008 Goals (Con’t)   ·         Advocate to upgrade the business district  along Broadway Blvd. and Martin Luther King Blvd., and work to see a cleanup and plan for the Farrell east side of the Rt. 60 corridor, responsible housing, recreation and business in Farrell Pennsylvania from Broadway to Beachwood Avenues. Continue to support ERASE, and the Weed and Seed program.   ·         This past  year, local public officials have worked with SVI’s call at SVI’s a symposium in March, for communities to work together to enhance the portals into the Shenango Valley and entice investment for better jobs and economic development. As a result, SVI, working with the Mercer County Regional Planning Commission, Visitors, Bureau, Chamber of Commerce, and SVI Urban league for planning meetings and a community Future Search to enhance the comprehensive plan for the valley.   ·   Today, for instance, the City of Sharon is discussing a Home Rule Charter, and property tax changes, and West Middlesex, and Shenango Township are discussing merger. Local bankers listened to SVI’s call for affordable home ownership for low-moderate income families, supporting a home ownership program. Home Ownership seminars are conducted.   ·   SVI calls on the City of Farrell for a recreation plan.    

  

 

 


 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Text Box: Your support is vitally needed to continue the work of the people involved in these social justice efforts. Do you have a special concern that you would share with SVI to be used in SVI’s 2008 ISSUES DEVELOPMENT?   Please list your concern below.  ____________________________________________________________________   Will you support SVI this year with a monetary donation? $_________ is my contribution. (Your support will be noted in SVI’s annual program). Many thanks for your consideration.   Name________________________ Address: _________________________________ Telephone_____________ E mail: ________________ Checks to: SVI, PO Box 1374, Hermitage, PA 16148 Thank you for your consideration! Mercer County Shenango Valley Initiative, A Social Justice Organization! A Shared Vision Initiative organization!