Over the past five years communities like New Kensington with its new Corridor of Innovation — and additional stakeholders that we’ve engaged with the Smart Growth Partnership from other Westmoreland communities — have generated well over $40,000,000 in value for their communities while also implementing smart growth principles.
Significant public developments included in that dollar amount since our 2015 New New Kensington: A Better Block event are the Corner Launchbox, Wesley Family Services’ new facility, a New Kensington Art Center, Knead Café, and most recently, a new $5.5 million-dollar Digital Innovation Lab.
Not included in the $40 million amount and perhaps more impressive are private investor contributions – vacant building acquisition, building renovations, and other parcel improvements in downtown New Kensington.