Donegal, PA

This month the Donegal Community Design Workshop was held at the local community center. The 24 page DRAFT crafted from the last charette was shared with those of us who attended. This Draft is a large PDF with tons of pictures so if you are linking to it go grab a cup of coffee! Anyway if you exit 91 off of the PA turnpike to partake in any of the resorts activities or to visit any part of the Laurel Highlands YOU should REVIEW the draft.

We keep sharing what is happening at the local community levels that 10 to 20 years from NOW will be making huge impacts on our visitors impressions of areas. What type of community will we grow up to be?

The attendees at the workshop were given the opportunity to select a table topic from six or seven hot issues ranging from a visitors center to signage. One of our personal and professional passions is seeing a viable Visitors Center to WELCOME all of the guests that come through our GATEWAY TO THE LAUREL HIGHALNDS. Pay special attention to pages 12 through 14 as there are aerial photos highlighting areas of great interest.

The Donegal Township web site list important contacts for anyone considering a business opportunity. Remember we have an incredible commercial offering right along Rt 31 across from the Family Dollar Store. It has over 6,000 square feet of space to work with, a flat parking lot, new roof.... And 2 acres the possibilities are endless!

What are the next steps for Donegal??

If you recall (or scroll down far enough) over the past few years there has been an out reach to the community to assist in improving the Rt 31 corridor. For branding purposes and as locals we refer to this Rt as the "Gateway to the Laurel Highlands."

This Tuesday (July 7) at the Donegal Community Center beginning at 7 p.m. a review will be offered from the suggestions obtained during the public meeting last December. Concepts of the corridor enhancements will be available for inspection. The proposed and greatly needed Visitor Center will also be a focus of the draft report.

HERE IS ONE MORE OPPROTUNITY FOR YOU TO VOICE YOUR THOUGHTS!! Please help to make Donegal a better place to live, work, play, and VISIT!! Attendees will be asked to list priorities including:

Development of a Visitor Center to include a community center, municipal services, historical exhibits, and entertainment space.

Adoption of Communtiy Design Guidelines

Improvements to Rt 31 that would improve efficiency and SAFETY

Development of a Park and Ride

Development of a community garden

This forum is being sponsored by The Pennsylvania Environmental Council. For more details contact Brad Clemenson 814-659-3465 or Sarah Harkcom 724-593-2818 Remember there are forces working together for tremendously promoting this area as a MUST VISIT area. Let's help put our best foot forward!!

See you there!

Contacts: Brad Clemenson

Communications Director

(814) 659-3465

For immediate release

Residents Invited to Envision a ‘New' Donegal

DONEGAL, PA, November 21, 2008 - The Pennsylvania Environmental Council is inviting Donegal-area residents to help develop a new vision for what the area should look like. PEC will conduct a Community Design Workshop or "charrette" December 15-17 at Highlands Hall Banquet Center, located at the intersection of Routes 31 and 381.

The charrette will visualize priority community and economic development projects as determined from the multi-municipal plan for Donegal Borough and Donegal Township, focusing on the borough and on the Route 31 corridor from the Turnpike interchange to Route 381 and a portion of Route 381 South.

Throughout the workshop, artists will help local residents to share their vision for how certain buildings or portions of the corridor might look as they are redeveloped.

The workshop schedule is as follows:

Monday, December 15, noon-5 p.m., drop-in Open House, and 7 p.m., brief discussion about Donegal's potential in a new economy, followed by an Open House.

Tuesday, December 16, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., drop in Open House - stop in any time and share your vision with the Design Team.

Wednesday, December 17, noon, public presentation of concepts and strategies for redesigning the community.

Residents are invited to stop by any time during the Open House to talk with the Design Team about what they like, what they don't like and opportunities they "see" for the community.

Donegal is promoting itself as "the Gateway to the Laurel Highlands" based on the awesome beauty and recreational assets of the area. Brad Clemenson, PEC's senior project manager for the Laurel Highlands Initiative, said Donegal's location at the busiest Turnpike interchange for Laurel Highlands visitors creates potential for a new, sustainable economy based on growth from two distinct groups of new businesses:

•· Businesses that serve visitors.

•· Businesses created by entrepreneurs who want to live near the scenery and outdoor recreation opportunities all around Donegal, including the ski resorts, Ohiopyle State Park, and other state parks on Laurel Ridge.

The Community Design Workshop is being presented in partnership by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources, PEC, Donegal Borough, Donegal Township, and the Mountain Laurel Chamber of Commerce.

More information is available from Sarah Harkcom, borough council president, 724-593-2818, or Brad Clemenson, PEC, 814-659-3465.

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Learn more about the Pennsylvania Environmental Council at www.pecpa.org, or subscribe to our RSS news feeds at www.pecpa.org/rss_feeds.

BIG NEWS! The areas first National store is under construction! When you get off of the turnpike headed to either resort go .9 miles and it's on your right. Yes, we have McDonalds, Subway, and the gas stations at the turnpike entrance but this is the first stand alone store that is a Fortune 400 company!

According to their web site Leon Levine opened up the first Family Dollar store in 1959. Concentrating on offerings that were "high quality, good-value merchandise for under two dollars." In today's market that same type of merchandise is priced under $10. There are over 6,500 stores open from Main to Arizona.

This company has a long history of giving back. You can read their policy for corporate giving by clicking here. In short they like to focus on "improving the education and health of low-income and low-middle income families including senior citizens, minorities and at-risk youth."

The store size runs between 7,000 and 10,000 square feet which includes both the sales area and stockroom. Family Dollar is not a grocery store but does carry snacks, clothes, and household products. It's an awesome location for anyone traveling to either resort as you pass by on your way there! They are hoping to be open for the holiday season.