Downtown update shared at Chamber of Commerce dinner

GROVE CITY – A partnership is being built between Grove City and Grove City College, said Brian Powell.

Powell, Grove City College’s senior director of development, was the keynote speaker at Tuesday’s Grove City Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual dinner.

Speaking before a packed crowd of around 200 at the Grove City Country Club, Powell said the partnership benefits all economically.

“A thriving downtown helps the college attract students, faculty and staff at a time when it’s increasingly competitive,’’ he said. “And it reinforces the idea that the college is not just located in this community – it is part of this community.’’

The college, which is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year, and the community have always been intertwined, Powell said. A $179,000 Richard King Mellon Foundation grant will create a five-year strategy for the downtown.

But Grove City College isn’t trying to run the downtown, he said.

“We can add capacity focused on downtown and help bring people together,’’ Powell said.

Last November around 75 local residents met a public open house to discuss ideas and plans are to hold another one later this year, he said.

“The mission is to make downtown into a magnet for entrepreneurship, growth and investment,’’ Powell said.

A new organization will be created to focus on the downtown’s goals and to partner with existing groups, he said.

“Our downtown is our front porch,’’ Powell said. “It’s the first impression for visitors and the lasting memory for those who grew up here,’’ Powell said.

Beth Black, the chamber’s executive director, told the audience the organization had a good year and was looking to do more this year.

“We want our members to meet more people and build more relationships,’’ Black said.

Doug Thomas received the chamber’s Community Service Award at the event.

Sourced from Allied News

Photo and article by MICHAEL ROKNICK Herald Business Editor

Event recap video: