Penn State New Kensington campus gets $75K for revitalization efforts
New Kensington is getting some more help on its downtown revilization efforts.
The West Penn Power Sustainable Energy Fund recently gave Penn State New Kensington $75,000 to assist in incorporating sustainability and best practices along the city’s Fifth Avenue stretch, known as the Corridor of Innovation.
The Corridor is a zone of economic revitalization in the city’s downtown area. It encompasses Fifth Avenue between the 700 and 1100 blocks — one end is Penn State’s Entrepreneurial Center, The Corner. The other is Westmoreland County Community College’s New Kensington Center.
“This new sustainable energy partnership with Penn State New Kensington and its Corner LaunchBox will raise the level of awareness of sustainable energy in the New Kensington community,” said Joel Morrison, WPPSEF Fund Administrator. “We hope that the funding will bring positive change to the Corridor of Innovation.”
The money will be used to create a community educational workshop that will host speakers and sessions related to sustainability and energy for community members and business owners, and help identify local needs and gaps. Any remaining funds will
help raise awareness and support projects such as a sustainable roofing research project in the downtown area. The workshop is expected to be held in September.
PSNK has been leading a charge with government and community partners in an effort to create a model of rust belt revitalization to be used in New Kensington, with a larger goal of replication in other small, Rust Belt towns, said Chancellor Kevin Snider.
“Our campus continues to be active partners with city and Westmoreland County officials, as well as community members and leaders, to move New Kensington forward in new and innovative ways,” Snider said. “With the help of partners like WPPSEF, we can now incorporate more robust sustainability practices and community education to our current planning.”
Madasyn Czebiniak is a Tribune-Review
staff writer. You can contact Madasyn at 724-226-4702, mczebiniak@tribweb.com or via Twitter @maddyczebstrib.
