The Latrobe Community Revitalization Program held a dual celebration Wednesday, marking both its 10th anniversary and the opening of the new Center for Entrepreneurship and Job Development.
The center, a business incubator on the third floor of downtown Latrobe's Quatrini Rafferty building, also welcomed its first tenant — the mental health counseling practice of Derry Township native Nicole O'Barto-Trainer.
Jarod Trunzo, executive director of the revitalization program, said other prospective tenants have expressed interest in occupying one of the incubator's 11 office spaces. The goal of the center, he said, is to have startup or spinoff companies become self-sufficient and graduate to other downtown business locations.
Created with the assistance of an $87,000 state Rural Business Enterprise grant, the Latrobe incubator offers free rent, Wi-Fi service and support services available in partnership with the Small Business Development Center at Saint Vincent College.
O'Barto-Trainer, who holds an advanced degree in counseling psychology, said she hopes to repeat in Latrobe the success she's had with Natural Resilience, an outpatient mental health clinic she founded in Morgantown, W.Va. There are 19 clinicians staffing its programs for adults and juveniles.
In addition to traditional psychotherapy, the clinic offers alternative therapies including yoga, meditation and breathing techniques, she said.
“I felt being in the incubator would provide me the opportunity to start developing relationships with key collaborators in order to make my business sustainable,” O'Barto-Trainer said of her new Latrobe office. “It's thriving in Morgantown, and I'd like to develop the same thing here.”
She hopes to have her Latrobe office in operation by early January.
She and her husband, Jeremy, both graduates of Derry Area High School, moved back to Derry Township in August 2014. They have two children.
In its decade of existence, the nonprofit Latrobe Community Revitalization Program has tapped public and private funding and worked with local government and businesses to improve streetscapes and building facades, preserve historic structures and pursue economic development.
“This is really an exciting time for Latrobe,” said Mayor Rosie Wolford. “Everybody is kind of working in the same direction, and when you have everybody rowing that boat in the same direction, you get really, really far.”
Jeff Himler is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at 724-836-6622, jhimler@tribweb.com or via Twitter @jhimler_news.
