Grant will support town-gown downtown revitalization effort

Grove City College, in collaboration with the Borough of Grove City, has received a $179,500 grant from the Richard King Mellon Foundation to support planning and capacity-building efforts to develop a community revitalization plan for downtown Grove City.

The grant funds will be used to hire Altair Consulting Group, with offices in Erie and Pittsburgh, to lead community stakeholders in a planning effort to develop a strategic vision for economic development in downtown Grove City as well as conduct market analysis and develop master building and financial sustainability strategies.

The funds will build upon the past investment of the Main Street Revitalization Initiative which improved the downtown infrastructure in 2001 as well as the ongoing efforts of Grow Grove City, a nonprofit that raises funds for ongoing streetscape projects such as the renewal of the art sculptures designed by George Junior Republic indicating public parking throughout town.

The planning phase, which is expected to be completed by December, will identify the borough’s strengths and develop strategies to increase economic development. The effort will include public meetings for people to share their vision for downtown and to discuss the next steps in the planning process.

“The Richard King Mellon Foundation is a longtime supporter of Grove City College from conservation efforts along Wolf Creek to helping fund the E+I Fellows Program where students gain real-world experience in serving the community. We're thankful to be included in this exciting initiative and the promise it holds for a thriving downtown economy,” Grove City College President Paul J. McNulty ’80 said.

“Grove City is a wonderful place to live, work and visit. The College shares, along with our business, nonprofit and elected leaders, the same vision for a vibrant downtown that meets the needs of residents, draws talent to our community and serves as a destination for our students, families and visitors,” he said.

“Receiving this grant will be a catalyst for our community,” Borough Manager Vance Oakes said. “It’s not just an investment in our economy and downtown Grove City – it’s an investment in our people, our small businesses, and our future. We are excited to turn these funds into lasting opportunities.”

Brian Powell ’03, the College’s senior director of development, is spearheading the planning in collaboration with borough leadership and others.

“This is a pivotal moment to strengthen relationships among local stakeholders and bring together new partners,” Powell said. “This grant will enable us to develop a sustainable plan that will attract additional investments from public, private, and philanthropic partners.”

Founded in 1947, the Richard King Mellon Foundation is the largest foundation in Southwestern Pennsylvania, and one of the 50 largest in the world. The Foundation’s 2023 year-end net assets were $2.9 billion, and its Trustees in 2023 disbursed more than $176 million in grants and program-related investments. The Foundation focuses its funding on six primary program areas, delineated in its 2021-2030 Strategic Plan.

In addition to the Grove City College, the foundation provided funding for other regional college-town efforts, including Greensburg and Seton Hill University, Latrobe and Saint Vincent College, Johnstown and the University of Pittsburgh, Meadville and Allegheny College and Washington and Washington & Jefferson College.

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