DWNI held our Annual Meeting on Wednesday, January 20, 2010 at  6:30 pm in the Lutheran Church Social Room on Vine Street to elect board members and officers, review bylaws and approve work plans for 2010.

Our 2010 Work Plans:

Promotions Committee: Meets Mondays and First Wednesdays, 6:30 pm at the DWNI office (123 S. 2nd St.) and works on these projects/activities:           

• Public Relations- Communicate activities and events to community, regional partners and potential visitors through the media, ads, web site, promotional materials, etc.
  
  
• Fundraising Activities- Coordinate membership drive, awareness items sales, pantry raffles, MVI Golf Outing, house tour and other activities to raise funds for the organization.
  
  
• Special Events- Coordinate quarterly special events such as the Heritage Festival - May 22, Summer Fest – July 17, Oktoberfest – October 9 and Miracle on Main Street – November 27.

Design Committee: Meets Second Wednesdays, 6:30 pm at the DWNI office and works on these projects/activities:

• Façade Program/Preserve America- Coordinate DCED Design Challenge Grant Program, educate property owners on appropriate historic façade design and coordinate Preserve America Designation.
  
  
• Traffic Circulation- Coordinate DCED grant for Circulation Study to include parking, metering, traffic flow and pedestrian-bicycle safety.
  
  
• Streetscape- Coordinate streetscape design projects such as plantings, cleanups, murals, etc.

DWNI Board of Directors: Meets Third Wednesdays, 6:30 pm, DWNI Office

Economic Restructuring Committee: Meets Fourth Wednesdays, 6:30 pm, DWNI Office and works on these projects/activities:

• Simeral Square/Bridge Components- Coordinate plans to construct the bridge enhancements (walkway) and complete funding for Simeral Square (riverfront park) construction.
  
  Properties Support & Marketing- Coordinate efforts to fill vacancies, reuse key properties for economic development and market downtown to prospective property investors using regional market data.
  
  
• Business Support & Marketing- Coordinate efforts to support businesses and market downtown to prospective business investors using regional market data.
  
  
• Tourism Marketing- Coordinate efforts to market the downtown for economic development using regional market data to encourage tourism and investments.
  
  
• Cornerstone Building- Manage and maintain Cornerstone Building with six residential and two commercial Units with assistance from Mon Valley Initiative and National Development Corp.

Our 2009 Accomplishments:

• Held Annual Meeting to elect board members/officers and to revise bylaws in January, board meetings in March, May, July, September and November and Executive Officers’ meetings in February, April, June, August, October and December.
  
  
• Maintained monthly financial records, reports and budgets, maintained organization strategy, work plans, agendas and minutes as required and submitted 2008 IRS (990), PA tax and PA Non-profit (BCO-10) documents and submitted closeout audit for DCED 2006-7 Main Street Program/Façade grants.
  
  
• Accepted part-time clerical support from the WCCC Lifelong Learning Program, maintained National Main Street, PA Downtown Center and Mon Valley Initiative (MVI) memberships and logged 1,711 volunteer hours valued at $33,553 ($19.61/hr. according to PA)
  
  
• Attended MVI's annual banquet, conferences/ workshops, committee meetings) and participated in the MVI Golf Outing on August 18.
  
  
• Held Annual Membership Drive in February gaining 77 contributing members and raised net contributions, memberships, activities and sales proceeds of over $25,000 in 2009.
  
  
• Sponsored Summer Jazz Night on July 25, Oktoberfest October 3 and Miracle on Main Street & Light-up Night on Nov. 28.
  
  
• Held Lasagna Dinner on April 4, Line Dancing in the spring, sold ads and designed eight pages for the 2009 Great Allegheny Passage Trailbook, sold sports team raffle tickets and awareness items at Community Festival and Light-up Night.
  
  
• Maintained DWNI Web site and submitted monthly news releases.
  
  
• Held Great PA Cleanup in the downtown on May 2, participated in National Riversweep on June 27 (cleaning/planting at Trailhead Park), maintained downtown ornamental planting urns, tree bases, flower boxes and planters and installed four West Newton gateway welcome signs at main entrances to community.
  
  
• Held Preserve America Workshop at WN Station on July 8, attended regional Preserve America Program with Trail Towns/Progress Fund in October and received Borough Resolution and submitted Preserve America application on September 1.
  
  
• Completed one façade rehab matching grant reimbursement for $5,000 with one pending and provided façade design assistance for several businesses.
  
  
• Managed/maintained Cornerstone Building (residential units 100% occupied; 1 commercial vacancy).
  
  
• Managed engineering for Bridge to Tomorrow Project's Simeral Square component and Bridge Enhancements component.
  
  
• Worked with MVI Real Estate Team to market/fill vacancies (web site, events, activities) and held Opportunity Expo with MVI on March 25 (13 properties for sale/rent; three vacancies filled).Developed two business prospect recruitment proposals.
  
  
• Held Business and Property Owners’ Workshop at WN Station on August 5, “Meet & Greet” with Borough Code Enforcement Officer on October 1 and assisted 3 existing, 2 expanding and 3 new businesses/ property owners with technical support.
  
  
• Submitted Quarterly Business Activity Reports: 6 business startups, 2 closings, 12 new jobs, 90 lost jobs (Bolttech) and completed business inventory with interns from Westmoreland County Redevelopment Authority.
  
  
• Worked with Trail Towns Program/RTC to market downtown to trail users (web site, publications, activities, etc.)
  
  
• Designed and installed two business/properties marketing billboards on Rte 51 and designed Simeral Square kiosk panels.

Downtown West Newton, Inc. Holds 2010 Membership Drive

The Annual DWNI Membership Drive will begin in January. Most households in West Newton and previous contributors will receive a packet in the mail with pledge card. Please consider becoming a member and volunteer for a committee. If you do not receive a packet by early February, you may request one by calling (724) 872-0100 or e-mailing to dwni@winbeam.com.

"Buy-A-Brick" Campaign Underway

DWNI has begun the "Buy-A-Brick Campaign" to give you the opportunity to show your support. You can help us by purchasing one or more 4x8-inch bricks that can include your family name or a personal message for $50 each or 8x8-inch bricks for $75 each. Bricks will be permanently installed into the walkways at Simeral's Square and will be a lasting memorial to your loved ones. The bricks make great holiday gifts, too! The Town Square and Bridge enhancements that are part of the Bridge to Tomorrow Project.

Contact the DWNI office at (724) 872-0100 or email to dwni@winbeam.com to receive a brochure and order form. Find out more about the Bridge to Tomorrow Project below.

"Bridge to Tomorrow" Project

The Bridge to Tomorrow" Project is a downtown-riverfront-trailhead development plan to attract and serve the needs of visitors from the region, the Great Allegheny Passage trail and residents into downtown West Newton, Pa.

The "Bridge to Tomorrow" Project will connect downtown West Newton with the Great Allegheny Passage trailhead in West Newton through three main components:

• Develop the Trailhead and intersection where the Trail crosses Main Street so that it is more safe, useful and attractive.
  
  
• Develop the walking deck, railing and gateway access to the West Newton Bridge to attract visitors. The railing will display a "History Ribbon" of West Newton in relationship to national history.
  
  
• Create a Town Square known as "Simeral's Square" on Main Street and along the riverfront to create walkable "greenspace" and activity center for concerts and recreation.

Construction of the bridge enhancements including a renovated railing and deck is planned for late 2010 after PennDOT's scheduled maintenance.

Downtown West Newton, Inc. (DWNI) purchased the former gas station and commercial building along North Water Street to construct a new riverfont Town Square. Read latest press release.