Partners  

Olde Town Grove City works closely with several entities in the community to facilitate our goals. These partners include the Grove City Borough, the Greater Grove City Chamber of Commerce, Grove City College and the 79-80 IDC. Collaboration has allowed for high levels of participation and success. Members of all of these entities have or are currently serving on one or more of the Olde Town committees.

Committee Overviews

       Board 

Grove City Revitalization, Inc., (GCRI) currently serves as the broader board of Olde Town Grove City. GCRI holds the 501(c)(3) for the organization. The board meets every second Monday of the month at 4:00 pm. All the chairs of the Olde Town Committees serve on the GCRI board and make monthly reports on activities. The main purpose of GCRI is the streetscape revitalization currently in progress downtown. The Olde Town Manager serves as the main liaison between downtown merchants and the public with GCRI and the Borough. The manager also serves as daily communication between the businesses, the Borough and GCRI, fielding complaints, concerns, etc.

     Main Street committees  

Olde Town Grove City is a non-profit organization committed to creating a better downtown Grove City through economic initiatives, promotional efforts and physical improvements.

• Privately funded and state-supported

• Based on 4-point model from National Trust for Historic Preservation

• Volunteer-based

Each committee in the Four-Point Approach created a mission for their committees.  

Design Committee

 Committee Mission: The improvement and enhancement of the physical environment of Olde Town 

Membership: Tom Burdick (Chair), Mike Marshall (Co-Chair), Mindy Steigerwald, Rachel Anderson, Dave Dayton, Joe Monteleone, Scott Benka, Glen Sanders 

The Design Committee meets every month, usually on the fourth Tuesday of the month at 8:00 am. Highlights for the committee this year include: 

• Approved Façade Restoration Grants for a total the last nearly two years of $46,432.04: 3 signs, 17 completed facades, 2 in construction currently. 6 projects are currently either approved or in the stages of pre-approval.

• Each grant required two separate processes for approval

• The Olde Town manager and one other committee member met to review grant paperwork

• At least three committee members were required (the Olde Town Manager was not eligible) to approve each grant

• The grants were approved within one week of them being submitted

• Many times, the committee met more than twice a month in order to process the façade grants

• Olde Town applied and was approved for a Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful/Pennsylvania Downtown Center grant. The grant entitled Olde Town to have 3 interns with a budget of $2500 to design and create a mural in the downtown. As of August 10, 2007, the completed mural is now in the Borough Parking Lot in the 100 block of South Broad Street.

•  In 2008, a new mural was erected on the side of the Guthrie Theatre as a welcome to the gateway of Olde Town Grove City. Again, three interns were dedicated to this project. Olde Town has applied for another mural project for the summer of 2009.

• The Design Committee completed a Cigarette Litter Prevention Program, designed to reduce the amount of cigarette butt litter in the downtown area. The committee received a $1500 grant and is working with members of the borough and the community to erect ash receptacles, clean up the litter and educate the community. 30 receptacles were placed in Olde Town.

• One of our next projects will include partnering with George Junior Republic to create original sculptures that will also serve as parking signage.

• Other activities include press releases on parking, the façade grants, the mural and planning for next year.

Economic Restructuring Committee 

Committee Mission: Creating a business environment that directs investment in Olde Town by supporting existing businesses, recruiting new businesses and providing entrepreneurial opportunities.  

Members: Bill Pritchard (Chair), Mindy Steigerwald, Barbara Turner, Maggie Horne, Matt Studebaker, Chris Simms, Leann Smith, Sandy Smith, Evan McKnight, Camm Mochrie, Dorry Foster  

The Economic Restructuring Committee meets every second Wednesday of the month at 4:00 pm. Highlights for the committee this year include:

• The committee has created an inclusive data base of building, property, parking and business information to be used for recruitment, business strategy intervention and marketing strategies. We have used a volunteer intern from Grove City College to gather all of the data.

• Olde Town Organization Committee assists in helping new/potential businesses get started in many ways:

• Create and distribute surveys

• Distribute copies of “How to Begin a Business in Pennsylvania” to all new and potential business owners

• Provide direct assistance like Point-of-sell selection from committee experts

• Work with SBDC to help in business plan development and other needs

• Currently, the committee is engaged in a two-part project, with the Organization Committee to purchase a building with the purpose of beginning a retail incubator

• The building would be a step toward our long-term sustainability

• The purpose of the retail incubator is two fold:

• Draw more foot traffic to downtown with increased retail inventory

• Create income toward purchase of the building

• The committee, in cooperation with the 79-80 IDC, is actively seeking to recruit an additional restaurant for Olde Town

Promotions/Marketing Committee 

Committee Mission: The creation and implementation of a unified, consistent plan for marketing Olde Town including the general image, special events and retail promotions.  

Members: Roxanne Studebaker (Chair), Mindy Steigerwald, Joyce Blume, Mike Marshall, Rhonda Brooks, Jim Bird, Josh Click, Benna Click, Mary Jo Walter, Ryan Burns  

The Promotions/Marketing Committee meets every third Thursday of the month at 1:00 pm. Highlights for the committee this year include: 

• The committee participated in the Grove City Chamber Trade Show, where 3,000+ local citizens attended

• The committee created a weekly Olde Town Farmers’ Market that ran this year from May through October, Thursdays from 3-7:00 pm. The market averages 8 vendors and features special events such as local musicians, ice cream socials, etc. The market has begun its second year.

• The Promotions Committee has also been working with the community, stakeholders and the Olde Town community to develop a distinctive brand for Olde Town. They are currently working on a design finalization and tagline. A roll out program for the new brand will take place in 2008 upon all finalizations.

• The committee has also been working with a local public relations/marketing specialist to create a three-year Marketing Plan for Olde Town.

• Creation of Olde Town brochure; distributed 5,000 copies to regional motels/hotels, welcome centers, restaurants, etc.

• Olde Town Christmas Extravaganza attracted over 600 visitors and featured entertainment, a children’s train ride, hay ride, merchant specials and ended with the annual Christmas Parade.

• The Promotions Committee developed a website for Olde Town: www.oldetowngrovecity.com

• Hosting several downtown promotions including Christmas Open House, Crafts and Cookies with Santa, Olde Town Hot Spot Giveaway (a gift giveaway for people coming downtown), Jerome Bettis Football raffle (used to raise money for marketing) and other events

Organization Committee 

Committee Mission: The development of a strong, well-trained entity whose responsibility is to provide the support to implement the four-point approach.  

Members: Mindy Steigerwald (Chair), Roxanne Studebaker, Tom Burdick, Bill Pritchard, Dave Dayton, Randy Riddle, Ernie May, Michael Coulter, Eric Thomas 

The Organization Committee meets 1-2 times monthly, at 7:30 AM. Highlights for the committee this year include: 

• Implementing, with the Promotions/Marketing Committee, the second Olde Town Gala, a dinner, dance and silent designed to fundraise for Olde Town.

• The first year, the event raised nearly $17,000 toward our Year 6 & 7 Matching Exit Grant from PDC. the second year, it raised nearly $25,000.

• The event also raised awareness and promoted Olde Town to many people not previously involved in downtown

• The auction items were collected from both Olde Town and non-downtown businesses and individuals

• The Organization Committee is currently engaged in creating a sustainability plan