Capital campaign launched
BY JOHN E. USALIS Times Shamrock Writer
01/18/2006
ASHLAND - The Campaign for Ashland has begun.
After almost two years of preparation, the Ashland Downtown
Inc. revitalization group has launched its capital campaign. Upon
completion of the drive, the organization hopes the funds will propel
the downtown effort into warp speed.
The Campaign for Ashland, which has a $175,000 goal
over a five-year period, was officially announced at the Jan. 2 ADI
board meeting.
Before the meeting ended, the capital campaign had $33,000
in pledges, or almost 20 percent of the goal.
"We have made a significant amount of progress
over the last week or so and we're ready to unveil something tonight
for everyone to take a really good look at," said board President
Louis R. Rader. "The executive committee met last week and really
nailed down some issues related to the capital campaign. We worked
over the weekend putting everything together and can now say the campaign
package is complete and we're ready to roll."
The campaign will be conducted in
three phases:
- Phase I (January) - Ashland large business, professionals
and local government.
- Phase II (February) - Ashland small business.
- Phase III (March/April) - Ashland area residents
and friends.
ADI expects that by raising the $175,000 goal, the Pennsylvania
Downtown Center and the Pennsylvania Department of Economic and Community
Development will see a very strong local commitment and interest in
becoming part of the Pennsylvania Main Street Program.
The local financial commitment will result in Ashland
receiving $175,000 in grant funds and be eligible for more than $500,000
in additional grants to fund revitalization projects.
Instrumental in providing planning and materials support
for the Ashland campaign is Upper Schuylkill Downtowns, which provides
assistance on a variety of levels for revitalization efforts in the
boroughs of Ashland, Frackville, Girardville, Mahanoy City, Ringtown
and Shenandoah.
USD Executive Director Patrice "Patty" Rader,
who is ADI President Louis Rader's wife, attended the meeting and
worked with the directors on organizing the solicitation portion of
the campaign and answered questions involving the goal and the procedures
in keeping the campaign running smoothly.
In the campaign packet, a brochure provides information
on the purpose of ADI, what the organization has accomplished in its
two-year history and ADI's goals from 2006 to 2011.
"The brochure gives our businesses the opportunity
to understand what we're all about, if they don't already," she
said, noting that the Ashland capital campaign effort will be a template
for similar campaigns in other boroughs.
The packet also includes information on the positive
impact of a successful campaign on public and private sectors. A thriving
business community in an aesthetically pleasing downtown supports
local residents and consumers, municipal government, service businesses,
preservationists, utility companies, property owners, retail business
owners, financial institutions, corporations and county government.
Rader said that Community Banks will host an open house/reception
for local businesses in the near future, which will be followed in
March by a town meeting for the general public to explain ADI's goals
and mission, which, as stated on the brochure, "seeks a vibrant,
attractive and historic downtown Ashland by preserving its architectural
charm, promoting economic vitality and marketing its historic and
cultural resources."
Of the $33,000 already pledged, $8,000 came from three
board directors and their families at the meeting. The other $25,000
commitment over five years was made by ADI, with the pledge being
raised through the organization's fund-raisers and projects.
Since ADI recently received 501(c)3 not-for-profit status
from the Internal Revenue Service, donations are deductible to the
maximum amount allowed by law.
For more information, call ADI at 875-4861 or 875-3571.
© The REPUBLICAN & Herald
2007
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