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Wilkes-Barre ends first quarter with positive balance of $7.7 million

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Local Eats: May 2019

<p>PLYMOUTH &#8212; Calling it &#8220;a work in progress,&#8221; Plymouth Borough Council and Plymouth Alive are working with the Pennsylvania Downtown Center to develop a strategic plan and vision to revitalize the community&#8217;s Main Street.</p><p>At its May 14 meeting council accepted a proposal provided by the Pennsylvania Downtown Center to develop the plan.</p><p>A series of meetings will be held to gather input from residents, businesses and organizations to help form a strategy to continue to improve the community as whole.</p><p>Holly Spece, borough secretary/treasurer, said the meetings are scheduled for:</p><p>&#8226; Monday, Aug. 5, Monday, Sept. 9, Monday, Oct. 7, Monday, Nov. 4, and Monday, Dec. 2. and will begin at 7 p.m.</p><p>&#8226; The debut meeting on Aug. 5 will be held in the auditorium of the Wyoming Valley West High School.</p><p>&#8220;This is not only a borough council affair, it is a community affair that needs to be done as a complete whole to ensure its success,&#8221; Spece said. &#8220;Everyone must take advantage of this opportunity to let their voices be heard to help improve Plymouth.&#8221;</p><p>Spece said over the last four years, the borough applied for funding for many paving projects, the Main Street Revitalization project, the Community Park Project, and the Beverly Drive Stormwater project.</p><p>&#8220;All the projects were applied to improve the quality of life for our community,&#8221; Spece said.</p><p>Currently, Spece said the borough is working with the Luzerne County Transportation Authority, which provided Plymouth Borough with $15,000 to install a new bus shelter.</p><p>Spece said the Main Street Revitalization project is still a work in progress and borough officials hope to continue to the third phase on a portion of the Main Street so it may become more marketable for economic development. She said the borough is also continuing to work with Plymouth Township and the state on the Beverly Drive project.</p><p>Spece said borough council has also been active in trying to eliminate blight throughout the community.</p><p>&#8220;It leaves a costly burden and a poor morale on the borough and its effects are observed,&#8221; Spece said. &#8220;By drafting a plan, we will be able to know exactly what the community wants to see when it comes to making improvements on our Main Street and throughout the borough.&#8221;</p><p>Spece said once the five meetings with Pennsylvania Downtown Center conclude, PDC will draft a plan of action and steps to complete the plan. She said PDC has guided the borough to many different funding opportunities to apply for in hope of moving forward with the proposed plan.</p><p>&#8220;Success of this initiative relies heavily on the residents, businesses and organizations of our borough,&#8221; Spece said. &#8220;Their input is not only suggested, but it is absolutely necessary when drafting the community strategic plan and vision.&#8221;</p><p>Scott Cannon, of Video Innovations and a borough resident, said the &#8220;Main Street Approach&#8221; is a community-driven, comprehensive strategy used to revitalize downtown and neighborhood business districts throughout the United States.</p><p>&#8220;It is a common-sense way to address the variety of issues and problems that challenge traditional business districts and neighborhoods,&#8221; Cannon said.</p><p>Cannon said information on the five meetings and the program can be found on the Plymouth Borough website and Facebook page.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Some of the older buildings on East Main Street in Plymouth Borough are seen on Tuesday. The borough council hopes to embark on a revitalization project soon. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/web1_PLYMOUTH-DOWNTOWN-2.jpg</photo0><caption0>Some of the older buildings on East Main Street in Plymouth Borough are seen on Tuesday. The borough council hopes to embark on a revitalization project soon. </caption0><photoCredit0>Butch Comegys | For Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/web1_PLYMOUTH-DOWNTOWN-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Utility poles, wires and run-down buildings line Plymouth Borough&#8217;s Main Street. The borough council is hoping to obtain funding for a revitalization project. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/web1_PLYMOUTH-DOWNTOWN-1.jpg</photo1><caption1>Utility poles, wires and run-down buildings line Plymouth Borough&#8217;s Main Street. The borough council is hoping to obtain funding for a revitalization project. </caption1><photoCredit1>Butch Comegys | For Times Leader </photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Bill O&#8217;Boyle</p><p>boboyle@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Bill O&#8217;Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Plymouth Borough looking to revitalize Main Street