Johnstown Redevelopment Authority awards contract to demolish former Sheesley Supply Co. structures
Johnstown Redevelopment Authority has awarded Earthmovers Unlimited Inc. the contract to demolish a blighted industrial structure near the Jim Mayer Riverswalk Trail, as well as a quonset hut steel building on the site, he said.
'We'll definitely see an improvement down there,' McCann said.
The JRA awarded Earthmovers the contract for the work at a cost of $217,630 at Tuesday's meeting.
It's possible that crews will begin remediation in the next 10 days, McCann said.
The Community Foundation for the Alleghenies announced in November that it had provided $404,000 for demolition and environmental remediation of the property on the 800 block of Horner Street.
The Conservation and Recreation Authority, which owns the industrial site, has worked for years to remove the blight, and members were happy three months ago when the needed funding came through.
Cliff Kitner, CCCRA executive director, described the assistance as a blessing and said the land will, for now, be turned into a green space.
In a related matter, McCann told the board that the Johnstown Fire Department training site, which borders the trail in the Horner Street area, will soon receive a waterline from Pine Street to the former Dynacom property.
He said the supply from the Cambria Somerset Authority will be located along the side of the trail, and contracts for the grant-funded work will be awarded next week.
CCCRA members discussed preparation of an easement for the waterline at the January meeting, board Chairman Thomas Kakabar said.
Regarding repair work on the Ghost Town Trail between Ebensburg and Twin Rocks, Kitner said the project has been built through cooperation of the Pennsylvania and Federal Emergency Management Agencies, and the next step is reviewing the work.
When Hurricane Debby swept through the region in the summer, the storm destroyed several sections of the trail, especially in the Twin Rocks area.
Initial estimates put the repair amount at about $400,000, but Kitner said Friday that the project is now projected to cost nearly $1 million.
Any money the authority expenses for the work will be eligible for reimbursement through the state and federal agencies.
'We're just moving forward,' Kitner said.
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Axios
25-06-2025
- Axios
What Florida GOP's budget truce means for Tampa Bay projects
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Business Upturn
21-06-2025
- Business Upturn
MPI Shares WEC 2025 Highlights, Announces Strategic Growth and New Offerings at Annual Press Conference
By GlobeNewswire Published on June 21, 2025, 04:30 IST St. Louis, MO, June 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Meeting Professionals International (MPI), the world's largest meeting and event industry association, hosted its annual press conference today at the World Education Congress (WEC) 2025 in St. Louis, celebrating the success of this year's signature event and outlining key updates from across the organization. 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This year's initiatives include required training for staff and volunteers on anti-human trafficking, anti-harassment, and conflict resolution. MPI also introduced 'HEAR:' Help, Equity, Action, Resolution, a support framework that fosters psychological safety for members facing difficult issues. Further efforts include neuroinclusion training in partnership with ASAE and research into workforce development with IMEX Group. New MPI Leadership MPI also announced its incoming 2025 leadership: Jim Russell , Chair Elect, International Board of Directors; Executive Vice President of Sales (formerly EVP of Client Relationships) at Freeman. , Chair Elect, International Board of Directors; Executive Vice President of Sales (formerly EVP of Client Relationships) at Freeman. Richard Allchild, Chair Elect, Global Board of Trustees, MPI Foundation; Head of Sales for North America and IMEX Group. 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Evening Events Showcase St. Louis Hospitality WEC attendees enjoyed one-of-a-kind experiences throughout the city, including: Opening Celebration at Busch Stadium President's Dinner honoring chapter leaders and RISE Award winners, featuring entertainment by Jarrod Spector and honoring Stephen Revetria MPI Foundation Rendezvous at The Pageant (sold out); an electric night of music and philanthropy in this nationally acclaimed concert venue in the heart of St. Louis nightlife. Guests experienced live musical performances, St. Louis-inspired cuisine, and plenty of fun to keep the energy soaring all night long. This is an important fundraiser for MPI Foundation, which has been funding individual education scholarships, chapter grants and industry research for the past 40 years. Closing Celebration: Feast & Flow: We concluded WEC with a closing celebration like no other, giving attendees a journey through the heart & soul of St. Louis. 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Built on MPI's global network and trusted brand, MPI Consulting stands out as a high-impact, insight-driven solution for any organization looking to optimize its meeting strategy, measure success more meaningfully, and foster authentic connections. MPI Foundation Updates: Rebecca DeLuca For more than 40 years, MPI Foundation (MPIF) has been celebrating the power of good in the industry and providing significant contributions to the meeting and event industry. Since its inception in 1984, MPIF has distributed more than $14.6 million to the industry, various chapters, and over 25,000 individual members. Additionally, MPIF has facilitated $115,000 in scholarships for more than 100 attendees to participate in WEC St. Louis, demonstrating its ongoing commitment to supporting industry professionals. During WEC St. Louis, several fundraising activities are underway to support the foundation's initiatives. 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Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Yahoo
Michiganders are returning fewer bottles and cans. Why?
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — The value of a dime doesn't stretch as far as it did in 1976 when the state's bottle deposit law was initiated, but for many Michiganders, returning beverage containers to get their 10 cents back sure adds up. 'I don't want to throw my pennies and dimes away,' Grand Rapids resident Mildred Griffin said. 'The cost of living is so high right now. You would be a fool to throw away 10 cents.' For Griffin, returning bottles and cans is a way of life. She said it's like getting paid to recycle. She was surprised to learn that fewer people are turning in their bottles to get that dime back. Statewide return rates have fallen to their lowest point. In 2024, just over 70% of bottles and cans were returned. Workers at a number of local markets told News 8 they have seen fewer returns in recent years. At Kingma's Market in Grand Rapids, owner Alan Hartline said the redemption process adds complications to store owners. He said the process, from collecting to sorting, is in serious need of an update. 'It really taxes the supply chain and adds a lot of cost to it for businesses,' he said, 'I think there can be a better way to facilitate it. It should be earth friendly, but perhaps to do it without the cost and as many hoops as the current process today.' Sen. Sean McCann, D-Kalamazoo, also believes there's a need for change, including an expansion. 'Even though we've come off our highs, habits have changed, there's a real ability to still improve our system and make it get better,' he said. McCann reintroduced a bill to modify the bottle return law to include other containers, primarily plastic water bottles. 'I think it's terrible that we have over 2 billion plastic water bottles that don't necessarily get recycled and often get landfilled and are not eligible for the deposit,' he said. He's also pushing for bottles and cans to be returnable anywhere — not just at chains that carry the brands being returned. He said that is part of the reason the rates are dropping. 'Part of the bugaboo is a universal redemption,' he said. 'You buy something at one store (but) you can't take it back to the other store.' For McCann, the goal is to get the issue on the ballot and let the citizens decide. 'This is not something worth giving up on for me,' he said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
