Group to recapture old Steelton

Steelton's Mayor George Hartwick III exudes enthusiasm and conviction when he talks about all the things that his town can offer to residents and nonresidents.

"I was born and raised in Steelton, and downtown was never a huge, thriving business community," he recalls. "But I've heard from elderly

The town is bordered on the west by the Susquehanna River. A flood in 1972 took out more than 400 homes in Steelton. "That hurt our population numbers," he notes.

Hartwick, 30, is now working to recapture the thriving Steelton of the 1950s and 1960s.

Plans are under way, he says, to update a revitalization plan that hasn't been modified since 1972, along with the implementation of many projects that will use Steelton's strong points, namely, its diversity of people and great location.

One of those projects is already in full swing. The Steelton Small Business Association was formed in October and has about 55 members. There is no cost to join. Its objective is to generate more business, clean up Front Street, where 85 percent of the borough's businesses are located, and to urge residents to spend their money within this community, just outside of Harrisburg. "We've been here for 28 years, and we've seen the best and worst of Steelton," says Jack Cangialosi, manager at Naples Pizza. "I've been with the association from the beginning, and we do want to make something happen here."

Some of those things, explains Cangialosi, include attracting new businesses and encouraging landlords to clean up storefronts.

Michael G. Musser III, Steelton borough secretary/treasurer, says landlords own half of the businesses. Since 1998, he says, the landlords have made some effort to clean up storefronts, "but we're still lacking."

Donna Annis, secretary at Fagers Promotional Products, hopes that activities promoted by the association will result in downtown revitalization, downtown awareness and ultimately, a bigger bottom line for all Steelton businesses.

"There's a lot of strong businesses here," she says. "We recently gave out candy at a tree-lighting ceremony with a piece of paper attached that said 'Steelton Small Business Association.' There's been a lot of positive response from residents."

Theresa Ward, owner of Tree's Tavern, another Front Street business, says that having the association is great."

"It's not just for the businesses but for the town," she says.

The association is now in the process of completing a brochure that will serve as a downtown business guide listing 109 Steelton businesses, as well as a directory for the borough's offices. The guide is scheduled for completion by June.

Musser says the association has applied for a $2,000 grant from the Dauphin County Department of Community and Economic Development to help pay for the brochure.

Musser adds that Steelton has applied to the state for an $115,000 Main Street grant that, if approved, would assist with the borough's revitalization over a fiveyear period.

"We would put in matching funds of $90,000 and also be able to hire a full-time business manager," says Musser. "If we don't get the grant, we will look into putting that full-time position into the budget." Musser says the business manager's annual salary would be $30,000, plus $6,600 for benefits.

In past years, according to Musser, there were complaints from some business owners about borough decisions regarding rerouting traffic for the Steelton Pre-Independence Day Parade and Festival.

But with the association now in existence, business owners will have more of a say as to how traffic should be controlled.

"There are better lines of communications because we have this association," Musser explains.

About 10 to 15 business owners attend the association's monthly meetings, but Musser says that more than 50 businesses have been represented at one or more meetings.

"We plan on more downtown events," says Hartwick. "Harrisburg has First Fridays. There's no reason why Steelton can't have Second Saturdays and provide a similar nightlife atmosphere. We are motivated and on the move."