Burns brings DCED secretary to Johnstown for walking tour
War Memorial, Conference Center, other needs discussed at high level
Rep. Frank Burns June 4, 2024 | 12:16 PM
EBENSBURG, June 4 – At the behest of state Rep. Frank Burns, a high-level state official visited Johnstown last week, primarily to discuss plans for further developing 1st Summit Arena as a major tourism draw and for jump-starting the adjacent but under-utilized Frank J. Pasquerilla Conference Center.
In addition to meeting with two members of the Cambria County War Memorial Authority, which runs the arena, Burns, D-Cambria, also led Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Rick Siger and his entourage on a walking tour of Main Street for a firsthand look at other city needs.
“We talked about the need for a grocery store downtown, a new public safety building and the removal of hundreds of blighted properties in our neighborhoods,” Burns said. “We visited the old Ideal Market building, which is now vacant and for sale, and the recently vacated Rite-Aid pharmacy building.”
In addition to onsite discussion of the need to reopen a grocery store and a pharmacy downtown, Burns said he and Siger ventured near Central Park, where, “We talked about the city’s plan to spend up to $8 million for an upgrade when Johnstown has so many other pressing needs.”
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“It’s important for Secretary Siger to see this town through a clear lens, not through the proverbial rose-colored glasses, so he gets an accurate idea of what the needs are.” – Rep. Frank Burns
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Burns said he arranged the secretary’s tour partially to showcase the excellent job being done by the War Memorial Authority, which is producing “fantastic results” in bringing visitors to the city to see concerts and entertainment events.
“They are the only organization consistently bringing people to town from outside the county,” Burns said. “It was stated in our meeting that over 500,000 people attended events there last year. This is an asset worth investing in because it produces revenue and brings real tourism dollars to the area.”
Burns said the value of having Siger meet with local officials and getting a firsthand view lies in opening a wider line of communication and strengthening the personal relationships needed to succeed in obtaining funding.
“It’s important for Secretary Siger to see this town through a clear lens, not through the proverbial rose-colored glasses, so he gets an accurate idea of what the needs are,” Burns said. “Any time you can talk to someone on site, in person, it makes it more personal. They’re here looking at the sites, getting a feel for what needs done to improve the community.
“We need help, so out of this meeting the secretary provided some advice on potential funding options, and we made plans to have future discussions.”