Making a real, significant, and lasting difference in the City of Meadville

Projects

Our Vision:

The Redevelopment Authority of the City of Meadville will become the lead agency in downtown and neighborhood revitalization in the City of Meadville. We will capitalize on our natural environment to build a vibrant community with full employment, an expanding tax base and attractive cultural and recreational opportunities.

The Organization:

The Redevelopment Authority of the City of Meadville was formed on May 24, 1956, empowered by Act 385, more commonly known as the "Urban Redevelopment Law", in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

The Redevelopment Authority of the City of Meadville was created to assist in the generation, stimulation, and management of economic and community growth. The Authority achieves this mission by acquiring and preparing blighted real estate for economic development activities; managing finances from various public sources; and facilitating the reuse of vacant, tax delinquent, or blighted property through the power of eminent domain.

As an independent authority, the Redevelopment Authority is overseen by a five member volunteer Board of Directors appointed by Meadville City Council.

Jill Groves is the Redevelopment Authority's Executive Director and oversees the day-to-day operations of the authority.

RDA's activities cover four areas:

  1. Economic Development Fund - RDA is responsible for administering the French Creek Valley Enterprise Zone loan fund, a $4 million low-interest revolving loan fund that was established in 1995 to create and retain jobs in the City. Since its inception, the RDA has created or retained an estimated 2000 new jobs.

    RDA also administers a revolving loan fund for small and emerging businesses within the city limits. Since 1985, the RDA has assisted new start-up businesses to foster and grow in a nurturing environment through shared facility benefits and entrepreneurial assistance.
  2. Redevelopment Projects - RDA coordinates comprehensive plans with the City of Meadville and conducts economic feasibility studies to leverage City resources for redevelopment projects to benefit the local tax base. The authority recently administered a State Redevelopment Assistance Capital Grants for the Impact Meadville Project, Vantage healthcare and Allegheny College. In addition, RDA is administering state and federal funding in support of the redevelopment of the former Meadville Junior High into Parkside Commons, a mixed use commercial and residential development.
  3. Tax Increment Financing - The RDA manages tax diversion plans to finance public infrastructure improvements that allow redevelopment activities to take place. A portion of the new assessed value of the property creates new tax revenues that are used to pay-off debt issued to finance the improvements. The RDA was instrumental in organizing a TIF for Impact Meadville, a $5 million synergistic mix of commercial, retail and residential development.
  4. Neighborhood Redevelopment - The RDA also aids in other initiatives with financing, business development, master planning and reclamation activities. The RDA is improving its housing stock through the administration of the HOME grants and the local CDBG program in addition to demolishing blighted properties.

To contact the Redevelopment Authority staff please visit the "Contact RDA" page.