Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro made a stop in Mt. Lebanon today to discuss amped-up funding for economic development which was featured in this year’s proposed state budget. Shapiro included $25 million for a new program, Main Street Matters, intended to support small businesses and develop neighborhood business districts. The budget covers the period from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025, and will be the subject of much discussion in Harrisburg in the coming weeks.

Shapiro began the two-hour visit with a stop at state Rep. Dan Miller’s office, to meet with Miller, state Sen. Wayne Fontana and Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato, and continued down Washington Road, stopping at several businesses before holding a press conference at Empire Music.

“This is an example of what we want to do everywhere,” Shapiro remarked as he toured the Uptown Business District. He congratulated Dan and Shannon Rugh, owners of Commonwealth Press, on their success. “We’re trying to get more Main Streets to have the opportunities you guys have, and take what we’ve done here and extend it out.”

Commercial Districts Manager Eric Milliron is enthusiastic about the potential the new proposed program holds.

“We’re looking forward to the businesses that Main Street Matters will enable us to attract, but just as important, we’re looking forward to having the resources to retain the great shops and restaurants that exist today.

Innamorato praised the plan as well.

“Having a plan that invests in large businesses sets Allegheny County up for success and allows us to leverage these investments to go even further.

“A thriving Main Street is a sign of health in a community,” she continued. “When we invest in our Main Streets, we are investing in our people.”

State Sen. Wayne Fontana recalled the days when neighborhood businesses were replaced by big suburban shopping malls. “Now the malls are closing, and what we’re seeing is that residents want to shop locally. They want a business district in their neighborhoods, because they know a thriving business district creates jobs and stabilizes neighborhood housing.

State Rep. Dan Miller added, “This is the type of program that unites people.”

“Main Streets are economic engines,” said Rich Siger, secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Economic Development. “They’re what people think about when you first say the name of a place.”

“Businesses are born out of the needs of the community,” said Empire Music owner Joe Ravita, who is in the midst of an expansion, driven in part by the increased number of customers he has seen following Mt. Lebanon’s Vibrant Uptown streetscape project.

Shapiro sees the $25 million program as a driving force behind increased prosperity. He noted that regardless of where in Pennsylvania he visits, cities, suburbs or rural communities, there is one common denominator: “I can tell the strength of a community based on the vibrancy of its businesses.”

Shapiro spoke of substantial investments he would like to see in several industries, such as agriculture, robotics and manufacturing, “But these investments won’t take root unless we have strong, vibrant communities for people to live in, work in and play in, and great schools for their kids to go to.”

Shapiro also promoted the Main Street Matters program as a way to compete with our neighbors. “We’re losing out to neighboring states, and I am so tired of losing to frickin’ Ohio,” he said with a smile.

Shapiro chose Washington Road for his remarks, he said, because “I wanted to hold Mt. Lebanon up as an example of how to get it done—how to have great leaders here who have real vision, community leaders who are willing to do the work to harness the resources to have a plan in place, and when that plan is in place and folks walk along a Main Street that has been visioned and supported every step of the way by local, county and state government.”