New Kensington officials aim to improve Ninth Street corridor

With most infrastructure improvements complete on Fourth and Fifth avenues in downtown New Kensington, city officials are now planning $1 million worth of improvements to its Ninth Street corridor.

“Because so many people are coming into town, we want to make it more welcoming, easily accessible and safe for people to come into downtown; to shop in our stores, eat at our restaurants and go to our entertainment venues,” said Mayor Tom Guzzo.

“We’ll transform this key part of our city.”

People crossing the New Kensington Bridge from East Deer into downtown New Kensington enter on Ninth Street. Guzzo said the $1 million, which all comes from a new, statewide “Main Street Matters” grant, could cover things like sidewalk repairs, lighting, facade improvements to businesses of asphalt paving. He hopes most of the work can be done within a one or two year period.

“Making sure that our gateway to downtown is welcoming and safe is important to all the businesses downtown,” Guzzo said. “Making our downtown stronger is good for the entire city. This is another great step in our revitalization.”

Established in last year’s state budget, the Main Street Matters program aims to support downtown cores and surrounding neighborhoods.

The Ninth Street project is one of 81 statewide that received funding. Elsewhere in Westmoreland County, The Jeannette Initiative earned $50,000 for a facade program and the Latrobe Community Revitalization received $43,700 for the 810 Ligonier Street Sprinkler System update and expansion project.

“Every community in our Commonwealth ― rural, urban, or suburban ― has a Main Street, and I’ve seen firsthand how critical they are to local economies,” Governor Josh Shapiro said in a statement. “Our Main Streets are the beating hearts of our communities ― and the economic strength of our towns and cities is directly tied to the success of small businesses and our Main Streets.”

Said Guzzo: “I think Governor Shapiro recognizes the importance of having a strong downtown and being a lifeblood that resonates across the entire community.”