Greensburg to debut new business initiatives at conference

The Greensburg Community Development Corporation has invited business owners and developers to a conference to learn about the city’s new approach to planning.

GCDC Executive Director Ashley Kertes said the city has long been known difficult place to do business.

“People haven’t wanted to come here because of the reputation that the city has,” she said.

Friday’s City of Greensburg Development Conference aims to change that by introducing developers to some new faces.

Kertes took over last year and city Planning Director Jeff Raykes was hired in July. Both will speak about the various tax breaks, grants and other incentives available to those who want to do business in Greensburg.

“It’s just a way to educate people about what’s going on, and learn about the opportunities that are here,” Kertes said.

GCDC will formally announce a new grant program, called the G-Fund.

These grants will be given to property owners investing in projects with the potential to have a “significant community and economic impact,” according to Kertes.

The money in the G-Fund comes from a tax-break initiative implemented in 2015. The program lets property owners keep 25 percent of the taxes they would normally pay on improvements they make to dilapidated commercial or industrial properties in Greensburg for 10 years. They pay pay 10 percent in taxes as normal, and pay the remaining 65 percent into the G-Fund.

There’s about $30,000 in the fund, according to Kertes, and it is expected to grow over the next few months.

Kertes said the GCDC was hoping to get more than 50 people at Friday’s conference. More than 100 have signed up.

The conference starts 9 a.m. at the Seton Hill University Performing Arts Center.

More information about the free event is available at thinkgreensburg.com.