Bellefonte has plans to revitalize business district

Bellefonte could get a downtown incubator and change the central business district zone into an innovation district zone.

The process, however, is in its early stages and would take years to get off the ground.

Borough Manager Ralph Stewart said the initiative’s mission is to attract entrepreneurs to the region to build and sustain themselves in Bellefonte.

“There are many different types of incubator and business startup spaces,” he said. “I believe the vision is to develop a space that offers a blend of open and closed space, mentoring, instruction and a conference room. A downtown location is important because it can allow for live-work units, intermodal transportation, walkable distances to coffee shops, restaurants and many other amenities.”

He also said the borough could go a step further by designating its downtown area an innovation district zone.

“In the process, Bellefonte would consider Innovation District model ordinances for such things as live-work units, shared commercial spaces, parking requirements, etc,” Stewart said. “With a renaming of the Central Business District and a refreshment of the zoning ordinances we can look at rebranding or remarketing our region.”

The effort could have input from various fronts, including the borough, its Keystone Community Development Association, local schools, the Chamber of Business and Industry of Centre County, the Bellefonte Intervalley Area Chamber of Commerce and the private sector.

Stewart said funding is needed for operational costs, including a director, which could come from grants and community partners.

Centre County Board of Commissioners Vice Chairman Mark Higgins recently proposed a $60,000 grant to develop a graduate incubator in Bellefonte. Space in the borough, he said, would be more affordable than funding an incubator in State College.

“These would be for businesses that have outgrown the incubators in the State College area and have, say, a dozen employees,” he said at a commissioners meeting. “At that point, they’re not quite large enough to make it on their own.”

The incubator would fall under the Keystone Community Development Association.

“One focus for any designated community is economic development,” BelleKey coordinator Vana Dainty said. “The BelleKey executive board set up a meeting with a group from Penn State and out of the meeting came the idea of an entrepreneur center. We have been working on that ever since. Since Commissioner Higgins was sworn in he has been helping us along with other partners. We are forming partnerships as this is being written.”

Dainty called it a win-win for the community.

“The significance and benefits of a center (are) two-fold, one being it will create more foot traffic in Bellefonte with people visiting the coffee shops, restaurants and shops,” she said. “Hopefully some of the young people in the center will want to live in Bellefonte to raise their families. It will create a better vibe and hopefully a better economic environment for Bellefonte.”

This story was originally published January 28, 2016 at 6:19 PM with the headline "Bellefonte has plans to revitalize business district."