Open for Business
With State Route 65/18 passing through the heart of the Borough, New Brighton is the perfect place to call home for your business. Currently, it is estimated that over 16,409 vehicles travel through the Borough’s Central Business District daily.
A listing of properties available in New Brighton's Central Business District is available online. Any business owner considering a New Brighton location is encouraged to meet with the Borough Manager to discuss and navigate the process of starting a business in New Brighton Borough. To schedule a meeting, simply email manager@newbrightonpa.org or call (724) 846-1870. A spreadsheet of all vacant commercial properties is also available upon request.
There are many organizations within the Commonwealth that offer technical assistance and financial programs to small businesses. The Pennsylvania Small Business Development Center has eighteen offices within the Commonwealth, which serve all 67 counties. Services available through the SBDC offices include the development of business plans, financial packaging and lending assistance, procurement and contracting assistance, and market evaluation services. Most of the services are provided at no charge. To learn more about the range of services that Pennsylvania SBDCs offer, as well as the location of the closest SBDC, go to www.pasbdc.org/services.
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Another organization that provides technical assistance to small business is SCORE. SCORE provides services through a pool of 12,000 volunteers, many of whom have retired and can offer a wealth of experience that includes mentoring of small business. SCORE also offers a number of online workshops that may be of interest to small businesses. Recent online workshops include: "Grow Your Business with Email and Social Media", "Are You Ready to Start a Business?", and "Developing a Business Plan". Some SCORE locations offer in-person training. You can locate a local SCORE office by visiting www.score.org.
Financial programs available to small businesses include the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh Banking on Business Program. This program is available through member banks of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh and will provide up to $200,000. The loan is structured at 0 percent interest with no principal payment in the first year, with a maximum interest rate of 6 percent. Eligible uses include real estate, facility expansion, capital equipment, leasehold improvements, permanent working capital, and closing costs. More information on this program is available at www.fhlb-pgh.com.
Yet another financial resource are Community Development Financial Institutions, which are local organizations that provide financing in a variety of situations, including those for startup businesses. While CDFIs do receive some government funding for loan programs, more and more they are raising funds from the local community to support their lending activities. A listing of CDFIs in Pennsylvania is available online at www.cdfi.org.
The Small Business Administration 504 Program offers financial resources to small businesses. The SBA 504 Program will provide up to 40 percent of a project's cost or $5 million, whichever is less at a fixed interest rate. The funds must be used for the financing of fixed assets such as land, buildings, and fixtures. This program is available through local economic development organizations that have been certified by the SBA to process these loans. For more information on the SBA 504 Program, visit www.sba.gov.
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Pennsylvania Open for Business, is just one more resource that is designed to educate business owners and provide necessary forms.
The Borough of New Brighton does have a tax relief program, Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance (LERTA), for any interested developer or interested property or business owner who proposes the development or enhancement of a commercial structure. Under LERTA, assessable improvements to the structure are tax exempt for three years.
In addition to tax relief, the Borough of New Brighton also has grant money available for the renovation of existing commercial structures or residential structures used for commercial purposes. Beaver County Community Development supplies the funds that can refund as much as 70% of the total cost of the project. The New Brighton Business District Authority monitors the projects and administers the grants. Applications are available by contacting the Beaver County Community Development office at (724) 770-2040 or by visiting their office at 1013 Eighth Avenue, Beaver Falls. Additional information about the Facade Improvement Program is available by downloading the brochure in the additional resources section below.
There are many opportunities for business owners to become involved in the community through the New Brighton Business District Authority. Occasionally, the Authority is seeking to fill vacant seats, however, in the event a vacancy does not exist, several sub-committees have been formed perusing numerous projects. Anyone interested in volunteering should contact the Borough Manager at (724) 846-1870, or send a letter of interest to the Municipal Building.
Additional Resources:
Pennsylvania Open for Business
Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development
Pennsylvania Small Business Development Center
Pennsylvania Department of Revenue
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