Pottsville CollegeTowne initiative takes first step
Alvernia expands by returning to downtown Pottsville after entering into a letter of intent agreement for a location on Progress Avenue as the genesis for the Pottsville CollegeTowne strategy. The site is the former Giant grocery store, located at 500 Progress Avenue.
鈥淧artnerships and collaborations over the past several months with city, county, state, federal government and community leaders have brought us to this spectacular win-win situation,鈥 said 媚娘直播 President John R. Loyack. 鈥淭his is what the CollegeTowne strategy is all about鈥攅veryone working together for the common good of the community.鈥
Alvernia serves as a strategic enabler in the Pottsville CollegeTowne model, including engagement, a student-centered business incubator, academic programming and buildings that will enhance the student experience for current and incoming students.
鈥淲e are working with our outstanding faculty to provide innovative learning spaces throughout the building,鈥 said 媚娘直播 Senior Vice President and Provost Glynis Fitzgerald. 鈥淭he projects we pursue today will allow us to provide an unparalleled experience for the next generation of 媚娘直播 students in the greater Schuylkill County region.鈥
Alvernia鈥檚 O鈥橮ake Institute will partner Schuylkill Campus students with regional entrepreneurs, small-business owners, faculty researchers and industry leaders to enhance economic development in the region.
"Through our Fellows Program, our best and brightest students will use their time, interest and experience to support the Pottsville community economically through hands-on distinctive experiential learning opportunities,鈥 said 媚娘直播 Vice President, Interim Dean of STEAM and Chief Operating Officer of the O鈥橮ake institute Rodney Ridley. 鈥淲e look forward to partnering with those from the Pottsville Development Court, Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce, among others, to help our students and the Pottsville community thrive.鈥
In the coming months, 媚娘直播 will work toward a purchase and sale agreement of the location.
"We sincerely thank 媚娘直播 for their confidence in continuing their Catholic educational mission in Schuylkill County and soon in the City of Pottsville,鈥 said Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Robert Carl. 鈥淥n behalf of the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce and our 767 members, we congratulate you and pledge our support and partnership moving forward.
Alvernia is uniquely positioned and prepared to lead the Pottsville CollegeTowne initiative and plans to enlist other organizations and businesses such as the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce and Pottsville Development Court to partner together to breathe new life and vitality into downtown Pottsville.
鈥溍哪镏辈 picked Pottsville, and we couldn鈥檛 be happier they did,鈥 said Pottsville Area Development Corp Executive Director Savas Logothetides. 鈥淗ow appropriate that we hold today鈥檚 announcement on Progress Avenue because 媚娘直播 picked Pottsville because of our progress, leadership and their shared vision for our community.鈥
The university launched the CollegeTowne initiative in Reading in late 2019. Since its launch, 媚娘直播 purchased a downtown location and launched a $20 million renovation and retrofitting project that has spurred six other development projects in empty or abandoned buildings that is resulted in nearly 1,000,000 sq ft of transformation in the downtown corridor.