SLIPPERY ROCK - Just as borough residents are enjoying the completed downtown development project, the borough is getting a $959,000 grant to expand it.

The community had a dedication for the $5.3 million project on Oct. 1.

The project included new lights, trees and sidewalks on Main Street. Utility lines were buried underground, freeing the streets from wires. A park was added between The First National Bank of Slippery Rock and Images Unlimited and the parking lot behind the bank was renovated extensively.

In addition, Main Street was paved and left-turning lanes for traffic were added in two directions.

The newly approved grant from the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission will cover much of the same type of work along Franklin Street from Main Street to Grove City Road, said John Bonando, vice president of Slippery Rock Development.

The award requires $120,000 in matching funds, which Bonando hopes residents and businesses will be able to raise. As with the previous downtown funding, memorial plaques will be available on benches, light posts and other items. Bonando said some fund raisers will be held, but no specific plans have been made yet. Members of Slippery Rock Development still haven't gotten official documentation that the grant was approved, he said.

The project is one of $4.1 million worth of requests approved by the commission, a funding agency for regional transportation projects.

As with the Main Street project, the Franklin Street stretch was chosen for improvement in hopes of attracting new businesses to town.

"We want to draw people into the business district," said Bonando. "We're excited about this opportunity."

There are several stores and a restaurant along Grove City Road, including the Giant Eagle Plaza. Grove City Road runs off Franklin Street.

Bill Sonntag, president of Slippery Rock Development, called Franklin Street a "natural extension," of the downtown project, especially with plans for a new hotel still in the works.

That hotel development has been delayed but will eventually be on Route 108 just past the Franklin Street project, Bonando and Sonntag said.

Sonntag said the success of Phase 1 in the downtown contributed to this second significant state grant.

"They could see the ability we had to complete the project the way it was intended," he said of the commission awarding this grant.

Ron Steele, borough council president, said the grant is good news. The amount of matching funds is only a fraction of the grant, he said, and much less than the more than $1 million the community raised for Phase 1.

Since Phase 1, five new businesses have come to Main Street, including Ginger Hill Tavern, Gallery 164 Bookstore, Mobo's cellular phone dealer and Tatoo U. The only businesses to leave were Abby's Pizza and a cellular phone dealer.

North Country Brewing Co, a new microbrewery, is expected to open this winter at 141 N. Main St. The business is expected to employ about 30 workers, including full- and part-time help.

The groundbreaking for Phase 1 improvements was April 9, 2003, although the planning began in 1999.

To donate matching funds toward the new project, call Ken Galione, project manager, at 724-794-9780 or make checks payable to Slippery Rock Development Inc., c/o First National Bank, 100 S. Main St., Slippery Rock, PA, 16057.